TANZANIA PRESIDENT EXPRESSES REGRET OVER ELECTION-DAY INTERNET SHUTDOWN
TANZANIA’S President Samia Suluhu Hassan has, for the first time, expressed regret over the internet shutdown imposed during the country’s disputed October elections, which were followed by the worst post-election violence in decades.
Speaking to diplomats and representatives of international organisations in the capital, Dodoma, Hassan acknowledged the disruption caused by the government’s response, which included a six-day internet blackout and a heavy security crackdown.
“We acknowledge the challenges of the unrest and violence on the election day and shortly thereafter. Our response was essential to maintain constitutional order and ensure safety of all citizens and diplomatic community,” she said.
Violence erupted after Hassan won the vote with more than 97%, as major opposition candidates were barred and the main opposition leader remained jailed on treason charges. Rights groups say hundreds were killed.
The president also announced clemency measures.
“I, too pardoned 1,787 convicts associated with the unrest and violence of 29th October last year,” she said.
Foreign observers say the election failed to meet democratic standards, while a commission of inquiry is now investigating the violence.
ZAMBIA’S MWEETWA APPOINTED IOC “BELIEVE IN SPORT ” AMBASSADOR FOR MILANO CORTINA 2026
ZAMBIA’S Nchimunya Mweetwa has been appointed to lead the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Believe in Sport campaign at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, which will take place from 6 to 22 February 2026 in Italy.
Mweetwa, who previously served as an IOC Believe in Sport Ambassador at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, will be based in the Olympic Village, where he will engage athletes and their entourage members in Milan and Cortina, raising awareness on the prevention of competition manipulation and the importance of fair play.
Speaking to the NOCZ media team, Mweetwa said the assignment presents another opportunity to promote clean sport, share his lived experience, and educate athletes on the risks and consequences associated with competition manipulation.
A member of the NOCZ Safe Sport Commission, Mweetwa continues to play a key role in empowering athletes to uphold the values of integrity, ethics, and fair competition. The Believe in Sport campaign focuses on educating athletes, entourage members, and officials on issues such as match-fixing, intentional underperformance, and the misuse of insider information for betting purposes.
Reacting to the appointment, NOCZ President and 3rd Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), Alfred Foloko, expressed pride in Mweetwa’s continued recognition, describing the role as well-deserved in light of his commitment to promoting fair play and safeguarding sport integrity.
Foloko added that Zambia and the African Olympic family remain proud of Mweetwa’s efforts, noting that his work within the Olympic Movement is expected to inspire athletes to speak up and uphold the highest standards of integrity. He further revealed that NOCZ is actively identifying Zambian athletes involved in winter sports, with the hope of seeing the nation represented by athletes at future Winter Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) Secretary General Boniface Kambikambi emphasized the importance of integrity in sport, both on and off the field of play, noting that upholding ethical standards is fundamental to fair and credible competition
He welcomed Mweetwa’s continued involvement in athlete education, stating that NOCZ is pleased to see Nchimunya’s consistency in supporting and guiding athletes on matters of integrity, clean sport, and ethical conduct within the Olympic Movement.
IRAN CLAIMS SUCCESSFUL TEST OF INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE – WHY THIS ALARMS THE WORLD AND PUTS SOUTH AFRICA IN THE SPOTLIGHT AFTER JOINT NAVAL EXERCISES
Iranian authorities have announced that the country has successfully tested a long-range ballistic missile which they say is capable of reaching intercontinental distances. If true, this would place Iran among a small group of nations with the ability to strike targets thousands of kilometres away, far beyond the Middle East.
An Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) is designed to travel more than 5,500 kilometres and can potentially carry nuclear or conventional warheads. Such weapons are considered strategic game-changers because they can reach other continents within minutes. While Iran insists the test was successful, independent international verification has not yet been made public, and many military analysts say more technical evidence is still needed before the claim can be fully confirmed.
What makes this development even more sensitive for Africa is South Africa’s recent military cooperation with Iran at sea.
SOUTH AFRICA’S ROLE AND THE NAVAL DRILLS
South Africa recently hosted multinational naval exercises involving its own navy together with partners from Russia, China and Iran. These drills, held in local waters, were officially described as focusing on maritime security, search and rescue, and cooperation.
However, Iran’s participation drew strong international attention because the country is under heavy sanctions and is often accused of destabilising the Middle East. The missile test claims now add another layer of concern, with critics questioning whether South Africa’s engagement with Tehran could be interpreted as indirect support at a time when Iran is showcasing advanced weapons.
WHY THE WORLD IS CONCERNED
If Iran truly has ICBM capability:
It would significantly shift global military balance.
It could increase tensions with the United States, Israel, and European countries.
It would raise fears about nuclear delivery potential, even if Iran insists the missile is for defence.
⚖️ SOUTH AFRICA’S DIPLOMATIC BALANCING ACT
South Africa maintains that its foreign policy is non-aligned and that it engages with all nations for peace and cooperation. But the combination of:
Joint naval exercises with Iran, and
Iran’s claims of testing intercontinental missiles has sparked debate about whether Pretoria is being drawn into major global power rivalries.
For now, the key facts are:
Iran says it tested a missile with intercontinental range.
Independent confirmation is still unclear.
South Africa recently conducted naval drills that included Iran.
The situation is intensifying global attention on military alliances and shifting geopolitical lines.
This is no longer just a Middle East issue – it is becoming a global security story, with Africa and South Africa now part of the wider conversation.
ORDERED IN 2010, DELIVERED IN 2026: LIBYAN DEALER FINALLY RECEIVES NOKIA PHONES AFTER 16 YEARS
Imagine ordering a phone in 2010 and finally receiving it in 2026. That’s the story of a Libyan phone dealer who just got his Nokia phones 16 years after placing the order.
The shipment was stuck in warehouses when Libya’s civil war broke out in 2011, disrupting transport, customs, and business across the country. Years of instability kept the phones stranded until now, when they finally reached their owner
President Assimi Goïta attends the inauguration of President Mamadi Doumbouya.
Mali’s President of the Transition, His Excellency General of the Army Assimi Goïta, Head of State, took part on Saturday, January 17, 2026, in the inauguration ceremony of his Guinean counterpart, His Excellency Mamadi Doumbouya, at the Lansana Conté Stadium in Conakry.
This ceremony, which marks the assumption of office of the first President of the Fifth Republic of Guinea, brought together many high-level African figures. Several Heads of State honored the event with their presence, notably those of Mali, Gabon, Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Rwanda. Other African countries, such as Burkina Faso, were represented by official delegations.
Upon his arrival at the stadium, just after the military honors, the President of the Republic of Guinea exchanged a handshake with his Malian counterpart before taking his seat in the presidential box for the start of the proceedings. At the end of the ceremony, President Assimi Goïta granted an exclusive interview to the press, in which he paid a strong tribute to his Guinean counterpart and recalled the depth of the historical ties between Guinea and Mali.
“First of all, I would like to thank, salute, and above all congratulate President Mamadi Doumbouya on his election as head of the Republic of Guinea. Guinea and Mali are united not only by history, but also by culture and geography,” explained the President of the Transition.
His Excellency General of the Army Assimi Goïta also recalled Guinea’s exemplary solidarity with Mali during the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS in 2022. “Guinea was one of the few countries to publicly denounce these illegal, illegitimate, and inhumane sanctions, and to openly support the Malian people during those difficult times. It is my duty to be here to express our gratitude and reaffirm the unbreakable ties between our two nations,” he stated.
The President of the Transition also paid tribute to the Malian community living in Guinea, whom he met upon his arrival in Conakry. He expressed his appreciation for their resilience and loyalty to Mali despite the challenges facing the country. “I would like to salute our compatriots living in Guinea. They told me about the excellent fraternal relations they maintain with their Guinean brothers.
I congratulate them for their exemplary conduct and their commitment to supporting the authorities of the Transition,” he said, before urging them to continue efforts toward cooperation and cohesion, while embracing the vision Mali Kura Ɲɛtaasira Ka Bɛn San 2063, which charts the path toward the country’s sustainable development. “This vision, driven by eleven structuring projects, will guide our actions over the next forty years. It aims to strengthen our sovereignty, stimulate our economy, and ensure the well-being of our populations,” President GOÏTA recalled.
The Head of State then left Guinea in the early evening for Bamako, thus marking the end of a day of friendship and working visit to the Republic of Guinea.
His business partner is serving 28 years for murder. Dr. Dre left $50 million on the table to escape. Sold his next company to Apple for $3 billion anyway.
A hip-hop producer who fled for his life became the biggest acquisition in Apple’s history..
Dr. Dre was 31 years old.
Co-founder of Death Row Records. The label making $100 million a year.
His partner Suge Knight threatened to throw Vanilla Ice off a 15th-floor balcony over song royalties.
That’s who Dre was in business with.
Artists couldn’t leave. Meetings ended with people getting beaten.
Everyone told Dre to stay quiet.
“That’s just how the game works.”
“You’re getting paid. What’s the problem?”
“Nobody walks away from Suge Knight.”
He didn’t listen.
Here’s what Dre knew that everyone else missed:
No amount of money is worth your life. And no empire built on fear can last.
So in March 1996, he did something nobody in hip-hop had ever done.
He walked away from Death Row Records.
Left behind his 50% ownership stake. A label doing $100 million annually. His royalties from The Chronic. Everything he’d helped build.
Walked away with nothing but his name.
People thought he was insane.
“You’re giving up millions.”
“Suge will destroy you.”
“Your career is over.”
But Dre had seen enough.
His brother Tyree had been murdered in 1989. Neck broken in a Compton street fight.
Dre knew what happened to people who stayed around violence too long.
He wasn’t waiting for his name to be next.
Six months after Dre left, Tupac was shot and killed. Suge was in the car.
Dre’s instincts had saved his life.
Dre started over from zero.
Founded Aftermath Entertainment. Had a vision but no artists. No hits. No momentum.
His first compilation album flopped. Critics said he was finished. The Firm project disappointed. Artists kept leaving.
For two years, Aftermath looked like an expensive mistake.
Then Jimmy Iovine, co-founder of Interscope, handed him a demo tape.
A white rapper from Detroit. Bleached blonde hair. Angry lyrics. Raw talent nobody wanted to touch.
Eminem.
Every major label had passed on him. Too controversial. Too risky. Too different.
Dre heard something else. Genius.
On March 9, 1998, he signed Eminem to Aftermath.
The Slim Shady LP dropped in 1999. Went quadruple platinum. Changed hip-hop forever.
That same year, Dre released his own comeback album. 2001. Went six times platinum.
But Dre wasn’t done.
He signed 50 Cent in 2002. Get Rich or Die Tryin’ sold 872,000 copies its first week.
Then Kendrick Lamar. Then Anderson .Paak.
Every artist he touched turned to gold.
Meanwhile, Suge Knight went to prison. Got out. Went back in. Death Row filed for bankruptcy. Got sold at auction for $18 million.
The empire built on fear collapsed.
But here’s the part most people don’t know.
In 2006, Dre did something even bigger than music.
He and Jimmy Iovine started a headphone company.
Beats Electronics.
Everyone laughed.
“Dr. Dre selling headphones?”
“Rappers don’t build tech companies.”
“The market is already saturated.”
They were wrong.
Dre understood something the tech world missed. Headphones weren’t about specs. They were about culture. About identity. About how music makes you feel.
He made headphones cool. Athletes wore them. Celebrities endorsed them. Kids had to have them.
By 2014, Beats had 57% of the premium headphone market.
That’s when Apple came calling.
On May 28, 2014, Apple acquired Beats for $3 billion.
The largest acquisition in Apple’s history.
Dre owned roughly 25% of the company. His take: over $500 million before taxes.
He became the first hip-hop artist to call himself a billionaire.
Today, Dre’s net worth sits around $500-800 million.
Aftermath Entertainment has launched some of the biggest names in music history.
Eminem. 50 Cent. Kendrick Lamar.
His albums have sold over 40 million copies.
He got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2024.
All because a 31-year-old producer refused to die for someone else’s empire.
He walked away from $50 million and built a $3 billion exit.
He proved that the safest money isn’t always the smartest money.
What toxic situation are you staying in because leaving feels too expensive?
What partnership are you clinging to because you’ve already invested so much?
Dre co-founded the most feared label in hip-hop. Left with nothing. Started over at 31.
His new label almost failed. He signed the one artist nobody else wanted. Changed music forever.
Then built a headphone company everyone laughed at. Sold it to Apple.
Because he understood something most people don’t.
Walking away isn’t losing. It’s positioning yourself to win bigger.
Your worth isn’t tied to where you’ve been. It’s built by what you do next.
Sometimes the best business decision is leaving money on the table to save your life.
Stop staying in toxic situations because you’ve already invested.
Start thinking like Dr. Dre.
Leave the violence behind. Bet on yourself. Build something new.
And never let anyone convince you that sunk costs are worth your future.
The greatest empires are built by people brave enough to walk away from the first one.
When your business partner is a killer, the smartest exit is the one where you survive.
LOVE, JEALOUSY AND DIVISION ROCK THE BIG BROTHER MZANSI HOUSE – THANDEKA AND MMELI’S ROMANCE SPARKS HOUSE REVOLT, FAN WARS AND EVICTION CALLS JUST DAYS INTO THE SEASON
Just a few days after Big Brother Mzansi returned on January 11, the Bazozwa house is already boiling with emotions as a growing romance between Thandeka Tshabalala and Mmeli Khumalo turns into the first major fault line of the season.
Their late-night talks, constant closeness and eventual first kiss early Sunday morning have not only caught the attention of viewers, but also triggered discomfort and tension inside the house. Some housemates, including Didi, Mashel, Don and Buhle, have openly voiced their frustration, accusing Thandeka of bringing “confusion”, “mixed signals” and “emotional instability” into the group dynamic. In private conversations, some even said the house would celebrate if she were the first to be evicted.
Despite the pressure, Thandeka has remained calm and unbothered, choosing not to confront anyone directly. Her silence and confidence, however, have only deepened the divide.
On social media, the reaction has been explosive:
• A large group of fans are celebrating the couple, calling Thandeka and Mmeli the first real love story of the season. Many say their chemistry feels natural and refreshing, and that people in the house are simply jealous of their connection.
• Others believe Thandeka is playing a strategic emotional game, keeping multiple people interested and enjoying the attention. Some viewers argue that she thrives in the spotlight and is using romance to secure relevance and screen time.
• A third group is defending her strongly, saying strong, outspoken women are often targeted early in reality shows and painted as “troublemakers” when they refuse to shrink themselves to make others comfortable.
Comments across platforms are filled with statements like: “Why is she being blamed for people’s feelings?” “Mmeli is a grown man, he chose her.” “This is pure jealousy, nothing else.” “She’s too powerful for this house, that’s why they want her out.” “She must stay, the house is boring without her energy.”
As alliances quietly begin to form and emotional lines are drawn, many viewers now believe that this romance could directly influence the first eviction. Supporters are already mobilising votes to protect their favourite, while critics are calling for her removal to “restore peace”.
With the first possible live eviction looming and tensions rising ahead of the next prime-time episode on Mzansi Magic, one thing is clear: Big Brother Mzansi is no longer just a game of tasks and nominations — it has become a battlefield of hearts, egos, jealousy and power, and Thandeka is right at the centre of the storm.
SHOCK AT ALGERIAN DERBY AS ISHOWSPEED IS PELTED WITH WATER AND TRASH AT NELSON MANDELA STADIUM, FORCED TO LEAVE UNDER HEAVY SECURITY DESPITE SAYING “I CAME IN PEACE, I DIDN’T SUPPORT ANY TEAM” – FANS DIVIDED AS HIS RESPECTFUL AFRICA TOUR CONTINUES
Popular American streamer and YouTube star Darren Watkins Jr., famously known as IShowSpeed, experienced a dramatic and emotional moment during his visit to Algeria as part of his 28-day Africa tour, where he has been travelling country to country to respectfully explore, learn and showcase African cultures to a global audience.
His trip began on a positive note. Upon arriving in Algiers on January 17, he was warmly welcomed by excited fans, amazed by the city’s historic buildings from the French colonial era, and openly praised Algerian food, especially couscous, calling it one of the best meals he had tasted on the continent. Throughout his visit, he repeatedly told his viewers that he was in Algeria to appreciate the culture, meet the people and experience everyday life, not to cause trouble or take sides in politics or football.
However, the mood changed dramatically when he attended the highly charged Super Cup final between MC Alger and USM Alger at the Nelson Mandela Stadium – one of the fiercest rivalries in North African football. As soon as some ultras noticed him filming, hostility erupted in the stands. Bottles, water and other objects were thrown in his direction, while sections of the crowd shouted at him to stop recording and leave.
Clearly confused and shaken, Speed was heard saying, “I didn’t do anything to them. I’m not supporting anyone. Why are they throwing water at me?” Security quickly stepped in and escorted him out of the stadium for his safety. Reports also indicate that on the way out, one individual hurled a racist insult at him, leaving the streamer visibly hurt and close to tears on his live stream.
https://youtu.be/_Zu0eQExfqA?si=OPSwlDKmmvfUFyka
Despite the frightening incident and the feeling of rejection, IShowSpeed later told his audience that he would not judge the entire country by the actions of a few people. He said most Algerians he met were kind, welcoming and proud to share their culture, and he described the overall visit as “mostly beautiful.”
Staying true to the spirit of his tour, he continued his journey to southern Algeria, where he met Tuareg communities in the Sahara Desert, joined in traditional dances, and once again showed deep respect for local customs, clothing and music.
Fans across Africa and beyond have praised him for the way he travels – not as a typical tourist, but as a cultural explorer who walks the streets, eats local food, interacts with ordinary people and uses his platform to show the world the richness and diversity of African nations. Many also condemned the stadium incident, saying he deserved protection and respect, especially since he made it clear he was neutral and only there to experience the atmosphere of one of Africa’s biggest football rivalries.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe Unveils Ambitious Vision for African Football: Promises Fairness, Unity, Bigger Prizes, Global Recognition, and More Exciting Competitions While Celebrating AFCON 2025’s Success
In a powerful press conference, Dr Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), outlined his vision for African football, addressing everything from fairness and credibility to exciting competitions and global recognition. Here’s what he said, in full detail.
⚖️ Fairness, Unity, and Equality Across Africa
Motsepe made it clear that under his leadership, every African country will be treated equally, no matter its size or football history. He emphasized that CAF is committed to dignity, fairness, and unity, ensuring that all nations have the same opportunities to succeed on and off the field.
He stressed that African football should bring people together, not divide them, and that every team, player, and fan should feel valued.
Raising Standards and Credibility
CAF’s credibility, Motsepe explained, is built on transparency, accountability, and fairness. He promised to improve refereeing standards, including VAR technology, to make sure competitions are honest and respected worldwide.
He also said that CAF’s decisions will be more open and clear to avoid misunderstandings and to build trust among fans and nations.
⚡ Exciting Competitions and AFCON Success
The CAF President proudly called AFCON 2025 one of the most exciting tournaments in history. He praised the quality of the games, the energy of fans, and the efforts of host countries to make the tournament unforgettable.
He believes that African football can grow further if it delivers thrilling matches and unforgettable moments for supporters across the continent.
Growing African Football Economically
Motsepe highlighted the importance of commercial growth. He explained that football must not only be fun to watch but also attract investment, sponsorships, and revenue that can be reinvested in African teams, stadiums, and grassroots football.
He also revealed plans to make the African Nations League highly rewarding, with prize money that could rival AFCON, giving national teams real incentives to perform at their best.
Africa on the Global Stage
International football stars attending African tournaments, Motsepe said, are a sign of Africa’s growing influence. Their presence demonstrates that African football is gaining respect and recognition worldwide, and it encourages players to dream big.
️ Hosting Opportunities for All Regions
Motsepe underlined that all regions of Africa should have the chance to host major tournaments, provided they have the right infrastructure and organization. He praised Morocco for setting a high standard in hospitality and facilities, saying it shows what African nations can achieve when they work together.
Vision for the Future
More frequent competitive football: CAF plans to introduce regular competitions like the African Nations League to give national teams more high-level games.
Bigger prizes and rewards: More funding and prize money will help teams grow and develop their talent.
Unity and professionalism: African football will continue to raise its standards, with fairness and transparency at the core.
Global recognition: Africa is positioning itself as a major player in world football, attracting fans, sponsors, and international stars.
Dr Patrice Motsepe’s message is clear: African football is growing, uniting, and becoming stronger than ever. He is determined to make sure that every team, every player, and every fan across the continent can take pride in African football’s bright future.
GUINEA-CONAKRY: Mamady Doumbouya was sworn in as president on Saturday in front of tens of thousands of supporters and several heads of state, following an election victory last month.
Dressed in a traditional gown, Président Mamadi Doumbouya swore an oath to uphold the constitution — that he altered to allow him to stand — during an hours-long ceremony at the General Lansana Conte Stadium on the outskirts of the capital Conakry.
Heads of state from Rwanda, The Gambia, Senegal Sierra Leone, Gabon, VP Nigeria and other African countries joined the event.
Military leader General Assimi Goita, who currently runs neighbouring Mali, was also there.
Ethiopian Aviation University Graduates Over 450 Aviation Professionals from 12 Countries Addis Ababa, 17 January 2026
Ethiopian Aviation University, the largest aviation center of excellence in Africa, graduates 457 aviation professionals from 12 countries.
The graduates were trainees of the university’s Pilot Training, Aircraft Maintenance Training, and Cabin Crew Training schools. Marking the trainees’ achievement, the university held a vibrant graduation ceremony at its facility today, 17 January 2026.
58 pilots, 115 aircraft maintenance technicians, and 284 cabin crews begin their aviation career path. The graduating class comprised of trainees from Ethiopia, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Italy, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Yemen, reflecting the University’s growing international reach and multicultural learning environment.
FASHION B€ATS MBAPPE AND VINICIUS TO MILESTONE 🇸🇦🇿🇲
Since making his debut in 2023-24, Fashion Sakala Jr has completed 201 successful dribbles in the Saudi Pro League, more than any other player in the competition.
To put that into perspective, this is more than what Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, two of the best dribblers on the planet, have tallied in the same period.
Vinicius Jr has 196 successful take-ons in La Liga since 2023-24 while Kylian Mbappe stands at 198.
Unsurprisingly, the three forwards still trail FC Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, who has an incredible 313 to his name. The Spanish teenager is without doubt the best in the world.
Now, before anyone c0mes for me, this does not in any way imply Sakala is better than Mbappe or Vinicius. The comparison is simply meant to provide clearer context.
And finally, these are successful dribbles not showboating. Implying, we are only counting instances where a player successfully b£at his marker or dribbled past him.
PARACETAMOL IS SAFE IN PREGNANCY, SAYS STUDY REFUTING TRUMP AUTISM CLAIMS
TAKING paracetamol while pregnant is safe and there’s no evidence it raises the risk of autism, ADHD and developmental issues in children, say experts behind a major new review.
Pregnant women “should feel reassured” by the findings, they say, which contradict controversial claims from US President Donald Trump last year that paracetamol “is no good” and pregnant women should “fight like hell” not to take it.
His views were criticised at the time by medical organisations worldwide. Experts say this latest review, in a Lancet journal, is rigorous and should end the debate over its safety.
But US health officials maintain that “many experts” have expressed concern over its use during pregnancy.
The US President shocked many doctors worldwide when he and his administration claimed paracetamol known as acetaminophen in the US which is seen as the go-to painkiller for pregnant women could be linked to autism in children, if taken during pregnancy.
Those claims led to confusion among women and concern among health experts, and prompted this new research.
Published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health, it looked at 43 of the most robust studies into paracetamol use during pregnancy, involving hundreds of thousands of women, particularly those comparing pregnancies where the mother had taken the drug to pregnancies where she hadn’t.
The researchers say using these high-quality studies of siblings means they can dismiss other factors such as different genes and family environments, which makes their review “gold-standard”.
The research also looked at studies with a low risk of bias and those that followed children for more than five years to check for any link.
“When we did this analysis, we found no links, there was no association, there’s no evidence that paracetamol increases the risk of autism,” lead study author and consultant obstetrician Professor Asma Khalil, told the BBC.
“The message is clear paracetamol remains a safe option during pregnancy when taken as guided,” she added.
This reinforces guidance from major medical organisations in the UK, US and Europe on the safety of the common painkiller.
Any previously-reported links between the drug and an increased risk of autism are likely to be explained by other factors, rather than a direct effect of the paracetamol itself, the review says.
“This is important as paracetamol is the first-line medication we recommend for pregnant women in pain or with a fever,” said Prof Khalil, professor of maternal fetal medicine at City St George’s, University of London.
Health advice warns that women can run the risk of harming their baby if they don’t take paracetamol to bring down a high temperature or relieve pain when pregnant. This can increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth or developmental problems in babies.
Medical experts not involved in the research have welcomed the study’s findings, saying it will help reduce worry among women.
Prof Grainne McAlonnan, from King’s College London, said expectant mothers “do not need the stress of questioning whether medicine most commonly used for a headache could have far reaching effects on their child’s health”.
“I hope the findings of this study bring the matter to a close,” she said.
Prof Ian Douglas, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the review was “well-conducted” because it excluded studies of lower quality, where no account was taken of important differences between mothers who use or don’t use paracetamol during pregnancy, such as underlying illnesses.
According to Prof Jan Haavik, molecular neuroscientist and clinical psychiatrist at the University of Bergen, the study provides “strong evidence” that use of paracetamol during pregnancy does not increase the risk of autism, ADHD or intellectual disability and “should effectively put this question to rest”.
It is widely believed by scientists working in this field that autism is the result of a complex mix of factors, including genetic and environmental ones.
In a speech in September 2025, President Trump said his administration was linking paracetamol (or acetaminophen) to autism and urging pregnant women to largely avoid the pain reliever
A spokesman from the US Department of Health and Human Services said “many experts” had expressed concern over the use of acetaminophen – the US name for paracetamol – during pregnancy.
For example, a review in August 2025 led by Dr Andrew Baccarelli, dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, found that using acetaminophen during pregnancy may increase children’s autism and ADHD risk, and urged caution over “especially heavy or prolonged use”.
Months earlier, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr had pledged to find out the cause of a steep rise in reported autism cases.
In a controversial speech in the Oval Office in September, the US president said doctors would be advised not to prescribe the pain reliever to pregnant women.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) then issued a letter to clinicians urging them to be cautious about the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy, while also saying it was still the only drug approved for treating fevers during pregnancy.
On its website, the FDA says “a causal relationship” between the drug and neurological conditions “has not been established”.
Health officials in the UK have stressed that paracetamol remains the safest painkiller available to pregnant women.
● OPPOSITION UNITY SIGNALS TROUBLE FOR UPND, SAYS LUBINDA
PF acting president Given Lubinda says the ruling UPND is heading toward defeat, arguing that opposition unity has removed the structural advantage incumbents have long enjoyed in Zambian elections.
Lubinda believes recent electoral outcomes show voters responding to coordination rather than fragmented opposition politics. He argues that when opposition parties work together, the political equation changes significantly.
He highlights the Chawama by-election as evidence that voters are willing to reject incumbency when alternatives appear organised and credible. According to Lubinda, this trend reflects broader dissatisfaction with economic conditions and governance performance.
Lubinda says vote splitting has historically allowed ruling parties to survive elections without majority support. He believes that pattern is breaking as opposition leaders adopt disciplined strategies.
Economic concerns dominate voter thinking, he says. Rising prices and daily financial pressure are shaping choices more than party branding.
Lubinda urges opposition leaders to maintain focus and unity, warning that internal rivalry would reverse recent gains. He insists that consistency and cooperation will determine whether momentum holds through August.
He maintains that voters are prepared to make a decisive choice if given a unified option.
Current ECZ Cannot Deliver Free, Democratic, Transparent, FreeI and Fair Elections
I think they don’t get it.
As shown in the Chawama Parliamentary By-Elections, the current Electoral Commission of Zambia is not capable of delivering credible, democratic, free, transparent and fair elections.
It is the vigilance of the political parties, close scrutiny of the process and the overwhelming response by the Chawama residents that delivered the win and ensured that the vote was secured.
Prior statements from ECZ, banning PF regalia received a backlash when their own and alliance partner, Nevers Mumba arrived dressed in New Nation regalia and KBF’s Zambia Must Prosper deployed his “Yellow Bees”.
Further the reluctance by ECZ officials to release the results as caught on live camera exposed a hidden hand desperately trying to alter or undermine the results.
We saw, without realising that both canera and microphones were on, expressed fear and frustrations that the Opposition was leading.
The presence of UPND thugs lurking and threatening and finally closing the the premises of the Totalling Centre, demonstrated the danger present.
Simply because the Opposition won doesn’t mean the concerns have gone away.
For the Opposition, it must be stated that Zambia has a good electoral system where votes are counted at the polling station, and therefore, effective monitoring of the process in all the 12,150 polling stations and exposing irregularities early, can guarantee a credible outcome.
Further, a risk arises during the transfer of ballots from polling stations to the Totalling occurs and must be guarded.
The Opposition has called for an audit of the Voters’ Register.
Clayson Hamasaka Wrote;
By Clayson Hamasaka Chief Communications Specialist State House
Now that the Chawama by-election is behind us, we invite those opposition figures who previously alleged rigging and the existence of ghost polling stations to present their evidence.
There were prominent individuals who issued sweeping and unfounded accusations against institutions of the State, institutions they sought, consciously or otherwise, to weaken and undermine.
Governance institutions responsible for elections deserve respect, whether the outcome favours us or not. Frivolous claims of rigging erode public confidence and undermine the orderly flow of democracy.
President Hakainde Hichilema extended his congratulations to the elected candidate and commended both the ECZ, the Law Enforcement and the electorate for conducting a peaceful and credible poll. This gesture reflects his commitment to democracy and his respect for institutional processes.
The Chawama by-election stands as a clear example of government honouring democratic outcomes, even when the ruling party is not the winner. It also contrasts sharply with the violence and intimidation that characterised elections during the past admnistration, when contestation frequently descended into confrontation. The peaceful nature of this poll demonstrates how far the country has come, and how essential it is to protect these gains.
We therefore urge the opposition to uphold the same respect for institutions that they expect when they themselves prevail. Democracy is strengthened not only by victory, but by gracious acceptance of outcomes and unwavering respect for the processes that sustain our Republic.
■ MULENGA FUBE ALLEGES SOME OPPOSITION PARTIES WERE USED TO SPLIT VOTES.
Chilubi Member of Parliament Mulenga Fube has made a sharp intervention in the aftermath of the Chawama parliamentary by-election, alleging that some opposition political parties were effectively sponsored to weaken opposition unity and benefit the ruling party.
Fube argues that the conduct of certain opposition players during the by-election raises serious questions about political sincerity. According to him, instead of rallying behind a single opposition candidate, some parties chose to field their own candidates, a move he says fractured the vote and undermined collective effort.
He maintains that the Chawama outcome exposed a recurring problem in Zambian politics, where opposition fragmentation works to the advantage of those already in power. In his view, the refusal by some parties to cooperate cannot be explained away as coincidence or political independence, but must be interrogated honestly.
Fube says the problem goes beyond ambition. He alleges that some political actors deliberately position themselves as opposition while quietly advancing interests aligned with the ruling establishment. Such conduct, he says, confuses voters and weakens accountability.
He points to the broader national context ahead of the August general elections, warning that the same tactics, if repeated, could once again deny voters a clear alternative. Fube insists that Zambians are increasingly alert and are paying attention not only to campaign messages but also to behaviour.
According to Fube, opposition politics must be grounded in discipline and trust. He argues that unity is not about dominance or surrender, but about recognising that fragmented strategies repeatedly fail to deliver change..
He also warns that opposition leaders who continue to prioritise personal visibility over collective outcomes risk losing credibility with the electorate. Fube says voters are tired of slogans and want to see maturity reflected in political conduct.
Fube’s remarks have added to ongoing discussions about opposition realignment and cooperation. With the general elections approaching, his comments underline growing pressure on opposition parties to clarify where they stand and how they intend to engage.
For Fube, the lesson from Chawama is straightforward: unity works, fragmentation helps incumbency, and voters are watching closely.
Chairperson of African Union Commission commends the conduct of elections in Uganda and congratulates President Yoweri Museveni on re-election.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, commends the conduct of the elections in Uganda and congratulates H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on his re-election with 71.61% of the votes cast during the presidential elections held on 15 January 2026.
The Chairperson expresses sincere appreciation to H.E Goodluck Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his sterling leadership of the Joint African Union/; Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)/Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Election Observation Mission to Uganda.
The Chairperson further reiterates the commitment of the African Union Commission to continue to support the promotion of democracy and effective governance in the continent, while applauding the people of Uganda for their commitment to consolidating democratic gains, peace, security, and development.
Platini: “Gianni Infantino likes the rich and the powerful — those who have money.
It’s in his nature. He was like that when he was number two, but back then he wasn’t the boss.
With me, FIFA would have become an organisation that cares about football, not politics.
I was destined to become FIFA president. All of this happened because they didn’t want that.
This suspension was a grave injustice and, in the end, it was political. A group of people decided to destroy me.”
For context, Platini suspects Infantino of alerting Swiss authorities about a suspicious €1.8M payment made by FIFA to him, in order to block his bid for the FIFA presidency in 2015.”
Miche Minnies is a South African professional footballer who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and the South African women’s national team Banyana Banyana 🇿🇦⚽
She has often been compared to Brazilian legend Ronaldinho because of similarities in both her facial features and her style of play, sparking online rumours about a possible family link.
Minnies eventually addressed the speculation herself, putting the rumours to rest once and for all:
🗣️ “He’s not my father… but I’d love to meet him. We may look alike, but we’re not related. He’s my idol, and I’d love to have his footballing abilities.”.
Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Ms. Doreen Mwamba, today held a press briefing to clarify remarks she made on Friday, 16 January 2026, during the handover of 17 vehicles to various districts, which have been misinterpreted on social media as suggesting that she had resigned.
Ms. Mwamba explained that during the event, she took the opportunity to express her appreciation to members of staff under the Ministry, particularly those from districts, for their unwavering dedication and commitment to duty. In that context, she noted that there might not be another opportunity to meet before the dissolution of Parliament.
The Minister emphasized that, as a Nominated Member of Parliament, she is deeply grateful to Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, for the rare opportunity to serve as Minister of Community Development and Social Services.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to state clearly that I will not be contesting any parliamentary seat in the forthcoming August General Elections,” Ms. Mwamba said.
She reaffirmed her firm belief in the New Dawn Administration under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema and expressed concern over social media reports suggesting that she had resigned.
“It is saddening that my remarks have been politicised. They were however not political in nature and should therefore be understood in their proper administrative and human context.”
The Minister further clarified that the statement she issued and published on the official Ministerial Facebook page was solely intended to thank members of staff, especially those who travelled from various districts, for their dedication and service.
Ms. Mwamba noted that the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services has made tremendous progress in improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable, and will not be distracted or demotivated by speculative and contradictory political commentary.
“ I have not resigned. I therefore reiterate that I remain the Minister of Community Development and Social Services. I will continue to discharge my duties diligently. I also wish to state that I remain a committed member of the United Party for National Development (UPND).”
She added that she will only leave office in accordance with the provisions of the Republican Constitution, noting that it is the prerogative of the President to nominate Members of Parliament and appoint Cabinet Ministers.
“I remain available to serve the Zambian people in any position where the President deems it fit for me,” Ms. Mwamba concluded.
Issued by:
Glenda Nachinga Principal Public Relations Officer Ministry of Community Development and Social Services
I’m elated to learn of a progressive process where senior members of society are pushing for a united front from the Opposition..
This is a great and noble process that must be supported by all stakeholders and I hope all presidential candidates must submit themselves to this process.
Below are the Details.
Resolution of the Meeting on Building Solidarity and Unity Among Political Parties
We, the participants of the meeting on Building Solidarity and Unity Among Political Parties, held on 16 Jan 2026, at Kapingila House, in Lusaka Zambia, hereby resolve as follows:
1. Unity in Diversity: We commit to fostering unity and solidarity among opposition political parties in Zambia, recognizing our shared goal of national development and prosperity.
2.Common Agenda: We agree on a common agenda for national restoration, focusing on governance, economic development, national unity and the general welfare of Zambians.
3.4th Republican Constitution: Constitute a Transitional National Unity Government, whose mandate will establish a Fourth Republic.
This process should be done within the first 3 years. We commit to working together to reset Zambia’s agenda for the 4th Republican constitution, ensuring it reflects the aspirations of all Zambians.
4. Interparty Government: We resolve to form an interparty government, working together to deliver on our common agenda and serve the people of Zambia.
5. Election Strategy: We agree on a collective election strategy, which identifies a competent team with a single presidential ticket and candidates for other elective positions.
6. National Restoration: We commit to implementing a national restoration plan, addressing challenges in governance, economy, and social development.
7.Implementation and Accountability: We establish a task force to oversee implementation of this resolution, ensuring accountability _ (including a Social Contract) and progress reporting Further, we resolve to:
8.National Conference: Support the proposition to convene a national conference to concretise the ideas in these resolutions, office holders including a flagbearer.
This conference will also bring together stakeholders to chart a way forward for Zambia.
9.Planning Committee: Form a planning committee, comprising representatives of participating political parties and other stakeholders, to organise the national conference within the next two weeks.
10. Conference Composition: Ensure the national conference is representative and inclusive, with a quantitative composition and of participants that render credibility and moral legitimacy to the process and action determined by the conference, in terms of being cultural Regionally landscape.
representative, reflecting ood Zambia’s iverse diverse geographical geographical and Socially representative, including diverse stakeholders such as civil society, traditional leaders, youth, women, and other interest groups.
We, the participants, pledge to work together in the spirit of unity and solidarity, for a prosperous, united and developed Zambia.
Battle Lines Drawn as Brian Mundubile officially crosses to the Illegal Tonse Alliance led by Dan Pule
Mporokoso MP and Patriotic Front Presidential aspirant, Hon. Brian Mundubile on Saturday afternoon attended the illegal Tonse Alliance faction meeting led by Dr. Dan Pule and former State House for Politics, Zumani Zimba.
Pule claimed that his faction has expelled the Patriotic Front from the Tonse Alliance led by Hon. Given Lubinda.
Patriotic Front Acting President Hon. Given Lubinda has rejected the assertions and stated that the meeting that expelled the PF was irregularly called and did not have his authority as Acting Chairperson of Tonse.
Lubinda has called for a Council of Leaders of Tonse Alliance meeting to be held after the by-elections.
On the other hand, Dr Pule and Zumani Zimba have proceeded with their illegal plans and announced candidates should pay K50,000 as nomination fee.
So Zambia Must Prosper Party(ZMP) leader Kelvin Fube Bwalya and Christian Democratic Party leader Dan Pule have expressed interest to participate in the race.
But Member of the Central Committee Gabriel Kibombwe has dismissed the process calling it an “infiltrated”process and has advised PF members to keep away as it was illegal.
CHIZOMBE DENIES PLANS TO PETITION CHAWAMA BY-ELECTION
YOUTH activist Michelo Chizombe has distanced himself from social media allegations suggesting that he intends to petition the outcome of the Chawama Parliamentary by-election held on January 15, 2026.
Mr. Chizombe has described the allegations as false and says they should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve.
He said contrary to the claims circulating online, he wishes to congratulate the winning candidate, Bright Nundwe, who contested under the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD).
Mr. Chizombe further stated that the by-election was credible and fair.
Mr. Nundwe emerged victorious after polling 8,085 votes, defeating his closest rival, Morgan Nundwe of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND), who obtained 6,542 votes.
The by-election featured a total of nine candidates.
UGANDA’S PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI WINS SEVENTH TERM WITH 71.65% OF VOTES
UGANDAN President Yoweri Museveni won his seventh term with 71.65% of votes, according to official results Saturday, defeating the youthful challenger who campaigned for change after four decades of the same government.
The musician-turned-politician best known as Bobi Wine took 24.72% of the vote, the final results showed. Wine, whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, is expected to reject the official outcome. He has condemned what he described as an unfair electoral process, marred by an internet shutdown, military deployments and the alleged abductions of his polling agents.
Electoral officials also face questions about the failure of biometric voter identification machines on Thursday, which caused delays in the start of voting in urban areas including the capital, Kampala that are opposition strongholds.
After the machines failed, in a blow to pro-democracy activists who have long demanded their use to curb rigging, polling officials used manual registers of voters. The failure of the machines is likely to be the basis for any legal challenges to the official result.
WITH seven months before the general election, Minister of Community Development and Social Services Doreen Mwamba says she will not contest for any elective position after leaving office, to enable her to focus on her family.
Meanwhile, as part of efforts to strengthen service delivery to communities, Government has handed over 17 vehicles worth K47 million to 17 districts.
Ms Mwamba, 60, a nominated member of Parliament, announced that she will not vie for an elective position after dissolution of Parliament in May.
“…I came in peace in September 2021, and I will soon be leaving you in May this year. I am not contesting in any election, so that means I will not be coming back. I will be playing with my grandchildren at home, they need me,” she said.
Ms Mwamba was speaking yesterday during the handover of vehicles to 17 districts, and used the event to appreciate staff in her ministry for their dedication to duty.
“…Everyone in this ministry, we work as a team, so to you, I don’t want to thank you at the last day of my service. When you go home, please, you know that I have appreciated all your efforts,” she said.
UGANDA’S BOBI WINE SAYS ESCAPED RAID ON HOUSE AMID DISPUTED VOTE
UGANDAN opposition leader Bobi Wine says he escaped a police and army raid on his house as veteran incumbent Yoweri Museveni secured an overwhelming victory in the presidential election.
“I want to confirm that I managed to escape from them,” Bobi Wine, a former pop star whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, wrote in a post on X on Saturday.
“Currently, I am not at home, although my wife and other family members remain under house arrest. I know that these criminals are looking for me everywhere, and I am trying my best to keep safe.”
Bobi Wine on Friday said security forces had placed him under house arrest. His party later wrote on X that he had been “forcibly taken” from his residence by an army helicopter. The military rejected the allegation.
Bobi Wine, the country’s top opposition figure, had challenged longtime President Museveni in an election campaign that the United Nations said was marred by “widespread repression and intimidation”.
Museveni, 81, was declared the winner by the country’s election commission on Saturday, extending his 40-year rule, in an election marred by reports of at least 10 deaths and intimidation of the opposition and civil society.
In his post, Bobi Wine said his wife and other relatives remained under house arrest. He ascribed the reports of his own abduction to authorities blocking access to his home and neighbours misinterpreting the overnight “commotion” there.
He reiterated his “complete rejection” of the “fake results” announced by the head of Uganda’s election body, alleging ballot stuffing and the detention of other leaders of his party, the National Unity Platform.
“Aside from the blatant theft of the presidential election, these criminals have employed various fraudulent techniques to usurp the will of the people,” he wrote.
UPND CHALLENGES CHANGALA TO POLICY-BASED DEBATE, DEFENDS RULE OF LAW AND RECORD ON SERVICE DELIVERY
PRESS STATEMENT
Lusaka, January, 17, 2026 – The United Party for National Development (UPND) has taken note of remarks attributed to senior citizen and political activist Mr. Brebner Changala, in which he alleges that the UPND is acting out of desperation to remain in power.
As a democratic and progressive party, the UPND wishes to state clearly that we welcome criticism, but such engagement must be issue-based, responsible, and anchored in facts, not name-calling, alarmism, or reckless commentary that undermines national cohesion.
We therefore urge Mr. Changala, as a senior citizen with a public platform, to rise above insults and speculation and engage the nation on substantive national issues. The UPND has consistently advocated for service delivery, and this is where the national conversation should be focused.
If Mr. Changala holds political views or ambitions, Zambians deserve to know his alternative policy positions. Let him tell the country:
• What is his alternative policy to free education? • What would replace Cash for Work and Social Cash Transfer, programmes that are cushioning vulnerable citizens? • What is his alternative plan for economic stability, including the improved performance of the Kwacha? • What would he do differently in the mining sector, which has been revitalised and repositioned for growth? • What is his alternative strategy for agriculture, particularly irrigation and production, which has resulted in a bumper harvest and timely payment to farmers?
• What is his alternative vision for sustaining a peaceful environment where citizens, including himself, freely express their views without fear?
It must be emphasized that a successful democratic dispensation is founded on the rule of law, which is a cardinal pillar of democracy. Democracy does not mean absence of rules; it means freedom exercised responsibly, with due regard to the rights and freedoms of others.
Public statements must therefore be made responsibly and within the confines of the law. Freedom of expression does not extend to abusing public space or disregarding legal boundaries. The law exists to protect society from excesses and to ensure that no individual, regardless of age or status, becomes a law unto themselves.
We find it unfortunate that Mr. Changala’s approach to national issues is often confrontational and dismissive of the rule of law, placing him repeatedly in conflict with legal norms. Such conduct is not only unhelpful but risks portraying him as intolerant of the very democratic order he claims to defend.
Let it be made clear; the UPND is not afraid of debate. We are ready to meet Mr. Changala, or anyone else, head-on on matters of policy, governance, and national development. What we will not accept is irresponsible rhetoric masquerading as political activism.
The UPND remains focused on performance, delivery, peace, and inclusive governance, and we will continue to engage Zambians honestly as we build a stronger, more democratic nation anchored on the rule of law.
UPND SAYS NARROW CHAWAMA DEFEAT MARGIN SIGNALS GROWING SUPPORT FOR GOVT
UPND Deputy Spokesperson Elvis Nkandu says the over 1,500 votes margin between the newly elected Chawama Member of Parliament Bright Nundwe and the UPND candidate Morgan Muunda is a sign that government efforts are slowly being appreciated by the people.
The Chawama by-election saw Bright Nundwe of the Forum for Democracy and Development-FDD poll 8,085 votes, while Morgan Muunda of the UPND polled 6,542, in a closely contested race.
In an interview with Phoenix News, Mr. Nkandu compared the narrow result with substantially larger margins recorded in earlier contests such as 2021 and 2016, adding that the reduced gap reflects shifting voter sentiment despite the low turnout that typically characterizes by-elections.
He however, urges opposition parties to exercise political maturity, alleging that had the UPND won the by-elections they would have claimed electoral irregularities.
Looking ahead to the national contest in August, Mr. Nkandu has called for continued focus on delivery and mobilization so that the party’s trajectory can be sustained into the general polls scheduled for 13th August 2026.
ALL People’s Congress Party President Nason Msoni says President Hakainde Hichilema has succeeded with his mission of dividing the country and must retire in August.
Msoni told The Mast in an interview following his successful division of the country, Hichilema had squandered his entire political career and had therefore personally asked for retirement.
“But the logic of time has proved those who were skeptical about his ambition that after all they were right that this man was going to divide our country and he has succeeded,” he said.
Msoni said Hichilema’s every political statement contained divisive language. He said Zambians could no longer trust Hichilema because they had already lost interest in him.
Hichilema has created a very dangerous atmosphere of regionalism where children from one region could now insult adults from other regions and use derogatory language without remorse knowing they could not be arrested.
“This is the works and the outcome of Mr Hichilema’s presidency, that young children from one region are insulting elders from other regions. What kind of a country has he he created? This is uncultured,” Msoni said.
He urged the Zambian people to give Hichilema the red card in August and build a new Zambia of unity and peace.
“That is not the Zambia we grew in. And certainly that’s not the Zambia we want our children to grow in. We cherish a Zambia that is kind. A Zambia in which citizens work together in unison. So, we think that we have the biggest assignment as citizens in August,” Msoni said.
He urged the Zambian people to list all politicians with divisive language starting with Hichilema and retire them from politics in August.
“Ensure that you identify anyone seen to be inimical to public good, to public interest, and ensure he is quickly stopped before he creates a problem. It is easier to create a problem than to resolve a problem of a nation that is at war with itself,” Msoni said.
He said Hichilema and the United Party for National Development (UPND) did not have the capacity to rule the country.
“We have wasted five years. Five years of our time has gone down the drain. He has nothing to point at, which he [Hichilema] can say ‘I have done this, I’ve built this, I’ve built that’ and so forth. So in a way, he has squandered the opportunity to prove that he is up to the job,” Msoni said.
He encouraged Zambians to retire Hichilema in August.
And Msoni has warned that if the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) fails to act professionally in the August 13 general election, the country should brace itself for serious problems.
PF/TONSE ACTUALLY LOST VOTES WHILE UPND WAS CONSTANT -Electoral Outcomes: A Statistical and Contextual Interpretation, Cast in Legal Form
Preamble and Context
For the avoidance of doubt, and in the interest of intellectual honesty, electoral outcomes must be interrogated not by raw emotion or partisan theatrics, but through a disciplined reading of numbers, turnout dynamics, and voter behaviour. As the old maxim cautions, “Figures do not lie, but careless interpreters often do.”
What follows is a reasoned, quasi-legal construction of the electoral data, fortified with statistical interpretation, tempered satire, and the wisdom of experience.
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Statement of Electoral Facts 1. General Election – 2021 • Registered voters: 50,000+ • Votes obtained by UPND: 20,000+ • Approximate vote share: ~40% of total votes cast • Winning candidate (PF – Tasila): 35,000 votes (~70%) 2. Parliamentary By-Election • Registered voters: 50,000+ (unchanged register) • Actual voter turnout: ~15,000 voters (~25–30% turnout) • Votes obtained by UPND: 6,000+ • Vote share: ~40% of votes cast • Winning candidate (FDD – Nundwe): 8,000+ votes (~53%)
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Statistical Interpretation and Legal Analysis
On a strict numerical construction, UPND’s proportional support remained materially constant at approximately 40% across both electoral events. In legal terms, there is no statistical regression in voter preference, only a numerical contraction occasioned by voter turnout.
Put differently, the denominator changed—not the numerator’s credibility.
Low turnout in the by-election radically altered the electoral ecosystem. By-elections are, by nature, low-energy contests, typically influenced by: • Reduced voter mobilisation • Protest voting • Emotional symbolism rather than policy comparison • Fragmentation of the vote among minor parties
As the saying goes, “When the crowd is small, the loudest drum seems the biggest.”
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Comparative Outcome Assessment • In 2021, PF secured victory with a commanding ~70%, reflecting a high-turnout, polarised national election. • In the by-election, the winning margin dropped to ~53%, notwithstanding UPND’s consistent 40% share.
Statistically, this suggests vote redistribution, not voter rejection. The electorate did not abandon UPND; rather, a portion of voters simply abstained, while others expressed short-term sentiment through alternative vehicles.
Or, as political folklore would have it: “The river did not dry up; fewer people came to fetch water.”
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Fan Satire, Tempered by Reason
To declare catastrophe on the basis of raw vote counts without turnout context is akin to charging a man with theft without establishing ownership. The numbers, when properly cross-examined, do not sustain the charge of collapse.
One might even say: “A party that holds 40% in a low-turnout storm has not sunk; it has merely docked.”
⸻
Conclusion and Strategic Wisdom
In summary: • UPND’s electoral base remained statistically stable. • The apparent decline is arithmetical, not ideological. • Low turnout and altered contest dynamics explain the numerical shift. • Panic, therefore, would be legally unsound and strategically reckless.
As the proverb wisely instructs: “Do not rewrite the law because the courtroom was half empty.”
The prudent course is not lamentation, but mobilisation, message refinement, and turnout engineering—for in elections, as in law, procedure often determines outcome more than principle
STATE HOUSE CHALLENGES OPPOSITION TO PROVE RIGGING CLAIMS
STATE House has challenged opposition figures who alleged electoral malpractice in the Chawama by-election to present credible evidence supporting their claims.
In a statement, Saturday, Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka emphasised that some individuals made sweeping and baseless accusations against State institutions, thereby attempting to weaken and discredit them.
Hamasaka stressed that governance institutions responsible for elections deserve respect, regardless of the outcome, warning that unfounded rigging claims erode public trust and undermine democratic order.
He highlighted that President Hakainde Hichilema congratulated the elected candidate and commended the Electoral Commission of Zambia, law enforcement, and the electorate for conducting a peaceful and credible poll.
Hamasaka noted that this gesture reflects the President’s commitment to democratic values and respect for institutional processes.
He pointed out that the Chawama by-election reflects the government’s respect for democratic outcomes, even when the ruling party does not win, contrasting it with the violence and intimidation seen under the previous administration.
Hamasaka urged the opposition to show the same respect for institutions that they expect when victorious, stating that democracy is strengthened not only by winning but also by accepting outcomes and upholding the processes that sustain the Republic.
CHAWAMA HAS SPOKEN: ORPHANED TONSE ALLIANCE STRIKES A BLOW AGAINST UPND
Before we even talk about the vote count, we must talk about the pain hanging over Zambia like a dark cloud—the Lungu family ordeal. Tasila Lungu lost her seat while mourning her father. In African eyes, that alone rewired the national mood.
One traditional leader wrote to me this morning: “We are Africans, we don’t play with the dead.” Then he asked questions the nation has been whispering in disbelief. Who fires someone for grieving a parent? Who drags mourning to court? Who forgets sympathy follows the bereaved, not sponsors?
These are not cultural complaints; they are moral alarms. In Africa, death is not administration—it is a sacred interruption. When leaders mishandle mourning, they don’t just offend a family. They provoke the conscience of a people, and the people respond in silence.
That is why Chawama today is bigger than politics. It is grief turning into a ballot. It is protest wrapped in discipline. It is pain voting without shouting. In Africa, some wounds don’t protest on the streets—they protest in the booth.
Bright Nundwe has done what many thought impossible. In Chawama, the people have spoken with courage, not noise. This victory is not only for FDD, PF, or Tonse Alliance—it is proof that the ballot still has power when citizens refuse to be intimidated.
Congratulations to Bright Nundwe, former Copperbelt Permanent Secretary and FDD candidate, for this hard-fought victory. Chawama did not vote for perfection. It voted for a message. It voted for hope. It voted for a warning that cannot be ignored.
But what makes this victory historic is the angle clearly raised by Dr. Chris Zumani: Tonse Alliance went into Chawama carrying internal disapprovals, wrangles, and visible disorganization. Yet it still emerged victorious against a well-financed ruling party.
In fact, some PF leaders were allegedly behind the confusion of NCP participating and campaigning in the name of ECL and Tasila Lungu. This meant Tonse Alliance faced two rivals in Chawama: UPND, and the political confusion engineered around NCP.
So Tonse Alliance was not just campaigning; it was fighting a double battle. It faced the machinery of government and the sabotage of internal contradictions. Yet the people still chose Tonse. That is not luck. That is national fatigue reaching a boiling point.
When a well-organised ruling alliance clashes with a weaker, divided, and orphaned alliance—only months before a general election—and still loses, the message is simple: the days of UPND dominance are dangerously numbered, not because of propaganda, but because of reality.
Big Brother UPND has been defeated by an “orphaned” Tonse—an alliance without its legitimate stability, yet carrying the people’s pain. That alone is a sign that Zambians have made up their minds: they want change, and no amount of money can buy conviction.
Chawama has reminded Zambia that politics is not owned—it is rented. The people can repossess it. But Tonse must not celebrate like tourists. It must organise like builders. Because unity is not a slogan; unity is a weapon.
CHUNGU CALLS CHAWAMA BY-ELECTION UNNECESSARY, HAILS VOTERS FOR REJECTING UPND
By Constance Shilengwe
FORMER Government Chief Whip Stephen Chungu has described the recently concluded Chawama parliamentary by-election as unnecessary and uncalled for.
Mr Chungu, who is also a former Luanshya Member of Parliament, however said the outcome was significant as it showed that the people of Chawama had spoken clearly by voting against the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND).
He questioned the justification for the by-election, also citing the Kasama by-election, and said such polls were avoidable.
He said it was unfortunate for the ruling UPND to lose an election to an opposition party just three months before the dissolution of Parliament and six months ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Mr Chungu urged the ruling party to reflect on its actions and decisions, saying citizens were increasingly expressing dissatisfaction.
He further said the opposition would continue engaging citizens at grassroots level to highlight what he termed the negative impact of UPND governance.
Mr Chungu said the Chawama by-election results had demonstrated that the UPND could be defeated in the 2026 general elections.
He added that opposition political parties share a common goal of removing the UPND from government and called on opposition leaders to set aside personal differences and unite ahead of the August 2026 polls.
Mr Chungu said Zambians were calling for a change in government due to economic hardships, which he attributed to poor governance under the UPND.
Meanwhile, Mr Chungu described as disgraceful claims allegedly made by some UPND and State House officials mocking late former President Edgar Lungu, whose remains have not yet been buried following his death in June last year.
He was responding to reports published in some tabloids, attributed to State House officials, alleging that former President Lungu was enjoying whiskey in lodges while President Hakainde Hichilema was busy working on his farm.
EXPLAINING PR SYSTEM USING CHAWAMA BY-ELECTION AS AN EXAMPLE
By Isaac Mwanza
Let’s break down the Proportional Representation (PR) system using Zambia’s Chawama by-election as an example 🌟.
Zambia’s will use the PR system for the National Assembly of Zambia (40 seats) and Councils. The Quota System is likely to be used, but we shall have to wait for the Electoral System Act to confirm.
So, what’s a quota system? 🤔 Simply put, it’s a way to allocate seats based on a predetermined threshold (quota). In elections, it is often used in Proportional Representation systems.
In elections, parties earn seats by meeting or exceeding this quota, calculated by dividing total valid votes by total seats.
Let’s assume Chawama Constituency was the whole country, and the candidates were presidential candidates from different parties. How would Electoral Commission of Zambia allocate the 40 parliamentary seats under the PR system?
Total valid votes: 17,036 Total seats: 40 Quota: 17,036 ÷ 40 = 425.9 votes per seat
This is where alliances matter, and stakeholders should get involved in shaping Zambia’s Electoral Systems and Process Act. The devil is in the detail!
So let’s engage with the Ministry of Justice Zambia – MOJ and ECZ to understand the direction we are heading on what type of Proportional Representation System will be employed.
CHAWAMA LOSS NOT A SETBACK, IN DEMOCRACY YOU DON’T WIN EVERYTHING – UPND
CHIEF Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says the Tonse Alliance’s victory through FDD’s Bright Nundwe in the Chawama by-election shows that democracy is at its best in the country.
And President Hakainde Hichilema has congratulated Nundwe for scooping the Chawama seat.
Nundwe won the contested by-election held on Thursday with 8,085 votes, followed by UPND’s Morgan Muunda with 6,542 votes.
Speaking during a press briefing, Friday, Mweetwa said there would be no democracy if the ruling party won all the by-elections.
“Chawama for us as a party in government, the UPND and its alliance members, is not a setback. [The] Chawama victory to the opposition is our victory because it espouses and exemplifies what we have always been saying that democracy in Zambia is at its best. There will be no democracy if every by-election is won by the ruling party because democracy is about competition. There can be no competition without competitors. We need competitors. Just like now there is the Africa Cup and as much as we wish Senegal to win, like we wish Morocco to win, they must compete first. They are coming from pools of other competitors. In 2026, in Zambia there is one solid competitor; President Hakainde Hichilema and his team and we look forward to an opposition that must bring themselves together into a semblance of a team to compete with, so that we can give breath to democracy to be alive as it should be,” he said.
“There is no joy for us in government to win on a silver platter because we may take what we see for granted. We need competition so that we are always on the lookout. Thank you to the people of Chawama for Bright Nundwe. He has served this country before, we expect him to serve this country more now on this platform and expect him to work with President Hakainde Hichilema in national development. The good news is those days where a ruling party will be saying unless you vote or voted with us we will not give you development, those days are archaic and anachronistic; they belong to the annals of history. Today we are talking about development under President Hakainde Hichilema that is national and inclusive, that respects the will of the people. Even when [voters in] Chawama voted the way they voted, developmental programs in Chawama will continue as scheduled”.
Mweetwa said government was convinced that the electorate in Chawama chose Nundwe as an individual, not because of his party.
He further urged Nundwe to work with President Hichilema and deliver development to his constituency.
“We are convinced where we sit that this was not about FDD, no. This was about an individual, Bright Nundwe, whom the people of Chawama preferred. And now that you have been preferred, work with Bally so that we can deliver a country together because Bally has no preference for a political party, for an individual but for ideas to take the country to the next level [of] development,” Mweetwa said.
Mweetwa further said the Chawama by-election debunked claims that the country’s democratic space had shrunk.
“The vote by the people of Chawama yesterday sends only one signal, not to the country but to the region and world at large that Zambia’s democracy is alive. So those who were saying the democratic space in Zambia is shrinking, that democracy is at threat, it’s at bleak in Zambia; yesterday’s vote was and is your answer. President Hakainde Hichilema and his administration and his party thank most sincerely the people of Chawama Constituency for the manner they came out in large numbers to express their wishes to vote in the manner they did. President Hakainde Hichilema and his administration do hereby and as I do congratulate now Honourable Bright Nundwe member of parliament now for Chawama constituency on his election to that high August House. That is a people’s decision which President Hakainde Hichilema respects,” he said.
“When the Chawama by-election was called, it was never intended at all to be won by the UPND, it was meant to provide an opportunity for the people of Chawama to elect a member of parliament who will sit in the House to represent them and their views. Yes, I must admit we had intentions as a party to win but in a democracy, you don’t win everything otherwise there will be no democracy. So, congratulations to Honourable Bright Nundwe, member of parliament [elect] for Chawama and we welcome you to the House. Looking at your credentials as a former permanent secretary, President Hakainde Hichilema is happy to receive you to be amongst one of the numbers he will work with in national development. We welcome you to the HH, Bally 2026 team that should deliver a nation, national development, to take it to greater heights”.
Meanwhile, Mweetwa assured that the delayed payments to farmers who supplied maize to the FRA would not repeat itself in the 2026/2027 season.
“Let me also take this opportunity now that we are here that I indicate that government has fully met its financial obligation to pay farmers through FRA payment via banks. Government has released 100 per cent funding towards payment to our farmers. We are aware as government that there are still long-standing queues out there because of the challenges of the modus operandi or means of payment that the banks have employed and also with our people. That is not to be blameable on President Hakainde Hichilema or [his] government. That can also not be blameable on the banks or the farmers, it’s just that this money should have come earlier. If it came earlier, we would not have these long queues. And that’s why you have a magnanimous and gracious President who has apologised gracefully that this happened. But me as Chief Government Spokesperson, I know he was doing it out of love for his people but he’s not blameable,” said Mweetwa.
“The chaotic situation of delayed payments to farmers who supplied through FRA will not repeat itself in 2026. And for all those farmers who were bonded but did not have something to supply to FRA, government has made it clear [that] you will still have and I’m sure you have received your FISP package and no one should stand in your way. You have a caring President, a caring government because President Hakainde Hichilema loves, President Hakainde Hichilema cares, President Hichilema Hichilema delivers”.
Earlier in a Facebook post, President Hichilema congratulated Nundwe for winning the Chawama by-election.
President Hichilema stated that every democratic election should produce one winner.
“We extend our congratulations to the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), and in particular to the winning candidate, Mr Bright Nundwe, for emerging victorious in the Chawama Constituency parliamentary by-election after a tightly contested race. In a democracy, every election must ultimately produce one winner; yet its deeper purpose is to strengthen harmony, peace, and unity among all citizens. For this reason, we commend the UPND, all participating candidates, and, above all, the people of Chawama, whose collective commitment ensured that the democratic process functioned as it should,” wrote President Hichilema.
“We also express our appreciation to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and law enforcement agencies for conducting a transparent, orderly, and secure election. Their professionalism contributed to an environment in which the will of the people could be freely and peacefully expressed”.
■ CHANGALA SAYS UPND IS ACTING OUT OF DESPERATION TO STAY IN POWER
Political activist Brebner Changala has accused the ruling UPND of behaving like a party under pressure, saying recent political conduct points to desperation rather than confidence as the August elections approach.
Changala argues that when governments feel secure, they focus on performance and delivery. When they feel threatened, he says, they turn to confrontation and control. In his view, recent events reflect the latter.
He points to rising intolerance of criticism and heightened political tension as signs of unease within the ruling party. According to Changala, such conduct signals fear of losing public confidence rather than strength.
Changala believes economic hardship has altered political attitudes across the country. He says voters are measuring leadership against daily realities, not campaign promises.
He warns that desperation-driven politics risks damaging democratic institutions by normalising aggressive tactics and weakening trust.
Changala urges respect for political competition and adherence to democratic norms, saying voters ultimately decide who governs.
EFF TO PROTEST GOVT’S FAILURE TO PAY ZAMPOST WORKERS FIVE MONTHS’ SALARIES.
Opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has announced that it will hold a public protest next week to demand the immediate payment of all salary arrears owed to ZAMPOST workers.
Party President , Kasonde Mwenda has condemned the United Party for National Development (UPND) government’s failure to pay ZAMPOST workers their salaries for five consecutive months.
Mr. Mwenda has expressed disappointment that thousands of hardworking Zambian workers have been condemned to poverty, indignity, and suffering not because they failed their duties, but because the government failed them.
He said that the continued neglect of ZAMPOST workers exposes the hollow nature of the UPND’s promises on labour rights and social justice.
“Five months without salaries is not an administrative lapse. It is state cruelty. As the year begins, ZAMPOST workers are stranded,” said Mr. Mwenda in a statement issued to RCV News in Lusaka today.
Mr. Mwenda stressed that these are public servants who should long have migrated to the Public Service payroll system if government was serious about reform, fairness, and worker dignity.
He further stated that leadership is not measured by promises made, but by action taken, thereby calling on the responsible Ministry to expedite payments and not issue out excuses.
