By Shadreck Jere
LUSAKA – Commerce Minister Chipoka Mulenga says lawyer and politician Makebi Zulu has mistaken media attention for popularity, arguing that his prominence stems only from issuing statements on behalf of former president Edgar Lungu’s family.
Speaking when he appeared on Radio Phoenix’s “Let the People Talk” programme, Mulenga said Zulu’s name frequently appeared in the news not because of his political work, but because he had attached himself to the Lungu family’s affairs.
“Makebi Zulu thinks he is popular because he’s been speaking for the Lungu family. Once he stops talking about them, nobody will hear about him again. Popularity should come from hard work and service to the people, not from seeking attention through other people’s issues,” Mulenga said.
Mulenga, who is also Member of Parliament for Chingola, urged Zulu to focus on contributing positively to the political discourse and helping rebuild his party rather than engaging in what he described as attention-seeking behaviour.
“It’s time some of our colleagues stopped the politics of drama. People want leaders who bring solutions, not those who thrive on controversy,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Commerce Minister dismissed reports suggesting that the government had stopped electricity exports to Namibia amid ongoing load-shedding in Zambia.
He explained that exports were continuing under existing agreements, emphasizing that halting power supplies abruptly would damage Namibia’s power infrastructure and strain regional energy cooperation.
“We have not stopped power exports to Namibia because doing so would harm their systems and breach our bilateral arrangements. What government has done is ensure that domestic supply is prioritized while honouring our export obligations in a responsible manner,” Mulenga clarified.
He added that government was investing in renewable energy projects and infrastructure expansion to increase power generation and stabilize supply both for local consumption and export in the long term.
“The goal is to ensure Zambia becomes an energy hub in the region. We are not just managing today’s challenges — we’re planning for a sustainable energy future,” he said.
Source: News Diggers