AUGUSTINE MUKOKO IS A SAD SIGHT — HIS ARTICLES SHOULD BE TREATED WITH DISREGARD

AUGUSTINE MUKOKO IS A SAD SIGHT — HIS ARTICLES SHOULD BE TREATED WITH DISREGARD

By Oster Chali Halutaka

Augustine Mukoko’s latest articles are hardly surprising when viewed against his long history of confrontations with prominent figures in Zambian football and, more recently, national politics.

Mukoko has been fighting with FAZ presidents for years. His confrontations date back to the era of former FAZ president and Zambian football icon Kalusha Bwalya, who slapped Mukoko during an altercation at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in South Africa in December 2009.

His disagreements with former FAZ president Andrew Kamanga followed a similar pattern. Mukoko initially supported Kamanga’s campaign against Kalusha Bwalya, but later turned against him and made numerous accusations after their relationship reportedly deteriorated.

More recently, Mukoko has been attacking current FAZ president Keith Mweemba, despite having previously campaigned for him during the FAZ elections.

This recurring pattern raises questions about his approach to football administration and public affairs. It also appears that his criticism has now moved beyond football, with Mukoko increasingly attacking President Hakainde Hichilema and the government.

There is also the question of his family background. Mukoko has Congolese roots, with his father having been born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo. That background is not, by itself, evidence of disloyalty to Zambia, but it is part of his personal history and should be stated accurately.

What is more concerning is the reported position he took in writing to the United States calling for sanctions against Zambia following the 2026 general elections. If that communication is accurately attributed to him, it deserves serious scrutiny because sanctions can have consequences for ordinary Zambians.

Ultimately, Mukoko’s articles should not be accepted simply because he presents himself as a senior journalist. His claims must be tested against evidence, consistency and facts.

For me, Augustine Mukoko is a sad sight in Zambia’s public discourse — a man who appears to have spent years fighting those at the top of football administration and has now extended that approach into national politics.