Between 8,000 and 10,000 people took part in an emotional silent march in Copenhagen on Saturday, organised by Denmark’s Veterans’ Association, to protest comments by US President Donald Trump that were seen as downplaying the role of non-US NATO troops in Afghanistan.
The association had expected just over a thousand participants, but Danes turned out in large numbers despite subzero temperatures, marching in support of veterans and in memory of the 44 Danish soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan. Police told AFP they estimated the crowd was “at least 10,000,” while organisers put the figure at between 8,000 and 10,000.
Trump sparked outrage in Denmark and across Europe on January 22 when he said European NATO troops had “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines” during the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan. Denmark fought alongside US forces not only in Afghanistan, but also during the Gulf War and in Iraq.
The march began at Copenhagen’s Kastellet, where a short ceremony was held at the monument to fallen soldiers before participants proceeded silently toward the US embassy, about two kilometres away.
“The demonstration is called #NoWords because that really describes how we feel. We have no words,” the association’s vice president, Soren Knudsen, told AFP. “Obviously, we also want to tell Americans that what Trump said is an insult to us and the values that we defended together.”
Some demonstrators carried red-and-white Danish flags, while others wore military uniforms. The procession remained completely silent, with no chanting or slogans. Many participants appeared sombre, and some were visibly emotional.
“We’re very happy that so many people turned out,” Knudsen said outside the US embassy, noting that veterans from the United States and other European countries had also joined the march.
“What Trump said was very insulting,” said Henning Andersen, a 64-year-old who served as a Danish UN soldier in Cyprus. “I have friends who were down there. Some of them were wounded, and they carry the war with them even today. He’s saying things he doesn’t know the full truth about.”
A 58-year-old member of Denmark’s home guard, who identified herself only as Orum, also condemned the remarks. “How can he even say that? It’s insulting,” she said, dressed in khaki fatigues and a green beret.
At the front of the march, protesters carried a large red banner reading “NoWords,” while others held hand-drawn placards. One read, “Trump is so dumb,” and another, held by a child, said, “Say sorry, Trump.”
Earlier in the week, 44 Danish flags bearing the names of the soldiers killed in Afghanistan were placed in planters outside the US embassy in response to Trump’s comments. The embassy initially removed the flags, later apologising and replacing them.
“We have nothing but the deepest respect for Danish veterans and the sacrifices Danish soldiers have made for our shared security. There was no ill intent behind the removal of the flags,” the embassy said in a Facebook post, adding that the planters were embassy property and that the original placement of the flags had not been coordinated.
On Friday, January 30, the US ambassador placed 44 Danish flags in the flowerbeds. On Saturday, January 31, 52 additional flags were added, with names inscribed on them, 44 for those killed in Afghanistan and eight for Danish soldiers who died in Iraq. A minute of silence was also observed outside the embassy, and one participant laid a wreath of red and white flowers.
Denmark has long described the United States as its “closest ally” and remains a strong partner, despite recent tensions over Trump’s expressed interest in Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.
President Donald Trump escalated his long-standing criticisms of his predecessor on January 29, 2026, by publicly calling for the arrest of former President Barack Obama in a series of posts on his Truth Social platform.
In series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Obama of orchestrating a “coup attempt.”
According to him, Obama allegedly directed CIA agents to manufacture false intelligence regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The posts claimed this was done to undermine Trump’s “LANDSLIDE” victory and erode public confidence in American democracy.
One amplified post, which closely matches the content circulated online, stated that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard had released “HUNDREDS OF BOMBSHELL RUSSIAGATE DOCUMENTS” proving Obama’s involvement.
It referenced Fox News host Jesse Watters’ comment that “whatever happens to these guys is not revenge… it’s accountability,” before concluding with the emphatic demand: “ARREST OBAMA NOW!”
The posts reflects earlier claims from July 2025, when Gabbard declassified documents alleging that Obama-era officials politicized intelligence to push a false narrative of Russian efforts to aid Trump’s election.
Gabbard described it as a “treasonous conspiracy” and referred the matter to the Department of Justice, though no charges have been filed against Obama.
Trump has repeatedly amplified these assertions, including sharing AI-generated videos depicting Obama’s arrest and labeling the actions as “treason.”
However, independent reviews and fact-checks have described the declassified materials as rehashing prior partisan interpretations.
The original 2017 intelligence assessment concluded that Russia’s interference was to Trump’s benefit.
LUSAKA MARRIED WOMAN IMPREGNANTED BY HER HUBBY’S BEST FRIEND OVER A K20 CREDIT
“My husband is still abroad for peace keeping mission”, she told the court.
A 21 year old beautiful married woman in Lusaka has been impregnated by her neighbor after she failed to pay back K20 credit and decided to square it off with seexxi.
Mrs Melody Nalwamba Mwale narrated in the Matero Local Court that her married neighbour Gabriel Siwale aged 30, had given her K20 on credit which she failed to pay back in good time and ended up sleeping with him to pay it off but unfortunately she got pregnant before her husband (Edgar Mwale a police officer) could return from peace keeping mission abroad.
“This man is married, I am not happy that he impregnated me over a K20 despite knowing that am also married. He has ruined my marriage and he is refusing to accept responsibility”, Melody told the court as she shaded tears.
Ironically, Melody who is now 5 months pregnant by another man over a K20, has been receiving her husband’s fully salary every month and the court wondered why she decided to sleep with another man over a small credit.
Mrs Mwale has a 2 year old child with her husband who is still abroad for peace keeping mission but decided to sleep with her hubby’s best friend when she got broke and ended up pregnant……… To be continued.
🤯💔AFRICA’S BIGGEST BETRAYAL: CHINA’S “FREE” GIFT HAD HIDDEN MICROPHONES 🇪🇹🇨🇳 🇪🇹🇨🇳
In 2012, China gifted Africa a shiny new African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
$200 MILLION. “Free” they said. Built by Chinese firms. Chinese materials. Chinese workers (alongside Ethiopians).
We celebrated. We thanked them. We moved in.
THEN IN 2018, LE MONDE NEWSPAPER DROPPED A BOMB:
– Confidential AU data copied to Shanghai EVERY NIGHT from 2012-2017 – Microphones and listening devices found hidden throughout the building – 5 YEARS of African secrets potentially compromised
China DENIED everything. Called it “absurd” and “groundless.”
BUT HERE’S WHAT THE AU DID NEXT :
– REPLACED all the servers – REFUSED Chinese help configuring the new ones
Actions speak louder than denials.
The lesson? There’s NO such thing as a free building. Every “gift” comes with strings – or bugs.
Africa must BUILD for Africa. BY Africans. Like Nigeria building NNS Oji. Like South Africa building the world’s largest reservoir.
When we build ourselves, we control our destiny. When others build for us, we surrender our sovereignty.
South African singer, Tyla, has emerged winner of the Best African Music Performance category at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, edging out top African stars including Davido, Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, and Eddy Kenzo.
Tyla clinched the prestigious award with her song “Push 2 Start,” sealing a major career milestone and further cementing her status as one of Africa’s fastest-rising global music stars.
The category featured a highly competitive lineup of nominees. Davido was nominated with “With You” featuring Omah Lay, Burna Boy earned a nod for “Love,” Ayra Starr received recognition for “Gimme Dat” featuring Wizkid, while Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin were nominated for “Hope & Love.”
This victory for Tyla also makes her a two-time Grammy winner, having previously won one at the last Grammy Awards.
A video showing how Grace Nation church pastor, Chris Okafor, was welcomed back to church by his members is creating a buzz.
Chris Okafor stepped down temporarily after actress Doris Ogala accused him of a number of things shortly after his wedding.
Doris alleged he made her leave her marriage and started a relationship with her, only to abandon her to marry someone else. She asked who he was leaving her for and vowed to expose him.
She went on to allege that Chris Okafor engaged in a number of illicit and fetish activities.
Chris Okafor apologised to her via the pulpit and stepped down.
He returned to church today, Feb. 1, weeks after he stepped down.
Video of his return shows church members with placard and flowers welcoming him. On the placards, they wrote welcome messages and expressed their joy at having him back.
“The shephard is home,” one placard read.
“We love you always,” another read.
Other placards had messages that read, “Welcome home daddy” and “Your sheep await your blessings.”
A red carpet was spread on the floor in front of the building while members in uniforms stood by the side and Chris and his wife walked the carpet.
Chris and his new wife are then seen making a triumphant entry into the church hall as members flank them.
Later, an officiating minister lauded Chris as he welcomed him to the pulpit.
“We are back to do best what God ordained us to do,” Chris said as he got to the pulpit and did a synchronised dance with his wife.
Members are seen dancing happily, rejoicing over his return.
Zulu king wants foreigners out of SA SOUTH Africa’s Zulu king has raised eyebrows by using a highly derogatory term for foreigners and saying they must all leave the country during a much-hyped speech that was supposed to have been aimed at calming anti-migrant feelings in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal.
Warning: This story contains language some people may find offensive Misuzulu kaZwelithini was addressing his supporters at the place where 20,000 Zulus warriors defeated a British contingent of 1,800 soldiers 147 years ago beneath the rocky outcrop of Isandlwana hill.
The Battle of Isandlwana, fought during the Anglo-Zulu war, is something many Zulus wear like a badge of honour: they fought against a foreign army and won – the foreigners were cowed.
The ire of many of King Misuzulu’s subjects is now directed not at British invaders but at migrants from neighbouring countries like Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe who have come to South Africa to work. According to official statistics, the country is home to about 2.4 million migrants, about 4% of the population.
The 51-year-old monarch did not advocate violence but said all “kwerekwere”, an offensive word for African migrants, must pack their bags – even if they were in relationships with South Africans and had children with them. “We must now sit down and discuss this because even if my nephew’s father is a ‘kwerekwere’, the ‘kwerekwere’ must leave, only the child will remain,” he said on Thursday to the delight of his audience – a response which prompted him to burst out laughing. Many online have been quick to point out the irony of his remarks, considering the king’s own mother was from Eswatini and one of his wives is also from the neighbouring kingdom.
But such xenophobic attitudes have long been an issue in South Africa, leading to deadly outbreaks of violence – and his comments echo those made by his late father Goodwill Zwelithini, who urged migrants in 2015 to “pack their belongings”. He later tried to back-pedal, claiming he was misquoted, but the country’s human rights body found his comments “hurtful and harmful”. More than a decade on, xenophobia and anger directed at migrants remain a key political issue – with some believing foreigners are stealing jobs and benefiting from public services meant for South Africans.
The rate of unemployment in the country remains one of the highest in the world at around 33%. This is something new opposition parties – like uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) led by former President Jacob Zuma, whose main support base is in KwaZulu-Natal – have latched on to with populist policies that support the expulsion of undocumented migrants. This has led in recent years to the rise of vigilante anti-migrant groups, like Operation Dudula and March on March, which have gained notoriety for their demands that foreign nationals be removed from the country. “Dudula” means “to remove something by force” in the Zulu language.
Their latest campaign took place a few days before the king’s speech and not long after the start of the academic year. An angry group of protesters descended on a primary school in the KwaZulu-Natal port city of Durban, claiming that 90% of the pupils there were the children of migrants.
The heated demonstration forced the school to call parents to come and collect the students because of safety concerns – and the next day a large contingent of police was deployed to the gates of Addington Primary School. The local authorities hit out at the organisers of the march, which was also supported by MK, and accused them of spreading misinformation.
“This has put a lot of people’s lives at risk. It is a lie that 90% of learners are children of immigrants. The truth is that immigrants form 37% of the learner population,” Mlu Mtshali, an education spokesperson for KwaZulu-Natal, told South Africa’s Daily Maverick newspaper. This prompted the education department to reveal that nationally, 253,618 foreign pupils are enrolled in South Africa’s public schools – 1.8% of all students. Of these, 14,929 are at public schools in KwaZulu-Natal.
Commentators have also pointed out that in South Africa, all children have a legal right to basic education, irrespective of their nationality or status in the country. Credit: BBC Kalemba, February 1, 2026
A sad incident has struck the Ghanaian community in Ohio, USA, after a business mogul passed away while he was working.
In the quest for a good living during their pension, Ghanaians abroad mostly work under any condition to ensure they are making enough money, and that was how Mr. Poku died.
On Saturday, January 24, 2026, during a snowstorm, the well-known business mogul in the Ghanaian community in Ohio, Mr. Poku, who is into shipping, went to load one of his containers.
The report indicates that people close to Poku informed him about the severity of the storm, alerting him to return home, but he wanted to finish loading the shipment before returning home since he had already.
After a long wait, the business never got home, so the his people called the Ohio Police to lodge a formal complaint about their missing friend.
When the Ohio Police arrived at where Poku was loading a container, his lifeless body was found in an ambulance that he had driven into the container as part of his shipment.
The cause of this sad news is yet to be uncovered, as the investigation continues, but rumours have it that Poku fell unconscious after he drove an ambulance into the container he was loading.
This narration is from a Ghanaian hustler in Ohio, USA, who was stating the ordeals of Africans abroad.
In a tragic incident, a well-known Ohio-based Ghanaian business owner, Mr. Yaw Poku, was reportedly found dead inside a shipping container on 24 January 2026.
According to reports, Mr. Poku was loading items for shipment to Ghana during a heavy winter storm on the night of the… pic.twitter.com/hToajyltnz
A former public relations agent for Michael Jackson has said he believes the late pop star was guilty of ch!ld @buse allegations levelled against him, despite Jackson being acquitted in court.
Vincent Amen, who worked for Jackson in the early 2000s, made the claim in a new Michael Jackson: The Trial documentary airing on Channel 4, which revisits the singer’s highly publicised 2005 court case.
Jackson was tried after allegations by a boy, Gavin Arvizo, who claimed the singer gave him alcohol, showed him pornography and committed acts of s3xual mol3station. The jury ultimately found Jackson not guilty of all charges. He died in 2009, four years after the trial, following an overdose of a prescription anaesthetic.
In the documentary, Amen says he came to believe Jackson was guilty and alleges there was a long-running cover-up to protect the star.
“I absolutely believe that Michael Jackson is guilty of ch!ld @buse and molestation,” Amen said. “I believe there was a cover-up for so many years.”
Amen said he joined Jackson’s inner circle in 2003 to help manage the fallout from the controversial Martin Bashir documentary Living With Michael Jackson. While preparing for the subsequent trial, he claimed he discovered a naturist magazine among Jackson’s belongings.
According to Amen, the magazine contained advertisements for videos of “n@ked kids” that he said were marked for order. “Finding that, I realised, ‘Something is going on here,’” he said. “Where there’s smoke, there is fire.”
Amen said the discovery made him feel misled and prompted him to speak to prosecutors, though he was never called to testify during the trial.
Reflecting on his actions, he said: “I do not have any regrets, when I saw something that was concerning, which I believe would indicate ch!ld s3x @buse, I did the right thing, and I came forward.”
The documentary also examines Jackson’s relationship with former friend and PR manager Frank Cascio. Cascio and his siblings, Aldo, Marie-Nicole, Dominic and Eddie, are now pursuing their own allegations of s3xual abuse against Jackson. The siblings had previously defended the singer but later claimed they experienced grooming, manipulation and molestation while in his company.
They are currently seeking to overturn a prior financial agreement with Jackson’s estate that prevents them from taking legal action. Commenting on Cascio’s shift in position, Amen said: “From what I know now, s3x @buse victims reveal information about their abuse piece by piece, over the years.”
In the years since Jackson’s death, further allegations have continued to surface, most notably through the documentary Leaving Neverland and its sequel, which focused on claims by Wade Robson and James Safechuck and the long-term personal and legal aftermath of their accusations.
The United States has added Niger to its Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory, citing worsening security conditions marked by terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime, civil unrest, and limited access to emergency and healthcare services.
The advisory, issued by the U.S. Department of State on January 30, 2026, warns Americans against all travel to Niger and notes that U.S. authorities are unable to provide routine or emergency consular services outside the capital, Niamey. A state of emergency and movement restrictions remain in place across large parts of the country.
U.S. officials referenced recent terrorist activity, including a gunfight involving Islamic State–affiliated militants at Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, as evidence of the deteriorating security situation and heightened risks for foreigners.
Under current security regulations, foreigners traveling outside the capital are required to use Nigerien military escorts. U.S. government employees are subject to strict measures, including the use of armored vehicles, curfews, and restrictions on visiting restaurants and open-air markets. American citizens remaining in Niger have been advised to adopt similar precautions.
With Niger’s addition, the number of African countries under the U.S. government’s highest travel alert has risen to eight. Others on the Level 4 list include Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, and parts of the Sahel, where insurgency, political instability, and weak state control continue to pose serious risks.
Level 4 is the highest category in the U.S. travel advisory system and is reserved for countries facing extreme security threats such as armed conflict, terrorism, or widespread violence that significantly endanger foreign nationals.
Beyond travel warnings, Level 4 designations often have broader consequences, including a sharp decline in tourism, delays or cancellations of foreign investment, and reduced diplomatic engagement as embassies scale back operations.
Doctors in southern France were forced to deal with an extraordinary medical emergency after a young man arrived at hospital with a World War I explosive lodged inside his body.
The 24-year-old presented at a hospital in Toulouse complaining of pain but initially gave no explanation. During surgery, doctors discovered that a historic artillery shell measuring about 16 by 4 centimetres and dating back to 1918 had been inserted into his @nus.
Hospital staff immediately alerted authorities, prompting the evacuation of parts of the facility as bomb disposal experts, police and firefighters were called in. Firefighters later confirmed to Le Parisien that the shell was safely defused and posed no further danger.
The man remains in recovery following surgery and could now face legal consequences for breaching France’s strict weapons laws.
Doctors noted that this was not an isolated case of patients risking their lives by inserting dangerous objects. In a separate incident, a 45-year-old man reportedly endured 10 days with a metal cup stuck in his rectum before seeking medical help. The object was allegedly inserted by friends during a drunken prank at a party in Surat, India, and became lodged further inside when he tried to remove it himself.
Another recent case involved a man in Texas who was caught placing antique items, including a makeup brush and a bottle opener, into his anus inside a shop before returning them to the shelves.
Medical professionals continue to warn that such actions can lead to life-threatening injuries and serious legal consequences.
“Go Ask Them What Other Jobs They Do” – Bimbo Akintola Exposes the Truth Behind Nollywood Wealth
Veteran Nollywood star Bimbo Akintola has offered a blunt explanation for why she doesn’t live the lavish lifestyle flaunted by many of her colleagues, pointing to the harsh financial realities of the Nigerian film business.
The Reality Check
In a recent interview, Akintola debunked the myth that acting alone is a gateway to immense riches. She argued that the earnings from major movie platforms are simply not enough to fund the extravagance seen on social media, suggesting that those living in luxury have alternative sources of income.
She stated:
“We hear stories of some actresses who do things with politicians for money. So when people ask me why I am not rich like the others, I tell them to go ask them what other jobs they do.”
The Paycheck Limits
The actress, whose career spans decades, emphasized that the public often has a skewed perception of how the industry works. She noted that relying solely on professional fees makes it difficult to maintain a high-end lifestyle.
She added:
“Cus we know how much Africa Magic & other platforms pay for a movie,”
Breaking News : Iran Says It Is Ready for War With the U.S., Still Hopes for a Nuclear Deal
Iran has declared that it is fully prepared for a potential military confrontation with the United States if nuclear negotiations fail, while simultaneously stressing that diplomacy remains its preferred path to avoid conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking in an international media interview, said that although tensions between Tehran and Washington are at a critical level, war is not inevitable. He emphasized that Iran continues to hope for a “fair and balanced” agreement on its nuclear program that would respect Iran’s rights while preventing further escalation.
Araghchi stated that Iran is seeking a diplomatic resolution that would allow peaceful nuclear development and lead to the lifting of sanctions. However, he made it clear that Tehran will not hesitate to respond militarily if talks collapse or if it comes under attack. According to him, Iran’s armed forces are fully prepared for any scenario.
The Iranian foreign minister warned that any U.S. military action would have serious consequences, suggesting that American bases in the region could become legitimate targets in the event of a war. He described a potential conflict as devastating for all sides and said such an outcome would destabilize the entire Middle East.
A major challenge, Araghchi noted, remains the deep lack of trust between Iran and the United States, which he described as the biggest obstacle to meaningful negotiations. Without confidence-building measures, he said, progress will remain difficult.
The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions and reports that the United States has been reviewing rapid military options against Iran, while Iran’s leadership has warned that any attack could trigger a wider regional war.
Despite the strong rhetoric, Iran reiterated that it still believes a diplomatic solution is possible and preferable, provided negotiations are conducted on equal terms and without threats.
Ghana has announced it will stop exporting raw gold and begin refining all gold domestically before export, starting in February.
The decision follows an agreement between Ghana’s Gold Board and Gold Coast Refinery Limited, with technical support from South Africa’s Rand Refinery.
As Africa’s largest gold producer, Ghana aims to add more value locally, create jobs, boost revenue, and curb illicit gold trade by introducing officially marked Ghanaian gold bars.
Melania Trump is making serious noise at the box office. The First Lady’s big-budget documentary, Melania, pulled in $7.04 million during its opening weekend, far exceeding expectations and marking the largest opening for a non-fiction film in the past decade, according to industry figures.
The debut surpassed the previous record holder, 2023’s After Death, which opened to $5 million. The performance was seen as a major surprise, as pre-release projections had estimated an opening between $3 million and $5 million, with some analysts predicting an even lower turnout.
The film premiered on Thursday, January 29, at the newly rebranded Kennedy Center, ahead of its global theatrical release on Friday, January 30. It is backed by a reported $40 million deal with Amazon MGM Studios and supported by a $35 million marketing campaign.
The documentary offers selective glimpses into Melania Trump’s life in the weeks leading up to Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025.
The film also marks the return of director Brett Ratner to the big screen after years away from filmmaking following multiple s3xual misconduct allegations raised during the #MeToo movement. No criminal charges were filed against him.
Anthony Joshua, JK Rowling and Mo Salah have been named among the UK’s top 100 taxpayers.
The billionaire brothers behind gambling giant Betfred topped the rankings of The Sunday Times Tax List 2026 for the first time, surpassing musicians, entrepreneurs and sports stars.
Fred and Peter Done, who founded the Warrington-based business in 1967, paid out an estimated £400.1m in tax over the past year, according to the annual list.
It came after their tax bill climbed by almost half from £273.4m a year earlier.
Financial trading entrepreneur Alex Gerko ranked second on the list with £331.4m in tax, followed by hedge fund boss Chris Rokos, who paid £330m.
Singer Harry Styles was among the new entries to the list, in 54th place, paying £24.7m in tax.
Billionaire businessman Mike Ashley ranked ninth on the list, with a contribution of £175m in tax, while entrepreneur Sir James Dyson and Nik Storonsky, a co-founder of the payments firm Revolut, also featured.
Two footballers also joined the list for the first time, with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland appearing in 72nd place with an estimated tax payment of £16.9m and Liverpool’s Salah believed to have a bill of £14.5m, in 81st place.
Haaland, 25, is the youngest person to appear in the tax list.
Harry Potter author Rowling ranked 36th on the list with a tax bill of £47.5m, and musician Ed Sheeran 64th, with a £19.9m tax payment.
Boxer Anthony Joshua ranked 100th, paying £11m in tax.
Wetherspoons founder Sir Tim Martin, 70, ranked eighth in the list with a personal contribution of £199.7m.
The list showed that the top 100 taxpayers handed over a total of £5.758bn worth of tax, up from £4.985bn a year earlier.
Many on the list, including the Done brothers, paid more tax after changes to corporation tax rates and other taxes by the government in a bid to support higher welfare spending.
Robert Watts, who compiled the list, said: “This is an increasingly diverse list, with Premier League footballers and world famous pop stars lining up alongside aristocrats and business owners selling pies, pillows and baby milk.
“This year there’s been a big jump in the amount of tax we’ve identified – largely because of higher corporation tax rates.”
BREAKING: New Epstein Files Reveal Former President Jacob Zuma at Intimate Dinner with Jeffrey Epstein
Latest disclosures from the United States Justice Department, part of a massive release of documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, have revealed something significant from the archives of the late Jeffrey Epstein: an email referring to an intimate dinner in London in 2010 that included former South African president Jacob Zuma.
According to reporting by Daily Maverick, the email comes from what’s now being called the Epstein Files — a trove of millions of documents, images and videos made public this week that detail Epstein’s contacts with powerful figures around the world.
Here’s what we know so far:
➡️ The dinner took place in London in 2010, during a state visit by Zuma — his first to the UK after becoming president. ➡️ The email communication referring to this dinner was included among the tens of thousands of pages released most recently by the U.S. Justice Department. ➡️ At this stage, this disclosure appears to be social or contextual — not an allegation of criminal activity by Zuma. The reports do not claim illegal conduct by him.
Why this matters:
Epstein was a convicted sex offender whose network included politicians, business leaders and celebrities, and whose private contacts have been the subject of intense scrutiny and speculation for years.
The release of the Epstein documents — over 3 million pages so far, with emails and correspondence between Epstein and global figures — is one of the largest transparency efforts in U.S. legal history. Any mention of a head of state or influential politician in these files inevitably raises questions about access, influence and the nature of associations — even if nothing illegal is alleged.
What’s being said publicly so far:
Supporters of transparency argue that all relationships between powerful people and Epstein deserve scrutiny, given his history of abuse and manipulation. Others caution that not every social connection is meaningful — especially when it comes to official functions or state visits.
At this point, the dinner reference is a new disclosure in the files, not an accusation. As more researchers and journalists comb through the millions of pages being released, additional context or corroboration may surface.
This story is still developing as more documents are analysed.
Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament and Kabweza resident, Hon. Gary Nkombo, has come out guns blazing to silence swirling rumors suggesting that he has resigned from the United Party for National Development (UPND).
The speculation, which spread like wildfire across political circles and social media, left many supporters stunned and opponents prematurely celebrating what would have been a major shake-up in the ruling party.
But Nkombo was quick to pour cold water on the claims.
“Fake news going round, I am in my village at Kapongo since morning,” he stated, dismissing the reports with a tone of calm certainty.
His brief but firm response has effectively slammed the brakes on the rumor mill, signaling that the seasoned politician remains firmly planted in the UPND camp.
Political analysts say the incident highlights the growing danger of misinformation in an already charged political atmosphere as the country edges closer to the next electoral cycle.
For now, it appears the only thing Hon. Nkombo has resigned from is the patience to entertain baseless gossip.
The Fall of the Patriotic Front and the Crisis of Opposition Politics in Zambia
By Linda Banks
The Patriotic Front, once Zambia’s most formidable political force and a vehicle of hope for millions, now stands at the edge of political irrelevance. This was the party that carried Michael Sata’s populist fire and later governed under Edgar Lungu. Today, it is fractured, confused, and struggling to speak with one voice.
So begs the question, What went wrong? Why did a party so deeply embedded in Zambia’s political consciousness unravel so quickly after losing power in 2021? And what does its decline tell us about the wider state of opposition politics, the conduct of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND), and the future of Zambia’s democracy as the country edges toward 2026?
Answering these questions requires more than recounting events. It demands an honest examination of leadership culture, institutional weakness, and political behaviour.
A Party Without a North Star
The Patriotic Front’s crisis is not cosmetic,It is existential. After its defeat, the party failed to pause, reflect, and redefine itself. Instead of rebuilding institutions, clarifying ideology, and renewing leadership, it slid into factional warfare.
Internal voices have openly acknowledged the loss of structure, unity, and discipline. Rival centres of authority emerged. Press statements contradicted one another. Courtrooms replaced conferences, personality politics overwhelmed policy thinking.
This is a predictable outcome when a party relies too heavily on charismatic authority rather than strong institutions, across Africa, many organisations are often caught in the act of ignoring grooming successors. Movements built around individuals, struggle when leadership transitions arrives. When the glue disappears, coherence collapses.
The electorate has noticed. And it is asking a simple question: can a party that cannot govern itself be trusted to govern a nation?
Leadership Vacuum and the Weight of Legacy
The death of Edgar Lungu was a moment of national reflection, but for the PF it reopened unresolved fractures. Without a clear succession framework, ambition filled the vacuum. Parallel structures appeared, legal manoeuvres replaced political consensus.
Where institutional succession is weak, factionalism thrives. Where factionalism thrives, credibility erodes. Defections followed, supporters drifted. Elected figures crossed the floor, not always out of conviction, but often out of survival.
The canoeists (PF)did not merely lose power, It lost its boat, it lost gravity.
The Ruling Party and the Opposition Dilemma
How much responsibility does the UPND bear for this decline? PF figures have accused the ruling party of using state machinery to restrict opposition activity, citing limited political space and legal constraints.
From a strategic standpoint, incumbency always carries advantage. Yet it would be dishonest to place the PF’s collapse solely at the feet of the ruling party. A weak house is easy to shake. Internal disorder creates opportunities that political opponents inevitably exploit.
At the same time, President Hakainde Hichilema’s government has not been spared public scrutiny. While debt restructuring and renewed international engagement have attracted praise, many Zambians continue to feel the weight of unmet expectations. The cost of living remains high, perceptions of official arrogance persist, public patience is wearing thin, and a growing segment of the electorate is openly questioning the UPND’s hold on power.This has led to the UPND today resembling a wounded buffalo, still powerful, still dangerous, but limping under the pressure of expectation.
Many Parties, No Compass
Beyond the PF, Zambia’s opposition landscape is crowded but unfocused. Multiple parties compete for attention, yet none commands enough national appeal to challenge incumbency alone.
African political history is instructive. Divided opposition rarely wins. Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa all offer lessons in how fragmentation hands victory to ruling parties.
Zambians see the same pattern repeating. Endless alliance negotiations. Public quarrels, collapsing coalitions. These disputes are often presented as ideological differences. In truth, they signal weak leadership and, too often, naked greed.
Who leads. Who controls the ticket. Who benefits.
The public understands this instinctively, If politicians cannot manage their ambitions in opposition, how will they manage state power?
Nyuu Under the Microscope
Into this space steps a powerful slogan, Nyuu. New leaders, New ideas. A new political culture.It resonates because Zambians are tired ,tired of recycled faces, tired of disappointment, tired of being asked to trust the same hands that once dropped the ball. But slogans invite scrutiny.
Is Nyuu truly new, or is it old politics dressed in fresh language?
Look closely at those leading the charge, are they genuinely fresh political minds, or familiar figures repackaged for another season? Some of the loudest advocates for renewal are individuals who once stood close to power, defended excesses, and normalised arrogance.
Zambians did not reject a government only because of debt or economics, they rejected arrogant attitudes. Leaders who stopped listening, stopped respecting the people, and confused entitlement with leadership. So the question must be asked, have the lessons truly been learned?
Campaign Managers/Bloggers and Political Judgment
Opposition leaders must ask themselves an uncomfortable question, are we choosing strategists who broaden our appeal, or gatekeepers who sabotage it? Leadership is judged not only by the candidate, but by the company they keep. Campaign managers are mirrors. They reflect judgment, values, and political maturity.
Across democracies, elections are lost not because candidates lack ideas, but because their inner circles repel undecided voters. Campaign managers known for insults, abrasive language, and public baggage do not build coalitions. They shrink them.
You cannot insult your way to State House. You cannot bully your way into credibility, You cannot promise unity while thriving on division.
From Critique to Construction
If the opposition is serious about offering Zambia an alternative, Nyuu must become a discipline, not a chant.
Renewal must be visible, those whose public image is tied to past failures should step back into advisory roles. Experience matters, but dominance does damage.
Opposition parties must agree on a transparent and credible method for selecting a single presidential candidate,the process matters as much as the person. Trust begins with how choices are made.
Campaign teams must be rebuilt around competence, restraint, and public credibility. Language matters. Tone matters. Respect matters.
Above all, the opposition must remember this truth: power is not seized, it is entrusted. And Zambians will not entrust their future to movements that look like yesterday arguing with itself.
In conclusion, the fall of the Patriotic Front is not merely the story of one party. It is a warning about institutional weakness, ego over ideology, and the political cost of arrogance.
The UPND, though dominant today, is not invincible. But incumbency will not be dislodged by noise, confusion, or recycled politics.
Zambia stands at a crossroads. Will opposition leaders choose unity over ego, strategy over spectacle, renewal over recycling?
Nyuu is still possible. But it must be demonstrated, not declared.
The people are watching. The window is narrowing. And history is unforgiving to those who mistake ambition for leadership.
Linda Banks is a Journalist covering politics, justice, social issues and international affairs across Africa and the UK.
THERE IS NEED TO ENGAGE ALL CHURCHES ON THEIR JURISDICTION UNDER THE SOCIETIES ACT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE
We are not done celebrating; so why didn’t the clergy issue a statement or Pastoral letter before the elections ?
In Kasama we had some clergy literally going public at a rally campaigning against the government and we picked the information on how they were distributing money to voters to aid the opposition . At that point , we made it clear that whoever is caught will regret as to why chickens have no horns .
We further continue to remind our members across the country to continue to monitor some clergy who supported opposition in Chawama constituency where they were literally dishing out money and sponsoring people that posed as ECZ , wearing reflective jackets in collusion with opposition, and stood by the polling stations where UPND was seen to be more popular, telling the electorates that their name was not in the register and in some cases told voters that their name was at another polling station until such voters were out of time and disfranchised.
This may be the 2026 strategy ; we need to build a robust security system around this as a country before our sovereignty is compromised by the church. The church must not and should never decide political leadership on behalf of citizens.
For those who have done political science , you may recall , that such a mistake of allowing the church to decide political leadership was made during the Roman Republic State, and it was agreed at the Treaty of Westphalia , to never again allow that to happen in the world .
The treaty of Westphalia is what gave birth to America’s Civil and Political rights as a foundation of their constitution. It means , the church and the secular world should never jointly run the secular world .
To have the church in collusion with the political parties send back voters as experienced in Chawama and as attempted in Kasama is a criminal offence in Zambia !
There is also need for government to engage leadership of churches, including the Vatican City for the clergy that may be doing similar criminal activities , and also engage those known clergy involved so we establish if that is the approach they want to take in a sovereign state, then enforce available laws .
As we have stated before, genocide or people Killing each other in Rwanda was started by a Christian Radio station which spread hate speech and focused on negative reporting against government.
To date , we have some Christian Radio stations running hate speech programmes and dividing the country in the name of malicious excessive freedom of expression, yet such media fall under the Independent Broadcasting Authority and the state has the power to revoke the licenses.
The danger of using Christian radio stations is that it may create agitation and anxiety where political supporters may want to attack radio stations including presenters, which act is against the UPND foundation . We must not allow ourselves to act after the situation has degenerated into this level.
Before it is too late , the IBA must engage such media institutions or we may help them to do that .
Having a political opinion as a right should not threaten the rights and freedoms of other people , or our enjoyment of rights should not affect the enjoyment of other people’s rights – this is the principle about enjoyment of rights and freedoms.
Finally , the Societies Act is instructive as to the role of the church and what the church cannot do especially when it comes to taking part in politics , and military activities ; pursuant to the Societies Act , government must begin engaging all the churches on their role and their jurisdiction or boundaries.
Our laws in terms of the participation of the church in supporting politicians publicly are not different from those of Rwanda and Russia .
We also have the public Order Act which regulate political or public gatherings; therefore , the churches must choose whether to worship so that they are protected by the Societies Act , or discuss politics so that the Public Order can take effect.
In Russia , churches that supported regime change were closed under the laws similar to ours .
PUT IT IN WRITING EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE NO AUTHORITY-PF NAKONDE MP TELLS LUBINDA GROUPING
MEDIA STATEMENT RESPONSE
My attention has been drawn to media reports suggesting my expulsion from the Patriotic Front (PF).
I wish to state that I have not received any official communication from the party regarding this matter. As a dedicated member and Provincial Youth Treasurer for Muchinga Province, I understand that such significant decisions follow a clear internal procedure and are not conducted through media statements or social media.
Until I am formally served with official communication on the party’s letterhead, bearing the clear signatories and details of the authority behind it, I remain a loyal member of the Patriotic Front. I believe it is prudent to await proper and lawful channels of communication, especially in the current climate.
Sincerely, Hon. Lukas Simumba, MP Nakonde Constituency Patriotic Front Member & Muchinga Province Youth Treasurer
A MUST-READ COUNTER-REACTION TO KBN TV’S EDITORIAL ON THE KASAMA BY-ELECTION: WHY THE “UNITED OPPOSITION” ARGUMENT IS FLAWED
The KBN TV editorial on the Kasama mayoral by-election is less of an objective analysis and more of a projection of the writer’s political expectations and wishes.
You can access their editorial via this link:https://www.fac
It begins from a desired conclusion, that the ruling party should have lost, and then works backwards to justify that belief.
The central hypothesis advanced in the article that a united opposition fielding one candidate, would have automatically defeated UPND, is both speculative and intellectually weak. Here is why ?
First of all, the assumption that votes cast for different opposition parties are transferable is fundamentally flawed. Voters are not commodities that can be pooled and reassigned at will.
Those who voted for CF, UPPZ, SP, or any other party did so for different and personal reasons, ranging from ideological alignment and candidate appeal to protest voting, historical loyalty, or outright rejection of both UPND and FDD.
To automatically assume that these voters would have rallied behind a single opposition candidate is not only incorrect, but also dismissive of the intelligence of the people of Kasama.
Secondly, the editorial conveniently ignores a critical political reality in Zambian politics called “voter apathy”. The crop of voters we have today is very different from the one Pastor Kennedy Mambwe, the owner of KBN TV, was born into. Today’s voters are more enlightened and more discerning. They know exactly what they want. Their voting choices are driven by preference, and when their preferred candidate is not on the ballot, many consciously choose to abstain rather than vote blindly.
For such voters, a “united opposition” could just as easily have reduced turnout or driven them to abstain, rather than consolidating votes. History has also shown that voter apathy often favours the ruling party.
Thirdly, while the article correctly states that UPND mobilised heavily and took the election seriously, it contradicts itself by later downplaying that same mobilisation and attributing the outcome mainly to opposition fragmentation.
You see, Elections are not won in theory. They are won through organisation, ground presence, voter mobilisation, and most importantly, message resonance.
On this score, UPND clearly outperformed its competitors. The combination of Elvis Nkandu, Chipoka Mulenga, Paul Kabuswe, Levy Ngoma, and Elias Mubanga went into Kasama with a message centred on CDF, free education, peace and development. Something that resonated well with the voters.
While the other camp went in with divisive campaign messages of regionalism and character assassination. The kind of politics that the youths, who form the majority of voters, have decisively rejected.
Moreover, the repeated comparison of the combined opposition tally against the UPND vote is a post-election arithmetic exercise, not political science. Adding up opposition tallies after the fact, does not explain how people would have voted under a different political arrangement. If they did, coalition politics would be far simpler than it actually is.
The article also attempts to absolve itself from regional bias by stating “stop blaming northerners,” yet paradoxically keeps returning to regional voting narratives. Somehow, the article seems to suggest that the people of Kasama would have voted along regional lines had the opposition united, again, an insult to the intelligence of the people of Kasama.
The truth is that Kasama voters made independent choices, and those choices delivered a winner. There is no moral or democratic obligation for voters to align their preferences to suit opposition arithmetic.
Finally, the suggestion that Kasama offers a ready-made “template” for the August 2026 elections is premature and exaggerated. By-elections are context-specific and often influenced by short-term factors that do not automatically translate into general election outcomes.
The invocation of the 50+1 threshold is also misleading. While it is true that UPND did not cross the 50+1 mark in Kasama, this fact is being stretched beyond its proper context. A mayoral by-election is not a presidential election, and the 50+1 rule applies to nationwide presidential contests, not isolated local races.
More importantly, it does not logically follow that Kasama suggests a united opposition could have forced a rerun in a general election simply because UPND fell short of 50+1 in this by-election. A general election involves the entire country, not a single district. The ruling party has strongholds across Zambia where a so-called united opposition would likely score negligible or even zero returns. Ignoring these national dynamics and extrapolating Kasama into a national rerun scenario is analytically unsound.
In conclusion, the Kasama result does not in any way prove that a united opposition would have won. What it proves is that UPND organised better, campaigned harder, and convinced more voters on the day. Any other conclusion is a conjecture driven more by political desire, inspired by a political inclination than electoral reality.
Zambian voters are not numbers on a spreadsheet that can be added to suit one’s political desire. They are thinking citizens, and any analysis that ignores this reality is bound to miss the point. The KBN editorial completely ignored this reality.
(Disclaimer: Pictures do not suggest the KBN editorial was authored by these two )
HH HAS PERFORMED WELL, WE SHOULDN’T RISK ELECTING AN AMATEUR – CHINGOLA MAYOR
CHINGOLA Mayor Johnson Kang’ombe says President Hakainde Hichilema is one of the best-performing leaders the country has had, stressing that the nation cannot risk putting an amateur in leadership.
Kang’ombe adds that he is not backing off from his intentions to run as a member of parliament in the 2026 general elections.
In an interview, Tuesday, Kang’ombe addressed the narrative that the UPND might be losing popularity on the ground, saying the party remained firmly supported due to its achievements.
“…. but we are popular, we’ve done a lot from the time that we formed government. Just starting with me as Mayor, we’ve done a lot of things at the council; we have procured a lot of things, we have built a lot of things using locally generated resources. So, there is a lot that we’ve done and that’s why I’m saying it is not something that they can say we have lost popularity, no.
So, that’s why I’m saying in a nutshell we are standing on firm ground, we are not losing popularity because the issue is that in Zambia, HH is one of the best-performing presidents who has done extremely well.
President HH has done extremely well and that’s the reason we cannot even risk putting an amateur as a president, no, we can’t risk that. We need stability in this country,” he said.
“Like the last general election, we got nine members of parliament and the PF got nine and four independents. And this time we are going to have 29 because the Copperbelt will be given seven extra constituencies, so we are going to have 29. So, all I’m saying is that the Copperbelt has urban and peri-urban constituencies, same as Lusaka, so we shall also move in the same direction.
On the mayoral level, we got eight and they (PF) got two, they got Kitwe and Ndola but we got the rest. So, the narrative on the Copperbelt is 50-50 with Lusaka, and that does not mean that they can win the general election, no. We are winning with a very big margin. But just on the Copperbelt and Lusaka, we shall get 50-50, or we can get 60, they can get 40, or they can get 60, we get 40, or vice versa.”
Asked about his intention to stand as an MP, Kang’ombe said he was not backing off.
“So far so good, we’re not backing off and our intentions are just like that and we know that we are the right candidate. Because given the experience that we’ve gained from being a councillor and now being a national leader in the latest election at a national level, and also on top of that to manage a constituency. With what I’ve just performed in Chingola, I think there are not even doubts in the minds of the people of Chingola right now.
My party is UPND and I’ve never been PF, but just the way I work, I work with everyone on the ground, that’s why I even got the majority of votes in the just-ended general election. I got the 7,000 votes because of the way I relate with everybody and I’m confident,” said Kang’ombe.
Lameck Kamalo Joins Tonse Alliance, Cites ‘Prodigal Sons’ in Politics
By Ludia Phiri Ngwadzai
Lameck Kamalo, leader of the Freedom Fighters Front(FFF) has thrown his weight behind the Given Lubinda-led Tonse Alliance Movement.
Speaking at a signing ceremony of Tonse Alliance new partners in Lusaka, Kamalo noted that every political party has its share of “prodigal sons” and urged party leaders to rise above internal conflicts.
Kamalo’s comments appear to be a veiled reference to the internal wrangles within the Patriotic Front (PF), which is also part of the Tonse Alliance.
He emphasized that no political party or home is immune to confusion and urged those with differences to put aside their grievances and join the movement led by Given Lubinda.
The Tonse Alliance has been gaining momentum in recent weeks, with several parties and individuals joining the movement. Kamalo’s decision to join the alliance is seen as a significant boost to the movement’s credibility and strength.
The hopefully Kamalo said his movement will play a crucial role in the 2026 general elections, adding that his participation is likely to bring in new supporters and voters.
WHY KALABA’S CITIZENS FIRST IS ZAMBIA’S STRONGEST OPPOSITION AHEAD OF 2026 GENERAL ELECTIONS
As Zambia moves steadily toward the 2026 general elections, the political landscape is becoming clearer and so is the identity of the country’s most formidable opposition force. Citizens First (CF), led by Harry Kalaba, is emerging as the most credible, people-driven alternative in Zambia today.
One of the most repeated claims from one certain opposition party is that Citizens First “has no people,” while they allegedly have “structures.” But this argument collapses under even basic scrutiny. In a democracy, the people are the structures. Voters, not recycled committees, old party offices, or paper alliances, are the true foundation of political power. Zambia’s history has shown repeatedly that elections are not won by boardroom arrangements, but by the will of ordinary citizens.
Ironically, many of the figures making these claims are the same individuals that Zambians decisively voted out in 2021. They now rebrand themselves as party of an alliance and expect the electorate to forget the past. But Zambians have not forgotten. They remember unfulfilled promises, poor governance, and leadership that lost touch with the people. An alliance of rejected ideas does not become credible simply because it has a new name.
Citizens First, though a young party, has demonstrated something far more important than inherited structures: organic growth and genuine public trust. Across the country, the party’s message of servant leadership, national unity, and practical solutions is resonating, especially among young people and first-time voters who are tired of recycled politics.
Importantly, Harry Kalaba has never closed the door to work with other opposition political parties. Citizens First has consistently stated that it is willing to work with anyone who genuinely wants to serve the people of Zambia. What the party has rightly rejected is confusion, opportunism, and power-hungry politics that place personal ambition above national interest. Unity is meaningful only when it is built on shared values, not desperation.
Unlike alliances formed mainly for electoral arithmetic, Citizens First’s growth is grounded in community engagement. From urban townships to rural areas, the party has focused on listening to Citizens concerns about the cost of living, youth unemployment, governance, and national dignity and offering clear, practical alternatives. This steady, bottom-up approach explains why the party continues to expand without relying on political shortcuts.
The strength of Citizens First lies not in loud press statements or elite endorsements, but in its connection to the everyday Zambian. It represents a clean break from politics of entitlement and a fresh opportunity for leadership anchored in humility and service.
As 2026 polls approaches, Zambians are once again faced with a choice: return to familiar faces and failed experiments, or invest in a new political force that is growing with the people, not above them. On current trajectory, Citizens First stands out as the most dynamic and credible opposition one that reflects the aspirations of a nation ready to move forward, not backward.
Issued by: Aaron Zimba 2026 Kasama Aspiring Mayor.
Kalaba humbles self, now wants to work with PF, reveals Kapata
GIVEN Lubinda-led PF national chairperson Jean Kapata has revealed that the over confident Citizens First (CF) president Harry Kalaba is ready to work with the PF but only after the former ruling party elects its official leader at the upcoming convention.
Speaking during the signing ceremony for new Tonse Alliance partners last evening, Kapata said Kalaba personally called her to deliver a message of support and encouragement for opposition unity.
“I was very happy when I received a call from Honourable Harry Kalaba,” Kapata said.
“He told me, ‘Please, make sure you come up with a leader. Do your convention. Immediately after the convention, we are on board.’ That was his message.”
Kapata said Kalaba made it clear that he does not want to fight over who becomes president of the alliance, but would rather see the opposition unite behind one candidate chosen through proper processes.
“He said, ‘We don’t want to fight over the issue of presidency. Let us meet together and come up with one leader.’ That was the message coming from Kalabahis,” Kapata said.
Meanwhile, Kapata blasted those promoting an entity calling itself the ECL/PF Movement saying there is only one PF in existence and it is the same one that the late president Edgar Lungu left behind.
She said some individuals are now fabricating fake movements to mislead the public.
“There has never been anything called the ECL/PF Movement,” Kapata said.
“Please respect President Edgar Chagwa Lungu even in his death. Don’t pretend to lead something he never formed. People know exactly where Edgar left the instruments of power.”
Kapata insisted that Lungu left Given Lubinda as acting PF president and chairperson of the Tonse Alliance, and that position only changes after the upcoming PF general conference scheduled for February.
“Until we go to the convention, the one who remains leader is Honourable Given Lubinda, nobody else,” she declared.
She said the PF, as the anchor party of the Tonse Alliance, recognises only one alliance chairperson, Lubinda and that any parallel structures are nothing but attempts to sow confusion.
The article published by *Kalemba* under the headline “Kalaba humbles self, now wants to work with PF, reveals Kapata” is a clear misrepresentation of facts and an unfortunate distortion of President Harry Kalaba’s long-held political position on opposition unity.
To suggest that President Kalaba has “humbled himself” only now, or that his willingness to work with other political parties including the Patriotic Front (PF) is a recent development born out of political desperation, is both inaccurate and misleading. President Kalaba has been consistent, principled, and deliberate in his advocacy for a united opposition long before the revival of discussions surrounding the eligibility of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu. His position has never shifted with political winds; it has remained anchored on the belief that a fragmented opposition cannot defeat a repressive and increasingly intolerant regime.
President Kalaba’s comfort in engaging the PF predates current internal debates within that party. It was never conditional, opportunistic, or driven by factional interests. Rather, it was informed by his firm belief that opposition politics must be built on trust, transparency, and unity—never on treachery, duplicity, or short-term schemes designed to benefit a few individuals.
Contrary to the narrative implied by the headline, President Kalaba has always been humble. His humility is not situational, nor is it performative. It is reflected in his long-standing call for a united opposition front, which he believes is far more effective and credible than a disjointed political landscape littered with multiple alliances and rival factions. Defeating a repressive regime does not require two Tonses or three PFs; it requires unity of purpose, unity of vision, and unity of action.
It must also be placed on record that at no point has President Kalaba spoken negatively about any PF faction or any political formation associated with former President Lungu. He has deliberately avoided inflammatory language and factional attacks, choosing instead to promote dialogue and cohesion across the opposition spectrum.
As correctly stated by Hon. Jean Kapata, President Kalaba has been very clear that he is not interested in fighting over who becomes president of any alliance. His focus is on process, not position. He believes that the opposition must unite behind a single candidate selected through credible, inclusive, and transparent processes—not through meetings convened with pre-set agendas aimed at advancing the interests of a few politically convenient actors.
https://youtu.be/ZtgtkNlr6nA?si=MITuTQD1QuotTJfr
Furthermore, President Kalaba has consistently rejected the retrogressive and archaic notion that the selection of a presidential flag bearer should be restricted to a particular region or tribe. Such thinking undermines national unity and must be rejected with the contempt it deserves if Zambia is to make progress as a truly democratic and inclusive nation.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Citizens First (CF) is an inclusive political movement that remains willing and ready to work with other political parties. It is for this reason that the CF is currently in partnership with the NDC, the RDC and we continue to actively engage various political formations with the objective of building a viable political arrangement that will reduce the number of presidential candidates and enhance the opposition’s chances of forming government.
However, CF will not allow itself to be entangled in the internal fights of any political party, including the PF. Our commitment is to unity across the entire political landscape, not to factional battles. Our ultimate objective remains unchanged: to bring about genuine liberation, democratic renewal, and economic justice for the people of Zambia.
Unity is not weakness. Consistency is not humility borne of defeat. They are, instead, the hallmarks of principled leadership.
We continue to advocate for a united opposition and united Zambia.
Thank you,
Hon Levison Mumba National Chairman Citizens First
GIVEN LUBINDA IS BEHAVING LIKE GUY SCOT WHO WANTED TO BLOCK EDGAR LUNGU FROM BEING ELECTED PF PRESIDENT AFTER SATA”S DEATH
Unpopular Lubinda is doing the same on Brian Mundubile after realising that the man he hates so much has formally been elected Tonse Alliance Chairperson and Presidential candidate in the August 13 general elections.
https://youtu.be/ZtgtkNlr6nA?si=MITuTQD1QuotTJfr
Lubinda is not different from Robert Chabinga.
Additionally, Miles Sampa, the source of all the current PF problems, should introspect and take a low profile, having sold PF to UPND. Chabinga is Sampa’s product.
The earlier all PF members and supporters rally behind newly-elected Tonse Alliance Chairperson and 2026 Presidential candidate, Mr Mundubile, the better.
Lubinga is a hired gun. Tonse Alliance leaders did well to Expel him from the Alliance. He is a double dealer who cannot be trusted.
KETIS NGOMA VS WALTER MWAMBAZI ON THE ECL BURIAL IMPASSE
Twice I have read Ketis Ngoma’s response to Rev. Walter Mwambazi’s article on the burial impasse of the former President, Edgar Lungu.
Ngoma states a fact which is not in dispute – the government of President Hichilema stopped the burial of the former President in a South African Court.
Otherwise, Lungu would have been buried a long time ago.
President Hichilema, according to the narrative that has emerged, is responsible for the decision to challenge the Lungu family in the courts of law.
If only Hichilema, the narrative goes, respected the wishes of his predecessor, the current impasse would have been avoided.
Here is my view. Presidents have serious vulnerabilities that are not obvious to the public.
They may look powerful but they have serious weaknesses that can and often are exploited by those near them.
Not every decision attributed to them is theirs. They may have even disagreed with them vehemently behind the scenes.
They capitulate because if those employed to offer them advice feel disrespected and their advice disregarded, going forward, they may stop performing their duties.
This becomes a recipe for disaster for someone who holds a position whose decisions have far reaching implications.
Applied to the case of the burial of the former President, it’s very likely that Hichilema may have decided to respect the wishes of his predecessor but someone may have told him otherwise.
This is not about you or Mr. Lungu, they may have told him.
It’s about the country and its practices, they may have further argued.
I can imagine them saying that whether it looks cruel and morally dry, the precedence must be upheld.
Others may have even reminded him that there is no doubt that there was some serious political beef between the two of them.
However, they may have argued that the state respects no emotions because it has no emotions.
The downside of this position is that none of the public servants that rendered this advice get the wrath of the public who have condemned this position.
Instead, the President shoulders it alone because, as far as the public is concerned, it’s his decision.
It’s with this possibility at the back of my mind that I usually appear to cut Hichilema some slack.
Zambian Constitution Allows Independent Presidential Candidates Ahead of General Elections
As Zambia heads toward the next General Elections, constitutional provisions governing the nomination of presidential candidates have come into renewed public focus, with legal experts reaffirming that the law allows individuals to contest the presidency as independent candidates.
Article 100 of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016 sets out the qualifications required for a person to be nominated as a presidential candidate. The Article outlines ten criteria, including citizenship by birth or descent, ordinary residence in Zambia, attainment of at least 35 years of age, voter registration status, minimum Grade 12 academic qualification or its equivalent, fluency in the official language, tax compliance, declaration of assets and liabilities, payment of the prescribed election fee, and support from at least 100 registered voters from each province.
Notably, the Constitution does not include any requirement for a presidential candidate to be a member of, or sponsored by, a registered political party.
Legal scholars and governance experts say the omission is deliberate and significant. They point out that earlier constitutional frameworks contained explicit clauses tying presidential candidature to political party sponsorship. However, such provisions were removed in the 2016 constitutional amendments.
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has previously clarified that the absence of a political party requirement under Article 100 means that independent candidates are constitutionally permitted to contest the presidency, provided they satisfy all nomination conditions set out in the Constitution and the Electoral Process Act.
Analysts further observe that while the Constitution expressly provides for independent candidates in parliamentary elections under Article 51, it equally does not bar independent presidential candidates, reinforcing the interpretation that party affiliation is not mandatory for the highest office in the land.
Electoral governance experts note that independent presidential aspirants must still meet stringent logistical and legal thresholds, particularly the requirement to secure at least 100 registered supporters from each of Zambia’s ten provinces, a measure intended to demonstrate national appeal.
With political parties already positioning potential candidates ahead of the general elections, observers say increased public understanding of constitutional eligibility requirements is essential to ensuring informed participation, legal compliance, and reduced electoral disputes.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia is expected to issue detailed nomination guidelines in line with constitutional provisions as the election calendar progresses.
🇿🇲 BRIEFING | Zambia Looks to Ghana’s Gold Playbook After Military Clampdown on Illegal Mining
President Hakainde Hichilema is turning to Ghana’s gold management model as Zambia tightens control over its own mineral sector, following a decisive military shutdown of the Kikonge gold rush and the conclusion of the country’s IMF programme.
Ghanaian President John Mahama is expected in Lusaka from February 4 to 6, 2026 for a three-day State Visit at the invitation of President Hichilema, with gold sector governance emerging as a central focus of the bilateral agenda.
The visit comes at a moment when Zambia is rethinking how newly discovered gold deposits are managed, after years in which minerals across Africa have fuelled conflict, illicit trade, and capital flight.
President Hichilema has repeatedly warned that Zambia must avoid what he has described as “rivers of blood” linked to poorly regulated mineral exploitation in other countries.
Speaking last week at State House while receiving diplomats’ credentials, the President said Zambia had deliberately identified Ghana as a benchmark in gold sector reform. He disclosed that a Zambian delegation led by Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe was dispatched to Accra last year to study Ghana’s approach to state participation, reserves accumulation, and regulation of artisanal mining.
Ghana’s experience has drawn attention across the continent. Between 2021 and 2025, the West African state is reported to have increased its gold reserves from about eight tonnes to roughly 35 tonnes, strengthening foreign exchange buffers, stabilising its currency, and generating an estimated US$5 billion through tighter state control and formalisation of the subsector.
Analysts credit reforms that reduced leakages, expanded central bank purchases of domestically produced gold, and curtailed smuggling networks.
Zambia’s renewed interest follows a hard security turn at home. In recent weeks, the Zambia Army deployed troops to Kikonge Gold Mine in Mufumbwe District, shutting down illegal operations and triggering a rapid exodus of miners. Army Commander Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele warned that operators outside the law would face “severe consequences,” framing the operation as a matter of national security and economic sovereignty.
Confirming President Mahama’s visit, acting Foreign Affairs Minister Rodney Sikumba said the trip is a reciprocal engagement following President Hichilema’s State Visit to Ghana in July 2023 and builds on outcomes of the Zambia–Ghana Joint Permanent Commission held in Lusaka in October last year.
He said bilateral talks at State House will focus on mining value addition, agriculture and food security, energy, waste management, trade, and skills development.
President Mahama is also scheduled to address Zambia’s Parliament on February 5, offering a platform to engage legislators on democratic governance and economic cooperation. The visit will conclude with the Zambia–Ghana Business Forum on February 6, aimed at boosting trade and investment within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The timing is notable. Zambia has just exited its IMF Extended Credit Facility programme, restoring a measure of fiscal credibility and policy space. With macroeconomic stabilisation largely secured, the administration is now shifting attention to resource governance and value capture, seeking to ensure that minerals contribute to growth rather than disorder.
For investors and policymakers, the message is clear. Zambia is signalling a move away from laissez-faire extraction toward tighter regulation, regional learning, and state-led oversight.
Whether the Ghana model can be adapted to Zambia’s political economy will be tested in the months ahead, as security operations on the ground give way to institutional reforms designed to turn gold into a durable pillar of economic recovery.
M’MEMBE BEMOANS OPPOSITION DISUNITY AFTER KASAMA LOSS
SOCIALIST Party leader Dr Fred M’membe has bemoaned the opposition’s lack of unity following the UPND’s victory in the Kasama mayoral by-election.
Dr M’membe notes that the Kasama mayoral by-election should serve as a lesson to promote collaboration and strengthen the opposition by making a formidable force.
UPND candidate Bywell Simposya scooped the Kasama mayoral by-election after securing 17,647 votes. Simposya was followed by Peter Yuda of the FDD under the Tonse Alliance, who got 14,302 votes, while Citizens First candidate Aaron Zimba finished third with 4,405.
In a Facebook post on his page, Saturday, Dr M’membe, who is People’s Pact 2026 presidential candidate, said some PF and Tonse members rejected the idea for the opposition to unite in Kasama.
Dr M’membe stressed that opposition leaders must swallow their individual pride, rise above personal ambition, and form a strong united pact.
“Fellow citizens and opposition political leaders, the time for division is over. We called for an opposition electoral pact in the Chawama and Kasama by-elections. We achieved some unity in Chawama, and the opposition won. It was rejected by some elements in PF and Tonse, who are opposed to Given Lubinda in the Kasama mayoral by-election and the opposition lost. Let’s learn something from this. Our nation is yearning for hope, and that hope rests on our ability to stand together. We must swallow our individual pride, rise above personal ambition, and form a strong united pact. Let us choose collaboration over fragmentation and unite our structures to build a formidable opposition force. Together, we can build a nation that is more just, fair, humane, equitable, and prosperous for all. Let’s unite for August 13, 2026,” he stated.
Meanwhile, addressing citizens in Muchinga, Saturday, Dr M’membe, who spoke in Bemba, urged the electorate not to sell the country’s leadership, indicating that the UPND only knew how buy votes.
“If you start selling leadership of the country, you would have destroyed the country, you would [have] killed people. When installing a chief, do we bribe? Do we get paid? Our friends who are ruling only know how to give people money, buying votes. If you sell your votes, it’s the same as selling the country, it’s the same as selling leadership. Here we don’t sell leadership that’s why you find our headmen, chiefs are poor. Even if you have a lot of money, you can’t buy leadership here in the Bemba land. Let’s not sell the country. Whatever they will bring get and eat, it’s your money, don’t be scared; get and eat, it’s your money. But here in our home, we have been embarrassed, the Bemba land has been embarrassed. Muchinga Province has been embarrassed, we are the most impoverished people [here] in Muchinga Province. I am not lying; Muchinga is number one with poverty in the entire country,” said Dr M’membe.
“We have poverty [levels] of 82.6 percent. What does that mean? If you get 100 people in Muchinga, you will find from 100, 82 are extremely poor, it’s 18 who are living a bit better, not a lot, just a bit. Number three, Northern Province has poverty [levels] of 78 percent. Number four, Luapula Province has poverty [levels] of 77.3 percent. We have been embarrassed for poverty and hunger”.
CHURCH AND LEADERSHIP UNITE: CLEMENT TEMBO RECEIVES SPIRITUAL ENDORSEMENT IN KABWATA
Today, 1st February, Kabwata Aspiring Member of Parliament Clement Tembo, accompanied by his Chairlady and Secretary, held a series of church engagements at Mkandawire and Kamulanga, marking a busy Sunday in which he visited four Pentecostal churches across Libala and Kamulanga wards.
Addressing the congregations, Mr. Tembo emphasized the importance of servant leadership and strong partnership with the Church, affirming its critical role in shaping moral values, promoting unity and fostering peace in society. Drawing inspiration from Mark 10:45, he reiterated his commitment to leadership founded on faith, humility, and service to the people.
Pastor Manda encouraged Mr. Tembo to remain focused, stating that his time to take up leadership in Kabwata Constituency has come and assured him of the Church’s support, prayers, and commitment to help protect his votes.
Mr. Tembo expressed gratitude to the church leadership and congregations for the warm fellowship and reaffirmed his pledge to continued support, while requesting ongoing prayers and spiritual guidance as he pursues a leadership journey anchored in integrity, inclusiveness and service to the people of Kabwata.
SIMUMBA DENIES EXPULSION FROM PF, AWAITS OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION
Nakonde Member of Parliament Hon. Lukas Simumba has dismissed media reports suggesting that he has been expelled from the Patriotic Front (PF), stating that he has not received any official communication from the party regarding the matter.
Hon. Simumba said he had only learned about the alleged expulsion through media reports and maintained that no formal notice had been served to him by the party leadership.
He explained that, as a dedicated PF member and Muchinga Province Youth Treasurer, he understood that disciplinary decisions of such magnitude are conducted through established internal procedures and not through media statements or social media platforms.
The lawmaker further stated that he would continue to regard himself as a loyal member of the Patriotic Front until he receives official correspondence issued on the party’s letterhead and bearing the necessary signatories and authority.
Hon. Simumba added that it was important to allow proper and lawful communication channels to be followed, especially in the prevailing political environment.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the party and indicated that he would await formal communication before taking any position on the matter.
PUBLIC SERVICE WELCOME EXTRA 10 PERCENT PARTIAL NAPSA PENSION WITHDRAW
…..However, individual NAPSA contributors demands extra 30 percent instead of 10 percent if the partial pension withdraw is to have impact
Some trade union movements have welcomed the intended increase by the government to add a 10 percent notch on the current 20 percent partial withdrawal, under the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA).
Zambia Union of Government and Allied Workers (UG) president, Muyaywa Kabisa indicated that any efforts aimed at ensuring that government employees have an opportunity to engage in investment ventures while in employment are highly welcome.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, Dr. Kabisa stated that many employees are in so much debt because of lack of disposable incomes and this has pushed many employees into destitution.
“Where the government comes up with interventions that can ensure that employees have access to their contributions and invest those now, as a trade union movement, we would highly appreciate those intentions,” Dr. Kabisa said.
He added that once employees prudently utilise partial benefits by investing and reinvesting the proceeds in ventures of their own choice, one is assured of being in control of their contributions.
He acknowledged that some would argue that this move may reduce future expectations, but that it is an assurance of one’s future financial picture rather than waiting for a pension at the end of employment.
Meanwhile, Dr Kabisa also welcomed the current reforms being implemented stating that they are well intended and all government employees will appreciate them once rolled out.
“We recently had the tripartite consultative labour council where we extensively looked at the proposal from the technical committee tasked with the assignment of ensuring that pension reforms are a success and our view is that it is a welcome move,” he added.
He therefore urged employees to focus on investment rather than consumption, stating that regardless of how little it is, their prospects of growing it in the current conducive environment is high.
MALema Puts Petrol on the Fire: Says Israel Embassy Must Be Closed Permanently in South Africa, Escalating Tensions With the USA and Israel
EFF leader Julius Malema has once again turned up the heat on South Africa’s already fragile international relations, declaring that the Israeli embassy must be shut down permanently following the recent expulsion of an Israeli diplomat. His remarks have been described by critics as “pouring petrol on an already burning fire”, especially at a time when relations between South Africa, Israel and the United States are at their most tense in decades.
Malema argues that expelling one diplomat is not enough. According to him, maintaining an Israeli embassy in Pretoria amounts to normalising what he calls ongoing violence, occupation and oppression of Palestinians, particularly in Gaza. He insists South Africa, because of its own history of apartheid, has a moral obligation to take the hardest possible stance — including cutting all diplomatic ties with Israel.
However, this position goes far beyond symbolic protest. By calling for a permanent closure of the embassy, Malema is effectively pushing South Africa into a deeper diplomatic confrontation — not only with Israel, but also with its most powerful ally, the United States, which views Israel as a strategic partner. Analysts warn that such a move risks economic, political and diplomatic fallout, including strained trade relations, reduced cooperation, and increased international isolation.
The timing is also critical. South Africa is already locked in a high-profile legal and political battle with Israel on the global stage, and relations with Washington have been under pressure. Malema’s comments add fuel to that tension, reinforcing the perception that South Africa is choosing confrontation over diplomacy.
Supporters of Malema praise his stance as bold, principled and consistent, saying silence or half-measures would make South Africa complicit in injustice. Critics, however, argue that his rhetoric is reckless, accusing him of using inflammatory language that could worsen divisions at home and abroad, while putting national interests at risk.
What is clear is that this is no longer just about one diplomat or one embassy. Malema’s call signals a push for a complete and irreversible break — a move that could redefine South Africa’s foreign policy direction and further polarise both domestic politics and international relations.
Whether government follows his demand or not, one thing is certain: the fire is burning — and Malema has just thrown petrol on it.
United States Moves to Reset Relations with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger
The United States is taking steps to normalize relations with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, three West African nations that have sharply reduced ties with Western powers and expelled French military forces in recent years.
All three countries are currently governed by military-led administrations and have established a joint security and economic bloc known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The alliance has increasingly aligned with #Russia, both politically and militarily.
The Sahel’s growing strategic importance is underscored by its vast natural resources, including gold, uranium, and rare-earth minerals, which are critical to global supply chains.
According to the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, Senior Bureau Official Nick Checker is traveling to #Bamako, Mali, to begin diplomatic discussions.
In a statement, the State Department said the visit is intended to convey Washington’s “respect for Mali’s sovereignty” and its desire to “chart a new course in the bilateral relationship” while moving beyond previous “policy missteps.”
https://youtu.be/PQGu6Lzyf04?si=9uFiBce3Joj_4nil
The United States also expressed interest in discussing future cooperation with Mali and consulting with Burkina Faso and Niger on shared security and economic priorities.
This diplomatic outreach reflects Washington’s recognition of a shifting political landscape in the Sahel, where anti-Western sentiment has intensified following a wave of military takeovers—Mali in 2020 and 2021, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Niger in 2023.
French military presence and diplomatic influence have since declined sharply across the region.
The renewed U.S. engagement suggests an effort not only to counter expanding Russian and Wagner Group influence, but also to safeguard American economic and security interests in the mineral-rich Sahel.
