RUSSIAN DOCTORS ARRESTED AFTER 9 BABIES DIE IN MATERNITY HOSPITAL
TWO senior doctors have been arrested in Russia following the deaths of nine babies in a maternity hospital in Siberia this month.
The newborns died during the long New Year holiday in Novokuznetsk, Russia’s main investigative authority said in a statement.
No reason for the babies’ deaths has been given. The case has caused anger around Russia.
All the babies were born in the Novokuznetsk Maternity Hospital No.1 from 1-12 January, with the first death on 4 January, Russia’s Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko said.
Without giving details, the committee said the chief physician and the head of the intensive care unit had been detained for the “improper performance of their official and professional duties in organising and providing medical care”.
It said the suspects were co-operating with the investigation and authorities were deciding on charges as well as pre-trial detention.
The committee released a video showing one man being escorted away and a man signing some papers in the presence of a uniformed officer.
Victims and witnesses had been questioned and materials seized as work continued to gather more evidence, it added.
Nine post-mortem examinations were being carried out.
The Interfax news agency said the Kemerovo Region Ministry of Health which was also investigating said the infants had had a severe intra-uterine infection.
The hospital has announced that it is no longer accepting patients due to a higher-than-usual rate of respiratory infections.
Burkina Faso have dismissed head coach Brama Traore and his entire technical staff following the team’s elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations by rivals Ivory Coast.
“The decision was taken after results well below what was expected of our national team at the continental tournament,” Burkina Faso Football Federation president Oumarou Sawadogo said on Wednesday, January 14.
Sawadogo described the outcome as a “bitter disappointment” and noted that the team’s objective had been to reach at least the semi-finals. Burkina Faso also failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Burkina Faso were defeated 3–0 by defending champions Ivory Coast in Marrakesh on Monday. Manchester United winger Amad Diallo scored the opener and assisted Yan Diomande for the second before halftime, while substitute Bazoumana Toure added the third.
During the group stage, Burkina Faso recorded wins over Sudan and Equatorial Guinea but were beaten by Algeria.
Traore, 63, was appointed in March 2024, replacing Frenchman Hubert Velud, who had been removed after a last-16 exit at the previous Africa Cup of Nations.
President Donald Trump’s administration was reportedly holding part of the proceeds from a deal made for seized Venezuelan oil in offshore accounts in Qatar.
An administration official told Semafor that the total value of the first sale of Venezuelan oil was $500 million. The move comes just days after the U.S. military conducted strikes on Venezuela and took its leader, Nicolás Maduro, into custody.
Trump has said that the U.S. would run Venezuela for an indefinite period of time, including taking control of 50 million barrels of oil. The president also indicated that he would not pay back Venezuela’s debts, saying the U.S. is “not going to look at what people lost in the past, because that was their fault.”
“Revenue from the oil sales is currently being held in bank accounts controlled by the US government, as indicated in Friday’s order, according to the administration official,” Semafor reported, “The main account, according to a second senior administration official, is located in Qatar.”
“The second official described Qatar as a neutral location where money can flow freely with US approval and without risk of seizure,” the report added. “Trump’s order noted that at least some of the revenue would be held in US Treasury accounts.”
The idea of holding money from Venezuela oil sales in foreign countries has already sparked criticism from some Democrats.
“There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said recently. “That is precisely a move that a corrupt politician would be attracted to.”
Legal expert and Supreme Court scholar Jeffrey Toobin warned on Wednesday that President Donald Trump seems to have figured out how to kill democracy.
Toobin joined Joana Coles of The Daily Beast on a new episode of “The Daily Beast Podcast” to discuss the Supreme Court’s impact on the second Trump administration. The Court is expected to make several key rulings this term that could affect Trump’s ability to implement his agenda, including a case over whether Trump can unilaterally impose tariffs without Congress’s approval.
Toobin warned that Trump may have figured out a way to bypass the court if they issue a ruling he doesn’t like, a move that could effectively end democracy in America.
“The Supreme Court in our country doesn’t have any individual enforcement powers,” Toobin said. “They don’t have an army. They don’t have a police force that can do anything except protect their members. So, they rely on the understanding in the other branches of government that the Supreme Court has the last word.”
“I think Donald Trump is not going to directly defy the court, but this administration has figured out ways to get around court rulings, and in a way that I don’t think it’s entirely clear how he would react to an adverse decision, but we’ll see,” he continued.
‘MIRACLE BABY’ BORN IN A TREE ABOVE MOZAMBIQUE FLOODWATERS DIES AGED 25
CAROLINA Cecilia Chirindza and Rosita were lifted to safety by a South African helicopter helping recovery operations She was seen as a “miracle baby” after being born in a tree which her mother had climbed to escape flooding, but nearly 26 years on Mozambican Rosita Salvador Mabuiango has died after a long illness, her sister told the BBC.
The sight of the newborn and her mother being winched to safety by helicopter amid the deluged landscape became a defining image of the floods of 2000 Mozambique’s worst ever.
Reflecting on the life of Rosita, also known as Rosita Pedro, President Daniel Chapo described her as a symbol for girls in the country.
In February 2000, hundreds died and hundreds of thousands of others were forced from their homes after the Limpopo river burst its banks in southern Mozambique.
“It was a Sunday afternoon about four o’clock, and the waters began rising,” the Red Cross quoted her as saying later in 2000 about what happened that February.
“The water was coming right up to the house, and was getting stronger and stronger, so like everyone else in the village, we headed for the trees.
“I put my two small children on my back and tried to climb up. It was very difficult.
“There were 15 of us all together, and we were there for four days. We prayed and prayed.
“We had nothing to eat, and the children cried and cried, but we could do nothing for them.”
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Carolina went into labour and shortly afterwards she and the newborn were spotted by a South African military helicopter that was helping in the rescue operations.
The Guardian newspaper later reported that while Carolina was giving birth her mother-in-law held a capulana (sarong) under her, to ensure that the baby did not fall into the floodwater. Rosita was still attached to her mother through the umbilical cord when they were found, reports said.
“I think my baby is different from the other babies in that she was born in a tree and in that it was God’s will for her to live and for her to get through this situation,” Carolina said later.
The two became symbols of the aftermath of the disaster, and they travelled to the US later in 2000 to speak to Congress and help raise awareness about what had happened.
On Monday, confirming the news of Rosita’s death at 25, her sister Celia Salvador told the BBC that she had “passed away after a prolonged illness. I’m extremely sad. She died of an illness I am unable to explain what it was.”
According to other family sources, Rosita had been battling against the blood disorder anaemia for years. As a result of the worsening of her condition, she had been in hospital for more than two weeks, where she eventually died on Monday morning.
Rosita’s mother also told a local TV station that in addition to anaemia, she was suffering from tuberculosis.
“My God. Very bad news. My condolences to the bereaved family,” the president told the BBC.
“She was a symbol for girls in Mozambique. That’s why, I extend my condolences to all the Mozambican people, especially to Mozambican girls.”
Rosita grew up with her family and graduated from high school in the same rural area Chibuto where she was born. She herself had a daughter five years ago.
Her family has said that after high school, Rosita had failed to get a scholarship to study petrochemical engineering even though the government had promised to fund her studies from primary to higher education.
Political analyst Charles Mangwiro described her death as a “wake-up call for the government to improve service delivery in the entire health system in the country.
“You cannot expect to survive when health professionals complain every day about unpaid salaries for months and about the shortage of essentials like protective materials and antibiotics.”
Despite the recruitment of more health workers in recent years, analysts continue to describe an overstretched health system short of basic drugs and equipment.
Chibuto Mayor Henriques Machava told the press that conversations were under way with the family to formalise the funeral arrangements, which, according to him, would be taken care of by the municipality.
Samuel Eto’o suspended for four matches and hit with a heavy fine by CAF
The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has officially reacted to the decision handed down on January 14, 2026 by the Disciplinary Jury of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), following proceedings initiated against its president over incidents alleged to have occurred during the Morocco–Cameroon match.
In a statement released in Yaoundé, the country’s football governing body said it had taken note of Decision No. DC23312, which imposes a four-match suspension along with a fine of 20,000 US dollars. A sanction FECAFOOT considers severe and, above all, problematic in its form.
According to the Federation, the CAF decision is “devoid of any explicit reasoning,” a shortcoming it deems contrary to the basic principles of transparency and disciplinary justice. The Cameroonian body further argues that the expedited procedure leading to this sanction raises serious concerns with regard to the fundamental requirements of a fair trial.
In response, FECAFOOT announced that its president intends to exercise, within the prescribed deadlines and in accordance with the applicable regulations, all available avenues of appeal. This approach, it says, is fully in line with respect for the rules and institutions governing continental football.
In a firm yet measured tone, the Cameroon Football Federation reaffirmed its unwavering support for its president, while reiterating its commitment to a disciplinary justice system that is credible, fair, and respectful of the rights of all parties involved
President Donald Trump claimed that a person who leaked details about his strike on Venezuela had been arrested.
“The leaker has been found and is in jail right now,” the president announced in the Oval Office on Wednesday. “And that’s the leaker on Venezuela. Very bad leaker.”
“So there could be some others, and we’ll let you know about that,” he continued. “We’re out on their trail, but the leaker has been found, and the leaker’s in jail, and will probably be in jail for a long time.”
Following the strike on Venezuela, The New York Times and Washington Post revealed that reporters had learned of the attacks in advance but held off on disclosing the information.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on governments around the world to significantly increase taxes on sugary drinks and alcohol, warning that these products are too cheap and too accessible — and are quietly driving serious health crises.
According to WHO, easy access to sugary beverages and alcohol is fuelling obesity, diabetes, cancer, injuries and other preventable diseases, while putting enormous pressure on already stretched health systems.
“Health taxes have been shown to reduce consumption of these harmful products,” WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, said. “They also generate revenue that governments can invest in health, education and social protection,” Punch reported.
WHO revealed that at least 116 countries currently tax sugary drinks, but many high-sugar products still escape these levies. These include 100 per cent fruit juices, sweetened milk drinks, and ready-to-drink coffees and teas.
On alcohol, the organisation noted that 167 countries tax beer, wine and spirits. However, alcohol has become more affordable in many places because taxes have not been adjusted for inflation or rising incomes since 2022.
WHO warned that regularly consuming sugary drinks increases the risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, dental problems and osteoporosis. Alcohol, on the other hand, is linked to poor mental health, maternal and child health risks, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and higher chances of injury.
To back its case, WHO cited the UK’s sugar tax introduced in 2018, which led to reduced sugar consumption, a £338 million revenue boost in 2024 alone, and lower obesity rates among young girls — particularly in poorer communities.
WHO is now urging governments to raise and redesign taxes on tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks as part of a broader push to protect public health and reduce avoidable deaths.
Senate Republicans voted to kill a bill on Wednesday that would have limited President Donald Trump’s war powers, according to a new report.
Trump had been pressuring Republicans to kill the bill, and Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) flipped their votes on Wednesday, Andrew Desiderio of Punchbowl News reported. Vice President JD Vance was the tie-breaking vote.
Young said in a statement that he flipped his vote after securing a promise from Trump that he would ask Congress for permission on a major strike against Venezuela in advance of such an operation.
The House of Representatives initially passed the bill following Trump’s invasion of Venezuela, where U.S. military troops arrested dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and whisked them away to New York to stand trial for narco-terrorism and weapons charges.
A mass grave containing the remains of 21 migrants of various African nationalities was discovered in Ajdabiya city, eastern Libya.
The Internal Security Agency’s Ajdabiya branch raided a farm of a Libyan human smuggler with criminal records on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 and found several migrants being held for ransom in a makeshift prison in poor conditions.
The agency reported that the 21 migrants were k!lled by the smuggler after their families failed to pay the ransom.
The human smuggler was arrested and referred to the competent authorities for trial.
Local people and activists demanded a death sentence for the human smuggler for this heinous crime against humanity.
Former Norton MP Temba Mliswa has revealed that DNA testing has confirmed that some of the children he has publicly claimed as his are not biologically his, a disclosure that has sparked widespread debate on social media.
Mliswa, who has previously described himself as a “superdad”, said he made the discovery after conducting DNA tests, although he did not disclose how many tests were carried out or how many of the children were found not to be his.
“Some of the children are not mine, I have done DNAs. That’s the most emotional part I have to tell you,” Mliswa said in a video posted online on Tuesday, which quickly went viral.
Visibly emotional, the former legislator said he had chosen to continue supporting the children despite the revelations, stressing that they were innocent and should be protected from the fallout.
“I have tears but I love the kids, I will look after them because they are innocent. It’s a hard one for me. The kids don’t know, and they must not know,” he said.
Mliswa has previously stated that he has 19 children with 10 different women, a claim that has often placed his private life under public scrutiny. His latest admission adds another layer to a personal narrative that has frequently played out in the public domain.
The video triggered mixed reactions on social media, with some users sympathising with Mliswa’s decision to continue caring for the children, while others questioned the wisdom of making such sensitive information public.
One user on X commented: “Technically everyone is now on their feet wondering ‘which one of us is an alien?’ Some own goal this.”
Others argued that the matter should have remained private to protect the children involved, warning that public disclosures could have unintended emotional consequences.
Mliswa has not issued further clarification since the video, but his comments have reignited discussion around paternity, responsibility and the boundaries between public life and private family matters.
Zimbabwe recorded its highest-ever foreign currency earnings since independence after generating more than US$16 billion in 2025, a historic milestone that highlights the economy’s growing resilience and export-led recovery under the Second Republic.
According to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), foreign currency receipts surged to US$16,2 billion in 2025, up from US$13,3 billion in 2024, representing a 21,8 percent increase and the highest level ever achieved by the country.
The record performance marks a near tripling of foreign currency earnings compared to 2017, when Zimbabwe earned about US$5,5 billion, underscoring the scale of growth achieved in recent years. In 2023, the country had generated approximately US$11 billion, reflecting a steady upward trajectory in forex inflows.
The RBZ said the strong performance reflects the success of Government’s export-led growth strategy, macroeconomic stabilisation reforms, improved mineral and agricultural output, and rising diaspora remittances, all of which have strengthened Zimbabwe’s foreign currency generation capacity.
In its quarterly snapshot on recent monetary, currency, price and financial developments, the central bank noted that export earnings dominated foreign currency inflows, accounting for an average 59,7 percent of total receipts in 2025. This was followed by loan proceeds at 14,8 percent and diaspora remittances at 13,5 percent.
“The resilience in the country’s foreign currency generation capacity has seen a notable increase of 21,8 percent to US$16,2 billion recorded in 2025 from US$13,3 billion in 2024,” the RBZ said.
Mining and agriculture drive growth
The surge in forex earnings was largely driven by strong export performance, particularly in mining and agriculture, which remain the backbone of Zimbabwe’s external earnings.
Global gold prices, which climbed to record highs in 2025 amid geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns, played a major role in boosting export receipts. Gold remained the single largest contributor to foreign currency inflows, supported by increased deliveries from small-scale miners following Government’s formalisation drive, improved access to finance and incentives under the gold mobilisation programme.
Prices for lithium, platinum and chrome are also expected to remain firm, driven by sustained demand from the electric vehicle and manufacturing industries.
Agriculture continued to play a critical role, with tobacco once again delivering strong export earnings after another successful selling season.
FOREIGN DRUG CARTELS TURN SOUTH AFRICA INTO A GLOBAL NARCO HUB
Powerful drug syndicates from Mexico, the Balkans, Europe and South America have quietly but aggressively planted their operations in South Africa, transforming the country into a key production, storage and transit point for hard drugs destined for global markets.
These are not small-time dealers. Intelligence reports show that international cartels are flying in their own chemists to set up secret laboratories that manufacture high-grade crystal meth and refine cocaine locally. Massive cocaine shipments are being dropped along the coastline, using fishing boats, luxury yachts and corrupt port networks to move drugs inland and onward to Europe and Asia.
The blame is being placed on weak border controls, corruption within law-enforcement and port authorities, and the growing alliance between foreign cartels and local gangs. This partnership has created a highly organised criminal economy that is extremely difficult to penetrate.
The consequences for South Africa are severe: • A surge in drug addiction, especially among young people • Escalating gang violence and turf wars • Increased money laundering and corruption • Communities being destabilised and families destroyed • The country’s ports and borders being used as gateways for international crime
Security experts warn that South Africa is no longer just a transit route – it is becoming a manufacturing base and command centre for global drug networks. If these syndicates are not dismantled, the country risks being permanently branded a narco-state hub, with long-term damage to social stability, public safety and national security.
FROM AN UNDOCUMENTED WORKER IN CAPE TOWN TO A MIAMI HOME FROM THE ROCK: THE ZIMBABWEAN STORY THAT TOUCHED THE WORLD
Before the fame, before the UFC lights, before the millions of viewers, Themba Gorimbo’s life was a daily struggle for survival — and part of that struggle was lived in South Africa.
As a young Zimbabwean trying to escape poverty, Gorimbo crossed into South Africa without papers and settled in Cape Town. Like many migrants, he took whatever work he could find to stay alive. He worked as a gardener, a painter, and even as a security guard. At one point, he was sleeping in poor conditions, moving from place to place, holding onto a dream that seemed impossible.
It was in Cape Town that a white South African employer gave him a chance, steady work, and human dignity. Gorimbo has often spoken with gratitude about this boss, saying that without that support, he might never have survived long enough to chase his fighting dream. The money he earned helped him train, eat, and eventually make his way to the United States.
Even in America, the struggle did not end. After one of his early UFC wins, his bank balance showed just over seven dollars. With no home, he slept on a couch at a gym, training by day and resting there by night.
That story reached Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who recognised his own past in Gorimbo’s pain. Moved by the journey of a man who refused to give up, Johnson bought the Zimbabwean fighter a house in Miami in 2023.
From being undocumented in South Africa, doing manual labour to survive, to owning a home in the USA through global recognition — Gorimbo’s life has become a symbol of how far resilience can carry a person.
It is also another example of a Zimbabwean whose story has captured world attention, raising the same question many are now asking: What is it about Zimbabweans, their hunger, their mindset, their refusal to quit, that keeps placing them on the global stage?
PULE, MUNDUBILE, KBF HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST TO STAND FOR TONSE CHAIRMANSHIP – ZUMANI
TONSE Alliance National Coordinator Dr Chris Zumani Zimba says three candidates have expressed interest in contesting the chairmanship and 2026 presidential candidacy at the upcoming general congress.
He has disclosed that Christian Democratic Party leader Danny Pule, Zambia Must Prosper leader Kelvin Bwalya Fube and PF presidential candidate Brian Mundubile have so far expressed interest in contesting.
In an interview, Tuesday, Dr Zimba said the alliance is scheduled to hold its general congress on January 31, 2026, emphasising that all members of the council of leaders are eligible to contest for any position.
“Good morning, we are set to have the Tonse Alliance General Congress this month end on 31st, January, 2026. Going by our 2026 amended constitution, all members of the Council of Leaders are eligible to contest any position including that of Tonse Alliance Chairman and 2026 Presidential candidate. From internal interactions and discourses, l am glad to inform you that we have three candidates so far who have expressed interest to contest as Tonse Chairman and 2026 Presidential candidates.
We have Prof Danny Pule from Christian Democratic Party, Mr Kelvin Bwalya Fube (KBF) from Zambia Must Prosper and Hon Brian Mundubile from the ECL PF Movement. I know more leaders within the Council shall emerge to join this list soon or later. 20th January, 2026 is the deadline for expression of interest to contest any position at the General Congress as it is the official nomination day for everyone to pay nominations fees and be qualified to contest,” said Dr Zimba.
“K50, 000 is nomination fee for the presidential candidates and K10,000 is nomination fee for lower positions, and we expect more people to express interest and contest. Warm greetings and thank you”.
Chawama and Kasama are holding Parliamentary and Mayoral by-elections.
The by-elections have exposed both the ruling Party and Opposition’s greed and the dangerous trend emerging to push parochial and narrow interests by both sides, over national interests.
With a few months away from the general elections, many have contended that there was no need to hold these elections.
The Chawama case presents a very sad scenario where the holder of the seat, Tasila Lungu-Mwansa was targeted and illegally removed as legitimate Member of Parliament using thin reasons to so. Although Kasama appear unavoidable as the cause of the vacancy was by death of Her Worship, Theresa Kolala.
The Opposition has shown naked and negative opportunism as they have acted with unparalleled, shameless and self-serving interests purposes of private or partisan gains.
The Opposition have featured numeorus candidates a scenario that will likely cause an upset victory to benefit the Ruling Party.
The Opposition have ignored the fervent plea by Zambians to unite and present a unified candidate in these elections.
This is also seen in the crumble of hopeful political alliances earlier formed that provided so much hope such as United Kwacha Alliance, united Front and Tonse Grand Alliance.
Let us look at the details of the candidates.
Chawama; Mulenga Davison – Citizens First (CF) Musukuma Ntazana -Leadership Movement (LM) Mutete Mohammad – New Congress Party (NCP) Muunda Morgan – United Party for National Development (UPND) Nundwe Bright – Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) Phiri James – National Democratic Congress (NDC) Mageza Alfred (Ndeweni) – Exodus Party for Peace and Prosperity (EPPP) Mwenya George – Independent Siatwaambo Elijah 1 Independent.
Kasama;
Aaron Zimba – Citizens First (CF) party Bywell Simposya – United Party for National Development (UPND) Joseph Mubanga – Socialist Party (SP) Mary Busika (also spelled Bukise) – New Focus Party (NFP) Mukuka Kapambwe – United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ) Peter Yuda Chikweti – Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) under the Tonse Alliance. If this will be the scenario in the 2026 general election, it present an early Christmas Bonus to the UPND.
If Mweetwa is not adopted on UPND ticket, CF might consider looking at his CV – Kalaba
OPPOSITION Citizens First (CF) president Harry Kalaba says his party could consider looking at chief government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa’s curriculum vitae (CV) if the ruling UPND fails to adopt him as its candidate in Choma this year.
Speaking when he appeared on Diamond TV, he responded to comments recently made by Mweetwa, who described Kalaba as a “baby in politics” needing lollipops for the festive season.
“This is coming from a man who has clearly lost touch with the political realities on the ground,” Kalaba said.
“For us in the CF, if Mr. Mweetwa is not adopted in the UPND in Choma, we might have to look at his CV. The earlier he does that, the better for everyone.”
The remarks follow a heated exchange between the two politicians, with Kalaba accusing Mweetwa of focusing more on personal publicity than serious political engagement.
According to Kalaba, Mweetwa’s attention to petty political squabbles has left him vulnerable and has opened space for others to challenge his parliamentary position.
Kalaba said the Information and Media Minister’s current political situation in Choma should serve as a wake-up call to take stock of his career and make the necessary decisions for his future.
“This is his last term and he should understand where he stands. If he is not adopted, he must consider what comes next,” Kalaba said.
🇿🇲 Chawama Votes Tomorrow as Grief, Power and the Future Collide in a High-Stakes By-Election
Chawama goes to the polls tomorrow, January 15, in a by-election that has drawn national attention far beyond the boundaries of Lusaka. What began as a routine parliamentary contest has evolved into a symbolic test of political momentum, opposition survival, and the fading grip of grief-driven politics.
The ballot features six candidates, but on the ground the contest has narrowed into a clear two-horse race. The ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) is fielding Morgan Muunda, while the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) candidate Bright Nundwe carries the weight of opposition backing, including support from the fractured Patriotic Front (PF).
Other contenders from Citizens First, the Leadership Movement, Zambia Must Prosper, the Independent, the New Congress Party and the National Democratic Congress have maintained visibility, but their campaigns have struggled to match the scale and intensity of the two leading camps.
Campaigns had remained notably peaceful, a point repeatedly acknowledged by observers and residents alike. Security deployment remains heavy but measured, with police presence visible across Chawama, from filing centres to market areas and major junctions.
As of filing this report, no serious incidents have been recorded, making this one of the calmest by-elections in recent memory.
UPND has run a disciplined, highly coordinated campaign, marked by strong branding, constant ground engagement and a steady flow of defectors from PF structures. Party officials have framed the vote as a choice between continuity and disruption, pointing to expanded social cash transfers, community programmes and visible state engagement since 2021. The message has been consistent and omnipresent.
The opposition, by contrast, has leaned heavily on symbolism. Chawama was the home constituency of former president Edgar Lungu, and his unburied body has remained a powerful emotional reference point throughout the campaign.
PF leaders and allied figures have openly invoked his legacy, seeking to convert mourning into political capital. Whether that strategy still resonates with voters facing daily economic pressures remains the central question of this contest.
Allegations of impending rigging have surfaced in the final days. Opposition figures, including leaders outside the constituency, have accused UPND of manipulating the process, though no evidence has been presented publicly.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has repeatedly assured stakeholders that the process remains transparent and secure, urging parties to respect the outcome.
For many voters, tomorrow’s decision appears less about ideology and more about direction. Should Chawama continue under a ruling party MP with direct access to state power, or should it become a rallying point for an opposition still struggling to define itself after years of internal collapse?
Polling opens tomorrow morning, with heightened security expected throughout the day. By nightfall, Chawama will have delivered its verdict. Whether grief still commands the vote, or whether the constituency is ready to turn the page on a powerful political legacy, will soon be known.
Zambia on firm economic trajectory under Hichilema – PF MP Mung’andu.
Chama South PF member of parliament Davison Mung’andu says there has been real restoration of macro-economic fundamentals under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema.
Mung’andu said on Let the people talk programme on Phoenix Radio that President Hichilema has made tough decisions to revive the economy.
He wondered how Zambia could have continued with subsidies, for example, in the petroleum sector when she was owing more than US$300 million to a ship that had docked in Mozambique.
“You keep subsidizing, meanwhile you are accumulating a debt which you will not manage. Eventually you will die. Simple economic decisions, but with huge impact, had to be made.
“There has been real restoration of economic fundamentals that this President has done. And you expect me to start opposing when a foundation is being laid,” he said.
The lawmaker is elated that under the New Dawn administration, there is financial discipline and budget credibility,
“Go and check in these ministries. We are on a firm trajectory as a nation,” Mung’andu said.
He said Zambia cannot develop without enhancing production in various sectors.
“Zambia has always relied on copper production. If President Hakainde Hichilema did not make tough decisions, by now Lumwana mine should have been closed, mining activities on the Copperbelt would have halted,” he said.
He said President Hichilema has made policies which are predictable in the mining sector.
“We are seeing Shaft 27 in Luanshya finishing de-watering. Anytime production will kick in. At Mingomba, they are sinking a new shaft and production has started at Kalengwa mine in Mufumbwe district.
“This appreciation of the kwacha against the dollar is backed by economic fundamentals, which is production. It will be sustainable. Look at the copper output levels. We were around 750 , 000 metric tons but we are now clocking almost a million metric tons of copper. That has an impact,” Mung’andu said.
He said Zambia, under the previous regime, borrowed beyond its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Most infrastructural projects stalled during the PF period.
“Go to Isoka; there was a boarding school that was being built there. It stalled. In Sind, the construction of a boarding school but it stalled,” he said.
Mung’andu recalled that construction of Chama – Lundazi road stalled during the PF reign.
“There was a pronouncement by the PF government that all projects which are below 80 percent be suspended.
“Then how do you expect your colleagues who have taken over from you to do magic if yourselves suspended the projects? Citizens should interrogate us politicians on an informed point of view, than just criticising,” he said.
Mung’andu said the previous government borrowed not only from multilateral institutions which have controlled interest rates.
“We went to the open market and borrowed kaloba. We went to shylocks. There is borrowing from the bank and then there is also borrowing from micro finance institutions which have different interest rates. We went to borrow from the open market and if you remember, there was that celebration when we borrowed US$750 million in September 2012. We were saying we want to inject in to revamp Zambia Railways.
“But is Zambia Railways today different from what it was before we borrowed? The answer is no. Aside that, we also allowed a lot of public institutions to start accumulating institutional debts which was guaranteed by the government. Zesco borrowed billions to put up the Kafue Lower Gorge power station, to upgrade the Kariba North power station,” said Mung’andu.
President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has commended political parties and independent candidates contesting the Chawama Constituency and ward by-elections for conducting peaceful campaigns.
President HICHILEMA says the calm and orderly atmosphere during the campaign period marks a clear shift from past elections, which were often characterised by violence, intimidation and fear.
He notes that in previous electoral periods, political competition was frequently driven by coercion rather than persuasion, limiting citizens’ ability to participate freely in the democratic process.
The President, who is currently on a working vacation in Southern Province, says he has been closely monitoring developments through daily briefings and is satisfied with reports indicating that political players interacted freely and respectfully throughout the campaign period.
President HICHILEMA says the peaceful conduct seen during the by-elections should be maintained as the country prepares for the 2026 General Election.
This is contained in a statement issued to ZNBC News by State House Chief Communications Specialist CLAYSON HAMASAKA.
UGANDA ELECTION CHIEF UNDER FIRE – HIS RESPONSE CHALLENGES ALL OF AFRICA.
Uganda’s Electoral Commission Chairman, Simon Byabakama, has received death threats warning him not to declare certain candidates as winners in Thursday’s presidential election. His response? A defiant public pledge that **only the law and the will of voters will determine the outcome** – nothing else.
Even more striking: Byabakama has committed to announcing results within 48 hours of polling closing, despite Uganda having 21.6 million registered voters- nearly three times Cameroon’s 8 million.
THE PAN-AFRICAN QUESTION:
This bold stance is raising uncomfortable questions across the continent, especially in Cameroon where Elections Cameroon has historically taken up to two weeks to declare presidential results with far fewer voters to count.
If Uganda can process 21.6 million votes in 2 days, why does Cameroon need 14 days for 8 million? The math doesn’t add up, and African citizens are taking notice.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR AFRICAN DEMOCRACY:
The contrast exposes critical questions about electoral transparency, institutional independence, and public trust across our continent. When electoral bodies delay results, it creates room for manipulation, rumors, and loss of faith in democracy itself.
African voters deserve better. We deserve electoral commissions that serve the people, not political interests. We deserve transparency, speed, and accountability.
Simon Byabakama’s public commitment – made even under threat of death – sets a new standard for what courage and integrity look like in African democracy.
The question now: Will other African electoral bodies rise to this challenge?
CITIZENS First President Harry Kalaba has invited PF members to join his party, stressing that he will reach out to them in good faith and focus on removing President Hakainde Hichilema.
He has compared his political journey to that of Joseph in the Bible, saying that just as Joseph was sold by his brothers but later positioned by God to provide for them during famine, his own 2017 departure from the party has prepared him to now welcome the PF into Citizens First.
Appearing on 5FM, Monday, Kalaba said PF members facing challenges and moving from one ‘house’ to another are welcome to join Citizens First.
“You know I want to tell my colleagues in the former ruling party, those who might have challenges with what is going on now. They are welcome to the Citizens First, those who are having problems of [PF] is or not registered and they keep on [moving] from this house today. I think this is why when I left in 2017; I’m like Joseph in the Bible, I went ahead, remember Joseph? He went ahead, the brothers thought they had sold him off but God was preparing him so that during the time of famine, Joseph would look after his relatives and his own people. I find myself in a similar situation, they are welcome to the Citizens First and people should just admit that we in the CF we’ll reach out to them and we are doing this in good faith; to say please the common person we need to dethrone in August is Mr Hichilema. That’s the person we should be focusing on,” he said.
“Don’t worry, when I become president, dignity in the country returns, load shedding goes, farmers will be paid on time. When I become president, our students; not only will we maintain the student loans in universities that they are getting, we will even increase them looking at the economic hardships that they are going through. Not only are we going to look at those students, we are also going to look at the civil servants, where I was for a long time of my life. We want to correct things, so all those things we are going to look at them. So, I’m extending an olive branch to my colleagues, please not that I’m [fed up] with what Hichilema is doing, I am fed up and I’ve spoken about this matter for a very long time. But where we have reached, we are remaining with only four months before the nominations begin; where we have reached, I’m saying colleagues let’s think through this process. Let’s hold hands and deal with the problem we have”.
Commenting on opposition members defecting to UPND, Kalaba dismissed assertions that CF members had joined the ruling party.
“People in UPND are liars, if they can lie about paying farmers on the 10th and yet they haven’t been paid. If they can lie about reducing mealie meal prices when they get into office, what can stop them to lie that Citizens First have left their party to go to UPND? People are defecting from UPND because they know that UPND is going nowhere.
I was a minister and I stopped because I didn’t agree with what was happening that time, now what can UPND give people today? They told people lies. I left PF on my own because I’m a child of God and a child of God doesn’t get chased. That herbalist you brought here on radio didn’t know what he was talking about, because he was talking about HH is being endorsed by Chiefs and what not. Hakainde Hichilema will lose, I told the PF the same thing I’m saying here, I told Davies Mwila that PF will lose, they argued,” Kalaba said.
Kalaba said he had the experience to run government.
“[To] the herbalist, tell HH that he is losing [and] the one coming in 2026 is Harry Kalaba. We are here on radio and you’ve heard from the phone calls, so I left PF because I didn’t agree with what was happening.
PF won elections in 2016, one year later in December 2017 I left with four years remaining to be in government, I left. They even sent Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate me but they found that I’m a child of God, I don’t go into government to steal for people.
The problem we have is that as leaders we lie to people about promises, immediately you go into government you start doing your own things. I have experience on how to run a government and say things that I’ll do when I become president,” said Kalaba.
WE’VE PEOPLE’S PACT IF TONSE FAILS TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES – SP.
Socialist Party (SP) general secretary Dr Cosmos Musumali says the People’s Pact is an alternative if those in PF and the Tonse Alliance fail to resolve their differences.
Musumali said the SP’s support to the Tonse Alliance candidate in the Chawama by-election was based on principle as the opposition parties needed to be united.
In an interview yesterday, Musumali said SP, together with the Green Party, the Movement for Change and Equality and UBZ had launched the People’s Pact.
And asked about which exact grouping in the Tonse Alliance they were working with in the Chawama parliamentary by-election since the PF had been removed as the anchor party, and subsequently removed from the Chawama campaigns, Musumali said: “We would be blind if we said there are currently no problems in the PF or in https://dailyrevelationzambia.com/weve-peoples-pact-if-tonse-fails-to-resolve-differences-sp/
KALABA PROMISES UNIVERSAL LAND OWNERSHIP AS CHAWAMA HEADS TO BY-ELECTIONS .
Citizens First (CF) Party President Harry Kalaba says a CF-led government would ensure that every Zambian owns land, describing land ownership as a key tool for economic empowerment.
Mr. Kalaba was speaking to thousands of residents in Chawama on Tuesday afternoon, ahead of Thursday’s Parliamentary Constituency by-elections.
He said Zambians should not only end up owning National Registration Cards (NRCs) or voters’ cards, but must also be empowered through access to land.
He argued that land ownership would enable citizens to invest, build homes, and secure their economic future.
Chawama Constituency goes to the polls on Thursday to elect a new Member of Parliament. The Citizens First Party is fielding Mr. Davison Mulenga as its candidate.
Mr. Mulenga is a former Northern Province Permanent Secretary, former Lusaka District Commissioner, former Deputy Mayor of Lusaka City Council, and former Ward Councillor for Chawama Constituency.
The by-election has attracted significant attention, with political parties intensifying campaigns ahead of voting day.
TONSE A CIRCUS OF SMALL PARTIES – KAMBWILI Tonse Alliance is a circus with small political parties in it, says PF central committee member Chishimba Kambwili.
And Kambwili says the People’s Pact led by Dr Fred M’membe’s Socialist Party (SP) could be an alternative if things fail to work out in Tonse and PF.
In an interview yesterday, Kambwili dismissed the Tonse Alliance
“The Tonse Alliance is a circus,” Kambwili said. “Just look at the political https://dailyrevelationzambia.com/tonse-a-circus-of-small-parties-kambwili/
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) Chama South parliamentarian Davison Mung’andu says Zambians should not approach governance based on political party or tribe, but on a safer system that guarantees the future of the younger generation.
Mr Mung’andu also said there was nothing wrong with people of Southern Province referring to their past experiences of humiliation and abuse at Lusaka’s InterCity Bus Terminus.
Featuring on Radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk programme yesterday, Mr Mung’andu argued that some political party leaders cannot guarantee the future of young people because they are selfish.
“I want Zambians out there to listen. I would want us to approach governance not based on tribe, not based on political party,” Mr Mung’andu said.
“Sometimes, you have political party leaders that are selfish, who only think about themselves and their followers, and how they are going to sustain themselves with their families. It should be about how we are going to build Zambia so that even if you are no more, your children are in a safer system – a system that will see them attain their greater potential. That is what we should be looking at.”
Mr Mung’andu said citizens should interrogate politicians based on informed views instead of mere criticism.
He noted that the economic hardships facing the country were not caused by the New Dawn Government but stem from successive administrations.
Message from Aisha Gaddafi to the Iranian People Proud and unwavering Iranian people!
I issue this warning: do not be seduced by the honeyed words and slogans of Western imperialists.
These are the same people who told my father: “If you renounce your nuclear and ballistic missile programs, the doors of the world will open to you.”
My father, driven by goodwill and faith in dialogue, chose the path of reconciliation. Yet, we have seen how NATO bombings reduced Libya to ashes and bloodshed, plunging our people into slavery, poverty, and exile.
Brothers of Iran!
Your resistance, pride, and determination in the face of sanctions, media lies, and economic strangulation are proof of the vitality and dignity of your nation.
Any compromise with imperialists brings nothing but destruction, division, and suffering. Negotiating with the wolf never saves the sheep; it only marks the next meal!
We see nations that, through their resistance—like Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, and Palestine—have won the hearts of the masses and written history with honor. Conversely, we have seen how those who prostrated themselves were ultimately swept away by the ashes of oblivion.
EFF PRESIDENT KASONDE MWENDA RAISES RED FLAG OVER AN ALLEGED SECRETLY CONTRACTED IMF LOAN
8 January, 2026.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (C-EFF) of Zambia *unequivocally condemns* the decision by the Hakainde Hichilema–UPND government to secretly return to the International Monetary Fund for yet another loan programme, a move that places Zambia on a path of deeper debt, harsher austerity, and total surrender of our economic sovereignty.
As confirmed by *Reuters on January 8, 2026*, the Zambian government has quietly resolved to replace the current IMF Extended Credit Facility with *a new full IMF programme* — without first informing the citizens whose lives will be devastated by its conditions.
This is nothing short of *economic betrayal*.
Zambians already know the bitter taste of IMF prescriptions: • Electricity shortages and crippling *load-shedding*. • Austerity measures that punish the poor and working class • The continued *hemorrhaging of Zambia’s minerals* to foreign corporations • Shrinking public services and rising cost of living
Instead of developing Zambia, the UPND administration has chosen to *govern Zambia on behalf of Washington, foreign creditors, and multinational mining interests.
Under IMF pressure, this same government enacted *Statutory Instrument No. 47*, waiving export tax on copper concentrate — effectively *giving away Zambia’s mineral wealth for nothing*, even as copper prices surge globally. The result? *No meaningful benefits for Zambians. No price relief. No jobs. No empowerment.
This is not economic reform — it is *economic colonization.*
Now, Zambians are being dragged into *another five-year IMF programme*, meaning: • *More debt starting this year* • Deeper austerity • Further surrender of our minerals and national policy • A future of permanent dependency and poverty
EFF warns the nation: *The worst suffering is still coming if this path is not stopped.*
President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND have demonstrated that they have *no independent development vision for Zambia.* Their solution to every problem is to *hand the country to the IMF.
EFF stands for a *different future.*
We commit that under a C-EFF government: • Zambia’s minerals and natural resources will *serve Zambians first* • Ownership and real empowerment will be returned to the people • The economy will be structured around *national development, not foreign interests* • Zambia will never again mortgage its future to international financial institutions
We therefore call upon Zambians to *reject this cycle of suffering and deception* and to never again make the mistake of re-electing the UPND in this year’s General Elections.
Zambia must be governed by Zambians, for Zambians — not by the IMF.
Wherever we want to go our feet will take us there.
ALL SET FOR CHAWAMA PARLIAMENTARY BY-ELECTION TOMORROW
ALL is set for the Chawama parliamentary by-election slated for tomorrow, January 15th.
Lusaka District Assistant Electoral Officer Victor Kagoli has confirmed to Phoenix News that deployment of some materials and fitting of tents at designated polling stations is ongoing.
Mr. Kagoli also said all trained polling staff will be stationed at their designated place this afternoon in readiness for tomorrow.
The Chawama seat was declared vacant following the prolonged absence of former Area Member of Parliament Tasila Lungu following the death of her father, former President Edgar Lungu and his prolonged burial.
UGANDA ELECTION CHIEF SAYS HE HAS HAD THREATS OVER RESULTS DECLARATION
THE Head of Uganda’s Electoral Body says he has received threats warning him against declaring certain presidential candidates the winners of Thursday’s election.
Simon Byabakama said he would not be intimidated by such threats from senior state officials, whom he did not name.
He was responding to a BBC question about a widely shared video which shows a presidential assistant saying the electoral commission would never declare opposition candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, as president, even if he were to win.
“Some people say if you don’t declare so-and-so as president, you will see. I tell them that I am not in the business of donating votes,” said Byabakama.
President Yoweri Museveni, 81, who has ruled the country for nearly four decades, is seeking a seventh term in office.
Bobi Wine, a 43-year-old pop star turned politician, is Museveni’s main challenger, seeking to unseat him for the second time after finishing runner-up in 2021 polls.
Six other candidates are also in the race, in which about 21.6 million voters are registered to vote.
Campaigning has been marked by the disruption of opposition activities, including the detention of activists and the breaking-up of rallies by police.
At the Electoral Commission headquarters in the capital, Kampala, Byabakama said he was not worried about threats from what he called “idle people”.
“You can see from my demeanour that fear is a word that does not exist in my vocabulary,” said the poll chief, adding that only the will of voters and the law would guide the process.
In the video shared by the Daily Monitor newspaper on social media last week, Yiga Kisakyamukama, the special presidential assistant for service delivery and monitoring, was captured saying Museveni would never leave power through the ballot.
“Don’t expect, don’t even think, that Simon Byabakama would announce Bobi Wine. President Museveni, who is on the chair, will remain on the chair. Never think that Museveni would leave power through voting. No, no, no – don’t waste our time,” Kisakyamukama was heard saying.
But Byabakama said Uganda’s law, not individual opinions or threats, would determine the outcome of the presidential election.
“The law says that the candidate who receives more than 50% plus one of the total valid votes cast is the president of Uganda. It is the voters who determine how many votes a candidate gets. What the voters have said is what I will declare to the nation,” he added.
The poll chief said he would declare the results within 48 hours of the close of polling, in accordance with the country’s laws.
Responding to concerns about the heavy military presence in the streets, Byabakama said security forces were deployed to maintain peace and stability during the electoral process and should not intimidate voters.
He also acknowledged opposition concerns about some polling stations being located within military premises, saying the commission was investigating the reports.
“If we find that it is true, we shall take the necessary measures to address it,” he added.
On Tuesday, the authorities cut internet access and limited mobile services across the country in order to curb “misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks”.
The network outage has heightened concerns about repression in the run-up to the vote.
LUSAKA WOMAN DEMANDS US$25,000 AFTER ALLEGEDLY FINDING FLY IN MIKA MEATS SAUSAGE
A customer from Lusaka’s Chelstone Obama area, Thelma Simachembele, has sued Mika Meats Limited demanding US$25,000 in damages for negligence and K10,000 in special damages after allegedly finding a green housefly embedded in a beef sausage she purchased on 6th February 2025.
The incident is said to have led to her hospitalization a day later at the University Teaching Hospital -UTH- with severe gastroenteritis, vomiting, intense stomach pain and fever.
According to a statement of claim filed before the Lusaka High Court by her lawyers, Ms. Simachembele was at all material times a customer of Mika Meats Limited at its Chelstone Obama outlet in Lusaka and states that the beef sausage was bought in the ordinary course of business and consumed in the expectation that it was fit for human consumption.
She however, submits that the presence of a housefly in the sausage exposed her to harmful contaminants, resulting in her sudden illness and subsequent admission to hospital on 7th February 2025 and contends that Mika Meats Limited owed her a duty of care to ensure that food products sold to customers are safe and hygienically prepared.
Ms. Simachembele says the incident breached the duty of care through negligence in food handling and storage as confirmed by the food laboratory test by Lusaka City Council on 14th February that the sausage was embedded with a housefly.
The special damages being sought are said to relate to costs incurred as a result of the illness and treatment. Mika Meats Limited is yet to file its response to the claim.
CHIEF MWAMBA SLAMS FARMER PAYMENT DELAYS, LACK OF DEVELOPMENT
Senior Chief Mwamba of the Bemba-speaking people has criticised the current system used to pay farmers, describing it as slow and burdensome.
He revealed that it is taking up to three hours for a single farmer to be served at the bank, a delay he attributed to the excessive paperwork involved.
According to the traditional leader, some farmers were issued as many as sixty receipts, all of which must be individually verified by bank staff, further compounding the delays.
These concerns came to light when Socialist Party President Dr Fred M’membe paid a courtesy call on the chief at his palace in Kasama District, Northern Province.
Chief Mwamba also lamented the lack of development in his chiefdom, stating that no road infrastructure has been improved or constructed.
He urged opposition leaders to avoid fuelling division as the country approaches this year’s general election.
Earlier, Dr M’membe thanked the chief for his unwavering commitment to defending the plight of the people.
Dr M’membe also spoke about the need for inclusive governance, stressing that leadership should not be left solely in the hands of politicians.
He argued that all sectors of society must be involved in the governance of the country, noting that politicians have been in charge for over 60 years with little to show for it.
“The solution is not just changing the President or the ruling party, but transforming the entire system,” he said in Bemba: “Ifilefwaika tekuchinjafye Kateka ulipo nechipani, but ku chinja imitekele.”
FIVE YEARS LATER, THE COURTS OF LAW CANT RESOLVE THE LEADERSHIP QUESTION IN PF – IT’S TIME FOR A “PRISON BREAK”.
Granted, PF itself triggered a leadership crisis.
How this came about is well-documented and indisputable.
But, like it is with any dispute, parties to a conflict seek courts of law for a resolution.
Apart from seeking a resolution, time is of the essence.
When the conflict is settled is as important as the actual resolution.
It’s now almost five years since the courts of law were asked to settle the leadership question in the PF.
How hard can it be to settle this question?
Have the courts of law been inundated with so many other cases that genuinely they have had insufficient time and resources to resolve this matter?
Or, there is nothing special or urgent about this matter to warrant particular attention.
I have come to the conclusion that justice delayed is justice denied.
Consequently, fatigue, fog and confusion, you name it, have characterized the atmosphere in and around the PF.
All these suspensions, expulsions, arguments and counter arguments are all vanity in the absence of a clear legal status pronounced by the courts of law.
I wonder why the politically legitimate members and owners of the PF are even talking about a General Conference when they know fully well that someone will obtain an injunction to stop it from proceeding which injunction shall be delivered in a blink of an eye!
The absence of politically legitimate main opposition politics is an assault against democracy and specifically robbing the country of checks and balances essential in safeguarding public resources and checking against abuse of power.
Since the last elections, these checks and balances have not been provided as effectively as they should have been.
Surrendering democracy to the Zambian judicial system is no longer an option.
The legitimate PF must make a bold move. If you are an aspiring Presidential candidate within the PF, I challenge you to be as daring as making a “Prison Break” and take with you a “coalition of the willing” by which I mean every structure willing to come with you.
ZAMBIA CLOSES 2025 WITH K22.1 BILLION IN DECEMBER TREASURY RELEASES—SUSTAINING SERVICES, STRENGTHENING CREDIBILITY, AND CATALYSING JOBS AND INVESTMENT
By Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, Minister—Ministry of Finance and National Planning, #mofnp, Lusaka-Zambia
Even as global economic prospects remain turbulent, Zambia continues to offer reason for hope: our country is steadily transforming through better economic management, stronger fiscal discipline, and a clear focus on stability, debt sustainability, and growth.
Against this backdrop, the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, released K22.1 billion in December 2025 to finance public service delivery across the country. This reflected continued commitment to prudent debt management and the protection of priority social and economic programmes. It also marked the final disbursement, concluding the 2025 Budget implementation cycle.
Let’s put it simply: these December releases were about keeping the country running, paying what must be paid, clearing what must be cleared, and investing where growth and jobs can follow. They were structured to sustain essential service delivery, honour debt obligations, dismantle domestic arrears, protect vulnerable households, and support productive capital investment in line with national development priorities.
In doing so, they reinforced Government’s determination to consolidate stability and translate it into tangible economic expansion as Zambia advances beyond the IMF-supported Extended Credit Facility (ECF) Programme into a more growth-focused framework anchored on sound economic governance, investment, productivity, and job creation.
From the total K22.1 billion released in December, 2025:
1) K4.6 billion was allocated to the Public Service Wage Bill; 2) K10.9 billion was directed towards debt service (domestic and external) and the dismantling of domestic arrears; 3) K2.5 billion was released for transfers, subsidies and social benefits; and, 4) K1.9 billion supported the implementation of Government programmes and general operations. 5) K2.2 billion was invested in capital expenditure
A key investor and citizen question is always: are we keeping faith with our obligations, and are we preventing the build-up of unpaid bills that later destabilise the economy?
That is exactly why K10.9 billion was released under the Debt and Other Liabilities category. Of this amount, K5.9 billion went towards domestic debt service, K1.5 billion was used to meet external debt obligations, while K3.5 billion was applied to the dismantling of domestic arrears. These actions remain central to sustaining fiscal credibility, preserving the gains from debt restructuring, and preventing the accumulation of new arrears—because stability is not a slogan; it is something you protect through disciplined, consistent actions.
At the same time, budget discipline must still feel real in people’s lives. Under the Transfers and Subsidies category, a total of K2.5 billion was released to support critical institutions and protect vulnerable households.
This included K1.3 billion to Grant-Aided Institutions, including hospitals and universities, to sustain service delivery and operations; K958.4 million for the Social Cash Transfer programme to protect vulnerable households; and K240.7 million to the Local Government Equalisation Fund to strengthen service provision in local authorities.
To ensure public institutions continued to function without disruption—and that programmes did not stall—an additional K1.9 billion was released for the implementation of Government programmes and general operations across public institutions, supporting smooth administration and uninterrupted service delivery.
And because stability must ultimately produce growth, jobs, and opportunity, capital spending remained part of the picture, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning released K2.2 billion to finance ongoing infrastructure development as part of the broader effort to translate macroeconomic stability into productivity and growth. Of this amount, K1.3 billion was allocated to road infrastructure; K460 million supported projects under the Rural Electrification Authority; and K397 million financed infrastructure projects implemented by various ministries. These investments reflect Zambia’s deliberate transition towards a growth-focused framework—one that prioritises productive capital, crowds in private investment, expands opportunity, and supports job creation.
On the Public Service Wage Bill, K4.6 billion went to Personal Emoluments for public service workers across key sectors, including health, education, security services, and overseas allowances for diplomats serving in missions abroad. This ensured continuity of essential public services and the steady functioning of frontline institutions that citizens rely on every day.
My concluding remarks are that:
“While global economic prospects remain turbulent, Zambia offers reason for hope that we are a nation being transformed through better economic management and a steadfast focus on stability, debt sustainability and growth.
“Consistency and predictability of Treasury releases practiced in 2025 are a clear expression of the New Dawn Administration’s commitment to budget discipline, credible reform, and responsible economic management. The steady flow of resources to priority areas demonstrates Government’s resolve to protect fiscal stability while deliberately transitioning the economy toward sustained growth, investment, and job creation.
“Economic reform succeeds when it is understood, when it is owned, and when it is seen to be fair. Transparency in budget execution and clarity in communication will therefore remain critical components of Zambia’s reform journey from stability to sustained growth.
“The December budget releases closed the year with a firm signal of continuity—confirming that stability is being preserved while the foundations for growth are being actively laid. As the country progresses with the 2026 Budget season, and as Zambia advances beyond the IMF-supported Extended Credit Facility (ECF) Programme into a more growth-focused framework, the focus is shifting from consolidation and recovery, to expansion and elevated productivity, and from short-term correction, to medium-term opportunity and long-term growth.
“After next week, a comprehensive performance review of budget execution and reform progress for 2021 to 2025 will be presented during the Townhall Meeting scheduled for 29 January 2026. The event will provide citizens and stakeholders with a clear account of outcomes achieved, challenges encountered, and priorities ahead.
“And with continued commitment to budget integrity and shared responsibility—working together with citizens, the private sector, and cooperating partners—the gains of reform will endure, and the promise of inclusive, resilient and equitable development will increasingly translate into tangible improvements in the lives of present and future generations, in line with our growth-focused agenda.”
This is the heart of the message: Zambia is not trying to impress anyone with words; we are building confidence through predictable execution. When wages are paid on time, when hospitals and universities keep operating, when the Social Cash Transfer reaches the most vulnerable, when arrears are dismantled instead of quietly growing, and when debt obligations are met responsibly—markets take notice, investors take notice, and citizens feel the difference in service delivery and economic direction.
As we move through the 2026 Budget season, we do so with conviction that sound economic governance, disciplined implementation, and open engagement are the surest path to investment, higher productivity, and job creation. Citizens, businesses, civil society and cooperating partners deserve to understand not only what decisions are being taken, but why they are being taken, how they connect to national objectives and what they mean in practical terms for households, communities and enterprises.
The Government, therefore, invites all stakeholders to participate constructively in the 2026 Budget implementation process so that priorities are sharpened, resources directed to the highest-impact programmes, and delivery is strengthened at every level.
Together, with shared responsibility and clear purpose, we will convert stability into lasting opportunity—expanding enterprise, creating jobs, and improving lives in every part of Zambia.
Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, Minister of Finance and National Planning.
OLD BANKNOTES TO CEASE BEING LEGAL TENDER ON MARCH 31 – BOZ
THE Bank of Zambia has announced that old Zambian banknotes will stop being legal tender on March 31, 2026, marking the final phase of the country’s currency transition to the new banknote family.
In a public notice issued on January 14, 2026, the central bank says the cash exchange period for the old currency will end on that date, after which only the new series of banknotes will be recognised for transactions.
The new currency family, which was introduced on March 31, 2025, consists of six banknotes and six coins, and has since been circulating alongside the old notes.
The exchange period was provided for under the Bank of Zambia (Withdrawal and Exchange of Currency) Regulations, 2025, a statutory instrument issued by the Minister of Finance and National Planning.
According to the Bank of Zambia, April 1, 2026, will mark the full implementation of the new currency system, with all old banknotes no longer accepted for payments or transactions.
Members of the public holding old banknotes are advised to exchange them at designated cash exchange points by March 31, 2026. The central bank said exchanges can be done at any commercial bank or NATSAVE branch across the country at no cost.
The Bank of Zambia has urged the public not to delay in exchanging the old notes to avoid inconvenience when they are withdrawn from circulation.
FORMER BURKINABE MINISTER MURDERED AT HER HOME IN OUAGADOUGOU, PROSECUTOR SAYS
FORMER Burkinabe minister Yolande Viviane Compaoré has been assassinated at her home in Ouagadougou, the capital’s public prosecutor’s announced on Tuesday.
Officials said that Compaoré’s body was discovered at her home on Saturday and evidence found at the scene suggests that she was assaulted and murdered.
Judicial authorities have opened an investigation and appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
Compaoré was an influential figure during the presidency of Blaise Compaoré. A former governor of the Northern Region and a member of parliament for the former ruling party, the CDP, she held several ministerial posts, including Minister of Transport and Tourism. She also chaired the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee.
The government of Blaise Compaoré was overthrown by a popular uprising in 2014 and the former president fled to Cote d’Ivoire.
Press Statement (For Immediate Release) Football Association of Zambia Football House, Lusaka 14th January 2026.
FAZ TD TAKES UP FIFA ROLE…as GS Congratulates Him.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) wishes to inform its members and stakeholders that its Technical Director Mr. Lyson Zulu has been appointed by FIFA as the Technical Development Scheme (TDS) High-Performance Specialist for Africa.
Mr. Zulu was appointed as FAZ Technical Director in April 2019 after initially being engaged as a Football Development Manager in March 2019.
Zulu is holder of a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom and also Sports Performance Degree from Bath University.
In 2024, he was among 24 Technical Directors across the globe that were conferred with the FIFA Technical Leadership Diploma in Zurich after an 18-month academic journey.
FAZ General Secretary Machacha Shepande says while the departure of Mr. Zulu would deprive the Association of his expertise his exit to an international platform served as a moment of pride for the institution.
“Congratulations, Mr. Zulu. Your journey is an inspiration, and your impact will continue to be felt far beyond our borders. We can only wish you the best on your next step in your journey,” Shepande says.
“Mr. Zulu’s appointment is a powerful endorsement of the quality of expertise being developed within FAZ and underscores the Association’s growing reputation as a contributor of high-level technical professionals to global football.”
He adds: “This achievement represents not only a personal milestone for Mr. Zulu but also a victory for FAZ, Zambian football, and African football at large. His new role provides a unique opportunity to influence high-performance systems across the continent, ensuring that African football continues to grow in competitiveness, structure, and global relevance.”
For and on behalf: FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA Nkweto Tembwe HEAD OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS
