TONSE ALLIANCE COUNCIL OF LEADERS MEETING: THE FACTS, NOT PROPAGANDA
Former PS Elias Kamanga shares..
Credible sources within the Tonse Alliance Council of Leaders have confirmed that yesterday’s virtual meeting, chaired by Prof. Danny Pule, commenced at 18:00 hours and ran well past 22:00 hours, with 23 members fully logged in and participating.
It is important to place facts on record.
The quorum requirement for a valid Tonse Council of Leaders meeting is 15 members plus the Chairperson. Yesterday’s meeting exceeded this threshold by a wide margin. Therefore, any attempt to label the meeting “illegitimate” is factually incorrect and an act of political6 dishonest.
Below is the verified list of constituent members and organisations that attended and participated in the meeting:
Prof. Danny Pule – CDP President & Tonse Vice Chairperson (Chair) Mr. Chifumu Banda – Acting President, FDD Mr. Nason Msoni – President, All People’s Congress (APC)
Mr. Kelvin Fube Bwalya (KBF) – President, ZMP Dr. Cosmo Mumba – President, NRP Mr. Francis Shafwepa – Acting President, EEP Hon. Stephen Kampyongo – PF MP & Tonse Member Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya – PF MP & Tonse Member
Hon. Brian Mundubile – PF MP & Tonse Member PS Bernard Chomba – PF Tonse Member Mr. Kennedy Chanda – Executive Director, GEI Mr. Ibrahim Mwamba – President, SASYDA Mr. Shadrick Mumba – President, ZAYEF Dr. Cephas Mukuka – Former Trade Unionist
Rev. Mwape – Former Diplomat & Senior Citizen Mr. Gregory Chisha – Executive Director, CCONLEJ Mr. Debby Kambwa Aongola – Tonse Legal Counsel & Acting Legal Chairperson Dr. Chris Zumani Zimba – National Coordinator & Lead Consultant
Apostle Simon Mwanza – Chairperson, Apostolic Prophetic Council Jason Mwanza – Gen Z President Mr. Thomas Sipalo – Comedian & Politician Hon. Davies Mwila – PF Tonse Member Chanoda Ngwira – Spokesperson, Umodzi Kumawa
If this does not constitute legitimacy, then one must ask: what does legitimacy look like?
The meeting was duly convened in accordance with Tonse governing instruments and lawfully chaired by Prof. Danny Pule, who is the legally recognised leader to preside over Council of Leaders meetings in the absence of it’s Founder, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu
Consequently, all resolutions passed at this meeting are constitutionally binding on the Tonse Alliance.
What also emerged clearly from the deliberations is a growing fatigue and impatience among Alliance partners with the internal contradictions, obstructionism, and political paralysis associated with the Given Lubinda faction of the Patriotic Front.
The Alliance has made a strategic choice: to move forward—with or without PF.
From both the breadth of attendance and the diversity of organisations represented, it is evident that Tonse is consolidating, while PF as a party is still recklessly fantasizing.
Unless there is a drastic and immediate course of correction, PF as we know it, risks sliding into political irrelevance and possible oblivion beyond August 2026.
Tonse Alliance logo designer and founder Sean E. Tembo has with immediate effect ditched the the Alliance.
WITHDRAWAL OF THE PATRIOTS FOR ECONOMIC PROGRESS (PeP) FROM THE TONSE ALLIANCE
1. Seasonal greetings to you sir. We write with reference to the matter captioned above, as well as the several happenings of the past few months, within the TONSE ALLIANCE.
2. It is with profound sadness and regret that we hereby inform you that our party has resolved to withdraw from the TONSE ALLIANCE with immediate effect.
3. When we founded the TONSE ALLIANCE in June 2024, coined its name and designed its logo, we never thought a day would come when we would have to walk away from our own creation. But here we are.
4. The main reason for our departure is the constant squabbles, bickering and procrastination among senior members of the Alliance, which has had the overall effect of undermining public confidence in not only the Alliance as a collective, but also in its individual members, including ourselves.
5. With barely 7 months before the general election, we in the Patriots for Economic Progress have decided to replace bickering, quarrels and uncertainty with focus, certainty, and resoluteness. Hence our decision to depart from the TONSE ALLIANCE.
6. As we leave however, we shall obviously miss the warmth and brotherliness that we shared with yourself and our other comrades in the TONSE ALLIANCE, during the good times. I am also forever indebted to the TONSE ALLIANCE and the late Chairman and 6th Republican President; Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for the trust placed in me, through my being appointed as the TONSE ALLIANCE Spokesperson and Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee. I will always be thankful.
7. I wish to emphasize that even as we depart from the TONSE ALLIANCE, we shall forever consider the Alliance as our brothers in arms, as we aspire to deliver a better nation to the Zambian people.
8. I thank you.
Yours In Service of the Nation:
Sean E Tembo (SET) PARTY PRESIDENT PATRIOTS FOR ECONOMIC PROGRESS (PeP).
🇿🇲 EXCLUSIVE | Hichilema Reclaims the Political Stage
The first major public engagement of Zambia’s 2026 election year did not begin in Lusaka. It began in Choma, deep in Southern Province, where politics is not merely contested but inherited. At the Choma Cricket Club grounds on Wednesday, a sea of supporters drawn from all 15 districts gathered to receive a President returning from deliberate political quiet into full view.
Cabinet Ministers, ruling party lawmakers, opposition figures, independents, civic leaders and traditional authorities stood shoulder to shoulder as Hakainde Hichilema made his first major electoral-era appearance of the year.
Security was visibly heightened, not as spectacle, but necessity. The crowd was large, expectant, and unmistakably at home.
The President arrived to traditional drums and dances heavy with ancestral symbolism. Dancers waved wooden spears and cow tails, invoking cattle wealth and heritage. The address that followed was delivered predominantly in Tonga, the dominant local language, reinforcing both cultural proximity and political ownership of the space. It was not accidental.
It was calibrated.
Hichilema spoke with confidence, framing his first term as a period of repair after what he described as one of the most severe economic depreciations in Zambia’s recent history. He pointed to stabilising macroeconomic indicators, including the strengthening of the Kwacha against major currencies, revived mining operations, and reforms in agriculture and energy.
Free education featured prominently, presented not as policy rhetoric but as an irreversible social investment.
On mining, the President said reforms were now “trickling down” to ordinary citizens, linking sector recovery to household-level impact. Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe echoed this, citing the training of over 1,000 small-scale miners on the Copperbelt in safe and legal practices as part of a broader effort to formalise the sector and stimulate local economies.
The political undertone sharpened as the rally progressed. Southern Province Members of Parliament collectively endorsed Hichilema as the sole presidential candidate of the UPND for August 2026, presenting a unified front from a region that has been the party’s strongest base since the era of Anderson Mazoka. The President reminded the crowd that the province holds close to 1.2 million registered voters and urged turnout discipline, warning against what he described as the return of cadreism, political violence, and tribal mobilisation under a divided opposition.
What distinguished this rally was not only message but mood. Hichilema appeared hyper, animated, even dancing on the platform, evoking memories of the 2021 campaign trail. The difference now is status. He enters this cycle as an incumbent, with state authority, institutional reach, and a party that has governed its way through crisis into relative stability.
Behind the scenes, aides describe the President’s recent low profile as intentional. While public discourse has been consumed by church–state tensions and opposition mobilisation around symbolic issues, UPND operatives have been active in less visible terrain.
Northern Province, long considered PF heartland since the days of Michael Sata, has become a strategic focus. Political adviser Levy Ngoma has been camped in the region, quietly consolidating support, engaging local leadership, and testing the durability of green strongholds.
With Parliament now expanded to 226 constituencies under the amended framework, the 2026 contest is shifting from noise to arithmetic. Multiple sources familiar with ruling party strategy say UPND believes it can secure upward of 140 parliamentary seats if current opposition fragmentation persists. The objective, they say, is not domination through rhetoric but accumulation through structure.
As dusk settled in Choma, the message from the ground was unmistakable. The President had not been absent. He had been preparing. Southern Province provided the safest place to re-enter the arena, but the campaign logic extends far beyond home ground.
The contest ahead will not be fought only on timelines or pulpits, but ward by ward, language by language, and number by number. The storm is no longer forming. It has begun to move.
Lunte Member of Parliament Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya writes:::
Archi-bishop Dr. ALECK BANDA – YOUR FIGHT IS NOT CARNAL.
—————————–
It is spiritual to the pulling down of strongholds.
And we all know or ought to know the conduct of strongholds.
Your being branded Lucifer is not enough. Cordoning your Cathedral in prevention of prayer is not by police is also not enough.
We were told by a government minister that government will start isolating the clergy from it sheep and handle them politically. We are now witnessing the manifestation of what we thought were mere threats.
Your personal case is really special because we do not know to what extent politics are willing to play. Those driving them appear determined to extend bounds beyond reasonableness.
But be sure that in this world you shall have tribulations. Because even the one who called you; our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ suffered tribulations here on earth.
The fortunate part even in this world is that Eklesia is planted on the Rock spoken of by Saint Peter.
Imagine what would become of Eklessia if it was planted on CDF, cash for work or social cash transfer –
Blessed be God who revealed the rock upon which Eklesia is planted.
Those who recognise the attack on the bloody road to Jerico. And as Martin Luther King Jr would put it; “project me into thou.”
I therefore thank all those who found it fit to support our shephard on that spiritually dark day. May God consider you well according to his loving kindness.
HICHILEMA’S CATTLE – A CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH TO THE QUESTION OF TRIBE IN ZAMBIAN POLITICS
When I first saw a picture of Hichilema and his cattle, some significant thoughts ran through my mind.
One of these is the importance of Zambia’s diverse tribal landscape.
Our tribes represent value systems that, if interrogated closely, constitute indigenous economic and cultural systems necessary and primary in national development.
Let’s take for instance Tongas since I am talking about the President.
Most Tongas I have known upclose and personal have a piece of land and animals no matter what ever else they may be doing.
Secondly, Tongas will not kill their animal willy-nilly because they are the economic basis for future generations.
So, when a Tonga President is pictured alongside his animals, it helps expose an indigenous economic system that must inspire others to engage with their respective traditional systems.
Each tribe in Zambia has a traditional economic system unique to themselves.
What is required is a knowledge system that gathers together these indigenous systems for purposes of systematically exploiting them for national development.
It’s noteworthy that Hichilema spends most of his vacations at his farm.
It’s helpful if an appropriate narrative accompanies the images that are taken of him.
We have had leaders in this country who took their vacations in places only akin to white folks – in the Caribbean Islands and lodges in national game parks!
Now that there’s a leader who takes his vacation in his traditional homestead, may the talk of tribe assume a more constructive narrative.
POVERTY BITES AS POLITICIANS ABANDON RESIDENTS — CHANDA
United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ) leader Charles Chanda has sounded the alarm over worsening living conditions in Kasama, Northern Province, warning that many residents are trapped in poverty while political leaders only show interest during election periods.
Speaking on Radio Mano on Wednesday, Chanda said the reality on the ground paints a grim picture of daily survival for many families, with basic needs such as food, shelter and decent livelihoods increasingly out of reach.
“In Kasama, people are suffering every day. Families are failing to meet their most basic needs,” Chanda said. “It is painful that politicians come here during elections with promises of change, but once the votes are counted, the people are forgotten.”
He described the situation as a clear sign of leadership failure, arguing that development cannot be seasonal or tied to campaign periods alone.
Chanda emphasized that poverty in Kasama requires consistent, people-centred leadership and long-term solutions rather than political rhetoric.
The UPPZ leader said his party remains committed to working with communities regardless of whether it is in power, adding that true leadership is measured by service, not slogans.
“We will not wait for elections to act. UPPZ believes in standing with the people every day and working towards real change,” he said.
Chanda further urged residents of Kasama to rally behind the UPPZ mayoral candidate in the upcoming elections, stating that local leadership is key to improving service delivery and addressing the high cost of living.
“If Kasama is to move forward, residents must choose leaders who genuinely care about their welfare and are ready to work beyond election time,” he said.
He also called for unity among the people of Kasama, encouraging them to speak with one voice in demanding better living conditions and accountable leadership.
Chanda’s remarks come amid growing public frustration over rising poverty levels, unemployment and limited access to basic services in Kasama, reflecting broader economic challenges facing many Zambian communities.
The powerful image of the Catholic nun challenging the police officer finds deep resonance within Biblical narratives where divine mandates necessitate bold, often confrontational, action against entrenched injustice.
The nun went to the DEC offices to demonstrate solidarity with Archbishop Dr Alick Banda after the Catholic Church declared that the Archbishop’s summons constituted an attack on the church.
From Jesus’ overturning of tables in the Temple to the unwavering challenges issued by Old Testament prophets, scripture offers a clear template for moments when moral clarity demands an active, visible opposition to wrongdoing.
The nun’s stance, far from being a deviation from Christian ethics, can be understood as an appropriation of this tradition of righteous intervention, asserting that sometimes, the holiest duty involves disrupting the status quo in defense of justice and human dignity.
DU PRESIDENT ACKIM ANTHONY NJOBVU PAYS A COURTESY CALL ON VJ MWAANGA
… says the meeting culminated in a constructive conversation with the veteran statesperson.
LUSAKA, WEDNESDAY 07,JANUARY 2026 [SMART EAGLES]
DEMOCRATIC Union president Ackim Anthony Njobvu today paid a courtesy call on veteran politician Dr. VJ Mwaanga at his residence in Lusaka.
Mr. Njobvu said the meeting with Dr. Mwaanga culminated into a constructive conversation.
“I paid a courtesy call on Hon. Dr VJ Mwaanga. It was a privilege to engage in a constructive conversation with him, a seasoned statesperson and prolific author,” Mr. Njobvu said.
The DU leader said the discussion centered around the intricacies of Zambian politics, offering valuable insights into the nation’s governance and development trajectory.
“Dr Mwaanga graciously presented one of his five published works, a testament to his dedication to public service and literary contribution.l,” Mr. Njobvu said.
OPPOSITION IN WESTERN PROVINCE SUFFER MAJOR SETBACK AS MEMBERS DEFECT TO UPND
The opposition parties have experienced another major setback as a total of 47 members dumped their political parties to join the governing UPND in Mongu Central constituency at a colorful event held at the Party Secretariat in Mongu this afternoon.
Citizen First’s Provincial Chairlady, Loveness Chingumbe, along with her Vice Utakela Maluke, and other members, have made the decision to join the mighty UPND. Notably, PF Provincial Chairlady Namatama Kafuma and Secretary for Women’s Affairs, Agatha Kamizhi, also joined the ruling party citing the recently enacted Bill 7 into law that will include marginalized groups like Women, the Youth and People living with disabilities into the governance system.
Additionally, Namaa Kayombo, the Provincial Chairlady of the Socialist Party, led a group of members in their transition.
Upon receiving the new members, a visibly elated Provincial Chairman Kapelwa Mbangweta welcomed them warmly, encouraging them to integrate into the party and contribute to its growth in readiness for the 2026 general elections.
The Chairman praised the President for his outstanding leadership, which prioritizes the welfare of all citizens, particularly those in the Western Province, historically marginalized by past administrations. He urged all members to propagate the positive message of President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership.
Norway ‘foolishly’ chose not to award me Nobel Peace Prize despite ending eight wars — Trump
United State president Donald trump whose country who deny Nigerian citizens visa if intent is to go give birth in the country, calls for ceasefire between ThaILAND, cAMBODIA, US: Two-thirds of Justice Department unit quits amid Trump’s legal battles
United States President, Donald Trump, has criticised Norway for not awarding him the Nobel Peace Prize, insisting that his actions on global security and diplomacy merited the honour.
In a post on his Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump said his administration compelled NATO members to significantly increase their defence spending, arguing that many countries were previously failing to meet their financial obligations while the United States bore the burden.
He maintained that his intervention pushed allies to raise defence contributions to five per cent of their gross domestic product, a move he described as previously thought impossible.
The president also claimed that his involvement prevented Russia from fully taking over Ukraine, adding that his absence from global affairs would have emboldened Moscow.
He further asserted that he single-handedly brought an end to eight wars, a record he said was overlooked by the Nobel committee in Norway, which is a NATO member.
PLOT TO KILL BURKINA FASO LEADER FOILED, SAYS JUNTA
A plot to kill Burkina Faso’s military leader, Capt Ibrahim Traoré, has been thwarted, the West African nation has announced.
The sophisticated plan had been hatched by Lt Col Paul Henri Damiba, the military officer ousted by Traoré in September 2022, the security minister said in a late-night broadcast.
“Our intelligence services intercepted this operation in the final hours. They had planned to assassinate the Head of State and then strike other key institutions, including civilian personalities,” said Mahamadou Sana, further alleging that the plot had been funded from neighbouring Ivory Coast.
There has been no comment from either Col Damiba or Ivory Coast.
Since seizing power, Capt Traoré has faced at least two coup attempts and is also grappling with growing jihadist violence that has forced millions from their homes.
Despite these challenges and his authoritarian reputation, the 37-year-old military leader maintains strong popular support and has gained a following across the continent for his pan-Africanist vision and criticism of Western influence.
According to the security minister, the authorities uncovered a leaked video showing the plotters discussing their plans.
In the footage they allegedly spoke about how they intended to assassinate the president either at close range or by planting explosives at his residence just after 23:00 local time on Saturday 3 January.
Afterwards they allegedly planned to target other senior military and civilian figures.
Sana alleged that Damiba had mobilised both soldiers and civilian supporters, secured foreign funding most significantly 70m CFA francs ($125,000; £92,000) delivered from Ivory Coast and planned to knock out the country’s drone-launch base before foreign forces could intervene.
“We are carrying out ongoing investigations and have made several arrests. These individuals will be brought to justice soon,” the minister said on national television.
Sana insisted the situation was under control and urged citizens “not to be misled, out of naivety, into dangerous schemes”.
It is not clear how many people have been arrested.
Critics, both local and foreign, have accused Traoré of authoritarianism and say his government suppresses dissent – including arbitrary arrests of military officers and restrictions on the media.
It is not the first time the junta has pointed the finger of blame about foreign interference in its affairs at Ivory Coast.
These continuing internal power struggles will further heighten regional tensions.
Col Damiba served as Burkina Faso’s leader from January-September 2022 after seizing power from an elected government.
After being ousted he went into exile in neighbouring Togo and said in a message published on social media that he wished his successor every success.
U.S. seizes Russian-flagged oil tanker in North Atlantic, captures second vessel in Caribbean
U.S. forces have seized a Russian‑flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after a weeks‑long pursuit and captured a second sanctioned vessel in the Caribbean, officials said Wednesday, marking a major escalation in Washington’s enforcement of oil sanctions linked to Venezuela and broader geopolitical tensions.
The tanker, now named Marinera and formerly the Bella‑1, was intercepted between Scotland and Iceland following refusal to comply with a U.S. blockade and boarding attempts last month in the Caribbean.
The vessel was on a U.S. sanctions list for allegedly smuggling cargo tied to groups linked to Iran, and its crew had reflagged and repainted the ship with Russian identifiers in an apparent bid to evade capture.
U.S. European Command said the operation was executed under a warrant from a U.S. federal court and involved coordination between the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, the Coast Guard and military assets.
The move underscores Washington’s commitment to enforcing oil‑related sanctions “anywhere in the world,” according to Pentagon officials.
In a related action, U.S. forces also took control of a second oil tanker, M/T Sophia, in the Caribbean Sea. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the vessel had been either docked in Venezuela or en route to it and was likewise linked to sanctions violations.
Moscow has condemned the North Atlantic seizure as “illegal” and a breach of maritime law, with Russian officials decrying it as “piracy” and demanding the crew’s protection and repatriation. The incident coming amid heightened U.S. pressure on Venezuela’s oil sector could further strain U.S.‑Russia relations.
This developing situation is part of a broader U.S. campaign targeting oil shipments viewed as evading sanctions and destabilising regional and global markets.
VENEZUALA OWES OVER 150BILLION DOLLARS TO VARIOUS CREDITORS – NO WONDER THE WORLD IS CAUTIOUS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE US INVASION
In a complex web of debts – commercial bonds, arbitration claims, and oil-based loans/sovereign loans, behind the scenes a race is underway to untangle the web and restructure the debt.
Since the economic sanctions of 2019, Venezuela has been in a debt limbo.
But the US capture of Maduro has, ironically, given renewed hope in the investor and creditor community that perhaps the Trump Administration could provide a solution to the uncertain economic situation thus unlocking that country’s ability to service its debts.
It is hoped that US oil companies may be encouraged to go in and invest thus unlocking the potential economic resources that could enable Caracas meet her debt obligations.
But the political uncertainty may hold them back.
If you think the Chinese government would do anything rush, think again – there is over 13 billion dollars at stake that Venezuala owes her!
And Beijing, prioritizing money over politics, wants to collect what she is owed.
While the IMF often plays a pivotal role in debt restructuring, instead, analysts see the US playing a key role in this regard.
Perhaps this explains why the Trump Administration is talking more of access to Venezuelan oil resources than the drugs that were used as a pretext to snatch Maduro.
Whether the interim President will play ball remains to be seen.
Perhaps she should, after all, it’s not her Uncle Sam has beef with but her former boss.
If she doesn’t, who knows what the unhinged Trump could do next?
President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday night that he will meet with his Colombian counterpart at the White House after threatening to arrest him over the flow of drugs into the United States.
Trump posted on Truth Social that he plans to meet with Colombian President Gustavo Petro at the White House. Just two days ago, Trump called Petro a “sick man” who “likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States” following the arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.
“And he’s not going to be doing it very long. Let me tell you,” Trump said at the time.
On Wednesday, Trump said he appreciated the “tone” of Petro’s call with him.
“It was a Great Honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future.”
Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Rufus Gifford blasted President Donald Trump’s escalating threats to seize Greenland — even by military force — warning on MS NOW that such a move would run directly counter to NATO’s mission and could force the alliance to defend Denmark against the United States.
The threats, which have even a number of Republicans in Congress up in arms, come despite years and years of Danish officials making clear they have no interest in selling or giving Greenland to the United States, which has some military presence on the island for global security purposes.
“Do you think anyone in this administration understands that if a shot is fired towards Greenland by the United States of America, that our NATO allies are no longer in that moment, our allies, Article 5 would be invoked by the other members to protect that one neighbor,” said “The Weeknight” host and former Republican Party chair Michael Steele. “Please help us understand and contextualize the severe dynamics involved here about any military action against a fellow NATO alliance member.”
“Yeah, it is. It’s extraordinary, Michael,” said Gifford. “I mean, I would make the argument that this foreign policy, if you want to even call it a foreign policy, is not only reckless, which it is, but it’s also clueless.”
“I hear what Stephen Miller said the other day. I see even what Secretary Rubio said today … It’s as if they don’t understand how NATO works,” continued Gifford. “They don’t understand how alliances work. In essence, this entire region, NATO, was set up originally to prevent something like this from happening. You actually don’t need to invade another country in order to protect your national security, because NATO is all for one, one for all. Meaning if one ally is attacked, the entire alliance is compelled to respond.”
“So their national security argument, Michael, holds zero water here because honestly, if Greenland were attacked, whether they were independent Danish or anywhere else that was NATO ally, all of us, as the alliance, would be compelled to respond,” he added. “And so the national security argument is just completely bogus here.”
Footballers protesting for unpaid bonuses during the African tournament has become the new normal, even though it exposed the poor leadership of various football Associations.
Read Also: Victor Osimhen’s Hat-trick Against Benin, not enough to take The Super Eagles to World Cup 2026 Directly
Before tournaments, leaders of countries and football presidents go into an agreement with the players’ represented country that they will be given a handsome reward if they get to the knockout stage of the tournament or win the ultimate.
This gesture is to motivate them to play their hearts out, but unfortunately, the FAs keep on disappointing the players after they get what they want.
The latest victim of the empty promises from their Football Federation is the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
They were to train ahead of the knockout clash against Algeria in the African Cup of Nations in Morocco, after recording a 100% record by winning all 4 of their matches, but unfortunately, the players have refused to train due to unpaid bonuses.
The two parties agreed on a $30,000 bonus as a qualification fee to reach the Round of 16, which they did, $5,000 for each goal scored since the commencement of the AFCON, and some daily undisclosed allowance after training sessions.
The inability of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, to fulfil their promises has plunged the football fans into sadness, as they do not know if the Super Eagles will fully prepare for the game or play abysmally and exit the tournament.
Fans are pleading with the Leadership of the Nigerian Football Federation to do the needful before it’s too late.
Michel Kuka, known as “Lumumba,” honored by the Algerian Football Federation
Congolese supporter Michel Kuka Mboladinga, better known by the nickname “Lumumba Vea,” was received by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) as well as by the staff of the Algerian national team at the hotel where the Fennecs were staying in Rabat, in the presence of the Minister of Sports, Didier Budimbu.
After going viral during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for his heartfelt tribute to Patrice Lumumba, the iconic figure of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s independence, he was presented with an Algerian national team jersey bearing the name “Lumumba,” as a sign of respect and recognition.
A powerful and highly symbolic gesture, illustrating the spirit of fair play, fraternity, and mutual respect between peoples, far beyond sporting rivalry.
Amoura Apologizes for Gesture Mocking DR Congo’s Fan ‘Lumumba Vea’
After Algeria scored the winning goal, Amoura celebrated by mimicking a stiff, upright pose, a move many interpreted as mocking Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, a well-known DR Congo superfan nicknamed “Lumumba Vea.”
Mboladinga is famous for standing motionless during matches with one arm raised, resembling Patrice Lumumba, the former Congolese Prime Minister and independence hero assassinated in 1961. His presence at AFCON 2025 has become symbolic for many Congolese supporters.
After the match, Amoura posted an apology on Instagram, saying the moment was full of emotion and tension, and that he didn’t realize the deeper meaning behind the fan’s pose.
President Donald Trump unveiled what he’s billing as a game-changing oil deal that forces Venezuela to buy U.S.-made goods.
Trump made the bold statement on Wednesday on Truth Social that Venezuela would be locked into exclusive purchasing power for American-made goods.
The deal, as described by Trump, would require Venezuela to funnel revenues from the oil arrangement directly back into American products and services. According to the announcement, the purchases will span multiple sectors, including agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment.
“I have just been informed that Venezuela is going to be purchasing ONLY American Made Products, with the money they receive from our new Oil Deal. These purchases will include, among other things, American Agricultural Products, and American Made Medicines, Medical Devices, and Equipment to improve Venezuela’s Electric Grid and Energy Facilities,” wrote Trump.
He added, “In other words, Venezuela is committing to doing business with the United States of America as their principal partner – A wise choice, and a very good thing for the people of Venezuela, and the United States.”
President Donald Trump released a comment Wednesday after an ICE agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman driving in a car in Minneapolis, blaming “the radical left” and claiming the agent was in danger.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, as the investigation was still ongoing.
“I have just viewed the clip of the event which took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is a horrible thing to watch,” Trump wrote.
“The woman screaming was, obviously, a professional agitator, and the woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self defense,” Trump wrote. “Based on the attached clip, it is hard to believe he is alive, but is now recovering in the hospital. The situation is being studied, in its entirety, but the reason these incidents are happening is because the Radical Left is threatening, assaulting, and targeting our Law Enforcement Officers and ICE Agents on a daily basis. They are just trying to do the job of MAKING AMERICA SAFE. We need to stand by and protect our Law Enforcement Officers from this Radical Left Movement of Violence and Hate! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP”
Video footage from the incident showed the ICE officer walking away from the scene.
The FBI and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension have planned to investigate the use of deadly force and shooting incident.
President Donald Trump has filed a motion in Georgia state court to compel the Fulton County District Attorney’s office to pay him $6.2 million in compensation for the now-dismissed election racketeering case, Lawfare’s Anna Bower reported on Wednesday.
The motion relies on a law passed by Georgia Republicans last year, which entitles criminal defendants to compel district attorneys to pay their legal fees when the case is dismissed as a result of prosecutorial misconduct.
The Georgia case, filed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in 2023 after two years of investigation, charged Trump and a number of his lawyers and political operatives for essentially running an organized crime ring to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in that state.
However, in an unexpected twist, the case was derailed when some of Trump’s co-defendants filed for Willis’ removal under allegations that she was in a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, one of her office’s special prosecutors working on the case. The defendants argued that the entire case was a smokescreen for Willis and Wade to finance their romantic liaisons with taxpayer money.
The judge presiding over the case, Scott McAfee, ruled Willis could remain on the case as long as Wade resigned, but an appellate court reversed this judgment and disqualified Willis altogether. That put the case in legal limbo for over a year, as the bipartisan Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia searched for another prosecutor to handle the case with no takers.
Finally, last November, the council’s director assigned the case to himself and filed for its dismissal, as Trump’s election to the presidency made a state criminal trial impractical.
Patrice Émery Lumumba remains one of Africa’s most powerful symbols of resistance, dignity, and unfinished liberation.
Born in 1925 in what was then the Belgian Congo, Lumumba rose from modest beginnings to become a sharp-minded nationalist who refused to accept colonial rule disguised as partnership. As Congo approached independence, he emerged as a unifying figure, rejecting tribal divisions and demanding true sovereignty—not a handover that left Belgium and Western powers in control of Congo’s vast mineral wealth.
On June 30, 1960, during the independence ceremony, Lumumba stunned the world. Standing beside the Belgian king, he delivered a fiery, unscripted speech that exposed the brutality, exploitation, and humiliation of colonial rule. It was a moment of truth that electrified Africans—and terrified Western interests.
Within months, Lumumba was removed from power, arrested, and on January 17, 1961, brutally assassinated with the direct involvement of Belgian authorities and the complicity of Cold War powers who saw his vision of independence as a threat. His body was destroyed to erase evidence, but his legacy survived. Lumumba became a martyr of African liberation, inspiring generations across Africa and the diaspora. He represents the Congo that dared to stand tall, speak boldly, and demand respect.
It is deeply emotional reading the story of Patrice Émery Lumumba—a freedom fighter unjustly silenced for loving his country too fiercely. And only then does it become clear why the DR Congo fan, Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, popularly known as “Patrice Lumumba,” chose to stand like a statue throughout DR Congo’s AFCON matches.
That silent stance was not random. It was remembrance. It was mourning. It was resistance. A human monument honoring a fallen hero, carrying history into a football stadium.
The gesture—quiet yet powerful—went viral because it blended symbolic protest, historical memory, and raw football passion. In that stillness lived pain, pride, and defiance.
Not just a fan. Not just football. But a nation remembering one of its greatest sons.
GOVERNMENT REQUESTS VATICAN TO RECALL ARCHBISHOP ALICK BANDA
The UPND Government has requested the Vatican to remove embattled Archbishop Dr. Alick Banda from the Lusaka Archdiocese, according to sources.
Foreign Affairs sources have disclosed to KBN TV that the Ministry has raised a diplomatic exchange – note verbal- to the Vatican raising Government’s displeasure with the conduct of Archbishop Dr. Banda whom they have accused of being political.
And yesterday, Vatican representative in Zambia, the Nuncio Archbishop Gian Perici, spoke to President Hakainde Hichilema, sources have further revealed without disclosing the contents of their discussion.
Sources say Government want Dr. Alick Banda recalled from Lusaka as he was deemed to be “disturbing” Government and would not be wanted in his current portfolio in the running up to this year’s elections.
According to sources, an arrest of Archbishop Banda is imminent but Government is willing to stop the process if he is recalled from Lusaka.
PF DISOWNS ‘ILLEGAL’ TONSE ALLIANCE MEETING AS LUBINDA DECLARES PURPORTED RESOLUTIONS NULL AND VOID
The Patriotic Front (PF) formally notifies the general public, its members, and members of the Tonse Alliance that it has been conclusively established that an illegal and unauthorized Tonse Alliance meeting was convened by the Co-Chairperson of the Alliance, Professor Danny Pule.
The Patriotic Front further exposes the mischief and bad faith surrounding this meeting, which was deliberately convened at a time when PF members and Tonse Alliance members were attending a duly sanctioned political rally in Chawama. This conduct was calculated to exclude key stakeholders and undermines the very foundations of collective leadership within the Alliance.
It must be re-emphasised and placed firmly on record that the Patriotic Front is the Party that sponsored His Excellency Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu into the Tonse Alliance, following due consultation and approval by the Central Committee of the Patriotic Front. In this regard, the Patriotic Front cannot and will not be reduced to a façade or treated as a non-existent entity within an Alliance it helped to form and sustain.
At the said purported meeting, illegal, null, and void resolutions were made, including attempts to alter the Tonse Alliance Constitution through a virtual meeting, in clear violation of agreed Alliance procedures and in direct contravention of a binding resolution which resolved that all matters relating to constitutional amendments would only be addressed at a duly convened physical meeting scheduled for 20th January 2026.
The Patriotic Front unequivocally condemns the conduct of certain colleagues within the Alliance, which demonstrates dishonesty, lack of political decorum, and blatant disregard for collective responsibility, consultation, and mutual respect—principles that are indispensable to any credible political alliance.
Accordingly, any documents, statements, or materials circulating on social media purporting to be resolutions of the Tonse Alliance are hereby disowned in their entirety, are illegal and illegitimate, and must be ignored with the contempt they deserve. For the avoidance of doubt, the status quo within the Tonse Alliance remains unchanged.
Consequently, the Tonse Alliance shall soon convene a proper, lawful, and duly constituted meeting, at a date and time to be announced, at which all outstanding matters shall be addressed strictly in accordance with the Alliance Constitution and agreed procedures.
In the meantime, all Patriotic Front members and Tonse Alliance members are directed to intensify campaign activities in Chawama to ensure a Tonse Alliance victory in the upcoming by-election scheduled for 15th January.
Issued by: Hon. Given Lubinda Chairperson – Tonse Alliance A/ President – Patriotic Front
My name was used to fraudulenty give Bishop Alick Banda the Hilux, cries ZRA employee
A ZAMBIA Revenue Authority (ZRA) employee whose name has for years been synonymous with the controversial Toyota Hilux allegedly gifted to Archbishop Alick Banda has cried foul, saying he was framed and used as a pawn in the illegal disposal of government vehicles.
Mulopa Kaunda, the man on paper recorded as the buyer and the ‘Good Samaritan’ who donated the vehicle, said he has never bought, driven or even laid eyes on the automobile that has landed him in endless interrogations and public ridicule.
According to an exclusive story published by the News Diggers newspaper, Kaunda said what started as a strange email in December 2020 quietly turned into a nightmare that dragged his name, family and career into a scandal involving senior ZRA officials and politically connected beneficiaries.
The paper reports that according to records, the Toyota Hilux was allegedly sold to Kaunda before being transferred to Archbishop Banda within 24 hours, a transaction Kaunda said exists only on paper.
“I never bought that vehicle. I never participated in any auction and I don’t know Archbishop Banda,” Kaunda was quoted as saying.
The paper reported that the ZRA employee narrated how he was shocked to receive an internal receipt showing he had paid for a vehicle, prompting him to query the transaction, only to be told it was an error.
However, the matter refused to die, later resurfacing with fresh receipts and documents bearing his name, including ownership records.
Kaunda said the situation worsened after he was asked by his then supervisor to submit his NRC, a request he now believes was used to formalize the fraudulent paperwork.
What followed was a trail of summons by investigative wings, forcing him to travel repeatedly from Ndola to Lusaka to explain himself, while the public narrative painted him as the generous donor to a senior Catholic cleric.
The pressure intensified after documents linking him to the Archbishop were circulated on social media, a development Kaunda revealed pushed him into depression and hospitalisation due to high blood pressure.
“I have been mocked, questioned and treated like a criminal over something I didn’t do,” he said.
The investigations have already claimed high-profile casualties, with former ZRA commissioner general Kingsley Chanda and former director of administration Callistus Kaoma jailed for abuse of office.
The recent summoning of Archbishop Banda over the same vehicle has heightened public interest and anxiety, particularly among the Bishop Banda’s supporters within Catholic church, some of whom see it as political persecution.
But Kaunda said while the nation debates the Archbishop’s interrogation, his own suffering has gone unnoticed.
“For four years, I have lived with this cloud over my head,” he said.
As investigations continue, Kaunda maintains that all he wants is justice and the restoration of his name.
ZRA EMPLOYEE DEMANDS RETRACTION OF ARTICLE AND K20M FROM AMB. MWAMBA AND DAILY NATION NEWSPAPER
A ZRA employee, Mulopa Kaunda has gone for former Zambia’s ambassador to Ethiopia Emmanuel Mwamba and the Daily Nation, demanding that the duo fork out K20 million each for misleading the public that he purchased a Toyota Hilux from his employer and gifted it to Lusaka Archdiocese Bishop Grace Alick Banda.
Kaunda has given Mwamba and the media house three days in which to retract the malicious falsehoods and render a public apology failure to which he will institute legal proceedings against them.
In separate letters of demand with similar wording, served on the two parties by Mulopa’s lawyers of Messers Malisa and Partners Legal Practitioners dated September 23, 2024, the ZRA employee said, the false articles published by Mwamba and Daily Nation are capable of damaging his relationship with his employer.
In attempts to discredit evidence before the Economic and Financial Crimes Court that his Grace Archbishop Banda was a beneficiary of a vehicle that was illegally disposed of, Mwamba on September 13, 2024 published an article on his Facebook page ‘Emmanuel Mwamba’ titled “Toyota Hilux was sold to a staff member, ZRA records show.”
Mwamba in attempts to clear the clerics name, conducted separate proceedings alongside the court case before the EFCC where former top ZRA officials Kingsley Chanda and Calistus Kaoma are being prosecuted for failing to follow procedure in the manner they disposed of 22 vehicles belonging to the Revenue Authority.
He alleged that Kaunda bought the Hilux and gifted it to the priest.
“The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) sold the vehicle, Toyota Hilux, blue in colour, on staff auction to a staff member Mulopa Kaunda.
ZRA records of sale and gate pass show that the vehicle was sold for K50,000 cash on 17th November 2020 and collected on 20th November 2020 by Mr. Mulopa Kaunda…”
And Daily Nation editor Banabas Zulu is also alleged to have authored an article purporting that Kaunda purchased the vehicle on the front page of Vol.10 Issue No. 4,144 dated the September 14, 2024 titled “ZRA EMPLOYEE BOUGHT VEHICLE BEING USED TO MALIGN ARCHBISHOP BANDA”
The said article reads; “.documents reveal that a Mr. Mulopa Kaunda a ZRA employe bought
Toyota Hilux registration number ALF 7734, Blue in colour. The Toyota Hilux vehicle being used to demonise, scandalise and nihilistically malign His Grace, Archbishop Dr Alick Banda was in fact bought by a Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA ) employe who later gifted it to the Archbishop of Lusaka, documents bave revealed.
According to documents from ZRA, which include a receipt and gate pass, the vehicle in question, a Toyota Hilux registration number ALF 734, blue in colour, was gifted to Archbishop Dr Banda Who was in Europe…”
Zulu, alleged that Kaunda purchased and collected the motor vehicle on the 17th and 20th of November 2020 from ZRA at K50,000.00.
“Our Client contends that further to the above, you authored and published the said
article following a wide media circulation of allegations that the subject motor vehicle was suspiciously given to his holiness Archbishop Alick Banda and was ultimately seized by Drug Enforcement Commission,”the demand letters read.
Kaunda contended that he has served in the institution for a good number of years with an impeccable record of good character, and has upheld high levels of professionalism and integrity in line with the ethical standards ZRA expects and maintains among all its employees.
According to Kaunda; he did not purchase the vehicle in question, neither did he gift it to Archbishop Alick Banda nor was he involved in the said deal.
Kaunda said he was not contacted by the duo to get his side of the story but, they proceeded to publish falsehoods without taking into consideration his reputation, which he deems to be malicious and libelous, intended to ruin his relationship with his employer.
He said the words imply that he dubiously acquired the motor vehicle in question and gifted it to the Archbishop, which falls below the standard of conduct and ethics expected of him.
Kaunda said the malicious falsehoods tends to lower him in the estimation of right thinking members of society and his employer, thereby bringing his name into ridicule.
“In this regard, our Client instructs us, which we hereby do, to demand the folowing: That you retract the said article and render an unequivocal public apology within 48 hours of receipt of this letter; and Payment of ZMW 20,000,000 being damages for libellous and malicious publication,” read the letters of demand.
“Our Client remains desirous to settle this matter amicably, however, should we not hear from you within 3 days of your receipt of this letter, we have instructions to seek legal redress for libel, without further recourse to yourselves by whom the attendant costs shall be borne.”
🇿🇲 ANALYSIS | Who Owns Tonse? Pule Moves, PF Revolts
Hell has broken loose inside the Tonse Alliance, and what unfolded late Tuesday night marks the most consequential rupture since the death of former president Edgar Chagwa Lungu. What was designed as a unifying opposition vehicle has now descended into an open power struggle over identity, legality, succession, and control of the 2026 presidential ticket. At stake is not just leadership, but whether Tonse survives as a coherent political force or collapses under the weight of its own contradictions.
At the centre of the storm is a four-hour virtual meeting convened on January 6 by Tonse Alliance Co-Chairperson Prof. Danny Pule, which produced sweeping constitutional changes, dissolved the Patriotic Front’s formal status within the alliance, and set January 2026 as the month to elect a new chairperson and presidential candidate.
Pule’s framing is blunt: Tonse, he argues, has been “held hostage” by PF’s court battles, factionalism, and paralysis following Lungu’s death. His council resolved to recognise only the “ECL PF Political Movement”, a non-registered pressure group loyal to Lungu’s legacy, and to completely disown the PF party structure currently entangled in litigation involving Robert Chabinga.
“The Tonse Alliance has been delayed, disorganised and made to look institutionally chaotic because of PF,” Pule said, arguing that this move was the only way to honour what he described as Lungu’s “Plan B” and political wishes. In one stroke, PF was downgraded from anchor party to outsider, while its loyalists were rebranded into a movement stripped of legal standing but retained for symbolic and mobilisation value. The council further abolished exclusivity around the presidency, opening the 2026 ticket to all council members and scheduling a general congress within weeks.
It was a declaration of political urgency, but also one of war.
The resolutions go further. The concept of an anchor party has been revised downward, cutting the ECL PF Movement’s council representation from 15 to seven, redistributing power to founding and non-founding parties and civil society groups, and reshaping delegate numbers ahead of the congress.
Disciplinary authority was moved from the spokesperson’s office to a legal chairperson, two vice chairperson roles were created, and interim leadership scrapped in favour of Pule as caretaker chair. Dr. Chris Zumani Zimba was appointed the official face of the ECL PF Movement. In effect, Tonse’s internal architecture was rewritten in one night.
PF’s response was immediate and incendiary. Acting PF President and Tonse Chairperson Given Lubinda dismissed the meeting as “illegal, null and void,” accusing Pule of mischief, bad faith, and procedural sabotage.
PF insists it remains the legitimate sponsor of Edgar Lungu into Tonse and cannot be erased by what it calls a rogue virtual meeting held in violation of agreed processes.
“PF will not be reduced to a façade or treated as non-existent,” Lubinda warned, insisting that constitutional amendments can only be handled at a physical meeting scheduled for January 20.
This clash exposes a deeper fracture: Tonse was never a party, but a fragile coalition built around one man. Lungu’s death removed the glue holding together rival ambitions, unresolved mistrust, and competing readings of legitimacy. Pule’s camp argues that survival demands speed, clarity, and decisiveness. PF argues that legality, procedure, and historical centrality cannot be bypassed without collapsing the alliance’s credibility. Both sides claim fidelity to Lungu’s legacy, yet interpret it in opposite directions.
The undertones are unmistakable. This is a succession war disguised as constitutional reform. The push to elect a presidential candidate this month signals fear of irrelevance as elections approach. The demotion of PF reflects frustration with its internal decay.
PF’s rejection reflects anxiety over losing leverage, symbolism, and control of opposition space. Neither side is speaking softly anymore.
Politically, the timing is brutal. With the ruling UPND consolidating structures, expanding constituencies, and campaigning quietly on the ground, the opposition’s biggest coalition is tearing itself apart in public. The Tonse Alliance now risks becoming a courtroom project rather than a campaign machine.
Whether this shake-up produces renewal or total fragmentation will depend on whether legitimacy, unity, and urgency can be reconciled. So far, the signs point to escalation, not settlement.
What is clear is this: Tonse Alliance has crossed a line from internal disagreement into open institutional conflict. Once that happens, outcomes are rarely negotiated. They are imposed. And in politics, the side that spends its energy fighting itself rarely survives the election that follows.
COMPREHENSIVE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES TO GUARANTEE PROGRESS AND VICTORY IN AUGUST 2026
YESTERDAY in the evening, 6th January, 2026, the Tonse Alliance Council of Leaders was convened virtually from 18hours to 22hours to review, discuss, respond and make resolutions on a number of constitution amendments following a petition from some of the Alliance members.
The meeting which was chaired by myself, Prof. Danny Pule as Tonse Alliance Co~Chairman was virtually well attended by most leaders from Tonse Alliance political parties, civil society organisations, parliamentarians and renowned citizens.
Based on the petition from our four member organisations, this council of leaders discussed nine key constitutional amendments and made resolutions on each as follows:
1. Tonse Alliance will no longer recognize “PF Party” but only embrace and work with the “ECL PF Political Movement” in order to honour the wishes of Dr. ECL and make progress
The Council of leaders unanimously observed and agreed that the Tonse Alliance has been held at ramson/hostage, delayed to make progress and made to look institutionally disorganized as a result of the leadership crisis, wrangles, court battles, factionalism, divisions, rivalry and chaotic politics in PF as the anchor party for many months especially after the death of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
Hence, the Council resolved that the Alliance shall henceforth only maintain the membership of “ECL PF Political Movement” as per constitution as guided by Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu himself and has officially done away with anyone and anything to do with “PF party” that is in court with Hon. Robert Chabinga.
The Council believes that this is the only way the Alliance shall honour ECL’s Plan B, ECL’s wishes and political legacy since he brought and left “ECL PF Movement ” to Tonse Alliance himself when his party was treacherously taken away from him.
By definition, the council approved that the “ECL PF Movement” is a non registered political pressure group consisting of all former and current PF Ministers, PSs, MPs, DCs, diplomats, council Chairpersons, Mayors, Councillors, party officials, members and structures countrywide loyal to ECL himself as former President and his legacy outside the formal party aligned leadership in court with Chabinga.
As we speak, the council agreed that the gallant PF MPs who openly opposed Bill 7 and patriotically denounced it by not voting for it are a good example of members of the ECL PF Movement as opposed to the PF MPs who voted for it.
As Most Zambians are aware and know, Tonse Alliance was formed in July 2023 as an alternative political platform of Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu and his loyal followers/supporters in PF and outside PF when it was clear that ECL was betrayed by some PF leaders after the “PF party” was officially traded and politically sold to UPND and HH as well as when the UKA project completely failed him. Therefore, Tonse Alliance shall henceforth not entertain any association with PF party.
2. The Constitution has been amended in order to allow all Tonse Council of Leaders Eligible and Free to Contest Any Position including the Chairmanship, 2026 Presidential Candidacy and other electable positions
The Council deliberated and collectively resolved that, since ECL, the Constitutional Chairman and 2026 Presidential candidate is dead, Tonse Alliance has abolished the exclusivity of associating the coalition Chairmanship and 2026 presidential candidature to Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu himself and his “ECL PF Movement”.
The Alliance resolved that from now onwards, anyone who is a member of the Council of Leaders shall be free and eligible to contest any position including the Chairmanship as well as the 2026 presidential candidacy.
3. Tonse Alliance to Democratically elect it’s new Chairman and 2026 Presidential candidate this month, January, 2026
Based on resolution number two above, the Council of Leaders unanimously agreed and resolved that the Tonse Alliance General Congress shall elect it’s new Chairman and 2026 Presidential Candidate within the month of January, 2026 as well as all other key electable positions. The Council reaffirmed that The greatest political crisis and paralysis Tonse Alliance has faced since the death of Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu has been failure to elect a new legitimate chairman and 2026 Presidential Candidate.
4. The Concept of ANCHOR PARTY revised to reflect the Current Political Dynamics & Membership Status in the Council of Leaders
The Council observed that following the death of ECL and continued divisions, wrangles, rivalry, factions, court battles and leadership crisis within PF, the political potency, popularity and standing of the “ECL PF Movement ” has been drastically affected as it no longer enjoys its original VIP and leadership status of anchor organization in the Tonse Alliance.
Hence, the Alliance resolved to effect the following constitutional changes to the Tonse Alliance Council of leaders in terms of the number of official representatives per member organisation :
~ In recognising its countrywide membership, structures and Mobilisational Leadership, the “ECL PF Movement” shall only reduce from it’s current 15 representatives in the Council of Leaders to 7;
~ All Political parties that are Founding members of the Alliance and are recognised in the Constitution shall be represented by 4 officials in the Council of Leaders;
~ All political parties who are currently members of the Alliance but are not founding members shall be represented by 3 officials in the council of leaders ;
~ All civil society organizations that are founding members of the Alliance and are recognised by the constitution shall be represented by 3 officials in the Council of leaders ;
~ All civil society organisations who are members of Tonse Alliance but are not founder members shall be represented by 2 officials in the council of leaders;
~ All political parties that shall join Tonse Alliance after January 2026 shal be represented by the standard one (1) official in the Council of Leaders; and
~ All civi society and non political party organisations upon joining the Alliance shall not be automatic members of the Council of Leaders unless when invited and approved by the Council of Leaders.
5. Membership to the General Congress has been reviewed and revised to reflect the number of officials in the Council of Leaders per member organisation by three
The General Congress is the highest decision making organ of Tonse Alliance. This is what most political parties call the National Convention. As such, it is the Tonse Alliance General Congress that shall convene this month to elect the new Chairman, 2026 Presidential candidate and other important office bearers.
Following the revision to the concept of anchor organisation in Tonse Alliance, the Council of Leaders resolved that the number of officials in the Council per organisation by three shall be the number of delegates each member shall bring and accredit to the Tonse Alliance General Congress.
For example, the ECL PF Movement shall bring 7 by 3 which is 21 delegates. All political parties that are founding members shall bring 4 by 3 which is 12 delegates each. All political parties who are currently members but are not founding members or all civil society leaders who are founder members of Tonse Alliance shall bring 3 by 3 which is 9 delegates per organisation.
6. After a thorough discussion, the Council resolved that all Disciplinary matters, procedures and actions from henceforth shall move from the office of Tonse Alliance Spokesperson to the Tonse Alliance National Legal Chairperson who shall be complimented by the office of National Coordinator. In like manner, the disciplinary committee shall be composed of Chairpersons of Disciplinary Committees from member political parties and shall be report and be accountable to the Council of leaders on all matters.
7. In order to enhance leadership inclusion and diversity, the council thoroughly discussed and consequently resolved that the Alliance shall henceforth have Two Vice Chairpersons ( First Vice Chairperson and Second Vice Chairperson).
To that effect, the Council appointed State Counsel, Mr. Chifumu Banda, Acting FDD President and Mr. Kelvin Bwalya Fube (KBF), ZMP President as Acting First Vice chairman and Second Vice chairman respectively.
8. On the harmonisation of the office of the Tonse Alliance Secretary General and Tonse Alliance National Coordinator, the Council reaffirmed and resolved to keep the Constitutional Position of National Coordinator to be the Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance. The National Coordinator shall independently lead and manage the Secretariat outside political party members under the supervision of the Alliance Chairman.
The council recognised and approved the original provisions in the Tonse Alliance constitution.The council further resolved that there shall a Council of Tonse Alliance Secretary Generals that shall initiate, recommend and implement political programs and campaign activities of the Alliance with it’s own leadership but shall be coordinated by the office of the National Coordinator.
9. Interim Leadership Before General Congress Elections Within January, 2026
Unanimously, the Council of Leaders resolved to abolish the concept of interim co~chairmanship and appointed Prof. Danny Pule, Christian Democratic Party President as the Tonse Alliance CareTaker Chairman until the new Chairman and 2026 Presidential candidate is elected this month.
In like manner, SC Mr. Chifunu Banda, Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) Acting President was appointed Acting First Vice Chairman while Mr. Kelvin Bwalya Fube (KBF), ZMP President was appointed Acting Second Vice Chairman.
Lastly, the Council of Leaders unanimously appointed Dr. Chris Zumani Zimba as the official face and chairman of the “ECL PF Political Movement” as someone who understand the “ECL PF movement” better in the Alliance and as Lead Consultant who brought it to Tonse Alliance with Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu himself its founder leader.
I want to thank you all and may God bless Tonse Alliance and Zambia.
PROF. DANNY PULE TONSE ALLIANCE CARETAKER CHAIRMAN AND CDP PRESIDENT
SINKAMBA WARNS GOVERNMENT OVER ALLEGED PLOT AGAINST ARCHBISHOP BANDA
Green Party President Peter Sinkamba has added his voice to growing concern over what critics describe as an escalating use of State machinery to pursue the arrest of Archbishop Alick Banda, warning that the matter risks undermining public trust in key national institutions and destabilising the country.
Sinkamba was reacting to renewed controversy surrounding a Toyota Hilux vehicle allegedly linked to the Archbishop and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), a matter that has resurfaced through media reports suggesting fraudulent procurement and disposal processes.
“This whole saga raises serious governance and institutional integrity questions,” Sinkamba said. “If the State is selectively reviving administrative issues to target a senior Catholic cleric, then we are heading into very dangerous territory as a country.”
The Green Party leader questioned why the alleged irregularities were not flagged in any Auditor General’s report since 2021, arguing that the timing of the renewed allegations feeds perceptions of political or institutional manipulation.
“If there was fraud, why was it not detected by the Auditor General? Are we now saying our audit systems are compromised, or is this a case of institutions being weaponised against perceived critics?” Sinkamba asked.
The controversy centres on claims that ZRA vehicles were disposed of through a fraudulent internal process, allegedly involving a former employee, Mulopa Kaunda, who critics say is now being pressured to admit that receipts were falsified in his name to facilitate the illegal sale or ‘gifting’ of the vehicle to Archbishop Banda.
Sinkamba warned that the implications go beyond the Catholic Church and touch the core of public confidence in revenue collection and governance.
“When citizens begin to suspect that institutions like ZRA can generate clean-looking but fraudulent documentation, then tax morale collapses,” he said. “That is how economies begin to choke.”
Catholic faithful and civil society voices have cautioned that continued pursuit of Archbishop Banda could provoke wider resistance, including calls for an independent forensic audit of ZRA operations. Some have warned that eroding trust in revenue institutions could affect tax compliance, triggering liquidity challenges for government and threatening essential public services.
Sinkamba urged the government to de-escalate the situation and prioritise transparency over confrontation.
“The Catholic Church is not an enemy of the State,” he said. “Government must resist the temptation to use coercive power against religious leaders because the political, social, and economic consequences would be severe.”
Authorities have not issued a detailed response addressing allegations of political motivation, while ZRA has previously stated that it operates strictly within the law.
As the matter continues to unfold, observers note that how the State handles the Archbishop Banda issue will be a critical test of institutional independence, democratic maturity, and respect for the role of the Church in Zambia’s public life.
Government expects 60% mining taxes to be paid in USD, 25% in Kwacha, 15% in Yuan
GOVERNMENT has clarified that the decision to allow the payment of some mining taxes in the Chinese currency, Renminbi also known as Yuan, is a strategic and cost-saving measure aimed at improving debt management and reducing foreign exchange conversion costs.
Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, says the measure should not be interpreted as a shift away from the Zambian Kwacha, which remains the primary legal tender for domestic transactions.
ZANIS reports that speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka, Dr Musokotwane said the clarification was necessary following widespread public and regional interest after reports emerged that Zambia had begun collecting mining taxes in Renminbi.
The Minister explained that taxes in Zambia are ordinarily payable in Kwacha, but the government may, from time to time, designate other currencies for specific sectors for macroeconomic stability reasons.
He cited the 2018 decision, later expanded in 2020, which required mining companies to pay certain taxes in United States Dollars. Dr Musokotwane said the same strategic logic now applies to the limited use of the Renminbi.
He further disclosed that in 2025, about 75 percent of mining taxes were paid in USD, approximately 25 percent in Kwacha, and about 2 percent in Renminbi.
Dr Musokotwane added that looking ahead to 2026, the government expects around 60 percent of mining taxes to be paid in USD, about 25 percent in Kwacha, and approximately 15 percent in Renminbi.
The Minister stressed that China remains Zambia’s largest bilateral creditor and that most loans contracted from China were denominated in Renminbi and not USD.
“When it is time to service that debt, repayment is required in the same currency that was borrowed. Allowing a portion of taxes to be paid in Renminbi enables the government to avoid unnecessary conversion costs,” Dr Musokotwane said.
He noted that converting USD into Renminbi attracts transaction costs and settlement delays, which the government seeks to minimise through this approach.
The Minister emphasised that the arrangement is limited and targeted, currently applying to a small number of mining companies with strong links to China, and does not compel all mining firms to pay taxes in Renminbi.
“This does not mean that every mining company is being forced to pay taxes in Renminbi. That is not the case,” he clarified.
Dr Musokotwane further assured the public that the policy would have little to no direct impact on ordinary citizens.
“For the common person, there will be no noticeable change. The benefit is that the government saves money, and those savings can be redirected toward public services such as health, education, and social support,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister explained that the Renminbi already forms part of Zambia’s foreign reserves, noting that the currency is included in the International Monetary Fund’s Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket.
He added that reserve management always involves balancing risks, stressing that no currency or asset is completely risk-free.
On monetary policy, Dr Musokotwane said domestic transactions will continue to be settled in Kwacha and that the policy does not undermine the effectiveness of Zambia’s monetary framework.
“This measure does not represent a shift in monetary policy. It simply helps to ease pressure on the foreign exchange market by reducing over-reliance on a single foreign currency,” he said.
And speaking at the same briefing, Bank of Zambia Governor, Denny Kalyalya added that the move also strengthens the stability of the monetary system.
Dr Kalyalya explained that holding Renminbi as part of Zambia’s foreign reserves helps balance pressures in the currency market.
“Having multiple foreign currencies available reduces over-reliance on the USD and other single currencies. It gives the Bank more flexibility to manage liquidity and stabilise exchange rates,” Dr Kalyalya said.
He further clarified that domestic monetary policy remains fully effective because local transactions continue to be settled in Kwacha.
Dr Kalyalya also highlighted that all foreign assets, including reserves, carry some level of risk, and that the Bank continuously monitors these risks to safeguard economic stability.
Meanwhile, Dr Musokotwane concluded by thanking officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Zambia, and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) for their role in ensuring prudent economic management.
He reaffirmed that the government would continue engaging stakeholders as circumstances evolve.
ZRA EMPLOYEE DENIES GIFTING A VEHICLE TO ARCHBISHOP ALICK BANDA
I have never seen or touched the vehicle that ZRA claimed I bought from the institution and sold to Archbishop Alick Banda, says Mulopa Kaunda, a man who has suffered over four years of public ridicule for supposedly dragging a high-ranking Catholic priest into a dirty deal.
In this exclusive interview, Kaunda explains how fraudulent receipts and other documents were generated in his name by his named supervisor, in a deal that was meant to facilitate the illegal disposal of government vehicles from the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
Since 2022, the law enforcement agencies in Zambia have been investigating a case of abuse of office among ZRA employees and the illegal possession of proceeds of crime involving private beneficiaries, among them the incumbent Catholic Archbishop of Lusaka, Alick Banda.
During the reign of late former President Edgar Lungu, several government institutions were ordered to release vehicles for use in the election campaigns for the ruling party, while some were gifted to PF sympathisers.
Under the ZRA, at least 22 motor vehicles were ‘disposed of’ under questionable circumstances, and records show that some of the vehicles were passed on to employees and private individuals, as well as entities aligned to the ruling party at the time.
Former ZRA Commissioner General Kingsley Chanda and his Director of Administration Callistus Kaoma were convicted and sentenced to six years and nine years respectively for not following procedure in disposing of government vehicles.
According to ZRA and RTSA records seen by News Diggers, one of the vehicles, a Toyota Hilux registration number ALF 7734, was purportedly sold to a ZRA employee named Mulopa Kaunda, who is said to have changed the car documents into his name on 21st April 2021 and then gifted it to the Catholic priest Alick Banda, who also changed the vehicle ownership documents into his personal name the very next day on April 22, 2021.
Records also show that another vehicle which came from ZRA was gifted to Heart of Mercy.
“I don’t know Alick Banda, I never sold or gave him a vehicle”
In a surprising turn of events, Kaunda reveals that he never participated in any tender or auction to buy the said vehicle from ZRA, and that he has never met or communicated with the high-ranking Catholic priest in his life.
He now narrates the agony, frustration and reputational damage he suffered since the public scandalisation started, leading to his hospitalisation, after Emmanuel Mwamba released fraudulent documents linking him to the scandal.
Sitting in his office in Ndola on 17th December 2020, Kaunda, a ZRA employee, received a surprise internal email from the accounts department with an attachment of a receipt. The receipt was an acknowledgment for a payment received from him towards a vehicle he had apparently bought from the institution through an auction sale.
In shock, he responded, saying he had not bought any vehicle from ZRA and he certainly did not make any payment to the institution for that purpose. Little did he know that the purchase of the said vehicle was going to be forced on him officially, as a new receipt was going to be issued for the same transaction.
….To Elect New Chairperson and 2026 Presidential Candidate This Month.
Lusaka – Wednesday, 7 January 2026.
The Tonse Alliance has resolved to remove the Patriotic Front (PF) as its anchor party citing prolonged internal disputes and leadership wrangles within the former ruling party.
The decision was made at a virtual meeting of the Alliance’s Council of Leaders held on Tuesday evening.
Caretaker Chairperson Professor Danny Pule said the Alliance shall not entertain any association with the “PF party” that is in court with Hon. Robert Chabinga.
He said the alliance will therefore no longer recognise the PF as a political party but will instead work with the “Edgar Chagwa Lungu (ECL) PF Political Movement” to ensure progress.
He said the move is intended to honour the wishes and political legacy of former President Edgar Lungu.
He said PF members of parliament who opposed and voted against Bill 7 were a clear example of members aligned to the ECL PF Political Movement, in contrast to those who supported the bill.
Prof. Pule said the Council observed that the Alliance’s progress had been stalled by PF’s leadership crisis, court battles and chaotic internal politics which had made the Alliance appear institutionally disorganised.
“By definition, the council approved that the “ECL PF Movement” is a non registered political pressure group consisting of all former and current PF Ministers, PSs, MPs, DCs, diplomats, council Chairpersons, mayors, councilors, party officials, members and structures countrywide loyal to ECL himself as Former President and his legacy outside the formal party aligned leadership in court with Chabinga,” he said.
“As Most Zambians are aware and know, Tonse Alliance was formed in July 2023 as an alternative political platform of Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu and his loyal followers/supporters in PF and outside PF when it was clear that ECL was betrayed by some PF leaders after the “PF party” was officially traded and politically sold to UPND and HH as well as when the UKA project completely failed him. Therefore, Tonse Alliance shall henceforth not entertain any association with PF party,” he said.
And Prof. Pule said the Council also resolved that the Tonse Alliance General Congress will be held in January 2026 to elect a new Chairperson, a 2026 presidential candidate and other key elective positions.
He said all members of the Council of Leaders will be eligible to contest for any position such as the chairmanship and presidential candidacy
ECONOMIST PROJECTS KWACHA TO APPRECIATE FURTHER TO AROUND K15 PER US DOLLAR
ECONOMIST Naylor Kopakopa has projected that the Kwacha is likely to appreciate further to around 15 Kwacha against the United States Dollar this year.
Mr. Kopakopa attributes the appreciation to increased production levels, particularly in the mining and agriculture sectors.
Mr. Kopakopa has explained to Phoenix News that the recent appreciation of the Kwacha is largely driven by rising global copper prices, which are expected to significantly boost Zambia’s foreign exchange earnings.
He adds that government revenue from copper-related taxes is also projected to increase, further supporting the local currency.
Mr. Kopakopa further adds that once farmers conclude selling their maize from the 2024/2025 farming season, there will be an increased inflow of foreign exchange into the economy, providing additional support to the local currency.
The Kwacha has appreciated sharply and is currently trading between K20 and K21 against one United States Dollar.
FEMALE ZAMBIAN PILOT DONATES 14 BOREHOLES IN CHASEFU DISTRICT
A Female Pilot, Captain Towani Chipeta, has donated 14 boreholes in Chasefu, a climate-stressed district in Eastern Province where access to water is only 25 percent.
Chipeta stated that the boreholes serve all 10 wards in the district.
She mentioned that the wards that got a borehole each include Mandahill, Susa, Kajilime, Lubelezi, Magodi, Chizingizi, Nkhanga, Kapilisanga, Membe, and Chaboli.
The Pilot explained that the initiative spans both chiefdoms of Chasefu, namely Magodi and Phikamalaza.
She noted that the boreholes were drilled within a period of four weeks.
The Pilot said all 14 were completed up to the handpump level to prevent accidents involving children falling into open wells.
Chipeta emphasised that this required additional financial commitment to ensure safety.
She explained that the average depth for a reliable water yield in Chasefu is approximately 80 metres, with each borehole costing no less than K140,000 to reach handpump level.
The project commenced in mid-August 2025 and concluded in mid-September 2025, after which it was officially handed over to the community.
Chipeta observed that the lack of access to clean and safe water had previously forced women and children to walk long distances to collect water from shallow wells, often resulting in waterborne diseases.
She remarked that children are now able to concentrate on their education, while mothers are engaging in more productive activities.
She added that the boreholes have benefited both people and livestock, and have also supported gardening efforts that generate income.
Donald Trump has shared a list showing the percentage of immigrants from different countries living on benefits in the United States.
The list shows that about 33.3 per cent of Nigerian immigrant households received some form of public assistance in the United States.
The chart was shared on Trump’s Truth Social platform on January 4, 2026, amid continued Republican focus on immigration, welfare dependency, and economic contribution debates in US domestic politics.
The chart, titled “Immigrant Welfare Recipient Rates by Country of Origin,” covers approximately 114 nations and territories, showing the number of households that receive some form of public support, such as food assistance, healthcare benefits, and others.
The top 10 countries with the highest reported welfare rates include Bhutan – 81.4 percent; Yemen – 75.2 percent; Somalia – 71.9 percent; Marshall Islands – 71.4 percent; Dominican Republic – 68.1 percent; Afghanistan – 68.1 percent; Congo – 66.0 percent; Guinea – 65.8 percent; Samoa (1940–1950) – 63.4 percent; and Cape Verde – 63.1 percent.
Similarly, the top 10 countries with the lowest percentage of immigrant households receiving assistance are Bermuda – 25.5 percent; Saudi Arabia – 25.7 percent; Israel/Palestine – 25.9 percent; Argentina – 26.2 percent; South America (unspecified) – 26.7 percent; Korea – 27.2 percent; Zambia – 28.0%; Portugal – 28.2 percent; Kenya – 28.5 percent; and Kuwait – 29.3 percent.
Alongside the welfare statistics, the Trump administration expanded travel bans and immigration restrictions on who is allowed into the United States and under what conditions
Sahara Reporters has obtained a shocking exclusive testimony detailing decades of alleged sexual predation, spiritual manipulation, and family betrayal by the founder of Liberation City, Pastor Chris Okafor.
In a harrowing interview, a 36-year-old former church member, who identified herself as Ama, accused the flamboyant televangelist of raping her when she was a 15-year-old choir girl, fathering a child he abandoned, and years later, sexually assaulting that same daughter.
‘The First Assault at 15’
According to Ama, her ordeal began in late 2004 at Okafor’s residence on Bashiru Street, Ojodu-Berger, Lagos. After delivering snails there as an offering from her mother, she was summoned back days later.
“He said he was done with the snails and asked me to come see him. I finished quickly and went to the lounge. He then came out and asked me to come inside his room,” she said.
“It was in his bedroom. There was a bed and a table in front. He asked me to sit. He thanked me for washing the snails and appreciated my mother.”
What followed, she said, was a violent assault. “Suddenly, he touched me inappropriately. I asked, ‘What is this?’ He then locked the door. I was scared and said, ‘Please, I have not done this before.’
“He told me to calm down and said he liked me. I told him to leave me alone.
“He pushed me on the bed. I could not overpower him. Before I knew what was happening, I went blank. When I recovered, I was on the floor, bleeding. I cried, asking what I had done to deserve this.”
‘He Claimed The Holy Spirit Said I Was His Wife’
In the traumatic aftermath, Ama alleged that Okafor immediately used his religious authority to confuse and control her.
She said, “He asked me to clean myself. While I was crying, he brought out a jotter. On the back was something written in pencil. He held my shoulder and asked me to look. He verbally told me that the Holy Spirit said I was his wife.
“I did not know what to say or do. I dropped the jotter on the bed. When he left, I looked again and read the pencil: ‘Amarachi, you are my wife, says the Holy Spirit.’ He told me to go to the restroom and clean up. I did. I left, crying.”
The pastor allegedly warned her that he was a prophet and nobody should speak against him.
“He said if I told anyone, something bad would happen. He warned me never to mention what happened to anybody,” she said.
Confusion, Fear, and Silence
Ama described the fear that engulfed her.
“The fear I had in me was overwhelming because I was young. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t tell my left from my right. I was confused and disoriented, but I managed to get home that way,” she said.
By the second month, Ama noticed changes in her body. She said she confided in a trusted relative.
She said, “I called her and said I didn’t know what would happen to me, but I needed to say it. I told her what happened when I went to my pastor’s house. She screamed. She told me to wait and said she would come. When she arrived, she said she was in a hurry and asked how we could maintain my mother’s peace. That was always my biggest concern-my mother.”
Ama further alleged that the pastor tried to force her to have an abortion, saying, “He gave me money and told me to go to a hospital to terminate the pregnancy. I refused. I told him I couldn’t do it. My exams were coming up in two days.
“He begged me. He reminded me that he was a pastor and a prophet. He said the pregnancy must not stay. I told him I couldn’t do it. At that time, there were many rumours of people dying from abortions. Even on my street, people talked about it a lot. I was scared.
“He told me not to forget that he was a prophet and that he would pray for me so that nothing would happen. He said I should forget everything and trust him. I left in fear.”
Family Intervention and Broken Promises
Eventually, Ama told her mother.
She said, “When he was called, he didn’t deny it. He stayed calm at first. My mother asked what we were going to do, saying this was a girl who had known nothing. She accused him of raping her daughter and threatening her.
“Later, family members intervened. He apologised and said they should forgive him. He said he would marry me. More discussions followed, involving elders and family members.
“In the end, my mother took me to the village to stay with relatives. That was how everything unfolded.”
‘He Raped Me Again When I Went To Ask For Our Child’s School Fees’
For years, Ama struggled alone to raise their daughter, Precious, with Okafor providing no support. According to her, her attempts to seek help led to further violation.
Ama recounted further abuse when she went to ask him for her child’s school fees.
She said, “The only thing I remember clearly before the incident was that he stood up from his chair and tapped my shoulder. I went blank. The next thing I remember was seeing him wiping himself. I saw that my own clothes were down. I started crying.
“To this day, I ask myself, ‘What did I do to you?’ You raped me again because I came to ask for your child’s school fees and upkeep.
“He started apologising. He said he liked me, that was why he did it. He warned me not to let anybody know. He reminded me again that he was a prophet and nobody must hear about it.”
‘My Daughter Said Her Daddy Assaulted Her Too’
Years later, under family pressure, Ama allowed Precious to live with Okafor. The arrangement quickly broke down, with access denied and the child reporting neglect.
Despite her resistance, Ama said family pressure, based on his wealth and claims of responsibility, led her to allow the child stay with him temporarily, on the condition that she could visit freely.
“There were times he pressured me heavily. I told my mother what he was saying. Some family members felt that since he had money and claimed he wanted to take responsibility, I should allow the child go to him, considering how much we had struggled. Eventually, under pressure, I took her there,” she said.
For a short period, this arrangement worked, but access to her daughter was soon restricted. Ama said she was repeatedly denied visits, sometimes begging security guards for a glimpse just to briefly see the child.
She alleged the child was deliberately hidden to avoid suspicion.
The situation reached a catastrophic point when Precious confided in her mother.
She said, “Later, my daughter called me, crying, saying something was wrong and that she needed to see me before she left the house. I finished what I was doing and left immediately.
“When my daughter was finally with me, she opened up fully. She told me how she was treated differently, how she was denied food, how she was constantly told to leave the house, and how she never felt like she belonged. She said there were no pictures of her among the family photos, and it made her feel unwanted.
“I reassured her that she would not return there, that she was safe now, and that everything would be okay.”
“She later opened up to me how her father had been sexually assaulting her (Pastor Chris) too in multiple instances during all her stays with him,” she said.
The alleged assaults occurred when Precious was about 14 years old.
“He assaulted her around 2019 and early 2020 when she was barely 14 years old,” Ama stated.
Traumatized, Ama focused on her daughter’s safety.
“It was a very traumatic news for all of us then, this is because the assault happened almost around the same age that I was raped by this same man. We had the option of raising alarm then. But she didn’t want anything that could affect the child emotionally or psychologically,” she said.
“Hence, we opted to quietly take the child away per the child’s request and her safety. The child was about to take her WAEC exam (West African Senior School Certificate Examination – WASSCE), and the situation was very similar to my experience. These were what formed our decision to take the child away from his house immediately so she could continue her school.”
A Call for Justice After Two Decades of Silence
Ama, now breaking a silence she kept for over 20 years, says she is speaking out to expose the man behind the pulpit.
“The fear I had in me was overwhelming because I was young… I was confused and disoriented,” she said, describing her teenage self. Today, her fear has turned to resolve.
Pastor Okafor, a popular figure on Christian television known for his “miracle” services, could not be reached personally for reaction to these allegations.
However, when contacted, Pastor Okafor’s legal counsel, Ife Ajayi Esq., did not directly address the specific allegations of rape and sexual assault made by Ama and her daughter.
Instead, Ajayi revealed that Okafor had preemptively taken legal action against the survivor.
“Just so you know, we have sometime last year lodged a formal complaint against her at the Police HQ and at the Zonal command and investigation has commenced,” Ajayi told SaharaReporters. “I believe she will be summoned anytime soon and she can come over to present her evidence as required by law to the police.”
He then dismissed this exclusive investigation, claiming it was a malicious scheme.
“As I said above, this so-called article serves no honest journalistic purpose but simply a ploy to distract, cover up, tarnish and blackmail our client into compliance.”
Okafor’s Recent Controversies
In December 2025, Nollywood actress Doris Ogala shared a post that appeared to show Okafor in a private setting. The post was later deleted.
The image depicted a man, topless and wrapped in a towel at the waist, inside a bedroom. She claimed it was his bedroom, alleged he had just engaged in sex, and warned that she would soon release the full video.
Ogala, through her lawyers, Synergy Law Partners, issued a demand letter dated December 16, 2025, seeking N1 billion in aggravated damages from Pastor Okafor over what her legal team described as a broken marital commitment.
The letter, addressed to the cleric at his Ojodu Berger residence, warned of imminent legal action should he fail to comply within 21 days.
According to the lawyers, Ogala alleged that Pastor Okafor made a “clear, consistent and unequivocal” promise to marry her, a commitment they said formed the foundation of a personal relationship that began in 2017.
They alleged that the relationship began when the actress was emotionally vulnerable and sought pastoral guidance from the cleric, during which he made assurances of marriage reinforced by conduct such as family introductions and joint appearances at family events.
Her lawyers said evidence including photographs, videos, messages, and banking records supports a claim of legitimate expectation of marriage.
They further alleged that she relied on the promise to her detriment by ending a troubled marriage, abandoning reconciliation, transferring ₦45 million to the cleric in a single transaction, and granting him access to her finances.
While acknowledging that marriage cannot be forced, her counsel argued that the law provides remedies for breach of promise and related harm.
Separately, the Lagos State Police Command confirmed that Pastor Chris Okafor had been invited for investigation over allegations of multiple rape and other serious sexual offence
American singer T-Pain recently surprised his family with a private jet he just purchased.
The moment was shared on his official Instagram page, where clip showed the Grammy-winning artist revealing the new aircraft to family members, who reacted with shock and joy.
Reports suggest the purchase follows a lucrative catalog sale, which provided him with significant financial gains.
In a previous interview, T Pain mentioned that the amount he received from selling his music catalog was enough that it “would have taken 100 years to make that money” through regular earnings.
American rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, turned himself in on Tuesday, January 6, to the same Brooklyn jail where Nicolás Maduro and his wife are currently being held.
He arrived at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Sunset Park at 2 p.m. which was the prearranged surrender time.
The rapper will serve 90 days behind bars.
Hernandez was sentenced to three months behind bars for violating the terms of his supervised release.
He was indicted in 2018 in a federal racketeering case that targeted members of a criminal group with whom he worked.
After pleading guilty to conspiracy and other charges, he testified against members of the group for leniency.
Tekashi 6ix9ine was accompanied by streamer, Adin Ross when he surrendered to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday, January 6, 2025 (ET) afternoon to begin his three-month jail sentence.
His attorney says Hernandez expects to be segregated from the general population, likely in the same section of the federal detention center as high profile inmates like Maduro and Luigi Mangione.
The rapper is looking forward to serving his sentence, getting this part of his life behind him and resume his music career, his attorney said.
Before saying goodbye to the world for the next 90 days, Tekashi 6ix9ine did an almost two-hour-long live stream on Adin’s channel.
In the live stream, Tekashi 6ix9ine could be seen surrounded by friends as they joined him for the send-off. Content creator, Stephen Deleonardis even helped cut off the rapper’s ankle monitor during the live stream.
Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine surrenders to Brooklyn jail to serve three-month sentence
After initially failing to honour a police invitation on Monday, the embattled founder of Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministries, Pastor Chris Okafor, on Tuesday reported at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, for questioning.
It was gathered that Okafor arrived at the SCID on Tuesday afternoon after being cautioned by some highly placed individuals over the consequences of disregarding a lawful police invitation.
His earlier defiance was linked to the ongoing investigation involving his estranged lover, actress Doris Ogalla, which is being handled at the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 2 Command in Onikan.
Sources told The Nation that the preacher, who has been accused by multiple women of s3xual impropriety, abuse of authority and other serious allegations, believed he could ignore invitations from other police units since a case he initiated was already being handled at the zonal command, where Ogalla was earlier alleged to have been detained.
A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Some highly placed persons read the news that he shunned the police invitation and warned him about the implications. That’s why he presented himself at the SCID in Yaba for questioning.
“His statement was taken, but he was not detained since there is no complainant yet. We have made attempts to reach out to the victims, even offered them protection and transportation to and from, but no one showed up.
“Since there is already an investigation ongoing at Zone 2, where there is a suspect and a complainant, the Lagos State Police Command will stand down to allow Zone 2 conclude their investigation.
“However, our offer to victims to come forward remains open. We are not dismissing the case; we are just standing down.”
The spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed that Okafor was at the SCID on Tuesday afternoon but declined to give further details.
Okafor had earlier been invited by the Lagos State Police Command in a letter dated January 3, directing him to report for interrogation on or before 10 am on Monday, an invitation he initially ignored.
His legal troubles followed a wave of allegations from multiple women, including his daughter, former partners and members of his church. The Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, subsequently ordered a probe as more allegations surfaced online.
The controversy intensified weeks ago after Ogalla accused Okafor of breaching a marriage promise following what she described as an inappropriate relationship. The allegations, supported by audio visual materials, triggered public outrage and calls for a criminal investigation.
Although the pastor initially dismissed the claims as an attack by enemies, he later admitted to some of the allegations, issued a public apology to his congregation and stepped aside as senior pastor of the church after marrying his new wife, Pearl, on December 16.
Among those accusing him are his Cameroonian ex wife, who claimed he fathered four children with her, and several female church members, including three siblings who alleged they were hypnotised and impregnated by the pastor.
Ogalla has continued to press her claims, alleging that Okafor shared her nud3 photos and videos, pressured her to leave her previous marriage, and was responsible for the death of her younger brother. She also alleged that he offered her a $10,000 bribe to withdraw the accusations and blame a rival pastor, an offer she said she rejected.
She later demanded N1 billion in damages through a legal notice filed by her lawyers, citing alleged threats and intimidation following her arrest and detention by the police.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DEMANDS VENEZUELA CUT ALL TIES WITH RUSSIA, CHINA, AND IRAN
The price of cooperation is becoming clear.
The Trump administration is pressuring Venezuela’s interim government to sever all ties with foreign adversaries and exclusively partner with the U.S. on oil exports.
The demands:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated U.S. goals include expelling Iran from the region and dismantling ties with Russia, China, and Cuba.
Trump announced Tuesday that Venezuela will turn over 30-50 million barrels of crude to the U.S., specifically noting the intent to “get the Chinese out of their oil fields, or the Russians.”
U.S. oil majors are being invited to rebuild Venezuela’s infrastructure and will be reimbursed through the oil they extract.
The leverage:
The naval blockade initiated in December 2025 remains in place.
The administration believes Venezuela will run out of money within weeks without cooperation, leaving the interim government unable to pay security forces.
What’s at stake for adversaries:
-China: Currently buys 430,000 barrels per day from Venezuela.
Still owed billions from “loan-for-oil” deals. Faces potential default.
-Russia: State-owned Roszarubezhneft holds rights to fields with an estimated 2.3 billion barrels.
Those assets could be seized or marginalized.
-Cuba: Faces total collapse of subsidized oil imports.
The response:
China called it “hegemonic.”
Russia offered “solidarity” but no military assets.
Brazil’s Lula said the U.S. “crossed an unacceptable line.”
The administration calls it “America First” energy policy.
