According to the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre, colorectal cancer is the sixth most prevalent cancer in India.

Colon cancer is prone to individuals above the age of 50. Colon or colorectal cancer is affected by stress and unhealthy eating habits. But genetics and inflammatory bowel diseases are the main reasons of colon cancer. Detecting the signs of colon cancer and nipping colon cancer in the bud at an early stage increases the patient’s survival rate. Hence, we give you signs of colon cancer that one must not ignore.

What is colon cancer?

‘Colorectal cancer, commonly known as colon cancer or bowel cancer, is a cancer from uncontrolled cell growth in the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine), or in the appendix.’ (As mentioned in Wikipedia,Colorectal cancer)

Essentually, colon cancer mainly appears in the large intestine. Colon cancer appears in the inner lining of the colon. Colon cancer is mainly diagnosed by colonoscopy.

What are the causes of colon cancer?

Risk factors for colorectal disease include old age, a history of colitis or Crohn’s disease, a family history of the cancer, and smoking. Some studies have also linked diets high in animal fat, and low in fruits, vegetables and fibre to an increased risk.

Blood in stool

This is the main sign of colon cancer as well as for other types of cancer. Dark patches or blood in stool or on it is the main sign of colon cancer. The texture of the stool also changes; instead of solid stools, colon cancer patients will experience long and thin stools. Blood in stool brings us to our next point.

Anaemia

Blood in stool translates to loss of blood in your body. This will result in lack of blood, which means anaemia is another sign of colon cancer. Anaemia in colon cancer patients needs to be improved to fight cancer and increase survival chances. Anaemia also leads to tiredness in cancer patients. Lack of blood makes your skin paler than your normal skin colour.

Fatigue

Fatigue is one sign that affects most of us, but that doesn’t imply that we all have colon cancer. If you feel fatigue accompanied by other signs of colon cancer then you should be worried. As mentioned earlier, fatigue is a result of low blood level. Lack of blood drains the life from you, leaving you tired, lethargic and irritated.

Weight loss

Along with anaemia and fatigue, colon cancer patients will lose weight drastically. This weight loss is unexplained, but is also an important symptom. Significant weight loss over a few months without any apparent cause, i.e. unexplained weight loss, can be one of the main warning signs that you might be suffering from cancer. This also happens with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus, or lungs.

Change in bowel movement

This can be an agonising problem; change in bowel movement means you have to change your eating habits, which includes that you may have to skip on certain favourite food. Change in bowel movement simply means you may experience constipation, diarrhea, a sense that your bowel is not empty, rectal cramping, urgency to visit the washroom.

Discomfort in stomach

Cramps, pain, inflammation and bloating feeling of the stomach are some of the signs of colon cancer. Discomfort in the stomach may be the due to tears in the stomach. But stomach pain is rare in colon cancer.

Obesity

Obesity is a sign and potential cause of colon cancer; older adults who are heavy, especially around the middle, seem to have a higher risk of developing colon cancer than their thinner peers – and exercise may lower the incidence of the disease, especially for women, a European study said.

Prevention

– Timely testing can prevent colon cancer from advancing into adverse stages.
– Quit Smoking
– Engage in physical activity every day
– Eat different varieties of fruits and vegetables everyday to obtain different vitamins.
– Diet rich in fibre
– Maintain a healthy weight

Read more Personal Health, Diet & Fitness stories on www.healthmeup.com

Dear Editor,

I don’t understand why jerabos in kitwe were killing innocent people that their king youngson Kalobo can not die alone.

Operation Young Vote has accused the ruling Patriotic Front of having well schemed plans to seriously divide the nation with impunity.

OYV Executive Director Guess Nyirenda in a statement says it is quite disheartening to note how the top leadership in the ruling is treating and insulting citizens with impunity.

Mr Nyirenda says there is no way PF Secretary General Davies Chama can insult the innocent Tongas and finding shield in the Head of State and the Government Chief Spokesperson who have gone to all lengths to defend him.
Guess-Nyirenda-231×160

He states that what Mr Chama did and is doing is unacceptable while the defense he is receiving is misplaced, misguided and meant to divide Zambia and not only Tonga.

Mr Nyirenda wonders what is difficult to discipline the PF Secretary General in order to spare the nation.

And Mr Nyirenda has accused the PF leadership of tolerating violence and the use of offensive weapons by PF cadres considering that no stronger condemnation and discipline is mated out on the perpetrators.

He wonders why the opposition leaders and ordinary Zambians should move in fear in their own land.

Mr Nyirenda states that what happened to UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema in Kitwe is unacceptable and must be stopped hence forth.

A 29-year old man of Lusaka’s Chawama Township has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling his 12-year-old step-daughter.
This was a matter where George Kamponge was facing an offence of having sex with a girl under the age of 16 contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Kamponge is said to have committed the offence between November 2013 and February 2014.
High Court Judge Judy Mulongoti sentenced Kamponge to prison after finding him guilty of defiling the girl, who was in grade five, on his matrimonial bed while his wife was away.
“I find that you the convict has committed this heinous offence without shame. This is your daughter who expects protection from you but unfortunately you went against your responsibilities. I accordingly sentence you to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour,” she said.
The victim managed to testify that she was defiled by her step-father by mentioning his name, an indication that there was no mistaken identity.
Justice Mulongoti said it was sad that Kamponge issued threats to stab the victim if she informed anyone about the sex he had with her, which was the sign that his action was wrong and wanted to conceal it.
In her testimony, the girl told the court that her step-father found her washing clothes outside their home and called her inside and asked her to follow him in the bedroom on the pretext that he wanted to send her to look for something.
“I was shocked when he asked me to remove my clothes while brandishing a knife and warning me that if I informed anyone, including my mother, he would cut my throat and throw my body in the blue water dam,” she said.
The girl said her father continued doing the same on several occasions in the absence of her mother and before going to school in the afternoon until one day when her mother’s friend noticed her crying on her way to school.
She said her mother’s friend talked to her until she revealed that her step-father had been having sex with her on several occasions.
Kamponge was then reported to the police.

THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) disciplinary committee has banned Division One (North) Gomes assistant coach George Phiri from all football-related activities for this season for beating a referee.
And FAZ has shortlisted five coaches for the national team job.
The association has also warned of stern action against verbal attacks on FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya in the build-up to the 2016 elections.
FAZ registrar Joel Kabika said at a briefing in Lusaka yesterday that Phiri beat a named referee during the Week Eight match between First Quantum Minerals (FQM) and Gomes in Solwezi.
Phiri and some players were not pleased with the referee’s officiating and took the law into their own hands.
Kabika said Gomes have been fined K5,000 for the unruly behaviour.
The disciplinary committee has awarded FQM a 3-0 win.
The committee also upheld Division One (South) leaders Kabwe Warriors’ 3-0 win over Luena Baffaloes in a week 16 match that was abandoned in Kaoma.
Buffaloes caused the abandonment of the game after the referee awarded Warriors a penalty.
Kabika said Buffaloes have been found with a case to answer for failing to protect match officials.
And FAZ head of club licencing Erick Mwanza said the Chipolopolo coach will be engaged next month.
Mwanza, however, could not disclose the names of the coaches.
But insiders said former Tunisia national team coach George Leekens is among those shortlisted.
Meanwhile, Mwanza said there is need to respect Kalusha.
Mwanza said campaigns for the FAZ elections will run from January to March 2016 and those intending to contest positions will be free to campaign.
“Those that will deliberately and wilfully bring football into disrepute will be dealt with. People should desist from attacks on the association and individuals,” he said.
Mwanza said football administrators should not throw away discipline because of the pending elections.
On Wednesday, football administrator Andrew Kamanga said the FAZ chief stands no chance of retaining his position in next year’s elections.
Kamanga said the wind of change was blowing in the country’s football circles ahead of the elections and that councillors have lost confidence in the current leadership.

Senator for Mashonalnd Central Jenia Manyeruke has ordered all Zimbabwean women to stop wearing trousers claiming that they are contributing to moral decay.

She said it was strange as to why boys are not wearing dress but females are fond of putting on men’s wear.

She told the senate last week: “When you look at our children they walk half dressed and we just look at them even if they wear trousers.

“We feel that we have not come across boys who wear girls’ clothing. But the girls even their mothers are also putting on trousers which are for men.

“How can you show children the good ways when you have joined the way they have thrown away our culture. As women, I think there is something wrong with us” she told said.

Pardoned convicted child defiler musician Clifford Dimba alias General Kanene has promised not to let President Edgar Lungu down.
Speaking to Journalists at Kabwe’s Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison yesterday after receiving a presidential pardon, Dimba who was serving an 18 year sentence with hard labour for defiling a 14 year old girl said he is honored to be made the President’s ambassador in the fight against defilement.
He said he has experienced prison the hard way, advising people to avoid prison because it is a bad place.
And the Zambia Association of Musicians (ZAM) has welcomed the pardoning of Dimba by President Lungu.
ZAM President Njoya Tembo has told QFM News in Kabwe that musicians are excited to see their own walk to freedom.
Tembo was however quick to advise Dimba not to forget the task the Head of State has given him saying he should be active in the fight against defilement.
Tembo says Dimba should not neglect the task given to him but should strive to fight all negative vices through music and actual works.

The All People’s Congress (APC) has warned that the continued random selection of presidential candidates will be Zambia’s downfall.

APC president Nason Msoni says it is high time the country begun reviewing its processes of selecting presidential candidates.
Msoni use

Mr. Msoni has told Qfm News in an interview that owing to the fact that Zambia does not have a school for training Presidents, it is necessary to come up with a process aimed at filtering candidates aspiring for the highest office.

He says this is in order that when an ultimate selection has been made of who should be voted for to become the country’s President, the nation is assured of getting the right person in office.

Mr. Msoni states that the APC is thus proposing that it becomes mandatory in Zambia that every individual aspiring to be President must be subjected to a national debate.

He says this way citizens will be able to judge for themselves who is ready, and who is not, to lead them as their President.

Mr. Msoni says this is the only way the country will avoid voting for individuals who are not prepared for public and who later make costly mistakes.

Edith Nawakwi says the ongoing load-shedding is a result of having dull and senseless government leaders running the affairs of the country.
Speaking during a public discussion organised by the Press Freedom Committee on Wednesday night, the FDD leader said the energy crisis facing the country was as a result of political foolishness. “This government is dull, this government is senseless, this government is murdering people, is murdering new babies. The Minister of Health himself has said it is impossible to conduct an operation in hospital. Can you imagine your sister who has had a premature child, what is happening to that child?” she wondered. The current energy crisis in our country is a result of political foolishness.
I have said from the outset that the current load-shedding that we are experiencing in the country is an act of political foolishness, and I want to emphasise because a number of colleagues, when they meet me, they say ‘Why are you insulting the President?’” Nawakwi further wondered why the government was failing to increase the country’s power generation capacity when it had recently announced that it had come up with innovative programmes to increase the power generation.
“It is when you have a government that is devoid of common sense and deep analysis that you get yourselves to this situation. I have been perplexed and disgusted with the thinking of this current government, that my children who are born prematurely can die in incubators; that a man on a support machine can be left to die because you want to get money for export of the same power that a premature child could have used to survive,” she said. Nawakwi said the issue of load-shedding was a serious one that needed a credible person who understood economic matters well to be in charge of the Ministry of Finance. And Nawakwi said the government was exporting power to other countries because it was bankrupt.
“Now, the only reason they cannot stop exports [of power] is because the government is bankrupt, so they use Zesco as a till to collect cash for their needs. This is not an accusation [and] it is not the only sector they are robbing us from.
Just a few weeks ago, you heard them say that ZCCM Investment Holdings was going to auction some shares; did you see the advert for you to go and buy the shares? They instructed NAPSA and [Zambia] State Insurance [Corporation] to go and buy shares, the money for pensioners was used to buy shares from ZCCM and that money immediately it landed at ZCCM, it was pocketed,” said Nawakwi.
“Load-shedding is killing business; the only assets that people have to run their businesses have been taken away from them because the government has to export [power].

By PostZambia

Musician B flow Says he’s happy that General Kanene is out of jail. This was following after president Lungu Pardoned Kanene .  Below is what B flow wrote on his Facebook page:
“6 months ago, my boss at Komboni radio suggested something to me. She asked if I could visit General Kanene at the Prison and talk to him about a topic that I love so much (Women empowerment). I could not say no because firstly he’s my friend, and secondly because I thought it was a GREAT idea and I care about the issue involved.
So I linked up with Kanene who was accompanied by some people from the Prisons Service, and we had a long conversation. I shared with Kanene some information which I’ve been learning through my work with the ministry of Gender and OXFAM placing my focus on a law called the Anti-Gender Based Violence Act. Whilst I was explaining, Kanene was enjoying the English words I was using, so he began to laugh and said “iwe ka B Flow utaya ntawi, tiye tikwapule chi nyimbo”(B Flow you’re wasting time, let’s record a song about the ANTI-GBV Act). So as usual JERRY FINGERZ “murdered” the beat and we put our discussion on a song(some of you might have heard it). From that day, I closely watched Kanene’s moves and how well he launched his in-prison advocacy.
In my opinion his experience has made him reflect and do what an artist is supposed to do (to use music as a tool for social change).
Don’t judge me, but I think Kanene has learned his lesson(that’s my prayer at least).
To my surprise, yesterday in the morning I was making a powerpoint presentation in New York at Wagner College, and it was about Kanene(as you can see behind me in the picture) as if I knew he is now a free man. I was explaining to my YALI fellows about the new music and in-prison advocacy that Kanene has been doing lately. I was so shocked to learn that the same morning he had just been pardoned. Such a coincidence right? I felt like God told me to talk about Kanene for a reason. I hope someone has learned something from Kanene’s situations. Congratulations Clifford Kanene Dimba!!! I know it’s good to attain freedom, but I know you’ve also just been freed two days after the death of your long time friend/personal DJ Khumalo Zidic (MHSRIP). For me, Jerry Fingerz must be commende”

Chant It On

We have  been told  that these p*n*s shaped lipsticks are being sold. Would any of you ladies buy this?

As far as sexual life is concerned, people are highly satisfied with their partner’s circumcision status and do not not wish for anything different to enhance their sex lives, a study says.

The team from Queen’s University said that women and men in the study were “really, really happy with their partner’s circumcision status”.

For the study, published in the Journal of Human Sexuality, the team surveyed 196 people in sexual relationships.

“Although people notice (whether a man is circumcised or not) at the end of the day, it does not seem to have a really big impact on their sexual lives,” lead researcher Jennifer Bossio from the department of psychology was quoted as saying.

The researchers found that circumcision had little impact on partner’s sexual function including desire, arousal, ability to orgasm and satisfaction, Globe and Mail reported.

The results may offer reassurance for all as far as how they are regarded in the bedroom, the study said.

The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, says he will enforce the verdict of the coroner’s inquest on the September 12, 2014 Synagogue Church building collapse.

The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, on Thursday, said his government would uphold and enforce the sanctity of the law in the state, urging residents of the state to also respect the rule of law.

Ambode said, “The coroner’s verdict of July 7, 2015, made a number of recommendations which the state government would act upon accordingly.

“One of the provisions of the Coroner Law, 2007, is the provision that empowers a coroner to commence an inquest to find out the cause and manner of death which occur in an unusual manner.”

The governor added that consequent upon the collapse building on the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, the state government applied that a coroner’s inquest be commenced into the cause of the tragic deaths.

He said, “Therefore, the Lagos State Government will cause the prosecution of the contractor, Akinbela Fatiregun of Hardrock Engineering Company Limited; and the Structural Engineer, Oladele Ogundeji, who constructed and supervised the collapsed building, respectively, at the Synagogue Church of All Nations for professional negligence.”

The governor added that the government would also prosecute SCOAN for neglecting to obtain building approval before commencing the construction of the building, contrary to the provisions of the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2010.

He appealed to residents of the state to always allow emergency responders to perform their duties during emergencies as they were trained for the purpose.

“Also, land owners within the state, who intend to embark on construction, should employ the services of qualified engineers who must obtain building permit before construction,” the governor added.

Punch

Post Newspaper Proprietor Fred M’membe and his reporter Mukosha Funga have been granted 30 thousand Kwacha bail each, with two working sureties.

Lusaka Magistrate Humprey Chitalu has granted Mr. M’membe and Ms Funga bail on grounds that the offence of Publication of Classified Information, with which the two are charged, is bailable.

Magistrate Chitalu ruled that the State’s Objection to Mr M’membe and Ms Funga’s bail application is misconceived.

He also ordered the two to appear for mention on August, 19,2015.

Trial of Mr. M’membe and Ms Funga is ear-marked for the High Court as the Magistrate Court does not have Jurisdiction to try the offence of Publication of Classified Information.

Mr. M’membe and Funga were arrested and charged with Publication of Classified Information.

This was on account of article that appeared in the Post Newspaper on April 17,2015.

The article alleged that Anti-Corruption Commission-ACC- Director General had written to President Edgar Lungu that his Special Assistant for Political Affairs Kaizer Zulu was being investigated.

The article in question also alleged that Mr. Zulu solicited ONE million United States Dollars from Chinese contractors to secure them an appointment with President Lungu .

Vice President Inonge Wina says the Anti Corruption Commission -ACC- is still assessing Former President Rupiah Banda’s acquittal.
Mrs. Wina says government will wait for the response from the Commission before stating its position on the restoration of Mr. Banda’s immunity.
She told Parliament on Friday that the ACC is an independent body which will be allowed to operate freely.
The Vice President was responding to a question raised in Parliament Last Friday by Chadiza MP Allan Mbewe who wanted to know when Government will restore the Immunity of Former President Rupiah Banda.
And Mrs. Wina says government will soon state its position regarding the importation of alleged toxic copper concentrates by Konkola Copper Mine from Chile.

The Pastor who made headlines a week ago after feeding his members with live snakes  is back again in the news,  the self aclaimed prophet Penuel,  the controversial ‘man of God’ is seen making his members chew and swallow pants and breast orders(bras) during a prayer service. He prayed on the cloth and asked them to eat it…and they all obeyed! Can’t he be stopped?

Kitwetimes

The Pastor who made healines a week ago after feeding his members with live snakes  is back again in the news,  the self aclaimed prophet Penuel,  the controversial ‘man of God’ is seen making his members chew and swallow pants and breast orders(bras) during a prayer service. He prayed on the cloth and asked them to eat it…and they all obeyed! Can’t he be stopped?

Bus and taxi fares in Lusaka have been increased.
This follows the adjustment in the pump price of fuel by the Energy Regulation Board -ERB- and increase in road tax, fitness and identity cost by the Road Transport and Safety Agency- RTSA.
Bus and Taxi Owners Association of Zambia Acting Spokesperson Peter Phiri says the increment takes effect on Monday, July 20, 2015.
Mr. Phiri says fares have been hiked on all Lusaka routes to between one kwacha and two kwacha, depending on the distance.
Mr. Phiri has equally appealed to Livingstone taxi operators who rioted over the increase in road tax to remain calm, as the association will find a way to dialogue with government over the matter.
But Transport Minister Yamfwa Mukanga says the planned increase in bus and taxi fares is illegal, as it has no authority from government.
Mr. Mukanga has also told ZNBC News in a telephone interview that he will discuss with the Finance Ministry which issued the Statutory Instrument on RTSA fares to see how best the issue can be resolved

The Kasama High Court has sentenced a 26-year-old teacher of Shiwang’andu Secondary School in Chinsali to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling and impregnating a 14-year-old grade nine pupil.
Joseph Mulenga, of unknown house number but in Location township in Chinsali, was charged with defilement and he pleaded not guilty.
In passing the sentence, Lusaka High Court Judge Mwamba Chanda, sitting in Kasama recently, said the fact that the victim was Mulenga’s pupil is an aggravating factor and that he was reckless to have had sex with his pupil.
Particulars of the offence are that on dates unknown between July and October last year, Mulenga had carnal knowledge of the victim.
“I have taken into consideration the mitigation factors by the accused’s learned counsel. However, there are aggravating factors in this matter in that the child is the convict’s pupil. The convict was duty-bound to ensure that his pupils were protected from sexual abuse.
“I find that the convict was reckless in enticing his pupil to have sexual intercourse with him. I, therefore, sentence you to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour with effect from February 27, 2015, it being the date of your arrest,” Ms Chanda said.
During trial, the victim told the court that Mulenga had asked her to go to his house to help him mark examination papers for Grade Seven pupils, which she did.
She said Mulenga then dragged her to his bedroom and took off her clothes before having sex with her.
The girl’s parents reported the matter to police when they discovered that she was pregnant.
In his defence, Mulenga, who elected to give unsworn evidence, denied having defiled the victim saying he was in Kabwe at the time.
But in mitigation, defence lawyer Keith Katazo begged the court for leniency, stating that Mulenga was remorseful for his actions.
Mr Katazo said being a civil servant, the convict’s future career was dented, which in itself was a life-time punishment.
“My lady, the convict in here is a teacher and being a civil servant, his future has been dented for life, hence we pray for a lighter sentence from this honourable court,” Mr Katazo said.

On Thursday, President Barack Obama visited the Federal Correctional Institution El Reno, a medium-security facility near Oklahoma City, becoming the 1st sitting president to visit a federal prison.
Earlier this week, President Barack Obama commuted the prison sentences of 46 people serving lengthy jail terms for nonviolent drug offenses.

Officials opened a cell for the president so that he could see how prisoners are confined. The cell contained: “a double bunk bed and third bed along the wall, a toilet and sink, along with a small bookcase and three lockers.” “Three full-grown men in a 9-by-10 cell,” the president noted.

The president sat with some six inmates who told him of their experiences both inside and outside prison.

“When they describe their youth and their childhood, these are young people who made mistakes that aren’t that different than the mistakes I made,” Obama said.

He added that had the men had support structures growing up, they may have made vastly different choices. The sentiment is part of a bigger push from the Obama administration to end harsh punishments for nonviolent drug offenders, which includes the elimination of mandatory minimum sentences.

Obama said that the US has become immune to the number of young people incarcerated for long periods of time for stupid mistakes.

“It’s not normal,” he said.”It’s not what happens in other countries. What is normal is teenagers doing stupid things. What is normal is young people making mistakes.”

He added,

“We’ve got to be able to distinguish between dangerous individuals who need to be incapacitated and incarcerated versus young people who, in an environment in which they are adapting, but if given different opportunities, a different vision of life, could be thriving the way we are.”

AP

Dear President Lungu,

As you approach six months in office I feel compelled to write to you and ask you to urgently address matters of critical importance concerning the fundamental rights of Zambian citizens from every corner of our great nation, regardless of who they support politically.

This letter follows closely a serious attack and attempt on my life and other United Party for National Development supporters in Kitwe earlier this week, and in Mulobezi during the by-elections. I am sure you are already aware of some of the details of the attack so I will not repeat them here, but wish to remind you that this attack is not an isolated instance.

It comes after weeks of intimidation on us by the PF cadres and attempts to restrict our movements and our democratic right to meet and talk with the Zambian people.

Where violence has been the outcome, we strongly feel there has been serious bias in favour of PF cadres in pursuing the perpetrators.

The guilty persons must be held to account regardless of their political affiliation. We cannot pretend to hold our head high as a democracy and beacon of peace and stability in the region while our law is applied so unevenly, and while the freedom of assembly and free speech are so clearly under attack.

Zambian people do not need permission from anyone, let alone aHead of State to express their opinions or assemble. On one hand you preach One Zambia, One Nation and on the other you do not discipline the gun-running PF cadres and the PF Secretary General for his most offensive remarks on other citizens.

Not only do we feel that the failure of Government to publicly acknowledge and condemn the attacks and to call for the fair persecution of PF perpetrators, violates our rights as Zambian citizens, but it also threatens the future stability of our great nation.

Your deafening silence can lead one to believe you are the “Warlord” behind the scenes. At this time Zambia faces a number of challenges as you are aware: the economy is in shambles and debt ridden, whereby our children’s future has been mortgaged, our electricity utility, ZESCO is in crisis and most importantly we have a large youth population who lack the opportunities they deserve to find decent work that can help them cover the ever rising cost of living.

At such a time politicians such as you and I need to inspire trust in the Zambian people – it is when the people lack faith in the ability of their leaders to address the challenges facing them through peaceful means that people will turn to violence, it is when they become frustrated and feel they have nothing to lose by taking this ill-advised route.

It is truly a sad state of affairs if our youths feel that way in 2015, and even sadder if our Government refuses to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation.

As political leaders, and for you as President of our Republic I strongly believe it is up to us to lead by example and condemn every act of violence perpetrated by one Zambian against another. We must also refocus public attention on the issues. Freedom of speech must be protected at all times, but we must take a responsibility for setting the tone by focusing discussions based on the issues and not personal attacks and impressing upon our colleagues the need to do the same.

As President we also ask you to fulfil your responsibility to the Zambian people and oversee equal application of the law to every Zambian regardless of political affiliation, to uphold freedom of speech by not shying away from criticism or seeking to punish those from which it comes but instead to acknowledge and address it with due maturity, and to ensure that the freedom of assembly is re-established for all Zambians through reform, or if needs be, complete overhaul of the Public Order Act.

From here on out let us both publicly declare our commitment to engage on the important issues of the economy, jobs, education, healthcare, high cost of food, and at the same time to always condemn violence and inflammatory action by our members.

Yours sincerely,

Hakainde Hichilema
President