The marriage of polygamist Musa Mseleku and wife number three, Thobeka MaKhumalo-Mseleku, is on the rocks
The marriage between polygamist Musa Mseleku and wife number three Thobeka MaKhumalo Mseleku is alleged to be on the rocks.
This comes after it has emerged that the Mzansi Magic’s Uthando Nesthembu co-producers Musa and MaKhumalo are no longer seeing eye to eye.
The conflict between Mseleku and MaKhumalo is alleged to have stemed from a decision by her husband to take wife number 5 Samke-MaKhwela Mseleku last year.
Other Mseleku’s wives who are unhappy about the decision of MaKhwela Mseleku marrying their husband is MaYeni and MaNgwabe.
MDN News understands that MaKhumalo moved out from the Mseleku family house during the festive season and bought herself a multi million rand house in Margate.
She went as far as celebrating the house with the Khumalo family which was attended by her brothers, sisters and cousins on Christmas day.
https://youtu.be/SjVAZvuBZQQ?si=-VphSrxxxVfdcVT5
The celebration was not attended by Mseleku, his other wives and kids.
“The writing is on the wall. The marriage between Musa and MaKhumalo is now non-existant. It is clear that Musa chose to lose MaKhumalo whom he believed that she is the one who influenced other wives to be against him taking wife number five except for MaCele who is said to be very fond of MaKhwela,” the source said.
Another source said that MaKhumalo was not going to compete with MaKhwela when she felt that Mseleku disrespected her.
“MaKhumalo is a respected businesswoman. She has her own thing and she felt that Musa wanted her to compete with MaKhwela who comes from her village where she is well respected. They come from the same village and it angered her very much that after everything she has done for Musa but he went on and took a young girl from her village. She is well respected in her village and it hurt her deeply that Musa never saw anything wrong in his action,” the source said.
When Mseleku was contacted for comment, he refused to comment.
“I don’t take instructions from you,” he said.
Attempts to get comment from MaKhumalo as she was unavailable, WhatsApp text messages was sent to her but she never responded.
Nairobi has officially cemented its status as East Africa’s richest city, emerging as the number one hotspot for dollar millionaires in the region.
Kenya’s bustling capital is now home to an estimated 4,200 individuals with net worths of at least one million US dollars, placing it firmly at the top of the regional wealth league.
From sleek high-rise offices to luxury suburbs and thriving tech hubs, Nairobi’s rapid rise has been fuelled by finance, real estate, technology, trade, and entrepreneurship.
The city’s growing reputation as the “Silicon Savannah” has attracted both local innovators and international investors, turning Nairobi into a magnet for wealth creation.
Despite economic challenges facing many households, the surge in high-net-worth individuals highlights Nairobi’s expanding influence as a financial and commercial powerhouse.
As global money continues to flow in, the Kenyan capital is no longer just East Africa’s political nerve centre it is now its undisputed millionaire capital, reshaping the region’s economic future.
ZELENSKY BEGS TRUMP TO CAPTURE PUTIN AND END THE WAR QUICKLY JUST LIKE HE HAS DONE TO MADURO.
As the world reels from the U.S. military strikes on Venezuela and the reported capture of President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has seized the moment to call for similar action against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a statement that has sparked global debate, Zelensky suggested that the U.S. should capture Putin next, saying, “If it is possible to deal with dictators like that, then the United States of America knows what to do next.”
For ordinary Ukrainians enduring daily blackouts, high prices, and the grind of a war now in its fourth year, Zelensky’s words bring a mix of hope and frustration, reminding them how far-off events can influence their own fight for freedom. This bold remark comes amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of Maduro’s detention, a move Zelensky sees as a model for handling authoritarian leaders like Putin.
In a conflict that has claimed over 50,000 Ukrainian lives and displaced millions, Zelensky’s call highlights the desperation for decisive action against Russia, which has occupied 18 percent of Ukraine’s territory since 2022.
As South Africans reflect on our own history of international solidarity during apartheid, Zelensky’s suggestion resonates as a plea for global powers to step up against aggression.
With Putin facing an ICC arrest warrant for war crimes since 2023 and a bounty on his head, Zelensky’s words fuel speculation about potential U.S. moves, but they also raise risks of escalation in an already tense Europe.
In 2026, this could shift dynamics in the Ukraine-Russia war, where stalled fronts and economic strains have left people weary but resolute.
Eyewitness accounts from Venezuela’s strikes describe chaos, drawing parallels to Ukraine’s own experiences with Russian bombardments.
Zelensky’s statement, made during a press conference, positions the U.S. as a key player in dealing with dictators, but it also draws criticism for potentially provoking Putin.
As global reactions pour in, let’s explore the context, implications, and what this means for international relations. President Volodymyr Zelensky made his remarks in response to the U.S. capture of Maduro, seeing it as a blueprint for action against other authoritarian leaders.
“If it is possible to deal with dictators like that, then the United States of America knows what to do next,” he said, directly suggesting the U.S. target Putin.
This comes as Zelensky pushes for stronger Western support in Ukraine’s war against Russia, where recent Russian advances in Donbas have raised alarms.
Zelensky’s words echo his frustration with stalled peace talks and what he sees as insufficient action against Putin, who faces an ICC arrest warrant for war crimes since March 2023.
The warrant accuses him of deporting Ukrainian children, a charge Russia denies. Zelensky has long called for Putin’s isolation, and this statement amplifies that in light of Maduro’s fate.
For Ukrainians, this brings hope a quick resolution like Maduro’s could end the war that’s displaced 6 million and caused economic losses of $500 billion. But it also risks escalation, as Putin could see it as a direct threat.
The U.S. operation began in the early hours of January 3, 2026, with airstrikes hitting military sites in Caracas, La Guaira, Miranda, and Aragua states. Residents reported explosions, low-flying aircraft, and blackouts, leaving hospitals struggling and families in fear.
Trump announced Maduro’s capture on social media, sharing a photo aboard the USS Iwo Jima as proof.
He claimed it targeted a “narco-state,” but boasted about tapping Venezuela’s oil reserves. Maduro denied the capture in an address, declaring emergency and mobilising forces.
This hybrid assault avoided full invasion but risked wider war. Venezuela’s defiance, with street fighting reported, shows resistance. Global outcry from Brazil, Colombia, Russia, and China condemns it as imperialism. Leaders worldwide slammed the U.S. actions. Brazil’s Lula condemned it as crossing “an unacceptable line,” urging a summit. Colombia called it “bombing Caracas,” Mexico urged calm. Russia vowed aid, China labelled it aggression. The UN warned of humanitarian woes. Oil jumped 5 percent, hitting importers like SA.
South Africa called for emergency UNSC meeting, viewing it as a peace threat. This backlash isolates U.S., straining Latin ties.
Zelensky’s call could boost morale in Ukraine, where war fatigue sets in after 1,000 days.
But it risks provoking Putin, who might escalate attacks on Kyiv. In 2025, Russia advanced in Donbas, displacing 100,000. The ICC warrant on Putin since 2023 for child deportations adds weight, but enforcement is hard. Zelensky’s words draw parallels to Maduro, seeing both as dictators, but ignore differences Venezuela’s internal crisis vs Russia’s invasion.
Venezuela’s reserves 17 percent global make it key. Strikes disrupt production, with oil up 5 percent. Globally, shortages could worsen if fighting grows. Venezuela’s 800,000 barrels daily in 2025 were vital for allies like China..
For Trump, this tests policy, risking war. Maduro’s defiance suggests resistance, drawing allies.
For 2026, this could define relations, with hopes for dialogue. Venezuelans pray for peace, uncertainty looms. In a connected world, this affects all calling for wisdom over force.
HH DONATES USING OWN MONEY, WHILE LUNGU USED TAXPAYERS MONEY – CORNELIUS CHIEF Government spokesman Cornelius Mweetwa says Mumbi Phiri should not compare President Hakainde Hichilema to former president Edgar Lungu who used tax payers money to make donations.
Last week, Phiri said all Churches where President Hichilema was donating money should be prepared to be answerable when the time comes.
This was because they did not know where the money President Hichilema was donating came from.
“This is a warning to all the Churches. Ba Seventh day, abo ba Hakainde ba chitako donate inama (the Seventh Day where Mr Hakainde donated meat). All the churches like UCZ (United Church of Zambia) in Chingola. Because, the precedence has been set.
Mr (Archbishop) Alick Banda, l think he has been summoned over a vehicle which was donated to him,” Phiri said. “So, other churches Mr Hakainde is donating to some vehicles, do they know the source of income where that money is coming from? In future, they must be ready and a precedent has been set. A body of Christ is being attacked over a donation.”
In an interview with Daily Revelation over the weekend, Mweetwa said Phiri was speaking from experience, whereby her president donated using taxpayers money.
Why have you made it your occupation to distort or misrepresent nearly everything I say? Let me give you an example: If reports emerge and persist that Laura Miti is a barren woman and I ask you to confirm or deny this, I am not making a statement about your capacity to conceive. I am simply asking a question. You can choose to ignore my question or address it.
In the same vein, I asked the government of Zambia to confirm or deny reports that the President is unwell and that he was flown out of the country to seek medical attention.
I did not make a statement. I simply asked questions. And to be clear, it is not in your or anyone’s place to decide what questions I choose to ask. The government or the president had the freedom to ignore or address my questions.
The rumours of Hichilema’s health have been all over social media since last week. They intensified a day or two ago after his media team posted a supposedly latest picture that turned out to be from 2023.
As a citizen, I got concerned about the rumours surrounding the health of the president and asked him or the government to address them.
Based on the latest pictures posted on the president’s social media pages this evening, it appears that he is in Zambia and in good health. I am glad this is the case and that he has responded to my questions.
I would like to end by saying that Hichilema is your president as much as he is mine. We employed him to perform specific public duties and have the right to know his health because it has profound consequences on the health of our country.
VENEZUELA ORDERS ARRESTS OF ANYONE BACKING U.S. ATTACK
Venezuela has ordered police to hunt down and arrest anyone involved in promoting or supporting the U.S. military attack that led to Maduro’s ouster.
The decree was issued under a nationwide state of emergency imposed after the U.S. strikes.
Authorities say the order applies nationwide and has been in force since Saturday.
Venezuelan emergency decree:
“Police are ordered to immediately begin the national search and capture of everyone involved in the promotion or support for the armed attack by the United States.”
PETRO TO TRUMP: “IF YOU ARREST ME, YOU WILL UNLEASH THE POPULAR JAGUAR”
Colombia’s president just responded to Trump’s threats with what might be the most dramatic political statement of 2025.
After Trump called him a drug trafficker and suggested military action against Colombia (similar to what just happened in Venezuela), Gustavo Petro fired back hard.
He’s not some diplomat trying to smooth things over.
Petro is a former guerrilla fighter who’s now telling Trump he picked the wrong guy to threaten.
Petro’s response went from constitutional lecture to barely veiled warning in about 1,000 words.
Here’s the core of it:
“I am not illegitimate, nor am I a narco, I only have as assets my family home that I still pay for with my salary.
My bank statements have been published. No one could say that I have spent more than my salary.
If you arrest the president whom a good part of my people want and respect, you will unleash the popular jaguar.
I swore not to touch a weapon again since the 1989 Peace Pact, but for the Homeland I will take up arms again that I do not want.
So know that you are facing a commander of the people.”
Petro also gave a direct order to Colombia’s military: any commander who “prefers the flag of the U.S. to the flag of Colombia” must immediately resign.
He told troops their job is to defend the people, not shoot them, but they should absolutely shoot “the invader.”
That’s about as clear as a former guerrilla leader can make his position on potential U.S. military action.
Petro just drew a line. He’s betting Trump won’t risk turning a stable ally into another Afghanistan by trying to remove a president who came out of guerrilla warfare and still has his people’s support.
PF faction Deputy Secretary General Brenda Nyirenda says the decision by 12 PF councillors to endorse President Hakainde Hichilema and UPND Kasama mayoral candidate Bywell Simposya shows their lack of loyalty and discipline.
On Saturday, 12 PF councillors from Lukashya and Kasama Central constituencies endorsed President Hichilema for this year’s general election and Simposya, for the upcoming by-elections, citing lack of leadership in PF.
In an interview, Sunday, Nyirenda said PF was not dead but that the action by the 12 councillors was contributing to the death of the party.
“All of us, we came in on a ticket of the PF so we have a social contract with the people, with the party, whether it’s in disarray, they have given us a five-year mandate for us to work for them so can’t you hold and finish the five years without saying anything bad about that party? How did the UPND hold on in opposition for 23 years until they formed government? Loyalty defines a man and lack of discipline is what can cause such [a] type of behaviour. My advice is [that] when you believe in something, you should be ready to die with it. I know they could have done that under the influence of something because in some media, they are saying they were bought so if you don’t have principles, you can do anything,” Nyirenda said.
“When is the best time for you to leave your parent? Are you going to leave because your parents are fighting? Until death, that is the time that you can maybe say okay, my father is now gone. The party has not died because they had councillors like them so they are the ones actually helping the party to die, because if you have 12 members, it means that the party is alive. If you see people moving and citing leadership [challenges], that could also be a pressure group because what are they going to do in three months anyway? The period has already ended so such an endorsement for me comes out of desperation and it doesn’t please me at all”.
Nyirenda noted that the decision by the councillors was not made from an informed point of view because any political party can have challenges.
“Already, it means that their decision is not coming from an informed position. That decision is coming from a frustration point of view. What if the dust settles today, what happens? That should be the question. Such an endorsement, for me, it doesn’t help because even themselves they don’t believe in what they have endorsed. What if confusion starts in UPND, what are they going to do? It means that they are going to leave again? How many places are they going to go to? How many parties are they going to leave because everywhere where there are people, there are problems,” she argued.
“Whilst they can post like that, if you read through the comments, I actually took time this morning, I also read through, even over what the MP [Sibongile Mwamba] has done, you can hold on and finish the contract that you have signed with the people and thereafter you are free to move but you can’t cut midway a contract and say no, now I have moved on because of the challenges which are there, it doesn’t reflect well on a leader. Even where they are going, how are they going to consider them, will they look at them to be genuine people? For me, I would rather I receive someone who has a clean record than someone who leaves pain on the other camp just because maybe they’ve been enticed with something. I don’t think that’s the right thing to do, it reflects very bad on the part of themselves”.
She highlighted that the government and opposition could still work together without the PF members defecting to the UPND.
“The Vice-President, we flew together, we have come here to deal with the issues to do with floods. Do I have to leave my party honestly for me to be able to deliver? It doesn’t make sense. We can still work, this one is green, the other one is red, you can still work.
People don’t understand politics, they think you can only deliver when you are in the ruling party, it doesn’t work that way, you can still deliver. Those people [UPND members] were able to speak and at no time did they say we want to leave our party so that we go and start endorsing Edgar Chagwa Lungu. Failure to understand their position in opposition is what is making them to behave like this,” said Nyirenda.
SCANDAL; GOVERNMENT BUYS KING AIR B200 PLANE OVER PRICED $1.3M FOR $7.5M
A Beechcraft King Air B200’s price varies significantly, but expect used models to range roughly from $1.3 million to over $3.9 million, depending on age, condition, and upgrade.
But government has bought this aged plane worth around $1.5m for $7.5million ( K167million) about $6million than the market price.
“The government, through the Ministry of Health, has acquired a King Air Beechcraft B200 aircraft for the Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS), to operate out of Peter Zuze Airport in Ndola” said Minister of Health, Elijah Muchima
Those close to the process said the said plane was earlier advertised for sale for $1.5m.
Minister of Health Dr. Elijah J. Muchima officially unveils the newly acquired King Air B200 aircraft for the Zambia Flying Doctor Service at Peter Zuze Airport, Ndola.
This aircraft becomes the fourth in the Flying Doctor Service fleet and the third aircraft acquired since the UPNDGovernment came into office, reinforcing President Hakainde Hichilema’s commitment to strengthening emergency medical evacuations and expanding access to specialised healthcare nationwide.
The Zambia Flying Doctor Service utilises a small, versatile fleet, primarily known for operating two Cessna 208B Grand Caravans (rugged for bush strips, ~12 seats) and a Britten-Norman Islander (smaller, versatile, offering critical aero-medical and charter services from hubs like Ndola (FLSK) for reaching remote areas in Zambia. Managed by Chief Executive Officer, Dr. George Ng’uni, ZFDS focuses on flexibility, using reliable single-engine turboprops (Caravans) to cover vast, underdeveloped areas.
Nigeria has been ranked the 5th best English-speaking country in Africa and 29th in the world, according to the 2025 English Proficiency Index released by global education organisation, Education First (EF).Nigerian Travel Packages
The ranking is based on EF’s annual English Proficiency Index, which assessed adult English language skills across 123 countries and regions worldwide.
According to EF, the report drew data from over 2.2 million test takers who completed the EF SET — the world’s largest free standardised English test. This year’s edition also assessed speaking and writing skills for the first time using artificial intelligence technology.
EF noted that English continues to play a major role as a global language for communication, business, and cultural exchange.
On the African continent, South Africa emerged as the top-ranked country, placing 13th globally. Zimbabwe followed closely, also ranking 13th worldwide.
Kenya and Zambia placed third and fourth in Africa, ranking 19th and 27th globally, while Nigeria secured the fifth spot in Africa at 29th worldwide.
EF highlighted that Nigeria’s ranking reflects the widespread use of English as the country’s official language, particularly in education, governance, media, and business.
Top 10 English-speaking countries in Africa (EF EPI 2025):
Paris court on Monday, Jan. 5, found ten people guilty of cyber bullying France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, in the latest legal action sparked by false claims that she is a transgender woman who was born a man.
The eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, had been accused of making malicious comments about Brigitte Macron’s gender and s£xuality, including equating her age difference with her husband to “paedophilia”.
The court said those claims were “particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious”, and handed down penalties ranging from a cyberbullying awareness training to 8-month suspended prison sentences.
Ms Macron did not attend the two-day trial in October. Speaking on TF1 national television on Sunday, she said she launched legal proceedings to “set an example” in the fight against harassment.
Defendant Delphine Jegousse, 51, a self-described medium known as Amandine Roy, is considered to have played a major role in spreading the rumour after she released a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021.
She was also the subject of a defamation complaint launched by Ms Macron three years ago.
Other defendants include an elected official, a teacher and a computer scientist. Several told the court their comments were intended as humour or satire and said they did not understand why they were being prosecuted.
During the trial, defendant Jerome A, 49, was asked about posts he wrote or reposted last year about Ms Macron being a man or having a penis.
He told the court that “it was just a joke”, adding that his posts were “satirical” in spirit.
Arrests were made in December 2024 and February 2025, and all 10 had denied wrongdoing.
The case follows years of conspiracy theories falsely alleging that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually the name of her brother.
The wild, unsubstantiated claims about Mrs Macron’s gender have also been gaining ground in the US, where far-right podcaster Candace Owens has repeatedly amplified the false claim online that Mrs Macron was born a man.
The Macrons have also filed a defamation suit in the United States against Candace Owens.
China called on the United States to immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after Washington carried out a strike on Caracas and captured the leader.
The United States launched military attacks on Venezuela on Saturday, capturing President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. They were detained in New York after being flown out of Caracas.
Hours after the operation, President Donald Trump said the US would run Venezuela until there was a “safe, proper and judicious” transition.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Sunday called on the United States to ensure the personal safety of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and to release them immediately.
The spokesperson said it is gravely concerned over the U.S. forcible seizure of Maduro and his wife and their removal from the country.
“The U.S. move is in clear violation of international law, basic norms in international relations, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,” the spokesperson said, urging the U.S. to stop efforts to overthrow the Venezuelan government and to resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiation
Hollywood actress Evangeline Lilly has revealed that she is living with brain damage months after fainting and hitting her head on a rock while at the beach.
The 46-year-old Marvel star shared the update in a video posted on Instagram on Friday, describing it as difficult news to begin the new year with.
“It’s late on January 1st, the first day of 2026, and I’m entering this new year with some bad news about my concussion,” Lilly said. “I got my brain scan results back, and almost every area of my brain is functioning at a decreased capacity.”
According to the actress, doctors confirmed that she has brain damage caused by a traumatic brain injury (TBI), with the possibility of other contributing factors still being investigated.
“So yes, I do have brain damage from the TBI,” she explained. “Now my job is to work with doctors to understand everything fully and then do the hard work of healing.”
Despite the seriousness of the diagnosis, Lilly struck a reflective and hopeful tone, saying the injury has forced her to slow down and rest more than she has in years.
“My cognitive decline since I smashed my face open has actually helped me slow down,” she said. “It gave me the calmest, most restful Christmas I’ve had in maybe 14 years, since I had children.”
She expressed gratitude for life and for the ability to continue moving forward, thanking her followers for their support and concern.
“I’m feeling extraordinarily grateful and blessed to be able to play one more day, one more year on this beautiful living planet,” she said.
The actress received an outpouring of support from colleagues and fans. Her Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania co-star Michelle Pfeiffer described her as a warrior, while fellow Lost actress Rebecca Mader sent words of love and encouragement.
Lilly had earlier disclosed in a May blog post that she fainted at the beach and fell face-first into a boulder, noting that she has experienced fainting spells since childhood. She has since kept fans updated on her recovery from what she described as a severe head injury and concussion.
The actress says her focus now is on healing and regaining her cognitive strength as she works closely with medical professionals.
One person was arrested early on Monday, Jan. 5, after windows were broken at the Cincinnati home of Vice President JD Vance.
The incident took place hours after Vance and his family left the residence to return to Washington. WLWT-TV reported that the vice president had spent the past week in the Queen City.
The identity of the suspect and any charges they are facing was not immediately known.
A Secret Service spokesperson said investigators were still gathering information and would provide an update “as soon as possible.”
Captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro could face the death penalty if convicted on federal drug-trafficking and related charges in the United States.
Maduro was arrested in a US raid at his palace in Caracas and is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York ahead of his arraignment scheduled for Monday, January 5, at a federal court in Manhattan.
Under US federal law, a defendant found guilty of drug offences committed “as part of a continuing criminal enterprise” may be eligible for capital punishment. Legal authorities note, however, that death sentences for drug-related crimes are rare, as most federal capital cases involve homicide.
If convicted, Maduro is more likely to face life imprisonment, though the possibility of a death sentence remains under the statute.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi stated on Saturday that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, would “soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil,” without specifying what punishment prosecutors would pursue.
The latest charges build on a 2020 indictment that accused Maduro and other senior Venezuelan figures of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons-related offences, including possession of machine guns.
US President Donald Trump has compared the operation that led to Maduro’s capture to the 1989 US action in Panama that resulted in the arrest of former leader Manuel Noriega, who was later tried and imprisoned in the United States.
The oldest daughter of Kanye West ans Kim Kardashian sported a bridge piercing — a piercing going through the bridge of the nose — as well as black grills and turquoise hair in new videos posted on the “Kim and North” TikTok account.
She also showed off her custom skull necklace decked out with diamonds totaling 106 carats that she got from her mother, Kim Kardashian, for Christmas. The white chainlink necklace features spikes and a skull with blue eyes.
The eldest daughter of Kardashian and Kanye West had fun with a friend, who sported hot pink hair and facial piercings that appeared to be fake. The two danced and lip-synced to several songs together.
“We da real rockstars,” North captioned one video.
North’s style choices have caused controversy in the past. Last month she hit back at critics who disapproved of her finger piercing.
In a TikTok video, she lip-synced along to an audio from reality star Chrisean Rock, saying, “Why are you crying? How old are you? Just pull it together.”
North captioned her post, “This is for everyone that’s mad over a finger piercing.”
In November 2025, Kim Kardashian revealed North’s reaction to all the backlash she’s received online for expressing her style with faux piercings and tattoos.
“She writes back to a comment, and she goes, ‘This is such a non-issue,’” Kim Kardashian told her “All’s Fair” co-star Niecy Nash-Betts in a Complex “GOAT Talk” video.
Kardashian praised North’s response as a “good clapback.”
“Her and her girlfriends, they love doing costumes, they love doing looks,” the mom of four further explained. “It’s Halloween season, so they put on fake tattoos on their face, fake piercings. They all had their colored
US President Donald Trump has warned that Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez will “pay a very big price” if she refuses to cooperate with U.S. involvement in Venezuela following the attack and capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
Speaking to The Atlantic on Sunday, Trump said Rodriguez could face consequences similar to Maduro, who is currently being held in federal prison in New York on narcoterrorism and drug trafficking charges, if she does not align with U.S. demands.
“If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” Trump said.
The remarks represent a sharp shift in tone from Trump’s comments a day earlier, when he praised Rodriguez during a press conference after the attack. At the time, Trump said U.S. officials had spoken with her and claimed she was “essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again.”
During that same press conference, Trump stated that the United States would effectively “run” Venezuela until a democratic transition of power is achieved, though he declined to give a timeline.
Soon after, Rodriguez, a close ally of Maduro, insisted that Maduro remains the legitimate head of Venezuela’s government despite his capture. She condemned the U.S. intervention as “an atrocity that violates international law” and said Venezuela was “ready to defend our natural resources.”
Trump later left open the possibility of U.S. troops reentering Venezuela if necessary, telling The Atlantic that rebuilding the country was “not a bad thing in Venezuela’s case.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio struck a more cautious tone, downplaying Rodriguez’s public statements and saying the administration would judge the situation based on actions, not rhetoric.
“We’re not going to judge moving forward based simply on what’s said in press conferences,” Rubio said on ABC’s This Week. “We want to see action here at the end of the day.”
Republican Senator Tom Cotton also weighed in, rejecting Rodriguez’s authority and calling for a U.S.-backed reconstruction of Venezuela’s government.
“We don’t recognize Delcy Rodriguez as the legitimate ruler of Venezuela,” Cotton said. “They have control of the military and security services, but that does not make them a legitimate leader.”
He added that the U.S. goal is a future Venezuelan government that is pro-American and contributes to stability and prosperity both in Venezuela and across the region.
China’s foreign minister has said Beijing cannot accept any country acting as the “world’s judge” following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States.
“We have never believed that any country can act as the world’s police, nor do we accept that any nation can claim to be the world’s judge,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar during a meeting in Beijing, referring to what he described as the “sudden developments in Venezuela” without directly naming the United States.
Wang said the sovereignty and security of all countries must be fully protected under international law, in his first public remarks since images of the 63-year-old Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed emerged on Saturday
Maduro is currently being held at a detention centre in New York and is expected to appear in court on Monday to face drug-related charges.
China has sought in recent years to position itself as a major diplomatic power, a goal it highlighted after brokering a surprise rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023 and pledging to play a constructive role in global conflict zones. Analysts say Beijing’s growing confidence has been reinforced by its willingness to confront Washington in trade negotiations.
However, President Donald Trump’s statement that the United States would oversee Venezuela’s government for the time being has put strain on the “all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership” China and Venezuela agreed to in 2023, marking nearly five decades of diplomatic relations.
We cannot accept countries acting as ?world judge – China says after US captured Venezuelan president
“It was a big blow to China. We wanted to look like a dependable friend to Venezuela,” a Chinese government official briefed on recent high-level contacts said, referring to meetings held just hours before Maduro’s capture.
China has provided Venezuela with a significant economic lifeline since U.S. and allied sanctions were tightened in 2017. Customs data show China purchased about $1.6 billion worth of Venezuelan goods in 2024, nearly half of which was crude oil. Chinese state-owned oil companies had invested an estimated $4.6 billion in Venezuela by 2018, according to data tracking overseas corporate investment.
U.S. MOVES TO BLOCK FOREIGN GRABS ON VENEZUELA’S OIL MONEY
The Trump admin just stepped in to freeze a courtroom feeding frenzy, where foreign creditors were circling Venezuela’s crown jewel: oil giant Citgo.
Over $20B in claims were on the table from ConocoPhillips to Siemens, hoping to get paid through Citgo’s forced sale.
The claims, from foreign companies and creditors, were based on trying to seize shares in Citgo, Venezuela’s U.S.-based oil refiner, as repayment for unpaid debts, expropriations, and defaulted bonds.
In total, over 20 companies have lined up to grab a piece of Citgo in a court-ordered share auction, overseen by a U.S. judge in Delaware.
But now, the U.S. government is stepping in, saying no one can touch those assets unless they approve it because Citgo technically belongs to the opposition “interim government” the U.S. still recognizes, not Maduro.
That intervention could delay or derail payouts for years, throwing a wrench into what many companies saw as their long-awaited payday.
Essentially, the U.S. just upended years of legal warfare and corporate scheming by reminding everyone who’s really in charge of Venezuela’s assets.
Citgo is one of the last big Venezuelan assets abroad, control over it could influence Venezuela’s economic recovery, debt repayments, and foreign relations (or pay off its past).
Armed men have been seen on the streets of Venezuela following reports that United States security operatives carried out military strikes and captured President Nicolás Maduro, later flying him out of the country to face drug and terrorism charges in the US.
Videos circulating online show armed men confronting a vehicle. There was also the presence of tanks and heavy military equipment in the capital, Caracas.
Venezuela’s defence minister confirmed that the country’s armed forces have been deployed nationwide to maintain order amid the unfolding situation.
US President Donald Trump earlier confirmed that Maduro had been “captured and flown out of the country,” adding that the US government would oversee governance in Venezuela, including the management of its resources, which include one of the world’s largest oil reserves.
The full scope of events on the ground remains unclear as developments continue to emerge.
A total of 32 Cuban nationals were k!lled during the US attack on Caracas that culminated in the capture of Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, the government in Havana said Sunday, Jan. 4.
“As a result of the criminal attack carried out by the government of the United States” against Venezuela, “32 Cubans lost their lives in combat operations,” the Cuban government said in a statement read on national television.
The deceased were members of Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces or the Ministry of the Interior who were carrying out missions “at the request of counterpart agencies,” Cuban officials said.
In a stunning US military operation Saturday, Jan. 3, Maduro was extracted from Caracas along with his wife, Cilia Flores, to face charges of drug trafficking and terrorism in a New York court Monday.
The official Cuban statement stressed that the soldiers had “fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism and fell, after fierce resistance, in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of the bombings” carried out by the United States.
Havana has declared two days of national mourning beginning at dawn Monday, Jan. 5, and pledged to organise tributes.
“Honor and glory to the brave Cuban fighters who fell facing terrorists in imperial uniform,” President Miguel Diaz-Canel wrote on X.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is reportedly making contingency plans to flee the country for Moscow as unrest and violence escalate across Iran, according to intelligence-linked sources cited in international media.
The reports claim the 86-year-old leader and a small circle of close aides and family members could seek refuge in Russia if Iran’s military and security forces defect, refuse orders, or fail to contain the growing protests. The alleged plan mirrors the escape of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Moscow in late 2024 amid an opposition advance.
Nationwide demonstrations, sparked by severe economic hardship, have spread to more than 20 cities. Protesters have targeted government buildings, torched police vehicles and chanted slogans calling for Khamenei’s removal. Reports indicate at least 12 people have been killed, including children, while hundreds have been arrested.
Economic pressure remains a key driver of the unrest, with inflation exceeding 40 per cent and food prices surging. Authorities have announced small cash vouchers for citizens in an attempt to ease tensions, though critics say the move has done little to calm public anger.
Footage circulating online shows clashes between armed security forces and demonstrators in Tehran and other cities, with gunfire heard in some areas. Despite rare overtures to address economic grievances, officials have labelled demonstrators as “rioters” and warned against destabilisation.
The crisis has drawn sharp rhetoric from abroad. US President Donald Trump warned on social media that Washington was “locked and loaded” should Iranian forces violently suppress protesters. In response, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said US interests and bases in the region would be considered “legitimate targets” if America intervened, while senior official Ali Larijani cautioned that foreign interference could destabilise the Middle East.
Iran has formally complained to the United Nations over the US threats, insisting it would respond forcefully to any attack. Analysts say the current protests represent the most significant challenge to Iran’s leadership since demonstrations following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody, as calls for regime change grow louder across the country.
New regulations banning daytime television and online advertising for so-called junk foods will come into force in Britain on Monday, January 5, in what the government has described as a “world-leading action” to tackle childhood obesity.
The ban targets adverts for products high in fat, salt or sugar and will apply to television adverts aired before the 9:00 pm watershed as well as paid advertising online at any time. According to the health ministry, the measures are expected to remove up to 7.2 billion calories from children’s diets each year.
Officials said the policy could reduce the number of children living with obesity by about 20,000 and deliver an estimated £2 billion in health benefits.
The move, first announced in December 2024, builds on other recent interventions, including an extension of the sugar tax to pre-packaged items such as milkshakes, ready-to-drink coffees and sweetened yoghurt drinks. Local authorities have also been granted powers to prevent fast food outlets from opening near schools.
The government said evidence shows advertising plays a major role in influencing what and when children eat, shaping preferences from an early age and increasing the risk of obesity and related illnesses. It noted that 22 per cent of children starting primary school in England are overweight or obese, rising to more than a third by the time they reach secondary school.
Tooth decay remains the leading cause of hospital admissions for young children aged five to nine, according to officials.
“By restricting adverts for junk food before 9 pm and banning paid adverts online, we can remove excessive exposure to unhealthy foods,” said Ashley Dalton.
He added that the policy was part of a broader effort to shift the National Health Service towards prevention as well as treatment, “so people can lead healthier lives.”
Katharine Jenner, executive director of the Obesity Health Alliance, welcomed the move, describing it as “a long-awaited step towards better protecting children from unhealthy food and drink advertising that can harm their health and wellbeing.”
The charity Diabetes UK also backed the ban. Its chief executive, Colette Marshall, warned that type 2 diabetes is increasingly affecting younger people.
“Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and the condition can have more severe consequences in young people, leaving them at risk of serious complications such as kidney failure and heart disease,” she said.
Bishop Alick Banda ‘loses’ voice during DEC interview
VOCAL Lusaka Archdiocese Archbishop Alick Banda did not have his usual zeal to speak as the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) quizzed him this morning over a Toyota Hilux he dubiously received as a gift from his PF comrades back in 2021.
Before availing himself to the DEC headquarters, Archbishop Banda with the help of opposition leaders rounded up scores of supporters and gathered them in the Cathedral of the Child Jesus for a solidarity mass where they prayed for him to find strength as he faced the authorities.
After the hour-long service, His Grace, dressed in a black clerical robe and a purple zucchetto (hat), led his supporters on foot to the DEC offices, singing hymns and reciting the Hail Mary and the Lord’s Prayer as they marched towards the premises of the commission.
However, as the procession neared the DEC offices, police officers intercepted the group and only allowed the Archbishop, three priests and three lawyers, among them vocal constitutional lawyer John Sangwa, to proceed, leaving the rest of the faithful stranded along the road.
Once inside the interrogation room, as it if to show that his voice was only reserved for criticizing government and homilies during mass, His grace remained tight-lipped as investigators shot question after question.
Seeing that they were trying to squeeze water out of a stone, DEC let their guest leave but not without warning and cautioning him.
The commission’s public relations officer, Allan Tamba said the nation would be updated at an appropriate time regarding the investigations.
“The public may wish to note that when granted an opportunity to explain how he assumed possession of the said motor vehicle, Dr Alick Banda chose to remain silent,” Tamba said.
After the DEC appearance, the cleric and his supporters walked back to the Cathedral of the Child Jesus, this time with no hymns, no prayers and no recitation of the rosary, only silence.
When approached by journalists for a comment, the Archbishop remained as mute as a monk at confession.https://kalemba.news/politics/bishop-alick-banda-loses-voice-during-dec-interview/
IT’S NONSENSE, SAYS KAWANA IN RESPONSE TO RUMOURS OF A SICK HH
Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary, Thabo Kawana has dismissed as “nonsense” rumours circulating that President Hakainde Hichilema has been taken ill and evacuated to South Africa.
Responding to an X message posted by Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa challenging Government to “confirm reports that President Hichilema is unwell and has been flown out of the country for medical attention,” Mr. Kawana gave a one word response “nonsense.”
While acknowledging that “it’s normal to fall sick”, Dr. Sishuwa said “Zambians deserve to know the condition of their President.”
And a Senior State House Aide told KBN TV that “I was just laughing with the boss a while ago, he is enjoying his rest in Namwala.”
ABOUT THE SUMMONING OF ARCHBISHOP ALICK BANDA BY DEC: A ROUTINE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY OR PERSECUTION?
By Sean Tembo – PeP President
1. I have heard and digested both arguments in relation to today’s summoning of Archbishop Alick Banda by the Drug Enforcement Commission. According to the DEC Director General, Mr Nason Banda, he says the Archbishop needs to explain how a government property under ZRA, being Toyota Hilux Reg ALF 7734 ended up being registered in his name, and in his possession. And further that the Archbishop is not above the law.
Those in support of the Archbishop say that documentation about the purchase of the vehicle at an auction, is in the public domain, and that this is mere persecution of the Archbishop by the UPND administration, because the Archbishop often speaks strongly against the current Government.
2. From where I stand, I paid very close attention to the press statements from DEC, both from the Spokesperson Mr Allan Tamba, as well as the Director General. Whereas I found the statement from the Spokesperson to be professional, I found the statement by the DG to be malicious. Especially the part where the DG said the Archbishop needs to explain how a government property ended up in his name. I say so because the DG is fully aware that the vehicle in question was sold by ZRA at an auction, and also that the Archbishop did not acquire the vehicle from the auction, but from the person that bought it from the auction.
3. My question to the DG is simple; what is the suspected wrongdoing or criminal offense on the part of the Archbishop? If the vehicle was sold below it’s market price, then that is an issue of the auctioneers and ZRA management at the time and not the Archbishop. If the disposal procedures were not followed, then that is an issue of the ZRA management and not the Archbishop. If the full auction purchase price was not paid, then that is an issue with the person that initially bought the vehicle at auction and not the Archbishop.
4. The DEC Director General’s statement that the Archbishop needs to explain how a government property ended up in his name appears to have been designed to create a public narrative that the vehicle just suddenly disappeared from government books and appeared in the Archbishop’s possession and name. I find this statement by the DG to be malicious because DEC is aware that there was a ZRA auction where the vehicle in question was disposed of. The documents relating to this disposal are in the public domain, including a copy of the Gate Pass for the final release of the vehicle after auction. By deliberately omitting these details when publicly commenting on the case, the DG was biased and malicious against the Archbishop.
5. Additionally, if indeed DEC merely wanted an explanation from the Archbishop, regarding this motor vehicle, then why issue a Call Out, knowing fully well that a Call Out for such a prominent person can easily leak to the media? I also take issue with the DG’s insinuations that the Call Out was leaked by the Archbishop in order to seek public sympathy, because there is no evidence to that effect. It is possible that the Call Out was leaked by DEC itself in order to scandalize the Archbishop. If this case was not tainted by malice on the part of DEC, and that DEC just genuinely needed some clarifications from the Archbishop, my expectation is that DEC should have just sent some officers to discreetly interview the Archbishop at his office, and that’s it.
6. A Call Out is ordinarily issued to a suspect. And when I look at this case, there is no evidence, even the remotest evidence, to suggest any type of wrongdoing on the part of the Archbishop, to justify why he should have been issued with a Call Out. None whatsoever. So the question that Mr Nason Banda, the DEC Director General should answer, is why he saw it necessary to issue a Call Out instead of just sending officers to interview the Archbishop at his office?
7. Looking at the vehicle in question itself, the registration number is ALF 7734. What this registration number tells you is that the vehicle was first registered sometime in 2010 or early 2011. Looking at the auction documents that are in public domain, the vehicle was auctioned by ZRA in 2020, after about 10 years in service. The average depreciation rate for motor vehicles is 25% on a straight line basis, although others prefer to depreciate at 20%, meaning that in 5 years time, the vehicle would have been fully depreciated and written off in the books of ZRA. In this case, it appears that after the vehicle was fully depreciated, ZRA decided to revalue it and amortized it over an additional 5 years. What this means is that by the time ZRA was auctioning this vehicle, it was a total wreck, because it should have been auctioned in 2015.
8. I agree with the Director General that no one is above the law. Not even the Archbishop himself. However, the law should not be weaponized and used to harass innocent citizens. In this particular case, the Archbishop is too divorced from any potential wrongdoing, and the DG owes the Zambian people an explanation as to why he saw it fit to issue a Call Out against the Archbishop.
I have no doubt in my mind that the Archbishop’s reputation and good standing in society has been irreparably damaged, as a direct result of the malicious actions of the Director General of the Drug Enforcement Commission. I also have no doubt that in this whole debacle, the DG harbored malice towards the Archbishop. At this point, the question that we should perhaps ask the DG’s appointing authority; President Hakainde Hichilema, is whether this is the caliber of individuals that should head our law enforcement agencies?
SYMBOLISM OF ARCHBISHOP BANDA’S VESTMENTS AT THE DEC OFFICES
When Archbishop Dr Alick Banda presented himself at the offices of the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), his choice of attire went beyond mere personal preference; it constituted a deliberate sartorial statement.
His ensemble, comprising a black cassock with red piping and buttons, a fuchsia zucchetto, sunglasses, and a large gold pectoral cross contributed to a narrative of resilience, spiritual authority, and perhaps even defiance against perceived external pressure.
The black cassock is the foundational garment of the Catholic clergy, signifying humility, dedication, and separation from secular vanity. However, the addition of red piping and buttons elevates this symbolism. In the hierarchy of the Church, red is historically associated with cardinals, symbolizing their readiness to shed blood for the faith, though this colour scheme is also used by some archbishops to denote their high status within the local hierarchy or as a mark of distinction. By wearing this enhanced version of the cassock, Archbishop Banda projected an image not merely of a priest, but of a seasoned leader standing firm. In the context of an investigation, the red subtly imply martyrdom or persecution, positioning the religious institution as under duress from secular forces.
The zucchetto, or skullcap, is a direct indicator of rank. While cardinals wear scarlet and bishops wear purple or violet, the use of fuchsia, or a very bright magenta, demands attention. This vibrant colour contrasts sharply with the sombre black, ensuring visibility. It announces his episcopal rank unmistakably.
Furthermore, the large gold pectoral cross, suspended on a substantial chain, is perhaps the most potent symbol. The pectoral cross signifies his role as a shepherd, bearing the cross of Christ. Its size and material gold emphasize the enduring, transcendent nature of his spiritual mandate, suggesting that the issues being investigated are secondary to his divine commission. When standing before secular investigators, the cross asserts a higher moral and spiritual jurisdiction.
The inclusion of sunglasses in this formal, semi-liturgical ensemble adds a layer of modern, perhaps even guarded, engagement. Sunglasses serve to obscure the eyes, traditionally considered the windows to the soul. In a highly publicized event, this element introduces an aura of inscrutability and psychological protection. It suggests that while he is physically present to comply with legal procedure, his internal reaction and focus remain private and inaccessible to the inquisitors or the media observing the event. It signals control over his own emotional presentation in a vulnerable situation.
Thus, Archbishop Dr Banda’s choice of dress when visiting the DEC offices was a masterclass in symbolic communication. The black and red cassock asserted hierarchical status and implied steadfastness; the fuchsia zucchetto and gold cross reinforced his spiritual mandate; and the sunglasses provided a necessary psychological shield. In a setting designed for secular inquiry, the vestments served to sanctify the space, project institutional strength, and clearly delineate the boundaries between temporal law and spiritual authority.
The entire assemblage was a carefully constructed performance designed to manage public perception and assert ecclesiastical dignity under pressure.
ARCHBISHOP BANDA QUIZZED OVER ALLEGED ZRA VEHICLE GIFT
By Nelson Zulu and Cecilia Zyambo
The Drug Enforcement Commission –DEC- this morning interrogated Lusaka diocese Archbishop Alick Banda over a Toyota Hilux allegedly belonging to the Zambia Revenue Authority –ZRA- which was given to him as a gift in 2020.
Archbishop Banda arrived at the DEC offices around 10:20hrs in the company of his lawyers, opposition leaders and catholic faithful after concluding mass at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus.
The interrogation lasted about two hours and Archbishop Banda later returned to the Cathedral of the Child Jesus accompanied by his lawyers, who did not disclose the outcome of the interview.
And during the procession to DEC, police led by Lusaka Province Deputy Police Commanding Officer Ronald Zambo described the procession as illegal and urged Archbishop Banda’s sympathizers to disperse.
The Drug Enforcement Commission is yet to issue a statement.
Earlier, a mass service was held at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus, pope square to show solidarity to the Archbishop.
Scores of Lusaka residents including opposition political party leaders among them, Socialist Party President Fred M’membe, United Liberal Party President Sakwiba Sikota, National Democratic Congress President Saboi Imboela, and Patriotic Front presidential hopefuls attended the mass.
In his homily, Archbishop Banda said those who suffer persecution for their service to god will be reunited and find joy in the lord Jesus Christ.
The Drug Enforcement Commission –DEC- has formally warned and cautioned Lusaka Archdiocese Archbishop ALICK BANDA in connection with investigations into the alleged unlawful possession of a motor vehicle.
In a statement issued to ZNBC news by DEC Public Relations Officer ALLAN TAMBA, the Commission said the action was taken through its Anti–Money Laundering Investigations Unit -AMLIU.
Mr. TAMBA says the investigations relate to a Toyota Hilux motor vehicle bearing registration number ALF 7734, which is alleged to be property of the Zambia Revenue Authority -ZRA.
According to the DEC, Archbishop BANDA is suspected to have been in possession of the vehicle between April 22, 2021 and December 27, 2023.
Mr. TAMBA said the vehicle is reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained from ZRA, an offence contrary to Section 319(a) of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
He stated that when given an opportunity to explain how he came into possession of the motor vehicle, Archbishop BANDA opted to remain silent.
Mr. TAMBA said investigations into the matter are ongoing and that the public will be informed of the outcome at an appropriate time.
SACCORD CALLS FOR RESOLUTION TO LATE PRESIDEDNT LUNGU’S BURIAL DELAY
SOUTHERN African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes Director, Arthur Muyunda, has urged government and the family of late former President Edgar Lungu to bring an end to the prolonged delay surrounding his burial, saying the matter has taken too long to resolve.
Mr. Muyunda says there is no justification for the country to continue going back and forth over the burial arrangements, stressing that the former head of state deserves to be laid to rest.
Speaking in an interview with RCV News, Mr. Muyunda called for a clear national consensus on how the issue should be resolved, noting that as a former president, Mr. Lungu’s burial should be handled with dignity.
“The options are for the family to bring the remains into the country for a private burial or allow the government to repatriate the body and conduct a dignified state funeral.,” said Mr. Muyunda.
He expressed disappointment that dialogue between the family and the government has stalled, especially after mediators withdrew from the process.
Mr. Muyunda has since urged both the government and the Lungu family to set aside political differences, emphasizing that matters of death should unite, not divide, the nation.
He said politics should not be allowed to overshadow the need to give the former Head of State a respectful burial.
PF CADRES SEARCH M’MEMBE AND STEAL HIS PHONE AT DEC
Socialist Party owner Fred M’membe has lost his phone at the DEC premises where he has gone to offer solidarity to Alick Banda who is being questioned for the stolen Hilux which was found in his possession and also bags of money which he has been hiding at the Parish from ECL.
M’membe was searched by PF cadres who were clamouring around him as he wanted to force himself inside the DEC offices where the interview is taking place from.
As he was busy telling the police that I am a Loya, I am Loya, the cadres were also busy in his jacket pockets.
BISHOP ALICK BANDA LOST TRUST BY STAYING SILENT ON PF CRIMES ; FIGHTING CORRUPTION REQUIRES CONSISTENCY, NOT FAVORITISM
It will be impossible to fight corruption and the abuse of public resources in Zambia if every time someone is held accountable, we pick sides.
The recent summoning of Bishop Alick Banda by DEC highlights a harsh truth about Zambia: we are often not honest with ourselves. We have short memories that fail to reflect what a truly just society should be.
A just society protects the less privileged. For decades, the Catholic Church has been a voice for such advocacy, from highlighting the cost of living to calling out government inefficiencies. But what happens when public resources fall into the hands of a few without due process? Who protects the Church’s credibility and its advocacy then?
Consider this: the person who distributed the vehicles is in prison, yet no one is speaking out on their behalf. Why are politicians not protesting for this individual?
Bishop Alick Banda enjoyed a strong relationship with the previous administration, which likely explains why he received this gift though we have no idea how many others he may have accepted. I have challenged him, and I will continue to challenge him, to be transparent. A man of God cannot remain silent while citizens are killed, or public resources abused. Silence in the face of injustice erodes integrity.
If this is the Zambia we are building, I am deeply concerned. The Church should lead by example encouraging the government to hold everyone accountable, without fear or favor. That is how we build a better Zambia.
Had ZRA given these vehicles to churches directly, I would have welcomed it. Our citizens face serious challenges every day. Seeing a religious leader accept such gifts while staying silent on PF injustices sends the wrong message.
I maintain my gratitude to leaders like Bishop Mpundu, who confronted PF criminality. Yet, the likes of Bishop Alick Banda were dining with murderers (PF). Men like Bishop Mpundu even if I see them protesting loudly against the government today have my respect because they stood up early. Not those who watched thugs kill and abuse women in public without speaking out.
Bishop Alick Banda may gather thousands or even millions of sympathizers, but deep down, he knows he failed this country as a religious leader.
The PF administration, which killed citizens without shame, cannot be excused. I challenge him to show the day he publicly denounced these atrocities.
Zambia deserves accountability, fairness, and courage regardless of titles, positions, or influence. Anything less is a betrayal of our people.
Sikaile C. Sikaile Sichifulo Constituency Aspiring MP 2026
POLICE PEACEFULLY DISPERSE OPPOSITION CADRES AT DEC PREMISES
Date: 05 January, 2025.
The Zambia Police Service this morning dispersed a large group of opposition cadres who had gathered at the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) offices and attempted to force entry, reportedly seeking to sit with Allick Banda inside the premises.
Authorities confirmed that the situation was brought under control without the use of force and no injuries were recorded.
The operation was carried out in a calm and professional manner, ensuring public safety and the protection of state property.
BISHOP Alick Banda walks from the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Longacres to the Drug Enforcement Commission escorted by opposition leaders and their supporters!
(ECZ says it is aware of schemes by some political parties to launch hostile cadres into Chawama and Kasama, to destabilise peaceful campaigns ahead of the elections.👇)
UPDATE ON THE CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY PARLIAMENTARY AND KASAMA
PRESS STATEMENT (For Immediate release)
MAYORAL BY-ELECTIONS The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) wishes to inform members of the public and all electoral stakeholders that it is closely monitoring activities surrounding the electoral environment in Chawama Constituency of Lusaka District, and Kasama District respectively. The Commission is scheduled to conduct a Parliamentary byelection in Chawama on 15th January 2026, and a Mayoral by-election in Kasama on 29th January 2026.
The Commission notes that campaigns in both Chawama Constituency and Kasama District have, so far, been conducted peacefully, largely due to the adherence by political parties and candidates to the approved campaign timetables and the Electoral Code of Conduct.
However, the Commission is aware of schemes by some political parties to launch hostile cadres into Chawama and Kasama, to destabilise peaceful campaigns ahead of the elections. The Commission wishes to warn political parties that violence or indeed any other abrogation of the Electoral Code of Conduct may lead to their suspension from the campaigns.
In this regard, the Commission wishes to further remind participating political parties and stakeholders that the Zambia Police Service, as a key partner in the electoral process, remains engaged on the ground and is monitoring the electoral environment to ensure the maintenance of law and order before, during, and after the poll.
The Commission calls upon all political parties, candidates, and their supporters participating in the Chawama Constituency Parliamentary by-election and the Kasama Mayoral by-election to continue conducting their campaigns peacefully and in strict adherence to the approved campaign timetables and the Electoral Code of Conduct.
The Commission emphasizes that peaceful conduct by all stakeholders is critical to the integrity of the electoral process.
Brown Kasaro Chief Electoral Officer For/The Commission ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA
Stay away from illegal processions, Mwiimbu warns public over Archbishop Banda’s summon
HOME Affairs and Internal Security minister Jack Mwiimbu has warned members of the public to stay away from any illegal processions linked to the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) summon of Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda.
Mwiimbu said government will not tolerate actions that threaten public peace, following calls by some politicians and groups for solidarity marches and escorts to DEC offices.
“Members of the public are advised not to join any illegal procession that is being called for… because law and order must be maintained at all times,” Mwiimbu warned.
He clarified that while the State respects freedom of worship, such freedoms must not be abused to justify unlawful gatherings.
The Minister assured the nation that police will not interfere with church prayers or any lawful religious activities scheduled by the Church, but warned that the law will take its course if illegal conduct is detected.
“We will not interfere with prayers, but we will not allow illegal processions under the guise of church activities,” he said.
Mwiimbu reiterated that the DEC summon is a lawful process and that appearing before law enforcement agencies is an individual responsibility that should not be turned into a public spectacle.
He urged citizens to allow investigative institutions to perform their duties without pressure or intimidation.
Bwezani Mbewe Writes: FROM MASS TO DEC — LAMENTATIONS OF A CATHOLIC – ULENDO WA MTIMA WA MKATOLIKA
I do not speak with anger. I speak with a trembling heart.
Because Catholics are taught early: pain is not always shouted sometimes it is offered.
Sunday arrived the way it always does. The bell rang without hesitation. The altar stood unmoved. Candles burned as if nothing had changed.
Yet everything had changed.
We walked into Mass carrying something heavier than prayer requests. We carried confusion. We carried silence. We carried the ache of a name we love now wrapped in summons.
Alick Banda.
A name we know from blessings. A name we have heard pronounce forgiveness. A name we associate with peace.
Now spoken in corridors where peace is procedural and truth is questioned line by line.
“M’mene muli moto, muli phulusa.” Where there is fire, there is ash.
We know this proverb. We grew up with it. But knowing does not make the ash less painful in the eyes.
To the outside world, this is a developing story. To us, this is pinchwa a sharp, intimate pain that sits in the chest and refuses to leave.
We are torn. Not because we are confused about right and wrong but because we are human.
“Mtima wa munthu ndi wakuya kuposa nyanja.” The heart of a person is deeper than the sea.
How do you ask a Catholic to choose sides when one side kneels before the altar and the other stands before the law?
We believe in accountability. Yes. We also believe in grace.
We believe in the law of the land. Yes. We also believe in the law written on the heart.
From Mass to the DEC what a painful road that is.
From “Let us pray” to “Answer these questions.” From incense rising gently to files opening sharply.
“Chilonda cha mumtima sichioneka, koma chimapweteka.” A wound of the heart cannot be seen, but it hurts deeply.
Look closely in the church today: the old woman fingering her rosary more tightly than usual, as if each bead is holding her together.
The catechist staring longer at the crucifix, as if asking Christ to explain one more time.
The youth, confused wondering whether faith always comes with public humiliation.
“Mwana wa nkhosa akalira, mtima wa amayi umaphuka.” When the lamb cries, the mother’s heart breaks.
The Church is a mother. And today, her heart is breaking quietly.
We are not blind followers. We are not enemies of justice.
But we are Catholics, and we know that carrying the cross does not always mean guilt sometimes it simply means burden.
“Katundu wolemera, umasweka pamodzi.” A heavy load breaks those who carry it together.
That is why we feel it together. Why the pain spreads from pew to pew. Why even those who say nothing are saying everything in their silence.
If you feel nothing, I ask you gently go to a Catholic Mass.
Sit through the silence after Communion. Not the singing. Not the sermon.
The silence.
There you will hear the real struggle. There you will feel why Catholics hesitate to shout. Why we lower our voices instead of raising fists.
“Mkango samalira pamodzi ndi mbuzi.” The lion does not cry the same way as the goat.
Our grief is different. Our faith has taught us patience, even when patience hurts.
We are not saying the truth should hide. We are saying the truth also has weight.
And as this nation watches, as opinions harden and camps form, we kneel and whisper:
“Mulungu amaona, ngakhale anthu akayiwala.” God sees, even when people forget.
From Mass to the DEC, a Catholic walks wounded still praying, still believing, still holding the cross even when the road feels unfairly steep.
And maybe that is faith: not certainty, but staying on the road even when it hurts.
SUNDAY REFLECTION : A COUNSEL TO THOSE WHO STUMBLE BECAUSE OF ME
[A response inspired by an article by my brother, Kellys Kaunda which a shared earlier ]
I read with gratitude the recent article by my dear young brother Kellys Kaunda titled Why Does Dr. Nevers Mumba Attract So Much Debate and Controversy. Gratitude because it is honest, generous, and self-disclosing. His article reveals a deeper wound within our Christian culture that goes far beyond my name, my choices, or my politics.
Mr. Kaunda writes not as an enemy but as one who listened, learned, admired, and was shaped by our Zambia Shall Be Saved ministry and service to God. He speaks for many when he admits that even while opposing my entry into politics, he still voted for me. He reminds the nation that before all the controversy and before all the debates, there was a simple preacher, who obeyed the calling of God that was placed upon his life, and who fed a spiritual hunger of an entite generation, and helped shape the faith of a nation.
Kellys also identifies the heart of the matter. He writes that there are many who today feel abandoned. Many who believe a key source of spiritual nourishment was withdrawn too soon. Many who have never forgiven what they interpret as my departure from the pulpit to a vocation they consider very toxic. This observation requires honesty and a biblical response.
Scripture tells us that John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ and the one who declared “Behold the Lamb of God”, later on found himself abandoned, discouraged, confused,even imprisoned, and with a thousand questions in his mind. In that momment, John sent out a message to the Lord Jesus, from prison, asking: Are you the One who is to come? or should we look for another. John’s problem was not unbelief. It was the fact that his expectations and his reality did not match.
In his response, Jesus did not answer John by defending Himself or by explaining His calling. He simply pointed to the evidence of his obedience and concluded with words that still confront us today.
“BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO DOES NOT STUMBLE BECAUSE OF ME.”
That statement has followed me for many years and it is just as true for me today.
Sometimes believers stumble not because Christ has changed but because they choose to depend on their own human understanding and their own preferred version of how God should work, whom He should use, or where obedience to God starts and ends and where that obedience should or should never lead.
Mr. Kaunda is right. Some of the anger directed at me is not political. It is emotional and spiritual. It is the pain of people who had grown comfortable with a particular expression of my ministry and felt destabilized when God moved the servant into another assignment. They must not worry. I was destabilised to, if not more. Imagine moving from a place where it’s all Hallelujah and praise God, and God sends you into politics where even your best intentions are twisted, rejected, attacked, insulted, betrayed, stolen, sometimes and all this, at great personal cost to you and to your family.
But Scripture prepares us for this.
Joseph did not abandon his family. He obeyed God. Yet it was his own brothers who stripped him, mocked his calling, and sold him. They believed they were justified. Years later Joseph would say You meant it for evil but God meant it for good. Calling does not always look like faithfulness to those watching from the outside.
David did not rebel against his father’s house. He obeyed God. Yet when he stepped onto the battlefield his own brothers accused him of pride and told him to go back to the sheep as though obedience to yesterday’s assignment disqualified him from today’s calling.
Even Jesus Himself faced this contradiction. In Nazareth those who knew Him best stumbled the most. Is this not the carpenter’s son they asked. Scripture tells us He could do few miracles there not because of unbelief from outsiders but because of familiarity that refused to accept God at work in a new way.
So I must ask gently but honestly are we being sincere as believers.?
How and when did we become so comfortable attacking our own while quoting Scripture instead of holding their hands, especially when they anre already in a role which is extremely challenging?. Since when did disappointment become a license or a passport to give someone sustained hostility? When did disagreement turn into an excuse to treat someone with bitterness or hatred?
Some say I abandoned them. But Scripture teaches that a servant does not belong to the audience. He belongs to the Master. Paul planted the seed of the gospel. Apollos watered the same seed. God gave them the increase. If your faith collapses simply because one preacher obeyed a different call, then perhaps your faith had become attached to a vessel rather than anchored in Jesus Christ.
The pulpit is HOLY. But serving the Public is also God given.
“For, for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing.” Romans 13:6 ASV
Joseph played a role in governance. Daniel also played a role in governance. Esther played her role in governance. And yet none were accused by heaven of abandoning God. In fact, they are revered in the scriptures. Daniel was used mightily as both a Politician and a Prophet who continued to receive visions and wrote the Book of Daniel into his late years. The Bible has no record of the children calling him names like a “Mushanina Bwali” simply because he obeyed a very difficult call.
Mr. Kaunda recounts moments in my political life that became defining controversies. He also acknowledges that there is more to the story including my own account now available for those willing to read it. History is always more layered than memory allows.
I understand disagreement. I understand disappointment. I even understand grief over change. But bitterness especially when clothed in religious language should trouble us deeply.
Jesus’ words still stand. Blessed is the one who does not stumble because of Me.
Sometimes the stumbling block is not the will of God. Sometimes, It is our failure to accept that which is his will due to our own perceptions of believers that accept the burden of serving beyond our comfort zones.
I remain a servant of God. I remain accountable to Him. And I remain at peace because Scripture and history agree on this truth. Calling is often clarified through controversy not applause.
May we choose to be sincere more than we choose to throw stones at our own. May we apply spiritual Discernment over emotional outrage. And Christ over comfort.
CHARLES CHANDA QUESTIONS DEC OVER CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP SUMMONING Charles Chanda, the leader of the United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ), has raised concerns over the recent summoning of Lusaka Catholic Archbishop Dr. Alick Banda by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).
Chanda argues that this action distracts from more pressing issues facing Zambia, particularly for farmers who are already struggling.
Speaking in an interview on Sunday , Chanda stated, “As a country, we have just celebrated over 30 plus years of being declared a Christian Nation. Yet, we find ourselves involved in petty issues that do not benefit our communities.”
He further emphasized that the focus should be on the challenges facing citizens rather than the “political pettiness” surrounding church leaders.
Chanda pointed out the significant contributions of the Catholic Church as a global entity and suggested that the DEC’s actions could undermine the church’s important role in society. “The Catholic Church provides care, education, and support for many Zambians. Pulling the Archbishop into this dispute is unnecessary and unfair,” he said.
He also challenged the government to ensure that all religious leaders are transparent about their funding sources. “It is important for everyone, not just the Catholic Church, to declare where they get funds for building their places of worship,” Chanda stated. “This fosters trust and accountability within our communities.”
Chanda’s comments come amid growing tensions between governmental bodies and religious organizations.
As the country continues to navigate its challenges, many are calling for a unified approach focused on the well-being of all citizens.
