BREAKING: Newly released emails show Elon Musk DESPERATELY wanted to visit Epstein’s “Pedo Island.”
For years, Elon Musk has played the role of edgy truth-teller, loudly demanding the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files while pointing fingers at everyone else.
Now the files are out—and they’re pointing right back at him.
Newly released DOJ documents reveal email exchanges showing Musk repeatedly trying to arrange a visit to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, years after Epstein’s predatory behavior was already well known. Not once. Not accidentally. But persistently.
A December 2013 email from Epstein’s longtime assistant bluntly states: “Just a reminder Elon Musk was asking about coming to your island on Jan. 2.” Another message discusses “organizing Elon Musk to the island.” Yet another shows Musk himself asking Epstein if there was “a good time to visit,” noting he’d already be in the Virgin Islands.
Epstein’s response? “Any day 1st–8th… always space for you.”
This wasn’t some vague social overlap. This was scheduling.
And it didn’t stop there. Additional emails show interest from Musk’s brother, Kimbal, and a calendar entry released by House Democrats even flagged a tentative Musk visit in December 2014—long after Epstein’s 2008 sweetheart plea deal made his crimes impossible to ignore.
Musk insists he never actually went. Maybe he didn’t. But the record now shows something impossible to spin away: he wanted to.
That makes Musk’s recent tantrums about Epstein all the more revealing. When he fell out with Donald Trump last year, Musk dramatically claimed Trump was “in the Epstein files,” accusing the administration of a cover-up. He framed himself as the fearless outsider demanding transparency.
Turns out he had a personal stake in how those files were framed.
Let’s be clear: Musk has not been accused by law enforcement of crimes connected to Epstein. But the myth of Elon Musk as some righteous crusader against elite rot just collapsed under the weight of his own emails.
This is the same billionaire who lectures the public about free speech, accountability, and truth—while quietly asking when it’d be convenient to visit one of the most notorious crime scenes in modern history.
The Epstein files are exposing powerful people one by one. And Elon Musk just got caught holding the itinerary.- Occupy Democrats
EVENING WIRE | Kasama Breaks New Ground as UPND Clinches Mayoral Seat
KASAMA — The United Party for National Development (UPND) has secured a landmark victory in the Kasama Mayoral by-election, capturing the Northern Province capital for the first time and redrawing the region’s political map ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Kasama District Electoral Officer Innocent Mutambo declared UPND candidate Bywell Simposya the duly elected Mayor at 17:33 hours, after he polled 17,647 votes.
Final results released by the Electoral Commission show:
– Bywell Simposya (UPND): 17,647
– Peter Yuda Chikweti (FDD): 14,303
– Aaron Zimba (Citizens First): 4,405
– Mukuka Kapambwe (UPPZ): 2,988
– Joseph Mubanga (Socialist Party): 2,211
– Mary Bukisa (New Focus Party): 472
A total of 42,929 votes were cast from 138,286 registered voters, underscoring low turnout, even as the outcome delivers high political impact.
A northern breakthrough
The win hands UPND a symbolic and strategic gain in a city long regarded as Patriotic Front terrain since the Michael Sata era. Party strategists attribute the result to strong rural margins, steady penetration in peri-urban wards, and voter fatigue with opposition infighting.
For the opposition, the result lands amid deep fragmentation. The Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) candidate, Peter Yuda Chikweti, was backed by the PF and factions of the Tonse Alliance, but that coalition entered the race split and distracted by leadership battles, court injunctions, and competing presidential ambitions.
Rejection of grievance politics
The campaign’s closing days featured sharp rhetoric from PF figures, including Chishimba Kambwili, who attempted to mobilise voters around claims of disrespect toward the Bemba Royal Establishment following the funeral of Paramount Chief Chitimukulu’s wife. The ballot box delivered a clear verdict: grievance-driven and ethnically coded appeals failed to translate into votes.
Analysts say the outcome mirrors the broader national trend since 2021, where voters have increasingly rejected identity politics in favour of performance and stability.
Disputed reactions
Despite the official declaration, PF information chair Emmanuel Mwamba and other opposition figures declined to congratulate UPND, alleging the vote was “stolen.” No formal complaint has been upheld by the Electoral Commission, and results were announced following standard verification procedures.
UPND officials urged calm, framing the win as a mandate to govern inclusively in a city with diverse political loyalties.
Why this matters
Kasama’s result is more than a local contest. It signals a shrinking PF stronghold in the Northern Circuit, exposes the cost of opposition disunity, and strengthens UPND’s narrative of steady regional expansion.
With Parliament dissolving in the coming months and campaigns set to intensify, Kasama now stands as a bellwether, a reminder that electoral arithmetic, not rhetoric, ultimately decides power.
More updates to follow as reactions continue to unfold across the political spectrum.
The ruling United Party for National Development(UPND) has made history by having its first elected civic leader in the district.
Necessitated by a Mayoral by-election after the passing on of the immediate-past Mayor, PF”s Theresa Kolala, the ruling party, which has had a terrible political run in the northern hemisphere of the country settled for its 2021 general election mayoral candidate Bywell Simposya, who rivaled against FDD’s Peter Yuda, who served as ward councillor from 2016 to 2021.
Coming into the campaigns, Yuda was regarded as a better political fit comparatively, largely attributed to his experience as ward councillor, while Simposya, had been described to be more of a technocrat and reserved person-a trait which does not appeal a lot of politically charged people.
After a whole night and half a day of counting votes from 218 polling stations across the district, the UPND hopeful gunnered 17,647 votes while the runner up, FDD’s Peter Yuda managed to scoop 14,302 votes.
Speaking shortly after the final pronouncement of the results, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga, described the victory as evidence of the party’s prowess due to its level-headed leadership and delivery of developmental projects in the country, and the Northern Province in particular.
Mr. Mulenga said President Hichilema remains committed to deliver development to all parts of the country, adding that the ushering in of Mr. Simposya as Kasama Municipal Council Mayor will work to the advantage of the people of the district.
Meanwhile, the Mayor-Elect Bywell Simposya has appreciated the electorates in Kasama for electing him as Mayor, stating that he will deliver on both his short term and long term promises, expressing optimism to return the seat during this year’s August general elections.
ZAMBIANS SHOULD NEVER VOTE FOR BRIAN MUNDUBILE-LILLIAN MUTAMBO
In a social-media fight break-out , blogger Lillian Mutambo has threatened to wage war against Hon. Brian Mundubile who she has spent the last few weeks campaigning for.
This was after law maker and Copperbelt strong woman, Hon. Mulenga Kampamba wore a tshirt depicting BM8 and posted it on her page.
Lillian responded by reprimanding Hon. Kampamba that as a voter of Bill 7, she should stay away from Mundubile’s campaign.
Hon. Kampamba quickly issued a voice note telling off the blogger.
Lillian has responded by threatening to destroy both Tonse Alliance faction leader, Brian Mundubile and Kalulushi MP, Hon. Mulenga Kampampa.
She wrote;
“Someone to tell this finished umbilical cord useless cadre that I will also go live to talk about Brian Mundubile and herself and why zambians should never vote for Brian Mundubile……”
WE CAN’T SPEND OVER K5 MILLION AND ONLY GET 1675 VOTES – M’MEMBE
Socialist Party owner Fred M’membe is at loggerhead with his deputy Cosmas Musumali over Kasama mayoral results.
M’membe feels Musumali pocketed money that was meant for campaigns hence getting the poor results in yesterday’s polls.
Residents of Kasama yesterday went to the polls to elect a new mayor following the death of the incumbent, PF Mayor Theresa Kolala.
The by-election attracted six candidates and winner, UPND candidate Bywell Simposya got 17,641 while M’membe’s candidate Joseph Mubanga only got 1675 votes after spending over K5 million.
“We can’t spend more than K5 million and only get 1600 votes in both Kasama and Lukashya. Where did the money go Comrade Musumali?” questioned M’membe.- Koswe
RESPECT THE DEAD RESPECT THE FAMILY: A RESPONSE TO REV WALTER MWAMBANZI ON DR EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU
By Thandiwe Ketiš Ngoma
With respect, your article on Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s body remaining in a freezer eight months after his death is emotionally charged yet fundamentally dishonest by omission.
You distribute blame to “both sides,” invoke curses, karma, pride, and cultural decay, but you carefully avoid naming the single most powerful actor who has actively escalated this matter: President Hakainde Hichilema. That silence is not accidental. It is revealing.
Let us dispense with emotion and superstition and deal with facts, law, and responsibility.
At the time of his death, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu was a private citizen in both law and practice. Upon his return to active politics in 2024, the Government of the Republic of Zambia, by law, stripped him of all benefits accorded to a former Head of State. This was not symbolic. It was a legal and administrative act with clear consequences.
Accordingly, Dr. Lungu travelled to South Africa for medical treatment as a private citizen, funded privately, entirely outside the care, authority, or custody of the Zambian state.
Even more importantly, Dr. Lungu left explicit instructions regarding his burial. He stated unambiguously that in the event of his death, he wished to be buried as a private citizen. However, should the Government of Zambia choose to accord him a state funeral, he further instructed that his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, should not be anywhere near his remains nor preside over his funeral.
These wishes were formally communicated to the government.
This is where the matter becomes deeply troubling.
A state funeral is not the personal property of a sitting President. There is no constitutional, legal, or procedural requirement that the President must preside over it. The President may delegate, as has been done before, without scandal, without drama, and without violating dignity.
So the question that must be asked — and which your article carefully avoids — is this:
Why does President Hakainde Hichilema insist on presiding over a funeral where his presence is explicitly not welcome?
What principle is being defended here? What national interest is served by overriding the wishes of the deceased and trampling on the grief of his family?
When the Lungu family realised that President Hichilema intended to impose himself regardless of those wishes, they made a lawful and humane decision to bury Dr. Lungu in South Africa instead of Zambia, despite earlier preparations for repatriation.
Arrangements were underway when, shockingly, President Hakainde Hichilema caused the grieving family to be taken to court, securing an injunction that stopped the burial.
Let us call this by its proper name.
This is not “both sides squabbling.” This is state power being wielded against a widow and children.
You ask, “Do his relatives even care?” That question is not only offensive — it is cruel.
What family would willingly endure prolonged grief, public vilification, and legal warfare unless they were defending something sacred — the clearly stated final wishes of their husband and father?
If this were truly about dignity, unity, and African values, the clearest and loudest call would be this: The President must step back. Respect the dead. Respect the family. Respect the limits of state power.
Instead, you spiritualize a political problem.You mystify what is, in truth, painfully simple.
This body is not unburied because of a curse. It is unburied because the State refuses to release its grip.
And here lies the deepest irony of all. You lament African customs while excusing one of the most un-African acts imaginable — a government forcing itself into burial rites against the express wishes of both the deceased and his family.
Where in our traditions does this exist? Where in our humanity does this belong?
Yes, eight months is unacceptable. Yes, it is painful. Yes, it is a national embarrassment.
But responsibility follows power, and the greatest power in this saga does not lie with a grieving family.
Until commentators like you find the courage to say plainly: “Mr President, this is not your place,” your outrage will remain selective and hollow
Respect for the dead begins with respecting their wishes.
Anything else is not justice — it is dominance dressed up as concern.
Chawama votes show PF still has strong support – Sampa
PF faction deputy secretary general Miles Sampa says the party’s support remains strong, dismissing rival politicians who tried to masquerade as PF in the recent Chawama constituency by-elections.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, Sampa accused some candidates from the New Congress Party (NCP) of pretending to represent the PF leadership but voters saw right through them.
“They wore ECL t-shirts and claimed to be the real deal, but voters saw through them,” he said.
“While they got zero votes, PF secured significant support. People know the real PF when they see it.”
Sampa credits the PF for FDD’s win of the Chawama by-election, which ushered in Bright Nundwe as member of parliament.
He insisted that PF is ready to fight back and reclaim its political ground.
“We will never give up. Here we are, and we will fight,” Sampa said, adding that the electorates are educated and aware of attempts to mislead them.
Sampa also warned that politicians masquerading as the party are hurting themselves.
“Everyone thinking PF members will follow them is on their own and decampaigning yourselves. The voters aren’t fooled,” he said.
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 30 January 2026 PEOPLE’S PARTY ANNOUNCES EXPULSION OF MS. AGNESS KAWANDAMI AND MR. CARLSON CHINGWENGWEZI FOR GROSS MISCONDUCT
The People’s Party wishes to formally inform the Zambian public, its members, supporters, and all stakeholders that Ms. Agness Kawandami and Mr. Carlson Chingwengwezi have been expelled from the People’s Party with immediate effect, following findings of gross misconduct that are demonstrably prejudicial to the unity, discipline, constitutional order, and reputation of the Party.
The decision was taken on 29 January 2026 by members of the Party’s National Executive Committee led by the Party President, Dr. Sebastian C. Kopulande, acting in accordance with the authority vested in his office under Articles 14 and 25 of the People’s Party Constitution, after conclusive findings that the two individuals jointly and individually engaged in serious violations of Party rules and leadership authority.
GROUNDS FOR EXPULSION The expulsions arise from established findings that Ms. Kawandami and Mr. Chingwengwezi engaged in the following acts:
1. Organisation of an Unauthorised Assembly The two were involved in planning and organising a gathering purporting to be an official People’s Party National Conference scheduled for 31 January 2026, without the knowledge, approval, or authority of the Office of the Party President or the National Executive Committee.
2. Defiance of Party Leadership and Lack of Financial Accountability When formally questioned regarding the sources of funding for their activities, they refused to provide the required information, displaying open insubordination. This raises very serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and the existence of parallel or unauthorised funding sources within the Party whose purpose is to destabilize the Party and undermine its capacity to put up a strong showing in the forthcoming general elections.
3. Usurpation of Constitutional Authority Without mandate, consultation, or approval from the Party’s lawful organs, they participated in drafting and proposing amendments to the Party Constitution, constituting a direct attempt to subvert established constitutional processes and undermine legitimate Party leadership.
4. Systematic Undermining of Party Unity and Structure Their actions, taken collectively, amounted to a sustained pattern of conduct intended to foment factionalism, erode central authority, and destabilise the Party’s organisational structure, contrary to the letter and spirit of the Party Constitution.
EFFECT OF THE DECISION As a result of their expulsion: • Ms. Agness Kawandami and Mr. Carlson Chingwengwezi cease to be members of the People’s Party; • They are stripped of all Party positions, titles, or committee memberships, if any;
• They are prohibited from representing themselves as members, officials, or agents of the People’s Party in any capacity whatsoever; • They are barred from convening, attending, or participating in any Party meetings, functions, or activities, including any gathering purporting to be an official Party conference; • Any breach of these directives will result in appropriate legal action, which may include civil or criminal proceedings.
PARTY POSITION The People’s Party wishes to emphasise that this action is taken to protect the Party’s unity. It reflects the Party’s unwavering commitment to: • Constitutionalism and internal democracy; • Organisational discipline and unity of purpose; • Transparency, accountability, and respect for lawful authority;
• Protecting the integrity and credibility of the Party, especially at a critical moment in Zambia’s democratic process. The Party remains firmly focused on its national mission of restoring dignity, unity, and economic empowerment for all Zambians, as articulated in its Manifesto.
PUBLIC NOTICE The general public and the Office of the Registrar of Societies are hereby formally notified that Ms. Agness Kawandami and Mr. Carlson Chingwengwezi do not represent the People’s Party in any capacity whatsoever, effective 29 January 2026. Issued by: People’s Party Office of the President Lusaka, Zambi
Rapper and business mogul Kanye West, now known as Ye, has once again ignited widespread controversy.
The controversy started after Ye posted and deleted a lengthy list of people who have apparently betrayed him.
The now-removed post, shared late January 29, reportedly began with a caption expressing deep personal anguish: variations include “I AM IN PAIN NO PERSON THAT NO ONE PERSON CAN FIX”
Titled “THE BETRAYAL,” the list featured bewildering array of names, including his 12-year-old daughter, North West.
The list also includes celebrities, family members, brands, and even historical and fictional figures he claims have “betrayed” him.
Among the prominent names circulating in screenshots and reposts:
Ex-wife Kim Kardashian (listed multiple times, sometimes separately as “The Kardashians”)
Daughter North West
Former collaborators including Kid Cudi, Pusha T, John Legend, Big Sean, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott (“Trav”), Jay-Z, Virgil Abloh (the late designer), Tyler (likely Tyler, the Creator), Common, Don C, and Amber Rose
Other public figures such as Diddy, IShowSpeed, LeBron James, Pete Davidson, Donald Trump, and even deceased rapper King Von
Unexpected inclusions like historical figure Harriet Tubman, Adolf Hitler (variously spelled), cartoon characters Curious George and Patrick Star (from SpongeBob SquarePants), and brands Adidas and Demna/Balenciag
Some versions of the list reportedly contained up to 18 people, often tied to past business disputes, personal fallouts, or public feuds.
The Governor of Akwa Ibom state in Nigeria, Uno Emo, has chastised one contractor who misplaced priorities after he was tasked to build a health facility to serve the people.
After awarding contracts, government officials inspect sites from time to time to ensure the projects are underway, and during one of the visits in Nigeria, a video took over the internet.
Uno Emo visited a site which was supposed be used for an ultra-modern hospital facility, and to his greatest surprise, the contractor was doing something odd, which made him furious.
The contractor showed the governor the building plan, where he revealed his boys had started building the mortuary unit.
This utterance made Honorable Uno Emo angry because he expected patient wards to be built first, as the primary essence of the project is to provide health care to the Akwa-Ibom state.
An undeniable fact about death is that it is inevitable, but can be prevented if it is untimely, so the public sided with the governor in demanding the immediate commencement of the patients’ wards and halting the morgue.
“I said build hospital, you started with mortuary. Don’t say that kind of a thing again, don’t show me mortuary”
— Nigerian Governor Umo Eno, of Akwa Ibom State, expresses displeasure with a contractor for commencing the construction of hospital with a mortuary facility. pic.twitter.com/XkFFqORPuT
The Afghan Minister of Education has reportedly made a shocking revelation: “Access to schools for women in the country is fully banned.”
This statement underscores the ongoing Taliban-imposed restrictions on female education in Afghanistan.
The restriction has been in place for over four years since it was first introduced in August 2021.
Under Taliban rule, girls are barred from secondary schools (beyond sixth grade) and women from universities.
The rule makes Afghanistan the only country in the world with such comprehensive bans on female secondary and higher education.
Recent UN reports (from UNICEF and UNESCO, as of January 2026) confirm that around 2.2 million adolescent girls remain excluded from secondary education.
The bans extend to higher education, with no reopenings announced despite international pressure.
Taliban officials, including past statements from higher education ministers like Neda Mohammad Nadeem defended or enforced these policies.
A couple was lashed 140 times for having sex outside marriage, drinking booze in far-flung Islamist region.
This incident occurred in Aceh province, Indonesia, the only region in the country that enforces Sharia law.
On January 29, 2026, a man and a woman (described as a couple or lovers in reports, but unmarried) were publicly caned 140 times each for two offenses.
Their offences were having sex outside of marriage (100 lashes) and consuming alcohol (40 lashes), which is strictly prohibited under local Islamic regulations.
The punishment took place in a public park in Banda Aceh, with dozens of onlookers present.
The woman reportedly fainted from the ordeal and was taken away by ambulance, while both were struck on their backs with a rattan cane.
This is considered one of the harshest canings since Aceh adopted Sharia law in 2001, following a special autonomy agreement.
The province’s Sharia police enforce rules against activities like extramarital sex, alcohol consumption, gambling, and same-sex relations through public floggings.
THE UPND has won the Kasama Mayoral by-election after its candidate, Bywell Simposya, secured 17,647 votes.
His closest rival, Peter Chikweti of the FDD, polled 14,302 votes.
District Returning Officer Innocent Mutambo declared Mr. Simposya the duly elected Mayor of Kasama District at 17:35 hours.
Mr. Simposya thanked the people of Kasama for their support and pledged to implement development programmes across the city.
Meanwhile, UPND Campaign Manager Chipoka Mulenga expressed gratitude to the residents of Kasama for supporting the policies of President Hakainde Hichilema and his administration.
UPND campaign team member Paul Kabuswe also thanked the people of Kasama for voting for the party.
Results from 202 out of the 218 polling stations in Kasama District. ( combination of results from 102 polling stations in Lukashya Constituency and 100 polling stations in Kasama Central Constituency)
Bywell Simposya-United Party for National Development-UPND- 16,576
Peter Yuda Chikweti Forum for Democracy and Development-FDD- 13,817
Aaron Zimba -Citizens First Party- 4,132
Kapambwe Mukuka-United prosperous and peaceful Zambia-UPPZ – 2,458
Joseph Mubanga-Socialist- 2,010
Mary Bukisa-New Focus Party- 420
LATEST UPDATE Results from 174 out of the 218 polling stations in Kasama District. ( combination of results from 88 polling stations in Lukashya Constituency and 86 polling stations in Kasama Central Constituency)
1. Bywell Simposya-United Party for National Development-UPND- 14,528
2. Peter Yuda Chikweti Forum for Democracy and Development-FDD- 11,823
3. Aaron Zimba -Citizens First Party- 3,508
4. Kapambwe Mukuka-United prosperous and peaceful Zambia-UPPZ – 1, 870
5. Joseph Mubanga-Socialist- 1, 730
6. Mary Bukisa-New Focus Party- 338
LATEST UPDATE Results from 81 polling stations in Kasama Central Constituency (Kasama Boys Secondary School Totalling Centre)
Bywell Simposya-United Party for National Development-UPND- 6393
Peter Yuda Chikweti Forum for Democracy and Development-FDD- 6104
Aaron Zimba -Citizens First Party-1548
Joseph Mubanga-Socialist Party-658
Kapambwe Mukuka-United prosperous and peaceful Zambia-UPPZ -633
Mary Bukisa-New Focus Party- 133
KASAMA MAYORAL BY ELECTION UPDATE. results from 67 polling stations in Lukashya Constituency.
1. Bywell Simposya-United Party for National Development-UPND- 6200 2. Peter Yuda Chikweti Forum for Democracy and Development-FDD- 4349 3. Aaron Zimba -Citizens First Party -1349 4. Kapambwe Mukuka-United prosperous and peaceful Zambia-UPPZ -863 5. Joseph Mubanga-Socialist Party- 829 6. Mary Bukisa-New Focus Party- 149
BRIEFING | Kasama Mayoral By-Election: Split Map, Tight Margins
KASAMA — Early results from the Kasama mayoral by-election show a geographically split contest, with the United Party for National Development performing strongly in rural and peri-urban polling stations, while the Forum for Democracy and Development, backed by the Patriotic Front and sections of the Tonse Alliance, is holding ground in urban centres.
Kasama Central Constituency (60 polling stations)
1. Peter Yuda Chikweti (FDD) – 4,587
2. Bywell Simposya (UPND) – 3,813
3. Aaron Zimba (Citizens First) – 1,145
4. Joseph Mubanga (Socialist Party) – 547
5. Kapambwe Mukuka (UPPZ) – 464
6. Mary Bukisa (New Focus Party) – 107
Urban polling stations in Kasama Central are currently leaning toward FDD, reflecting the PF’s stronger historical footprint in townships and established residential areas.
Lukashya Constituency (67 polling stations)
1. Bywell Simposya (UPND) – 6,200
2. Peter Yuda Chikweti (FDD) – 4,349
3. Aaron Zimba (Citizens First) – 1,349
4. Kapambwe Mukuka (UPPZ) – 863
5. Joseph Mubanga (Socialist Party) – 829
6. Mary Bukisa (New Focus Party) – 149
Lukashya’s results point to a strong UPND advantage, particularly in rural polling stations, underscoring the ruling party’s continued penetration of areas that were once considered PF-leaning.
Key Dynamics
Urban–Rural Divide: FDD’s lead in Kasama Central contrasts with UPND’s dominance in Lukashya, suggesting voter behaviour is breaking along urban–rural lines rather than party loyalty alone.
PF–Tonse Factor: Although PF is not on the ballot, its organisational backing of FDD appears to be consolidating votes in town areas, but has not translated into equivalent rural momentum.
Rigging Allegations: PF officials have accused UPND of vote manipulation in Ngoli, where the ruling party reportedly recorded unusually high tallies. The Electoral Commission of Zambia has not issued a formal response, and no verified irregularities have been confirmed at this stage.
⛔ What to Watch
With counting ongoing, the contest remains open. The final outcome will depend on whether UPND’s rural surge can offset FDD’s urban strength, and whether any formal complaints alter the post-election landscape.
Kasama, long regarded as PF terrain, is again proving to be contested ground, with voting patterns reflecting shifting alliances and a more fragmented opposition field ahead of the 2026 general elections.
KASAMA MAYORAL BY ELECTION UPDATE. results from 13 polling stations in Lukashya Constituency.
1. Bywell Simposya-United Party for National Development-UPND- 859 2. Peter Yuda Chikweti Forum for Democracy and Development-FDD- 761 3. Aaron Zimba -Citizens First Party 204 4. Kapambwe Mukuka-United prosperous and peaceful Zambia-UPPZ -196 5. Joseph Mubanga-Socialist Party- 87 6. Mary Bukisa-New Focus Party- 28
Kasama Mayoral by-election update. 18 polling stations out of the 109 in Kasama Central Constituency.
1. Peter Yuda Chikweti Forum for Democracy and Development-FDD- 1256 votes 2. Bywell Simposya-United Party for National Development-UPND 886 3. Aaron Zimba -Citizens First Party 251 4. Joseph Mubanga-Socialist Party-86 5. Kapambwe Mukuka-United prosperous and peaceful Zambia-UPPZ 66 votes 6. Mary Bukisa-New Focus Party- 23
MILIMA POLLING STATION NFP – MARY BUSIKU 02 UPPZ- MUKUKA KAPEMBWA 02 SP – JOSEPH MUBANGA 01 UPND- BYWELL SIMPOSYA 00 FDD- PETER YUDA 02 CF – ZIMBA AARON 00 Rejected- 01 Total :08
KASAMA MAYORAL RESULTS Total results From 10 Polling Stations NFP-13, UPPZ-33, SP-30, UPND -443, FDD -750, CF-160 Rejected -33 CIC PRESS TEAM
ZUMANI DEFENDS STATE HOUSE MOVE, REJECTS BLAME FOR PF FALL
CHRIS Zumani has defended his decision to join State House, stating that the Patriotic Front’s political decline had already begun before his departure from the party.
Zumani said PF had been weakened by leadership struggles, internal divisions, and organisational failures that limited its ability to respond effectively to political challenges. He rejected claims that he undermined the party, arguing instead that PF’s electoral losses were the result of long-standing internal problems.
He said PF leaders failed to address internal disputes and strategic weaknesses, allowing factionalism to grow and public confidence to deteriorate. According to Zumani, the party’s inability to maintain unity and discipline contributed to its reduced appeal among voters.
Zumani criticised attempts to place blame on individuals rather than examining institutional shortcomings. He argued that parties that focus on scapegoating instead of reform risk prolonging their decline and losing relevance in competitive political environments.
He also said PF had already begun losing elections before his transition to State House, reinforcing his view that broader party failures played a central role in its political downturn.
Zumani emphasised that political organisations must take responsibility for their own shortcomings, rebuild internal structures, and restore voter trust if they hope to regain influence. He added that accountability, unity, and leadership renewal remain essential for political recovery.
I AM READY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA – MUNDUBILE
.…Let’s put our squabbles aside and work for the people of Zambia.
Lusaka, Friday, January 30, 2026 (SMART EAGLES)
TONSE Alliance president Brian Mundubile says he is ready to work and serve the people of Zambia as Republican President.
Speaking when he featured on the ‘Pulse Nation’ program on Millennium TV this afternoon, Mr. Mundubile said in all his political life he has stood and fought for the people of Zambia.
Mr. Mundubile called on all political parties to put their squabbles aside and focus on working for the people of Zambia.
“I have stood and fought for the people of Zambia and I have never let them down. I have protected the party through my decisions. I am part of Tonse Alliance and I am still PF,” he said..
And Mr. Mundubile said after taking a countrywide survey, there was a call from Zambians on the need to choose a leader who will take them into this year’s general elections.
He said Zambians are looking for leadership that will look into the plight of the poor adding that Tonse Alliance will serve as a vehicle through which opposition unity will be realized.
Mr. Mundubile adds that looking at the by – election results, UPND has been performing badly and only opposition unity will remove them from power.
“… and when the opportunity came to go for leadership at Tonse, my colleagues fronted me as a candidate. Soon we will be calling for applications for members of parliament, mayors and councillors because time is not with us and we have alot of work to do,” Mr. Mundubile said.
“Zambians are looking for leadership that will look into the plight of the poor and Tonse Alliance will serve as a vehicle through which opposition unity will be achieved. Looking at the results from the last by – elections, it is clear that the UPND are performing badly and only opposition unity will be able to give us the 50 percent plus one needed to form government,”the Tonse president said.
KALABA CAN CONTEST AS CHOMA MP, HE HAS NO FUTURE AS PRESIDENT – MWEETWA
UPND Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has invited Citizens First leader Harry Kalaba to contest as MP for Choma Central Constituency, saying he has no future as president.
He adds that while the UPND were in opposition, there were wrong things that the PF government was doing, stating that currently there is no wrong being done by his administration that can be opposed.
In an interview, Mweetwa said he was ready to step down as MP so that Kalaba could contest, as long as he would support President Hakainde Hichilema.
“Opposition politics is also nice if you know what to do, but they clearly don’t know what to do. They are in disarray, they are just like in the wilderness” he said.
Gabriel Kibombwe Castigates Brian Mundubile for abandoning Campaigns in Kasama
He wrote;
“The Dunamis-Bill7 Alliance tumble in Kasama 🤦🏼♂️ “
“It’s known that Pride comes before the fall….”
“Instead of focusing on the by-election, he was busy organizing a secret illegal Tonse convention so that he can claim the victory as being under his leadership…”
“Instead of learning from the Chawama formula of the “Sata boys”, his surrogates were busy declaring Northern Province a no-go area for legitimate Tonse Alliance Chairman Given Lubinda.”
“Kind advice: Swallow your pride bane and be ready to be led until we hold the convention. Nefilifye”
IS AMBASSADOR MWAMBA AND HIS EMV BEING INCONSISTENT AND DIVISIVE OVER PF MATTERS?
Veteran Journalist and former Diplomat Kellys Kaunda Writes;
I raise this issue in the wake of Dr. Lawrence Mwelwa’s recent article which seemed to suggest that Ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba and his EMV podcast may be playing divisive politics.
Remember when the Given Lubinda-led PF faction suspended or expelled from the Central Committee some members followed by the announcement of their replacements?
Ambassador Mwamba responded by calling on Hon. Lubinda to rescind his decision arguing that party unity must be prioritized above anything else.
He answers to the leadership of Hon. Lubinda recognizing him as the legitimate leader of the PF.
And yet he doesn’t hesitate to call him out pointing him to the need for party unity.
Throughout the ups and downs of the PF, he has consistently maintained this position believing that together, the party can overcome even the most determined opponent who has at his disposal the instruments of the state.
To take a different route, Ambassador Mwamba believes is precisely what the party’s enemies want.
A different route means weakening the center and disintegrating the PF’s political fortunes.
This is how he sees Hon. Brian Mundubile’s position. This is why he stands opposed to his position.
Therefore, you can’t accuse him of being inconsistent. Inconsistency is a matter of principle.
This principle he has upheld consistently. What you could and must argue is your counter position.
There are those like me who believe that time has now come for PF members to make decisions that may be unpopular.
The legal wrangles surrounding PF are strategically designed by someone to throttle the party until it runs out of breath.
If the legitimate leaders of the party don’t share this view, it’s time to say to them, “sorry, but some of us have got to move on”.
LIES will not help the United Party for National Development (UPND) government to stay in power beyond August 13, Patriotic Front presidential aspirant Chishimba Kambwili has said.
And the All People’s Congress Party (APC) has warned that political violence will not help the UPND retain power.
“Ndemucelela, pa 29 mukaye bika ivoti lyenu pali FDD-Tonse-PF Alliance candidate. Mwe bamunyinane, moneni ifyo twacula muli cino calo, ubu bucushi bwacilamo, elyo lyonse aba abanensu abali mu buteko ukulatubepafye ubufi. Ubufi bulaya nokubwela. [I greet you. On January 29, go and vote for the FDD-Tonse-PF Alliance candidate in the Kasama mayoral by-election. My relatives, see how we have suffered under this regime. There is too much poverty. The poverty levels are unbelievable and our colleagues in the UPND have continued lying to us and they keep lying without any single trace of shame],” Kambwili said.
He said the UPND had been claiming that the economy was doing well when in fact the opposite was the truth. The country was in a crisis under the UPND government.
Kambwili said it was the first time the country was experiencing high food prices, unprecedented power cuts, high bank lending rates and high cost of fertiliser and doing business.
“Baletila economy has picked, but imitengo ya fyakulya, imitengo ya fertiliser ne mitengo ya fyonse fye ileya pa mulu. Nombe fyo babombele finshi? Ubuteko kubomba kupanga amafunde ayalinga ukwafwilisha ubwikalo bwa abantu mu calo ukuwama. Noti ifi tuleikala. Mwamona ulya umupatili wa ku Katolika ku Chawama alandile ati ifi fyonse mulelanda tafikwete ncinto kano fye ulutoshi. [They say they have fixed the economy and it’s picking but look at the prices of fertilisers, food and other essential commodities, which are still very high. So, what have they worked on? A caring government works towards reducing the prices of goods and services and makes laws that benefit the people by improving their welfare. But not this government. That priest in Chawama said ‘you can do all these things, but if food prices are high, then you have done nothing and that situation is worse now],” Kambwili said.
He urged Kasama residents not to vote for the UPND in yesterday’s by-election.
“Don’t vote for UPND. If you vote for them, you will be voting for poverty, hunger and expensive fertilisers,” Kambwili said.
And APC President Nason Msoni says violence will not win the UPND the election.
“Zambians have decided that the UPND is going. No amount of violence will change the wind of change. You have seen what is happening in Kasama and it shows very clearly that Zambians are determined to remove this unapologetic government,” Msoni said.
He said forcing people to vote for the UPND would not work in Kasama, the way it failed to in Chawama.
“UPND lost in Chawama because Zambians are fed up. Zambians have not seen anything good in the UPND. Even the CDF [Constituency Development Fund] they are talking about is in their heads alone. Zambians are suffering and this regime should know that,” Msoni said.
He said the Kasama by-election would be a prelude to what would happen in the August general election.
“What I know and what is on the ground is that the UPND cannot win an election without violence. And violence will not cow people from voting. Zambians are ready to be beaten in order to remove the UPND,” Msoni said.
WE ARE ready to bring the change Zambians have been waiting for which the United Party for National Development (UPND) has failed to deliver in the four years of being in government, Leadership Movement (LM) leader Dr Richard Silumbe has said.
And Patriotic Front (PF) aspiring president Makebi Zulu says the opposition is winning the Kasama mayoral by-election today without doubt.
In an unsolicited interview with The Mast yesterday, Dr Silumbe said Zambia was in a mess caused by a self-centred and uncaring leadership.
He said Zambians were going through the most tormenting period in the last four years the UPND had been in government without any sign of positive change.
Dr Silumbe said what the people of Zambia were going through was not by choice but a scheme by the leadership to use poverty and hunger to weaken the voices and minds of the people in fighting for a better Zambia.
“We are in trouble, and if we continue on this trajectory after August 13, we shall start burying our people because of hunger and lack of opportunity. People will be dying from various curable and avoidable ailments because the government failed to offer solutions. This government must go and leave room for us to take over and offer a much more decent leadership,” he said.
“With or without confusion in the opposition, the UPND and its leadership are gone. Zambians have decided who to vote out already. No fresh or old mingalato will work. Zambians don’t want load shedding anymore, and they know that the current stable power supply is just for campaigns to hoodwink Zambians.
And Patriotic Front (PF) aspiring president Makebi Zulu says the opposition is winning the Kasama mayoral by-election today without doubt.
Zulu said the UPND couldn’t win the election because it had lamentably failed and the people of Zambia had taken note of that.
“What I can tell you is that the opposition is definitely taking the day because the current government has failed the people of Zambia,” he said.
Zulu said Zambia was observant and would teach the UPND a painful lesson for lying to them.
He said no amount of propaganda would change the status quo as people had already made up their minds.
With results from 174 of the 218 polling stations verified, and remaining tallies compiled from party agents and on-the-ground monitors, we can now project with confidence that the United Party for National Development (UPND) is on course to win the Kasama mayoral by-election, ushering in a new political chapter in the Northern capital; pending official confirmation by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
The projected outcome, based on verified constituency-level returns and parallel tallies, places UPND candidate Bywell Simposya in the lead, ahead of FDD’s Peter Yuda Chikweti, who was backed by the Patriotic Front and the Tonse Alliance factions.
According to the running totals from stations:
– UPND: 17,641
– FDD: 14,825
– Citizens First: 3,004
– UPPZ: 2,325
– Socialist Party: 1,675
– New Focus Party: 266
The decisive factor has been UPND’s strong performance in Lukashya Constituency, where rural and peri-urban polling stations delivered large margins that have outweighed the tighter contest in Kasama Central.
If confirmed by the ECZ, the result would represent a historic breakthrough for UPND, marking the first time the reds capture the mayoral seat in Kasama, a region that has anchored PF dominance since the Michael Sata era.
PF officials have raised allegations of irregularities in isolated areas, including Ngoli, though no formal ECZ position has been issued on those claims as counting continues.
For now, the numbers point in one direction. Barring a dramatic reversal from the remaining polling stations, Kasama is set to elect a UPND mayor, signaling a shifting political map in the Northern Circuit as Zambia edges deeper into an election reminder year.
LUNGU LEFT LUBINDA AS ACTING PRESIDENT, ONLY THE CONVENTION WILL REMOVE HIM – MUMBI
PF Presidential aspirant Makebi Zulu says the party will use the Patriotic Front name in the upcoming elections, but has a Plan B ready if the current leadership impasse is not unresolved.
And Mumbi Phiri says whether anyone likes it or not, the only acting president is Given Lubinda, until a convention is held.
Speaking in Bemba when he met with party structures after the burial of late former PF Councillor for Kansenshi Ward, Brenda Mwamba, Zulu told members not to be alarmed about the direction of the party.
“Many of you are worried and asking, ‘where is this party going?’ Some people have taken hold of the party, the papers are with someone, I will not mention their names” he said.
THE fragmentation of the Patriotic Front (PF) leadership is an indication that the former governing party is full of selfish individuals who do not want to be led, various stakeholders have said.
On Wednesday evening, Tonse Alliance elected PF Mporokoso Member of Parliament Brian Mundubile as its presidential candidate, while Makebi Zulu was named presidential candidate for the New Congress Party (NCP).
NCP leader Peter Chanda told a media briefing yesterday that time is not allowing him to contest in the August 13 general elections, hence his decision to hand over to Mr Zulu.
When reached for comment over the development, PF faction leader Given Lubinda declined to comment.
Operation Young Vote executive director Guess Nyirenda said what is being exposed in PF and Tonse Alliance is that leaders have selfish ambitions.
“Zambians have called on them to organise, come together and reconcile. Now, you cannot reconcile at a point where you think it is only you,” Mr Nyirenda said.
He said the opposition will be shocked that the general elections will find them without being prepared.
Centre for Sustainable Democracy and Governance executive director Caroline Katotobwe said she and others have now been vindicated for having earlier stated that PF is full of selfish leaders.
LUBINDA HAS REMAINED WITH A SHELL – DAVIES By Mubanga Mubanga Given Lubinda has remained with a shell, says former PF secretary general Davies Mwila.
In an interview yesterday, Mwila said late former president Edgar Lungu established Tonse Alliance using the ‘ECL movement’, and, therefore, the PF component in the alliance comprised former ministers, district commissioners, and members of parliament, among others.
He said Lungu did not want to find himself fighting legal battles with the PF faction leader, Robert Chabinga.
He said PF acting president Lubinda “had many funerals”. He said apart from fighting legal battles with Chabinga, he also now had to contend with the https://dailyrevelationzambia.com/lubinda-has-remained-with-a-shell-davies/
NIGER MILITARY GOVT SAYS FRANCE, BENIN, IVORY COAST BEHIND AIRPORT ATTACK
NIGER’S ’s military government has accused France, Benin and Ivory Coast of sponsoring an assault on a military base at Niamey’s international airport, while thanking “Russian partners” for repelling the attack.
General Abdourahamane Tiani, who seized power in a 2023 coup, made his claims on state television on Thursday, blaming France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Benin’s Patrice Talon and Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara. He did not offer any evidence to back up those claims.
France, Benin and Ivory Coast have not commented on the claims yet.
The military leader made those claims after visiting the airbase at Diori Hamani International Airport, located some 10km (six miles) from the presidential palace, where explosions and shootings were reported on Wednesday night into Thursday.
Defence Minister Salifou Modi said the attack lasted “about 30 minutes”, before an “air and ground response”. The defence ministry said four military personnel were injured and 20 attackers were killed, with state television saying that a French national was among them. Eleven people were arrested, it added.
“We have heard them bark, they should be ready to hear us roar,” said Tiani in comments that reflected the recent deterioration of Niger’s relations with France and neighbouring nations that he views as French proxies in the region.
Tiani also thanked Russian troops stationed at the base for “defending their sector”, confirming his nation’s growing ties with Moscow, which has provided military support to tackle a rebellion linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL.
Neither of the armed groups has so far claimed responsibility.
Niger has been led by General Tiani since a coup that overthrew the elected civilian president, Mohamed Bazoum, in July 2023.
The country, which is allied with Sahel neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), has struggled to contain the rebellion, which has killed thousands and displaced millions in the three nations.
YO MAPS REVEALS HOW REAL ESTATE, NOT MUSIC, PAYS HIS BILLS
Award-winning singer, Yo Maps, has revealed that music is not his primary source of income, dispelling the belief that Zambian artists earn heavily from their craft.
Speaking on the Phoenix Breakfast show with Chimweka and Hope Tha Duchess, the All African Music Awards (AFRIMA) Best Male Southern African Artist said real estate currently generates most of his income and finances his music career.
He disclosed that the business of buying and selling land accounts for about 70 percent of his investment in music, a consistent act that requires a lot of sacrifice.
Yo Maps noted that many local artists earn less than the public assumes and emphasized that better branding and reinvestment in one’s craft are key to increasing value and earning power in the industry.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government kicks out Israel’s chargé d’affaires Ariel Seidman, giving him just 72 hours to leave after he violated diplomatic norms and insulted the South African leader on social media.
Seidman allegedly bypassed government protocols, bringing in Israeli officials without authorization and using official platforms to attack Ramaphosa moves Pretoria calls a “gross abuse of diplomatic privilege.”
This explosive move deepens the rift since South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice over genocide allegations in Gaza. With no Israeli ambassador currently in SA, tensions have hit a new low.
Will this spark a wider diplomatic crisis?
SOUTH AFRICA DECLARES ISRAELI CHARGÉ D’AFFAIRES PERSONA NON GRATA
STATEMENT
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has informed the Government of the State of Israel of its decision to declare Mr Ariel Seidman, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Israeli Embassy, persona non grata.
This decisive measure follows a series of unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa’s sovereignty. These violations include the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch insulting attacks against His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, and a deliberate failure to inform DIRCO of purported visits by senior Israeli officials.
Such actions represent a gross abuse of diplomatic privilege and a fundamental breach of the Vienna Convention. They have systematically undermined the trust and protocols essential for bilateral relations.
South Africa’s sovereignty and the dignity of its offices are inviolable. Mr Seidman is required to depart from the Republic within 72 hours.
We urge the Israeli Government to ensure its future diplomatic conduct demonstrates respect for the Republic and the established principles of international engagement.
President Donald Trump presented Grammy-winning rapper Nicki Minaj with one of his $1 million “Gold Card” visas at a recent public event — or at least, that’s how it appeared. But The New York Times reports there was much less to this than it seemed.
“She posted an image of a Trump ‘gold card,’ the expedited visa offered to those willing to pay $1 million,” said the report. “But Ms. Minaj, who just hours before said she was Mr. Trump’s ‘No. 1 fan,’ suggested that she had not spent a dime. ‘Welp…’ Ms. Minaj posted alongside the image of the card bearing Mr. Trump’s face alongside the Statue of Liberty. ‘Finalizing that citizenship paperwork as we speak as per MY wonderful, gracious, charming President,’ added Ms. Minaj, who has said previously that she came to the United States illegally. ‘I wouldn’t have done it without you.’ And if that was not clear enough: ‘Gold Trump card free of charge,’ she wrote, alongside an image of the horror-film character Chucky giving the middle finger.”
But the Trinidadian rapper, who already has legal residency, didn’t actually get any status change out of this stunt, The Times reported: “Turns out, all Ms. Minaj got was a gold-colored card bearing Mr. Trump’s face. A White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe the gift, said the gold card was simply a ‘memento’ rather than a ‘visa document.'”
During Trump’s first term, Minaj was highly critical of the president’s immigration policies, speaking out in particular about the family separation scheme.
In recent months, however, she has rebranded herself as a MAGA devotee, calling Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance “role models” for young men, and even attending a far-right Turning Point USA summit where she spoke with Charlie Kirk’s widow. The White House has responded by lavishing her with praise.
The Trump “Gold Card” is essentially a slightly different version of a longtime program called the EB-5 immigrant investor visa, which grants residency to foreign investors who inject large amounts of money into the U.S. economy and create at least 10 jobs. The administration has suggested the Gold Card may ultimately replace this program outright.
Chaos struck at an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement student protest at a school in Fremont, Nebraska, when an SUV with a Trump flag attached to it struck a girl participating in the demonstration.
According to News Channel Nebraska, “Dozens of students were part of the protest and were holding signs and chanting. A boy, who appeared to be high-school aged, parked his SUV with the flag in front of the school, got out of the vehicle and exchanged words with the protesters. He then got back into the SUV, revved the engine and drove forward. A girl, who appears to be a student, was standing several feet in front of the vehicle, facing it and holding a sign toward the car. The driver accelerated and hit the protester, casting her to the side.”
The boy driving the SUV “stopped briefly as a school administrator approached, then drove away from the scene,” the report continued.
The girl who was struck was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, but “was alert, talking and smiling while interacting with first responders.”
Anti-ICE protests have erupted all over the country as crackdowns on immigrants and those advocating for them have grown more brutal and violent.
The epicenter of this clash has been in Minneapolis, where federal agents fanned the flames when they fatally shot Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Another major protest broke out this week at the child detention facility in Dilley, Texas, where a Minneapolis boy had been transported; state troopers were brought in to try to control the demonstrators there.
UGANDA ARMY CHIEF APOLOGISES TO US OVER BOBI WINE CLAIMS
UGANDA’S army chief has apologised to the United States after accusing its embassy in Kampala of helping opposition leader Bobi Wine evade authorities.
Posting on social media on Friday, Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced that the army was suspending all cooperation with the US embassy in Kampala.
But an hour later, he deleted the post and said he’d been “fed with wrong information.”
Bobi Wine has been in hiding since the presidential election earlier this month when he lost to Kainerugaba’s father, Yoweri Museveni.
Museveni was re-elected to a seventh term, a result Wine called “blatant theft.”
Last week, Kainerugaba threatened to hunt down and kill Wine, boasting that his forces had killed 30 of his supporters, and arrested 2,000 more since the election.
Wine’s wife says she was assaulted by soldiers during a raid on her home last week. Kainerugaba has taken responsibility for the raid but denies that Kyagulanyi was attacked.
But Wine remains defiant. In his own post on social media on Monday, Wine said: “the whole army is looking for one person but they have failed to find me. That means they’re not as strong as they tell you.”
He urged his supporters to do “whatever is possible without breaking the law. They call us outlaws, but we do not break the law.”
The hunt for Wine is being led by Kainerugaba the president’s presumptive heir who has responded to Wine’s taunts by calling him a coward, a “baboon” and a “terrorist.” He has a longstanding habit of posting offensive tweets, which he often deletes later.
The exchanges between Wine and Kainerugaba have raised tensions after the election, with many Ugandans worried that an attack on Wine could trigger unrest.
Nicki Minaj Flaunts Trump ‘Gold Card’, Fast-Tracks US Citizenship
Rap superstar Nicki Minaj has responded to calls for her deportation in a major way. On Wednesday, January 28, the artist shared a photo of President Donald Trump’s exclusive “Gold Card,” signaling that she is officially finalizing her process to become a United States citizen.
The Deportation Threat
This development follows a wave of backlash in late 2025, where a viral petition demanded that Minaj be deported to her native Trinidad and Tobago. Critics had cited her marriage to Kenneth Petty and her alleged harassment of Jay-Z and Beyoncé as reasons for her removal. Although Minaj has lived in the US since childhood and pays millions in taxes, she revealed in 2024 that she was still a legal permanent resident, not a citizen.
The “Gold Card” Flex
Now, the rapper suggests her citizenship is being expedited due to her public support for President Trump. While reports indicate that acquiring the “Gold Card” typically requires a $1 million contribution to the US Treasury and a $15,000 processing fee, Minaj claimed she received hers for free.
Taunting the Haters
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), she mocked those who signed the petition, sarcastically thanking them for motivating her to solidify her status with the help of the President.
She captioned the photo simply:
“Welp…”
She further wrote:
“Residency? Residency? The cope is coping. Finalising that citizenship paperwork as we speak as per MY wonderful, gracious, charming President. Thanks to the petition. I wouldn’t have done it without you. Oh CitizenNIKA you are thee moment. Gold Trump card free of charge.”
The Political Thriller of Zambia: A Week in Fire and Fury
…how Mundubile captured the headlines
“Zambia’s political theatre this week has been nothing short of a thriller: Brian Mundubile’s audacious bid for the presidency has rattled the PF, angered exiled spokesperson Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba, and exposed the fragility of democracy under the ruling UPND.
“Against this back-drop of poverty, fuel hikes, and constitutional “tricks,” or imingalato, the stakes for August’s election could not be higher.”
Mundubile’s Gambit
This week, the spotlight fell squarely on Hon. Brian Mundubile, the Mporokoso lawmaker who dared to break ranks in the fractured Patriotic Front (PF).
After four years of dithering since losing power to President Hakainde Hichilema’s UPND, the PF has failed to hold a convention to select a presidential candidate.
Into this vacuum stepped Mundubile, pitching himself for the most coveted job in town against all odds.
Yet instead of rallying behind him, the PF’s exiled spokesperson Ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba and a chorus of “procedure purists” have threatened expulsion for those aligning with the BM8 movement.
I remain befuddled as a political scholar: why fight a man with resilience and a majority of PF MPs openly behind him?
Democracy is not Siberia, it thrives when multiple hats are thrown into the ring, not when one is punished for daring to dream.
Democracy and Opposition
I am a great believer in democracy, not coronacracy, and it only blossoms when opposition movements are strong. Brian Mundubile’s rise, though ‘imperfect’ according to my brother and hombre EMV, is an attempt to foster such strength.
Still, he would do well to work with other formidable figures—KBF, Fred M’membe, Given Lubinda, Harry Kalaba, Makebi Zulu, and John Sangwa, others too numerous to name.
If unity doesn’t work, so be it but at least try and speaking to brother BM8, I see a hombre willing to embrace all, Greyford Monde, the Rev Danny Pule et al.
There is enough room for everyone in the democratic bubble, provided egos are checked at the door.
Poverty and Hardship: The Fuel of Change
Zambia’s poverty levels remain staggering. As of 2022, 64.2% of the population—about 13 million people—lived on less than $2.15 a day, with inequality reflected in a Gini Index of 51.8.
This grinding poverty is not just a statistic; it is the lived reality of millions who struggle to put food on the table, send children to school, or access healthcare.
Fuel prices, meanwhile, have become a cruel barometer of hardship. In 2025, petrol hovered around K32.14 per litre and diesel at K27.38 per litre, with spikes later in the year.
For ordinary Zambians, every litre translates into higher transport costs, pricier food, and diminished hope.
These hardships often drive citizens to seek change at the ballot box, believing democracy should deliver bread, not just speeches and dreams.
Tricks and “Imingilato” will be implemented-Cornelius Mweetwa
Government spokesman Cornelius Mweetwa, flamboyantly dubbed “Mr Bombastic,” declared the opposition “politically dead.”
Yet in the same breath, he revealed that the ruling party deploys “tricks”—imingilato—to tilt constitutional amendments and polls. If true, this borders on illegality.
Were the opposition to announce similar underhand methods, arrests would rain down without hesitation like a ton of bricks, ask Miles Sampa.
Shouldn’t civil society and the ECZ investigate these claims? Democracy cannot survive on illegal tricks; it must rest on transparency and laws.
The Army’s Hitlerian Rhetoric
Shock-waves rippled when Army Commander Lt. General Zyeele threatened to “fumigate, eradicate, and exterminate” illegal miners, claiming the orders came from the President.
Adolf Hitler’s ghost seemed to whisper through the airwaves. Thankfully, Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma chastised him, but the nation remains uneasy: what language will the Commander use next—“annihilate”?
Satire Across the Seas
Across the Atlantic, POTUS Trump once again proved he can TACO—Trump Always Chickens Out—when his Greenland acquisition fantasy collided with NATO’s reminder: “an attack on one is an attack on all.”
He retreated, unlike his Rambo-style escapade in Venezuela, where he “captured” Maduro and his wife. Irony abounds: Greenland breathes ice and fish, Gaza bleeds under bombs. Different strokes for different folks.
Friends of the West: Lease of Life It pays to be a friend of the West.
Nations aligned with Washington, London, Paris, or Brussels often receive debt relief, aid packages, and diplomatic cover.
For instance:
Ukraine has enjoyed billions in Western support, keeping its economy afloat despite war. Israel, despite global criticism, continues to receive military and financial backing, ensuring its survival.
Meanwhile, Gaza and Palestinians, lacking such friendship, face relentless bombardment and isolation. As one diplomat once quipped: “In geopolitics, alliances are oxygen; without them, nations suffocate.”
The Coming Storm
With six months to go before Zambia’s crucial polls, poverty gnaws, fuel prices bite, and democracy trembles under the weight of tricks and threats.
Mundubile’s candidacy may yet galvanize the opposition, but only if unity triumphs over division.
The ruling party’s confidence, bolstered by constitutional tinkering, may prove brittle if citizens decide bread and fuel matter more than slogans.
Closing Reflection
The Daily Revelation Newspaper
As I, pen these words, I am reminded of a French political maxim that captures the essence of our struggle:
“La politique est l’art d’empêcher les gens de se mêler de ce qui les regarde.” — Paul Valéry Politics, indeed, is the art of preventing people from meddling in what concerns them.
In Zambia today, the people must insist on meddling, for it is their bread, their fuel, their democracy at stake.
And that’s Mukwita on Point.
Ambassador Anthony Mukwita is an International Relations Analyst & Author
A jury in Wisconsin has convicted a man of trying to frame an undocumented immigrant for attempted assassination of President Donald Trump, so he couldn’t testify at his trial.
According to the Associated Press, “online court records show the Milwaukee County jury found 52-year-old Demetric Scott guilty of felony identity theft and witness intimidation after deliberating for most of the day. He represented himself during the three-day trial and was immediately taken into custody after the verdicts were read, leaving no way to reach him for comment on Thursday evening.”
Per the report, “Mexican immigrant Ramon Morales Reyes was riding his bike in Milwaukee in September 2023 when Scott approached him and kicked him off the bike. He stabbed Morales Reyes with a box cutter before stealing the bike and riding away.” Scott was swiftly arrested — but thought he had the perfect scheme to get out of trouble.
Scott wrote a series of letters to local officials, posing as Morales Reyes, threatening to assassinate Trump at a rally. He even bragged during a recorded jailhouse call that if Morales Reyes “gets picked up by ICE, there won’t be a jury trial so they will probably dismiss it that day. That’s my plan.”
Morales Reyes was initially arrested — and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem even posted his face on social media, triumphantly proclaiming his plan was thwarted — but Scott’s plan quickly fell apart as police realized Morales Reyes could barely speak or write English, so he couldn’t have written the letters. Scott ultimately admitted to the scheme.
The jury went on to acquit Scott of the underlying robbery and battery charges, but convicted him of reckless endangerment for kicking Morales Reyes off his bike. He was also convicted on one count of bail jumping because the attack happened while he was awaiting trial for a separate burglary charge. He faces up to 26 years in prison, and the burglary case is still pending.
Cain Oulahan, Morales Reyes’ attorney, told the AP the married father of three has “been traumatized by going through all this, all these different levels that feel like victimization. He just wants to work and be with his family again.”
A Florida anesthesiologist has forfeited his nursing license following a firestorm over controversial social media posts in which he said he would refuse to perform anesthesia for MAGA fans.
State Attorney General James Uthmeier declared Thursday that “effective today, Erik Martindale is no longer a registered nurse in Florida.”
“Healthcare is not contingent on political beliefs, and we have zero tolerance for partisans who put politics above their ethical duty to treat patients with the respect and dignity they deserve,” he wrote on X.
Controversy erupted after Martindale posted a since-deleted message stating, “I will not perform anesthesia for any surgeries or procedures for MAGA. It is my right, it is my ethical oath, and I stand behind my education. I own all of my businesses and I can refuse anyone!”
Martindale later claimed his Facebook account was hacked, Fox News reported.
State officials alleged Martindale also violated the nursing compact agreement by relocating to Indiana without notifying the state’s Nursing Board. According to the Florida Department of Health’s portal, Martindale voluntarily relinquished his license. a distinction that technically “does not constitute discipline,” per state regulations.
ANC BLASTS US FUEL BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA — CALLS IT A CRIMINAL ASSAULT ON THE CUBAN PEOPLE, ACCUSES WASHINGTON OF FUELING GLOBAL INSTABILITY AND RISKING FURTHER DAMAGE TO SOUTH AFRICA‑US RELATIONS
The African National Congress (ANC), through Fikile Mbalula, has condemned in the strongest terms the United States’ decision to impose a total blockade on fuel supplies to Cuba. The ANC describes this move as a direct attack on the Cuban people and a continuation of decades of economic strangulation that has harmed the country and its citizens.
This latest blockade comes just a month after the invasion of Venezuela and the unlawful kidnapping of its legitimate leader, President Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Comrade Cilia Flores. The ANC argues that these aggressive actions are not about humanitarian aid but are driven by greed for natural resources and a disregard for international law.
Fikile Mbalula warned that instead of promoting peace and stability, such actions only escalate tensions worldwide and put innocent people at risk. He also highlighted that the ANC’s vocal stance on these issues, while defending the rights of sovereign nations, is fanning the flames in an already fragile relationship between South Africa and the United States, making diplomatic cooperation even more difficult.
The ANC reiterated its call for respect for international law, sovereign equality, and the right of all nations to pursue their own political and economic paths without external interference. They stressed that unilateral blockades, embargoes, and interventions only deepen human suffering and global instability.
There is one important difference between President Donald Trump’s first and second administrations, and one former Trump insider believes it could bring down the White House.
Olivia Troye, who worked on national security issues during the first Trump administration, joined Sydney Blumenthal and Sean Wilentz on their “The Court of History” podcast to discuss what she sees as the main difference between the two Trump administrations. Troye argued that the absence of Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her husband, Jared Kushner, is the key difference, and one that threatens to upend the second administration.
Troye said Kushner was able to restrain Trump’s now Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller because of the gravitas he had across the White House. There were other times when Kushner would be brought in to argue against more extreme policy proposals, she added.
“At times, Jared Kushner came off as reasonable in certain negotiations, especially when it came to foreign policy or international relations,” Troye said.
Now that Ivanka and Jared are no longer around, Miller appears to be completely unbridled, Troye argued. She said Miller appears to have learned how to manipulate Trump to achieve his personal goals, like building the immigration regime that has put the Trump administration in legal jeopardy.
“The thing about this entire inner circle is there’s so much blatant corruption that we can see now … and everything that’s happening here that I think that this is a circle of complete loyalty,” Troye said. “And I think what they’ve seen with Steven Miller is that he is unwavering. He has a specific agenda that is aligned with Trump’s.”
Last weekend, Trump’s immigration forces killed a 37-year-old ICU nurse named Alex Pretti during a protest in Minneapolis. Pretti had been subdued by officers before the first shots rang out. It was the second high-profile killing in Minneapolis in January.
The killings have sparked protests and calls for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Miller to resign or be fired.
An online conspiracy theorist accused Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) of staging the town hall attack against her this week — and she dropped the language filter in her furious response.
Omar, who has been on the receiving end of months upon months of racist attacks from President Donald Trump over her Somalian ancestry, was speaking to constituents in Minneapolis on Tuesday night when a man charged her and sprayed her with an unidentified substance. In the video captured of the incident, Omar refused pleas from onlookers to seek medical attention, insisting that she would continue speaking.
Trump and a number of far-right figures, however, have pushed the idea, with no evidence, that the whole thing was faked — and MAGA comedian Terrence K. Williams laid out his argument for it on X.
“Dear Ilhan Omar, I spoke with Poison Control,” wrote Williams. “Their instructions were very clear and you didn’t follow any of them They said If you are sprayed with an unknown substance: Get to fresh air immediately; Do not touch your face; Remove contaminated clothing; Rinse skin and eyes with running water for 15 minutes; Wash with soap and water; Seek medical attention right away; Call Poison Control for guidance: 1-800-222-1222. You didn’t do anything on this list because it was staged.”
Omar had a ready reply for this.
“I didn’t do any of those things because I fear losing my dignity more than I fear losing my life,” she wrote. “Something you coward losers will never understand. So f— off.”
As of Thursday, the Justice Department has filed charges against the man believed to be the attacker, identified as Anthony Kazmierczak, a Trump supporter with a lengthy criminal rap sheet stretching back decades. The substance he sprayed Omar with has been identified by police as apple cider vinegar.
A Chipata man is in a state of profound shock after police arrested his spouse who is accused of impersonating a woman to deceive men for money.
The husband claims he only discovered his partner’s true gender following the arrest.
The suspect was apprehended after police received reports of an individual presenting as a woman to form relationships with men under false pretences for financial gain.
In an interview with Diamond News at the police station, the distressed husband described the revelation as deeply traumatic and that he is still struggling to come to terms with it.
Meanwhile, the husband’s family revealed they had fulfilled all traditional marriage rites.
They were awaiting formal introductions with the “wife’s” relatives, a process delayed while they gathered the necessary funds.
