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The international headlines that Zambia is receiving over the continued incarceration of UPND president Hakainde Hichilema should be of concern to those managing the affairs of this country. It is a circus that has gone on for too long and must be stopped. At least if the charge of treason remains standing. The country has toyed around with the drama of incarcerating opposition leaders with the non bailable treason charge with the view to crippling them. Former President Michael Sata did 40 days behind bars on a charge of motor vehicle theft while founding President Dr Kenneth Kaunda was infamously locked up on Christmas Day by Frederick Chiluba. Now Edgar Lungu has joined that school that is slowly dressing in dictatorship regalia. The international media is feasting on the news of Hichilema thrown in jail on treason charges for a traffic offense unless someone is not watching or listening to international news. Not sure how easy it will be for President Edgar Lungu to walk with his head high at international fora with his image being battered on the international stage. It was interesting to see President Lungu make an attempt to stand up to the international community warning that Zambia cannot be dictated to on who to arrest or not. It was a show of muscle from our Head of State to the donor community. It was very nice of him but in truth is do we really have the capacity to play that level of independence? Even our citizens in South Africa that were hurling insults at South African Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane unfortunately are living on the courtesies of that country. There should be some deep introspection on our leadership on what is becoming of our country’s image outside the country. We are slowly being referred to as a former democracy surely that is something we can avoid. The post Opinion: Treason Vibe Attracts Negative International Publicity appeared first on Zambia Reports.

source: Zambia Reports

University of Zambia (UNZA) have lost patience with government over the delay in payment of meal allowances and took to the Great East road on Sunday night. The students are also protesting the go slow by lecturers who are demanding payment of outstanding allowances. Students got half their pay when the institution opened in April with the promise for the remainder to be liquidated at a later stage. Government owes students project and accommodation allowances. The students mobilized themselves and took to the Great East road with the police rushing to the institution to quell the riot. Police are keeping vigil at the institution manning all the entry points. The post UNZA Students Riot Over Allowances appeared first on Zambia Reports.

source: Zambia Reports

Chairperson on the commission of inquiry on the voting pattern Mutakela Lisimba says he is hopeful that President Edgar Lungu will act on its report. Lisimba whose committee is sitting in Kitwe said that the problem had been acknowledged by the formation of the inquiry. President Lungu recently extended the mandate of the commission of inquiry to November. The commission of inquiry was formed in the aftermath of the highly fractious August 11, 2016 elections. Concerns about the state’s ability to act on commissions of inquiries have repeatedly been raised. The post Voting Pattern Commission Hopes For Action On Findings appeared first on Zambia Reports.

source: Zambia Reports