Clergyman, Pastor Chris Okafor, has tendered an apology to actress, Doris Ogala, and everyone he might have offended in the past.
Recall that Doris has been dragging him online for a while now, for failing to fulfill his marriage plans to her. She began calling him out via Instagram after pre-wedding photos of the clergyman and another woman surfaced on social media. Doris insisted that the wedding will not hold and was even arrested over her repeated comments about the situation.
This morning, Pastor Okafor tendered an unreserved apology to Doris and other women he might have offended in the past. He however mentioned that not everything that has been said about him is true.
‘’Concerning a lady called Doris Ogala, mistakes have been made in the past and I tender apology to everyone but everything that was said is not true. Take note. Everything that was said is not true. There are so many lies in the things that were said.
But howbeit, I say I am sorry to everyone I have offended. To Doris Ogala, I also say sorry and I apologise to everyone that I have offended.
I am ready to make a restitution to anyone, any lady, anywhere that I might have offended. I am sorry. Forgive me. I am not perfect. I have never been perfect. but I tell you I have a new beginning since the coming of these fathers of faith into my life.
I am kneeling before everyone and before the church. I am asking you forgive me. You can judge me. Pray for me” he said
One of the biggest streamers in America, Kai Cenat, has reportedly broken up with his girlfriend after he found out there is another man in the picture.
Cenat uploaded a video on his Snapchat, wailing after finding out there is another man in the picture, so he cannot continue his romantic relationship with Gigi.
They showed the public their relationship in December 2024, and barely a year later, Kai and Gigi had gone their separate ways on December 27, 2025, amid cheating allegations.
After posting on his Snapchat story announcing his breakup, people alleged that NBA Young Boy snatched his girlfriend.
Another angle of the story, which just came out, is that Gabrielle requested a Pink G-Wagon as a Christmas gift, which Kai refused, so the broke up.
Gabrielle Alayah, also known as Gigi, is a social media influencer with some great numbers as well.
Allegedly Kai Cenat’s ex-girlfriend Gabrielle Alayah cheated on Kai after she didn’t receive the pink G-Wagon she asked him for Christmas 😳 pic.twitter.com/JrMwJZHfgl
The two met in Manhattan, New York, and their first date was at a movie theatre.
She appeared on Kai’s stream on December 24, 2024, and surprised him in a Spider-Man outfit on his 23rd birthday.
Now there are two angles to this breakup: the first is a cheating allegation from Kai Cenat, and the second was caused by his refusal to buy the pink G-Wagon.
According to Kai Cenat, he might never be in love again.
Donald Trump has been trying to stall the release of the Epstein files because of the bombshell revelation the documents are hiding, according to Watergate lawyer Nick Ackerman.
Ackerman, who has often commented on Trump’s legal matters, on Sunday flagged “a key email from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate,” in addition to “statements by Trump ally House Speaker Mike Johnson,” which together purportedly show “it is highly likely that Trump was a confidential FBI informant in the first sex trafficking investigation into Epstein and his partner in crime Ghislaine Maxwell.”
“The press has totally overlooked the significance of this email,” Ackerman said.
The former prosecutor went on to highlight the email from Epstein in which he suggests he’s 75% sure Trump is an informant.
“i want you to realize that that dog that hasn’t barked is trump,” according to Epstein.
“Let’s connect the dots to what else we now know,” Ackerman wrote. “Epstein authored this email after the conclusion of the investigations by the State of Florida and the FBI into his conduct with underage girls, and after Epstein had served his overly lenient sentence. The second federal investigation had not yet begun, but victims began filing civil lawsuits against him, and Epstein was a registered sex offender.”
After analyzing the emails in their chronological context, he noted that the next clue came from Mike Johnson.
“What nails it is the September 5, 2025, statement by House Speaker Mike Johnson to reporters that what Epstein did was an ‘unspeakable evil’ and that Donald Trump ‘was an FBI informant to try to take this stuff down,’ referring to Epstein’s criminal activities,” Ackerman wrote. “Johnson said that he and Trump had ‘spoken about this many times’ ‘as recently as twenty-four hours ago.'”
Ackerman added, “Within days, Johnson, who is in regular contact with Trump, backtracked from his statement without a coherent or valid explanation. His excuse was that he might not have used the ‘right word.’ Really!! Unsurprisingly, the White House denied that Trump was an FBI informant in the Epstein case, saying Johnson’s original description was not correct.”
Then Ackerman tied it all together, including potential motives.
“Clearly, Trump does not want it publicly known that he was an FBI informant. From my experience as a prosecutor, the principal way a person becomes a confidential informant is when the FBI uses a person’s involvement in criminal activity to turn the individual into an informant to avoid prosecution,” according to Ackerman. “In the case of Trump, that does not necessarily mean the criminal leverage was Trump’s involvement with Epstein’s sex trafficking. It could have been something else. If so, what did the FBI have on Trump? The big question — will future productions of DOJ’s Epstein files reveal Trump’s involvement as an FBI informant against Epstein? It certainly should.”
Senior Pastor of Grace Nation Church, Chris Okafor, has spoken publicly about his past marriage, the custody of his children, and the allegations currently trailing him.
According to the clergyman, his divorce happened when his children were very young. He said one of his daughters was two years old at the time, while his son, Bobo, was four. Okafor stated that the situation was so serious that the court granted him full custody of the children, while their mother was given access.
He revealed that since the divorce, he raised the children alone for over a decade. Bobo, he said, is now 17 and will turn 18 in March, while his other child, Chidera, is 15.
Pastor Okafor explained that after the divorce, he made a personal promise to his children that he would not remarry until they were grown. He said he kept that promise for 13 years, describing the period as difficult and filled with challenges, but insisted he stayed true to his word.
Addressing the controversy surrounding his remarriage, the pastor claimed that none of the allegations being circulated today existed throughout those 13 years. He alleged that the accusations only began after he decided to start a new chapter of his life.
He further claimed that his former wife had openly vowed to destroy him and his church, insisting that she was angry about him moving on. According to him, the situation is a coordinated attempt to damage his reputation.
Pastor Okafor firmly denied all allegations involving his daughter, stating clearly that nothing inappropriate ever happened under his care. He maintained that if any such incident had occurred, it would have been raised long ago and handled by law enforcement.
In an emotional moment, the pastor called his children forward and asked them directly if he had ever acted indecently towards them. He said they answered in the negative, insisting that the accusations were false.
He added that the ordeal has taken a heavy toll on him emotionally and mentally, noting that the past years have been extremely painful for him.
IRAN’S PRESIDENT: “WE ARE IN A WAR WITH THE U.S., ISRAEL AND EUROPE – WE’RE NOW MILITARILY STRONGER”
Iran’s president just declared something massive.
President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed Iran is now in a total war with the U.S., Israel, and Europe, warning this conflict is “worse than the Iran-Iraq War.”
He said Iran is militarily stronger than ever and accused the West of waiting for “internal chaos” to justify another attack.
Pezeshkian painted a picture of a nation under siege, but fully prepared to strike back harder.
“We are in an all-out war with the combined forces of America, Europe, and Israel.
We are now militarily stronger than we were at the time when they attacked us.
Their hope is for internal chaos, so that they can see an opportunity for another attack on Iran.
If they choose to confront us, they will naturally face a more decisive response.
The war we are in now is worse than the Iran-Iraq War.”
One of the biggest streamers in America, Kai Cenat, has reportedly broken up with his girlfriend after finding out there is another man in the picture.
Cenat uploaded a video on his Snapchat, wailing after finding out there is another man in the picture, so he cannot continue his romantic relationship with Gigi.
They showed the public their relationship in December 2024, and barely a year later, Kai and Gigi had gone their separate ways on December 27, 2025, amid cheating allegations.
After posting on his Snapchat story announcing his breakup, people alleged that NBA Young Boy snatched his girlfriend.
Another angle of the story, which just came out, is that Gabrielle requested a Pink G-Wagon as a Christmas gift, which Kai refused, so the broke up.
Gabrielle Alayah, also known as Gigi, is a social media influencer with some great numbers as well.
The two met in Manhattan, New York, and their first date was at a movie theatre.
https://youtu.be/ic7CYZzr1eI?si=nc7dXhqZ0G9g_zdG
Read Also: Kai Cenat Opens Up About His Mental Health And How He Almost Got Depressed
She appeared on Kai’s stream on December 24, 2024, and surprised him in a Spider-Man outfit on his 23rd birthday.
Now there are two angles to this breakup: the first is a cheating allegation from Kai Cenat, and the second was caused by his refusal to buy the pink G-Wagon.
I’m single I will never be in another relationship again
Standing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of their high-stakes meeting Sunday, President Donald Trump casually laid blame for “explosions in various parts of Russia” on Ukraine, presumably including a recent bombing in Moscow that killed two police officers and a bystander.
Standing next to Zelenskyy at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump was asked by a reporter whether he thought President Vladimir Putin was “serious” about ending the Russo-Ukrainian war given the recent Russian attacks on Ukraine.
“I could say that I believe Ukraine has made some very strong attacks also – I don’t say that negatively, I think you probably have to,” Trump pushed back.
“Now, he hasn’t told me [this], but there have been some explosions in various parts of Russia and it looks to me like… I don’t know, I don’t think it came from the Congo, I don’t think it came from the United States of America, it possibly came from Ukraine. But I haven’t asked that question – maybe I won’t bother asking!”
Russian officials have blamed Ukraine for a a number of assassinations of Russian public figures and military officers, some of which Ukraine has denied, such as a drone attack that appeared to target Putin directly.
Ukrainian did not officially claim responsibility for the recent bombing in Moscow on Christmas Eve, though Ukrainian officials speaking on the condition of anonymity did confirm to the Associated Press that Ukraine has helped carry out the attack.
Standing next to Zelenskyy, Trump casually lays blame on Ukraine for the Christmas Eve bombing in Moscow that killed two police officers and a bystander.
"It possibly came from Ukraine, but I haven't asked that question – maybe I won't bother asking!" pic.twitter.com/7cTj40oZy1
Russia has come under criticism after announcing a campaign to shut down electricity and internet services at night (from 10 pm) in an effort to give couples sufficient private time to encourage childbirth and help the country achieve its goal of increasing the national birth rate.
Authorities say the initiative is also intended to reduce the number of people who spend the entire night talking on the phone, staying online, or staring at screens instead of sleeping, while encouraging families to spend more quality time together.
However, critics argue that the government should instead focus on addressing the underlying causes of Russia’s declining birth rate, including the high cost of living, expensive housing, low wages, and the rising costs associated with raising children.
HH’s RATING BY A FOREIGN NEWSPAPER IS A NATIONAL DISGRACE
Thousands of health professionals are working as volunteers; youth unemployment is at its highest; the purchasing power of the kwacha has fallen; the cost of fuel remains high and unpredictable; interest rates are at over 29%; taxes remain high with the saga of double taxation now entrenched; the cost of living is at a record high and many families are skipping some meals; Zambian workers remain highly indebted in their attempts to balance budgets; liquidity is tight – money is not circulating in the Main Street; load shedding; outstanding payments to farmers and late delivery of inputs; aggregate demand in the economy has dropped, among other factors at home.
A rating by a newspaper from a country which crafted schedule 2, which HH has amended and authenticated to give himself more powers, does not save any purpose. It simply confirms how imperialistic entities are praising HH for the benefits that their countries are getting from our country on the blood and sweat of poor citizens who bear the burden of high taxes as our natural resources get shipped tax free to build economies of imperialists.
The UPP-led Government will change this. PAYE shall be scrapped off to increase household wealth for more economic activities at household level. Government shall impose commensurate tariffs on all exports of our natural resources. Other non-tax revenues shall be strengthened. Streamlining of central government shall follow
Nigerian Pastor, whose bedroom photo was posted on social media by Doris Ogala, has come to apologise during a church service.
Pastor Chris Okafor and Nigerian actress, Doris Ogala, were reportedly in a romantic relationship for almost a decade, but things took a turn on the side of the pastor after he found a new woman.
The actress was on social media when she saw a wedding announcement with the photo of Chris and another woman.
She thought it was a stunt until the pastor confirmed it on his page.
Ogala started ranting on social media nonstop until her video went viral, and Mr. Okafor chanced upon it. Instead of solving the matter amicably, the pastor used the situation to preach at his Church.
He stated that one of the reasons why he did not end up with the actress is her bad character and loudness.
This triggered Doris to drop photos of the pastor while they were together in a room.
“Mistakes have been made in the past, I apologise to Doris Ogala and I’m kneeling down infront of everyone and the church”
She recently posted a video with a bundle of $10,000 he received from the pastor to stop talking and retract all the allegations.
During the last Sunday Church service of 2025, Pastor Chris Okafor knelt before his congregation to apologise to everyone he had disappointed, including Doris Ogala.
Pastor Chris Okafor said though he is remorseful, most of the claims are false.
“That’s witchcraft”, followers tell Mundubile as they bash him for rubbishing Hichilema’s ranking
PF presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has rubbished President Hakainde Hichilema’s inclusion on The Telegraph’s list of the best performing global leaders of 2025.
But the criticism has backfired on the afro-rearing Mporokoso lawmaker with his own followers turning against him, and some drawing parallels between his reaction and witchcraft.
Yesterday, The Telegraph included President Hichilema on the list of the best performing global leaders of the year 2025 owing to his efforts in rescuing the once-crumbling Zambian economy.
The publication’s judges praised the Zambian Head of State for turning around an economy once called a “basket case” and making it a model of discipline and reform.
They said under his leadership, investors have regained confidence, key institutions have been improved, and careful financial management has become a feature of his government.
Experts also note that President Hichilema balances economic management with diplomacy, keeping Zambia’s interests while maintaining good relations with other countries.
In reacting to the ranking, Mundubile took to Facebook ignited a storm after posting a lengthy commentary dismissing the British publication’s recognition of President Hichilema, arguing that poverty, load shedding, unpaid farmers and high fuel prices disqualify the Head of State from any global praise.
Mundubile urged Zambians not to celebrate President’s ranking, but should laugh bitterly.
“When a British editorial board at The Telegraph decides that Hakainde Hichilema is one of the ‘best presidents in the world,’ Zambians should pause, not to celebrate, but to laugh bitterly,” Mundubile stated.
“The Telegraph may see a statesman; Zambians see a salesman of hope who forgot to deliver.”
But instead of rallying behind him, many of his followers turned the heat on Mundubile accusing him of bitterness, selective outrage and refusing to acknowledge economic progress under the UPND government.
Others even said his reaction amounted to witchcraft.
Other commenters reminded Mundubile that Zambia’s debt crisis, which President Hichilema inherited, was created under PF rule, adding that it was dishonest to blame current hardships without admitting the damage left behind.
A number of netizens also questioned Mundubile’s presidential ambitions, warning that constantly attacking positive news about Zambia makes the opposition appear unpatriotic and disconnected from citizens who want the country to succeed, regardless of who is in power.
“Learn to clap for others, you never know what tomorrow holds, you may be the next head of state. This bitterness is just too much,” wrote one follower, while another told Mundubile that “Jealous is bad, opposition does not mean criticizing everything even good things.”
HH TELEGRAPH CROWN : ZAMBIA’S POVERTY SHOULD HAVE WON THE PRIZE
When a British editorial board at The Telegraph decides that Hakainde Hichilema is one of the “best presidents in the world,” Zambians should pause, not to celebrate, but to laugh bitterly.
Because while London’s editors sip tea and pen glowing tributes, ordinary Zambians sip nothing at all. Poverty still grips nearly 70% of our people, farmers remain unpaid, no drugs in hospitals, fuel prices bite harder than hunger, and load shedding plunges homes into darkness in my view.
“The Telegraph may see a statesman; Zambians see a salesman of hope who forgot to deliver.”
Let’s be clear: this is not a scientific ranking. It’s an “editorial decision” by outsiders who don’t know the price of mealie meal in Lusaka and Shangombo or the agony of a farmer waiting months for FRA payments.
They see President. HH shaking hands with American dignitaries and China’s H.E Xi Jinping, but “they don’t see the Zambian mother cooking nshima by candlelight or kerosene lamp during prolonged power cuts.”
I say, “If poverty were a medal, President Hichilema would be a world champion.” Here are some facts, “the Mo Ibrahim Index places Zambia mid table in governance. The World Bank’s indicators show government effectiveness lagging, corruption control shaky, and poverty stubbornly entrenched.
Yet Mr. Hichilema is paraded abroad as a darling of democracy. That’s the danger of imported praise: it blinds us to local pain.” Zambians should know that “London may crown our president today and glorify him; Lusaka counts the kwacha it no longer has, the food it doesn’t have.” The Telegraph’s bouquet of compliments is just that—a bouquet. Pretty to look at, but it wilts quickly.
Zambians need bread, not bouquets. Governance is not about photo-ops with foreign leaders; it’s about whether a Zambian child eats tonight or sleeps hungry as the case is daily now.
“The Telegraph’s award is like giving a chef of the year trophy to a man whose diners starve.”
So let us take this with not just a pinch of salt, but a bucket. Because the only ranking that matters is the ballot box, not the editorial desk of a foreign newspaper. President Hichilema may bask in international headlines, but at home he risks becoming the darling of disillusionment, soon to be deleted via the ballot.
“The Telegraph crowns him; Zambians crown poverty, load shedding, and unpaid farmers, no drugs and daily starvation.”
In 2026, Zambians will decide not based on foreign applause but on local accountability. And when that day comes, Mr. HH will learn that the world’s best president is not the one celebrated abroad, but the one who delivers at home. Foreign editorial boards don’t vote. Caution to Zambians.
This Telegraph feature is authentic but it’s also just ‘editorial’, not evaluative. It reflects how outsiders perceive Zambia’s geopolitical importance, not how Zambians live.
Poverty near 70%, crippling load shedding, high fuel prices, and unpaid farmers tell the real story. Zambians must treat such foreign praise with scepticism because headlines don’t fill stomachs, and applause doesn’t pay bills. Especially when they are foreign.
This is why I keep urging PF MPs, Mayors, Councillors, and other committed members to take the party’s future into their own hands. After all it’s their seats that are at risk, come August.
The leadership is clearly not serious about 2026. How else do you explain a Secretariat planning to elect a presidential candidate in April—just a month before the commencement of election campaigns?
This is the danger of placing critical party positions in the hands of people with little political experience. A serious party prepares its manifesto, logistics, candidates, and campaign messaging well in advance—not at the last minute.
Trying to do all this in 30 days is not strategy; it’s self-destruction. Unless urgent action is taken, PF—and all who believe in the ideals of our founder Michael Chilufya Sata and his successor Edgar Chagwa Lungu—should forget about the 2026 elections.
Sadly, the same arrogance and refusal to listen to advice that handed power to UPND is still alive today.
And one must ask: where is the Central Committee while unilateral decisions are being made by individuals whose appointments are yet to be ratified under the party Constitution?
ENOCK TONGA PROMISES K50 MEALIE MEAL PRICE IF ELECTED PRESIDENT IN 2026.
By: Thomas Afroman Mwale
3rd Liberation Movement (3rd-LM) President Enock Tonga has pledged to introduce a policy that will compel millers to sell a 25Kg bag of mealie meal at K50 or below if he is elected President in 2026.
Mr. Tonga said the proposed policy is aimed at protecting Zambians from the escalating cost of the country’s staple food, which he noted has continued to rise without effective interventions to shield ordinary citizens.
Speaking during a media briefing, the 3rd-LM leader expressed disappointment at what he described as the unchecked increase in mealie meal prices, stating that millers have prioritised profit over public service.
He stressed that under a 3rd-LM government, millers would be compelled to reduce prices, arguing that their primary responsibility should be to serve Zambians rather than focus on excessive profit-making.
Meanwhile, Mr. Tonga declared that Members of Parliament and government officials would be barred from engaging in business, describing the move as a critical step towards cleaning up the system and enabling citizens to freely participate in economic activities.
🇿🇲 ANALYSIS | Brian Mundubile, The Telegraph Praise, & Zambia’s Economic Record
Brian Mundubile’s reaction to The Telegraph naming President Hakainde Hichilema among its “World Leaders of 2025” is emotionally charged and deliberately confrontational. He has framed the recognition as detached foreign applause that ignores domestic hardship.
“When a British editorial board at The Telegraph decides that Hakainde Hichilema is one of the ‘best presidents in the world,’ Zambians should pause, not to celebrate, but to laugh bitterly,” Mundubile wrote.
“The Telegraph may see a statesman; Zambians see a salesman of hope who forgot to deliver.”
His central argument is simple. International praise does not reflect lived realities. He cites poverty levels near 70 percent, unpaid farmers, drug shortages, load shedding, and high fuel prices as evidence that foreign approval is hollow.
This framing resonates emotionally. It also requires context.
First, The Telegraph list is editorial, not statistical. It reflects how global institutions assess macroeconomic management, debt restructuring, investor confidence, and geopolitical positioning, not household welfare.
The distinction matters. The paper praised Zambia for restoring fiscal discipline after the 2020 debt default, advancing debt restructuring, stabilising public finances, and rebuilding credibility with creditors and investors. Those claims are supported by IMF programme reviews, World Bank assessments, and bond market reactions.
Second, Mundubile’s critique omits Zambia’s economic inheritance. Under the Patriotic Front government, in which he served as a senior figure, Zambia defaulted on its Eurobond obligations in November 2020. Public debt rose above 120 percent of GDP. Foreign reserves fell below two months of import cover. Fuel and electricity subsidies were financed through unsustainable borrowing. By 2021, the country had lost access to international capital markets.
Those outcomes are not disputed. They are documented by the Ministry of Finance, the IMF, and rating agencies.
Mundubile writes, “If poverty were a medal, President Hichilema would be a world champion.”
That line is rhetorically sharp, but poverty levels did not emerge in four years. Zambia’s poverty rate was already above 60 percent before 2021, according to the Zambia Statistics Agency. Structural poverty, informal employment, and rural vulnerability predate the current administration.
Third, Mundubile challenges governance credibility, citing global indices. It is accurate that Zambia ranks mid-table on the Mo Ibrahim Index. It is also accurate that governance indicators improved modestly after 2021 in debt transparency, procurement disclosure, and fiscal reporting. Corruption control remains contested. That debate is legitimate. What is missing is Mundubile’s own governance record.
As a PF leader, Mundubile does not point to a major economic reform he led, a fiscal correction he championed, or a stabilisation policy he defended when PF held power. During PF’s tenure, civil service recruitment was largely frozen. Fuel prices rose sharply in 2018 and 2019. Load shedding intensified due to delayed investment and drought exposure. Hospitals experienced chronic drug shortages. These conditions did not begin in 2021.
Mundubile writes, “Zambians need bread, not bouquets.”
This is true. It is also true that bread requires macroeconomic stability to be affordable and available at scale. Debt restructuring, currency stabilisation, and fiscal control do not feed people instantly, but without them, food inflation worsens.
The Telegraph recognition does not cancel hardship. It does not mean President Hichilema has succeeded in all areas. Load shedding, cost of living pressures, and delayed payments remain serious concerns. The praise reflects external confidence, not internal satisfaction.
What weakens Mundubile’s argument is selective memory. He demands immediate welfare outcomes while ignoring the fiscal collapse his party presided over. He warns against foreign applause while offering no alternative economic framework beyond moral outrage.
He concludes, “Foreign editorial boards don’t vote.”
This is correct. Voters do. But voters also weigh credibility. A critique carries more weight when paired with accountability.
This analysis is not an endorsement of government performance. It is a reminder that economic debate must rest on records, timelines, and responsibility, not only slogans. Zambia’s challenges are real. So is its recent fiscal repair. Both truths can coexist.
STAKEHOLDERS PRAISE HICHILEMA’S GLOBAL RECOGNITION
Stakeholders have attributed President Hakainde Hichilema’s naming among The Telegraph’s World Leaders of 2025 to his exceptional leadership and transformative skills.
Diplomatic Expert and Governance Analyst Golden Mapulanga said President Hichilema deserves the recognition for steering Zambia from a debt default. He noted that reforms such as the Free Education Policy and the recruitment of health workers and teachers have enhanced the country’s social services.
Governance Expert Choma Mwachikoka highlighted the President’s role in transforming the economy, fostering development, and promoting peace, stability, and security. He added that prioritizing regional investments, particularly in the mining sector, has driven economic growth, with numerous mines now operational.
Centre for Sustainable Democracy and Governance (CSDG) Executive Director Caroline Katotobwe described the recognition as a global achievement for all Zambians. She praised President Hichilema’s effective management of major economic challenges, including the 2023/2024 drought, and urged citizens to embrace the achievement as a source of investment attraction.
Ms. Katotobwe emphasized that the recognition should inspire Zambians to conduct business with integrity, encouraging partners to follow the President’s example.
THE KILLING OF A STATE PROSECUTOR AND UPNDs SUPPORTER DURING ECL’s PF REGIME
A report from the past, “Ruling by fear and repression,” Amnesty International detailed how the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly had come under increasing attack, with opposition leaders and activists being jailed, independent media outlets shut down, and at least five people killed by the police since 2016.
Then Zambia’s ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party, led by President Edgar Lungu since 25 January, 2015, sought re-election on 12 August, 2021. The PF came to power in 2011, after Michael Sata’s victory. Sata later died in office in 2014, and the human rights situation had drastically deteriorated under Lungu’s presidency ( Amnesty International, 28 June 2021).
ECL’s time in government saw police extra-judicial killings in Zambia.
On Wednesday, 23rd December , 2020; HH, then president of the opposition, the United Party for National Development (UPND), was summoned for interrogations at the police headquarters in Lusaka-in relation to the purchase of a farm he bought in 2004 in Kalomo (Bloomberg, December 23, 2020/NewsDiggers, 2020).
That Wednesday, the environment was tense and politically charged as Zambia’s capital, Lusaka came to a standstill. The police used the then newly acquired riot armoured vehicles to barricade all roads that lead to police headquarters, barring even journalists from accessing the premises (Bruce Chooma-Africa Blogging, 29 December, 2020/NewsDiggers, 2020).
At around 10:00 hours, prior to Hichilema’s arrival, a convoy of buses loaded with UPND sympathises was seen passing through the High Court roundabout.
Initially, officers fired teargas canisters and flashbangs to disperse the UPND cadres who were slowly increasing in number around the High Court area before they decided to change tactics and resorted to firing live ammunition (NewsDiggers, 2020).
Two men Nsama Nsama Chipyoka a public prosecutor and Joseph Kaunda an opposition party supporter died of gunshot wounds during the fracas. Inspector-General of Police Kakoma Kanganja confirmed the deaths but said they occurred in “unknown circumstances” while officers tried to break up the gathering (Bruce Chooma-Africa Blogging, 29.12.2020).
State prosecutor Nsama Nsama, who was not part of the gathering, was shot dead while buying a meal (breakfast) at a nearby restaurant, while Joseph Kaunda, a UPND supporter, was shot by police as they dispersed the crowd.
This wasn’t the first unreasonable killings during PF, in October 2018, Vespers Shimuzhila, a student at the University of Zambia, died after police threw a tear gas canister into her room as they violently dispersed a student protest. Her family were given $25,000USD in compensation but no officer had been charged. (Amnesty International,28 June 2021/ 21 March 2022).
Preliminary investigations by the Human Rights Commission had established that Mr. Nsama, a State Prosecutor working for the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) and Joseph Kaunda, a Kafue based UPND sympathiser were shot dead, about 10 metres from each other near the NPA offices.
The Commission expressed shock at the indiscriminate use of live ammunition by the police in an area surrounded by public offices such as Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Justice, the British High Commission, and others including private places such as the Restaurant where the majority of workers around go to eat from (Bruce Chooma-Africa Blogging, 29 December, 2020).
In fact, these killings happened after The Minister of Home Affairs Hon Stephen Kampyongo had issued a strong warning to members and sympathisers of HH to stay away from the streets as HH attended to the police call out. This warning was echoed by then Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo: “police know what to do,” he warned UPND supporters who had planned to escort HH at the police service headquarters in Lusaka.
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) observed that it had become fashionable for the police to use live ammunition, killing unarmed and innocent citizens. LAZ cited another incident of February 13, 2020, were a Grade 9 Pupil was shot dead by the police who were targeting protesters. The organization lamented and stressed that the practices by the police fell below internationally accepted standards for policing and crowd control.
Otherwise, then opposition leader, HH had charged that Nsama Nsama and Joseph, were killed by snippers who were planted to kill innocent citizens as they were both shot in the head; indicating that the shooting was intentional. But, president ECL had given the police 3 days to investigate the matter.
According to the 2021 Country Reports On Human Rights Practices: zambia, on February 24, 2021 police arrested and charged Constable Fanwell Nyundu with two counts of murder in connection with the killings. In its March 4 statement released after independent investigations into the killings, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) noted that the shooting was an excessive use of force and a blatant violation of the rights to life, freedom of assembly, and movement and alleged that former Lusaka Province police commissioner Nelson Phiri was responsible for the killings. The case relating to the killing remained pending trial at year’s end (U.S. EMBASSY IN ZAMBIA, APRIL 13, 2022).
I don’t know about PF bouncing back in 2026, but: my book, is coming-soon ❤🙏
TOLLS INCREASED FOR MEDIUM HEAVY, AND ABNORMAL LOAD VEHICLES
Road toll fees for certain categories of vehicles will increase effective 1st January 2026, following the announcement by the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hon. Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, during the presentation of the 2026 National Budget.
National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) Public Relations Manager Alphonsius Hamachila has confirmed that the increment will apply only to medium heavy vehicles, heavy vehicles, and abnormal load vehicles.
The new charges will take effect at all NRFA-operated toll gates, including those along the Lusaka–Ndola Road, which are operated under concession by MOIC-LN Consortium Limited.
Mr. Hamachila said toll fees for small vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, including cars, vans, and minibuses carrying up to 16 passengers, will remain unchanged at K20 per passage.
Light vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes up to 6.5 tonnes, including minibuses with 17 to 30 seats, will pay K40, while buses with over 30 seats will pay K50 per passage.
Under the new structure, medium heavy vehicles exceeding 6.5 tonnes with 2 to 4 axles will pay K200, while heavy vehicles with four axles and above will pay K300. Abnormal load vehicles will attract a toll fee of K1,000.
At the Michael Chilufya Sata Toll Gate between Ndola and Kitwe, toll fees will be K650 for medium heavy vehicles, K1,200 for heavy vehicles, and K2,400 for abnormal load vehicles.
Mr. Hamachila explained that the adjustments are intended to support the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the road network, in view of rising infrastructure costs and the backlog in road maintenance nationwide.
He reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that all toll revenues are channelled toward improving the country’s road infrastructure.
Meanwhile, motorists spoken to have welcomed the move, but have urged authorities to ensure consistent road maintenance so that users receive value for their money.
IRANIAN HACKERS INFILTRATE NETANYAHU’SCHIEF OF STAFF’S PHONE AND DROP VIDEOS FROM IT
Iran’s Hanẓala group just went from claiming they hacked Netanyahu’s chief of staff’s phone to proving it.
They released a video. Russian ambassador to Israel. Private meeting. Quote: “Russia and Israel are friends.”
That’s not the smoking gun. That’s the opening shot.
Here’s why this matters. Iran didn’t lead with the most damaging material. They led with something embarrassing but not catastrophic. The message is: “We have the phone. We have the files. This is what we’re willing to show you first.”
Classic kompromat strategy. Release something that proves access, then hold the devastating stuff as leverage.
What the Russian ambassador video reveals:
Israel and Russia maintain coordination despite Ukraine. That’s known publicly, but seeing it documented privately is different. Netanyahu has been walking a tightrope – supporting Ukraine rhetorically while maintaining an operational relationship with Moscow over Syria.
Video of a Russian ambassador saying “we’re friends” in a private meeting undermines Israel’s Western alignment posturing. It’s not catastrophic, but it’s embarrassing.
And if they have that – what else do they have?
Iran is claiming:
Full contact lists, including every foreign diplomat, intelligence contact, and political ally.
Internal security information.
Classified communications.
Videos of foreign ambassadors.
If real, that’s the entire diplomatic and intelligence apparatus of the Israeli government exposed. Every back channel. Every secret arrangement. Every private assurance given to allies.
Why release the Russia video first?
Proof of access. This can no longer be dismissed as bluff.
Strategic messaging. Showing Israel-Russia cooperation complicates Israel’s relationships with Ukraine backers in the U.S. and EU.
Escalation ladder. Start with embarrassing but not devastating material. Create pressure. “Want us to stop? Start negotiating.”
If Iran starts dropping Israeli intelligence operations, agent networks, or classified military planning from that phone, this becomes the biggest intelligence breach of the decade.
If they stop here, it was a sophisticated psychological operation with limited actual compromise.
Iran picked the perfect target. A chief of staff’s phone contains everything sensitive without being classified at the highest levels that would trigger immediate lockdown protocols.
The Russia angle is the twist.
Why embarrass Israel’s relationship with Russia? Iran and Russia are allies. Exposing “Russia and Israel are friends” should hurt both.
Unless Iran is also sending a message to Moscow: “We can expose your secret arrangements. Remember that next time you coordinate with Israel over Syria.”
This is beyond just Israel versus Iran.
Iran is showing everyone: “We can penetrate, we can expose, and we choose what gets released.”
That’s intelligence warfare. And Iran just demonstrated capability.
Source: Iranian hacker group Hanẓala, @Megatron_ron
BOZ CURRENCY DIRECTIVES 2025: BRINGING THE KWACHA BACK TO THE CENTRE OF THE STAGE.
By Malcolm Jhala.
The Bank of Zambia’s new Currency Directives have quietly shifted the country’s economic centre of gravity. From now on, if a transaction happens in Zambia, the payment must land in Kwacha. You can still quote in USD if that’s how you make sense of your pricing, but when money changes hands, it does so in our own currency. And that simple rule changes the behaviour of the entire economy.
For years, dollar‑linked settlements made the Kwacha play catch‑up in its own backyard. Prices moved with exchange‑rate rumours rather than real domestic conditions, and monetary policy struggled to influence inflation. By bringing settlements home to Kwacha, BoZ strengthens its tools: interest‑rate decisions gain traction, inflation becomes easier to anchor, and the economy becomes less exposed to global currency swings.
Businesses that relied on foreign‑currency settlements must now sharpen their financial planning. Local‑currency inflows mean tracking exchange‑rate risks more deliberately, adjusting pricing strategies, and building resilience rather than leaning on USD receipts as a safety net. But predictability improves: fewer dual‑currency distortions, clearer cash‑flow expectations, and a domestic market that behaves like one.
For ordinary citizens, this shift promises calmer prices. When your monthly budget no longer dances to the tune of a street‑corner rate, everyday life becomes a little less volatile. Trust in the Kwacha grows when it is used consistently, and that trust is the foundation of a stable currency.
The Directives ask Zambia to let the Kwacha do the job it was created for. Strength comes from use, and this policy nudges the entire economy toward that strength.
“END TO POWER STRUGGLES, UPND DUNDUMWEZI MP SOUTHERN PROVINCE VICE CHAIRPERSON EDGAR SING’OMBE PRODS ZAMBIA
… says Bill No. 7 has settled the matter
By Chali Mulenga in Livingstone, Southern Province, Zambia
DUNDUMWEZI Member of Parliament and UPND Southern Province Vice Chairperson Edgar Sing’ombe has issued a stern warning to political actors in Southern Province, declaring that Bill No. 7 has removed the basis for internal power struggles and further infighting will not be tolerated.
“Let us avoid unnecessary competition because Bill No. 7 has taken care of that,” Mr. Sing’ombe said, adding that the newly approved law provides a definitive solution to long-standing disputes over constituency boundaries and political placement.
Sing’ombe said the Bill’s passage — backed by 135 MPs with zero objections — marks a turning point in the management of political affairs, especially in areas that have suffered persistent clashes among councillors, aspiring candidates and local party leadership.
Southern Province Vice Chairperson for the United Party for National Development (UPND) and Dundumwezi Member of Parliament Edgar Sing’ombe “Delimitation will address the pressures that have caused friction for years,” Sing’ombe said. “Nobody has an excuse to fight. Those battles are now pointless and outdated.”
In a message directed at party structures, community influencers and local leaders, Mr. Sing’ombe said internal conflicts have become an obstacle to strategic political mobilisation in the region.
“Those fuelling divisions must stop,” he said. “We cannot build political strength while fighting each other. We must organise ourselves based on capability, not chaos,” prayed Sing’ombe.
Sing’ombe warned that the 2026 election cycle will expose individuals prioritising personal ambition over party unity.
Sing’ombe described the overwhelming parliamentary support for Bill No. 7 as a national statement of confidence in the country’s political direction.
“This is the first time we have seen Parliament vote in this manner. There was no loser, no winner — only a collective decision to put the country first,” Sing’ombe said.
Sing’ombe urged citizens to follow the example set by lawmakers, saying MPs made a clear expression of trust in the reforms before them.
“Your MPs did not waste their votes. They voted for stability and progress. This shows that the country is in secure hands,” Sing’ombe said.
Sing’ombe said the Bill has fundamentally changed how constituencies will be represented and administered, insisting that political actors must now adapt to the new reality instead of fighting old battles.
“The ground has shifted. The space is now clearer. Leaders must reorganise themselves and work as a disciplined unit. Those who continue provoking divisions are simply resisting progress,” Sing’ombe said.
Sing’ombe said the reforms should strengthen the presidential vote and ensure a coordinated political front across all 211 constituencies. Dundumwezi MP .Hon Edgar Sing’ombe Hon Edgar Singombe -Dundumwezi MP Hon Edgar Siakacoma
I WAS JAH PRAYZAH’S SLAVE :GONYETI | Popular dancer, Gonyeti has tearfully opened up about how she was sxually abused by Jah Prayzah many times without protection.
“I did not want this information to go public. I just got angry in a meeting last week and spilled the beans in front of other people. We were only five in the meeting and tempers flared until I reminded him about his s.ex escapades in anger. It is embarrassing to share a story of sxual abuse with the world and I thought the issue would end in the meeting. I was surprised to see a story about it in a newspaper and I feel so bad, but I don’t have anything to hide anymore,” she told The Herald.
She admitted having been abused sxually without protection by Jah Prayzah on numerous occasions for the past three years to safeguard her job, but insisted she had no plans to make the sensitive issue public.
“Many women do not disclose issues related to sxual abuse because they are afraid of stigmatisation. I was one of them. What will people say when they know Jah Prayzah had sxually abused me without protection? I had to live with it. I had to please my paymaster. Now they have told the world about it and the most painful thing is that Jah Prayzah is saying I am lying. Why would I lie that I slept with him? Why would I lie to embarrass myself . . . ” for a moment she could not continue as she wept uncontrollably.
Gonyeti said the sxual abuse was the main reason why she left Jah Prayzah’s Third Generation band.“I asked myself why I was hanging on when I was being abused in many ways. I was a s.ex slave and I was also not getting paid for my services in the band. I just had to keep pleasing my master with my body, my voice and my energy for nothing. I just said ‘enough is enough’ and I quit the band. Honestly, the issue of sxual abuse was personal. Now they have told the world about it and everyone will see me as a dirty person.”
The energetic dancer said during tours, other band members would share hotel rooms and Jah Prayzah, as the boss, was always booked alone and he abused that scenario to have quality time with his subordinate before and after shows.
“I always shared the room with Stimela (Fatima Katiji, the other female vocalist) and I would be called to the boss’ room and leave her alone. We also met at various places in Harare during the week when we were off duty. That was the life I led at Third Generation. It was risky because I knew many other girls that Jah Prayzah was involved with.
“He has many girlfriends among his fans and we knew most of them. When such a person continuously demands unprotected sx, it becomes dangerous. He says he does not fear contracting any sxually-transmitted infections because he is circumcised.”
🇮🇱🇺🇸 NETANYAHU FLIES TO MAR-A-LAGO MONDAY – HIS ENTIRE STRATEGY DEPENDS ON TRUMP IGNORING EVERYONE WHO WORKS FOR HIM
Netanyahu’s on a plane to Florida. Fifth U.S. meeting with Trump this year. Agenda: Gaza ceasefire phase 2, Iran/Hezbollah threats.
But here’s the actual meeting: Netanyahu betting Trump will override his entire team’s position because personal chemistry beats institutional consensus.
Barak Ravid (Axios) just confirmed what we already knew: “All members of Trump’s inner circle are tired of Netanyahu, except Trump himself.”
That’s not hyperbole. That’s J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, and the entire foreign policy apparatus united in frustration – while Netanyahu flies in confident he can flip the one person who matters.
What Trump’s team wants:
Advance to Phase 2 of ceasefire (Hamas disarmament, international stabilization force, full Israeli withdrawal)
Technocratic Palestinian government
Actual implementation of the October deal Netanyahu signed
What Netanyahu wants:
Stall Phase 2 indefinitely
Maintain military presence
Avoid commitments that limit operations
Keep fighting until Hamas is “eliminated” (undefined timeline)
Monday’s meeting decides who wins that argument.
Netanyahu’s not traveling with journalists. That’s telling. He wants zero public record of what gets discussed.
No Israeli media documenting concessions. Just him and Trump, one-on-one, personal relationship against institutional pressure.
Trump’s own words from October when he visited Jerusalem:
“Israel, with our help, has won everything achievable by force of arms. Now is the time to transform these victories against terrorists into peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.”
That was 2 months ago. Netanyahu heard it, nodded, then continued exactly as before. Strikes during ceasefire. Killed Hamas commanders.
Attacked Palestinian civilians. Refused to open Rafah crossing. Slow-walked every implementation step.
Now Trump’s team is telling him: Netanyahu played you. He signed the deal, took credit, then sabotaged implementation.
Netanyahu’s counter-pitch: Iran’s the real threat. Hamas isn’t defeated. Give me more time. Trust me over your advisors.
The bet:
If Netanyahu walks out Monday having convinced Trump, he just proved a foreign leader can manipulate U.S. foreign policy by cultivating the president personally while ignoring the entire national security apparatus.
Every future negotiation becomes: skip the bureaucracy, get to Trump, use personal rapport to override institutional analysis.
If Trump sides with his team, Netanyahu goes home empty and has to actually implement what he signed in October.
This is mainly about whether Trump governs through his advisors or through personal relationships with foreign leaders who’ve figured out how to work him.
Netanyahu’s the test case. Monday we find out if the strategy works.
PF faction Deputy Secretary General Celestine Mukandila says the party will hold its elective conference by April next year.
Meanwhile, Mukandila has warned party members that he will not tolerate indiscipline, adding that he will use his office to instil discipline within the party.
Appearing on KBN TV, Thursday, PF presidential aspirant Brian Mundubile said the confusion in the party would calm down once the convention was held and a leader was chosen.
Similarly, in a recent interview with News Diggers, Mpika PF MP Francis Kapyanga asked Given Lubinda, the acting party president, to explain why the party had not yet held its convention. Kapyanga added that the wrangles can only be settled once a president is elected.
Responding to these remarks in an interview, Saturday, Mukandila refuted suggestions that there was confusion in the party, stating that all presidential aspirants were aware of the reasons for the delay.
“I must hasten to mention that the party is not in a confused state, and the party is extremely intact. Those that feel that the party is in a confused state, that is within their bubble of imagination. It’s extremely important to state it out. And of course, every presidential aspirant is aware of the reason why we have not held the party conference. And the reason is that the committee has looked at dynamics that are surrounding the holding of the party conference. And the Central Committee is the one that makes decisions as to what happens in the party. So the Central Committee from inception made a decision to move and have the conference on the 29th of November. Unfortunately, before the 29th of November, Mr Ng’ona decided to file an injunction in a Kabwe court,” he explained.
“And also what transpired thereafter is all presidential aspirants were met by the council of elders of the party. And of course, I was privileged to be in that meeting. And in that meeting, it was unanimously agreed by all the presidential aspirants that we cannot go for a conference before the court matters that are subsisting [are resolved]. There’s an injunction, the Patriotic Front is a law-abiding party. We cannot be seen to be the ones defying court orders. And the unanimous decision was reached. In fact, in that meeting, the person who was even requested to be the one to convey the message to the Zambian people, as well as the party structures, was Honourable Makebi Zulu. I’m sure you are aware of that. Honourable Makebi Zulu informed the Zambian people and the party structures”.
Mukandila said according to the party calendar, the conference would be held by April, adding that the structures remained intact under the stewardship of Lubinda.
“But that notwithstanding, it doesn’t mean that we will not go for the General Conference. We shall go for the General Conference. The calendar of the Patriotic Front holding the convention ends in April. And whether we like it or not, constitutionally, by April we must go for the General Conference. Even the national constitution also backs up the same, because remember now political parties are constitutional authorities. So I think it’s important that we get more details as to what Brian Mundubile means by indicating that the reason why there is confusion… and in fact, there is no confusion in the party. That is within his bubble of imagination. No one should even think there is confusion. The party structures are intact, they are with the legitimate leadership of the party under the stewardship of Honourable Given Lubinda,” Mukandila said.
Commenting on Kapyanga’s remarks, Mukandila said it was wrong for the Mpika MP to make statements intended to mislead the public.
“I don’t think it is right that Kapyanga, who is not even a member of the Central Committee, should make a statement that is solely intended to mislead the public and the citizens. We shouldn’t get to a point of getting such misleading statements. And this is now an indictment to the press and members of the press to be reminded that the only people, the only authorities that will give you the party position include the president, the vice-president and the Secretary General or the Secretariat, period. No other person in this party can give you a position that will stand as a party position,” he said.
“The reality is those that are interested, the biggest interested stakeholders in the holding of a general conference being the aspirants themselves and the party. The aspirants agreed in principle. Further to that, it was informed that the Central Committee would be informed of the decision that was made so that it would be able to be guided by the legal department of the party with regards to the legal technicalities that are existing”.
He said it was unfair to blame Lubinda for every party development, as the Central Committee makes decisions collectively.
“It’s been extremely unfair that everything that happens in this party, people have to point at Lubinda. And yet we’ve got a governing body which is the Central Committee. And the Central Committee agrees on most of these things. And there are unanimous decisions that are made by the Central Committee. And decisions that are made by the Central Committee bind all of us. Even if I was not for the idea of the decision, I am bound by collective responsibility. And that is how management is done. That is the governing principle: collective responsibility. You can’t be a member of the Central Committee and go out there and issue a statement that is well-intended to bring the name of the party into disrepute,” he added.
Mukandila further warned that he would not watch from the sidelines as indiscipline grew.
“And I think at this point, me being the person in charge of administration in the party, I will not sit and watch indiscipline go on. I would rather we have very few disciplined people than having a bunch of indisciplined persons. For me, I say discipline should be the hallmark. And that is what Michael Sata has taught us. Michael Sata taught us discipline, you can’t just go out there. The party gives you directives, you can’t go out there and issue your own instructions or your own statement. Those are levels of indiscipline that we cannot tolerate,” he said.
“Going forward, I shall administer my office with a blindfold on my face, blinding my eyes. I will not look at who it is. I will ensure that the party runs, and it has to run because the Zambian people are waiting for us to give them proper direction. We need to win an election. We will not continue with indisciplined individuals who want to create centres of authority or centres of power away from the party functionaries”.
Mukandila also reminded presidential aspirants that they were not above others in the party.
“And this is also a reminder to presidential aspirants. They are only but presidential aspirants, they must be reminded. The party runs on functions and principles of governance. Those who are presidential aspirants are even lucky that Honourable Lubinda decided to ensure that all of them are members of the Central Committee.
And it was, of course, again, unanimously agreed by the Central Committee that all presidential aspirants should be part of the Central Committee. But they remain ordinary members of the party like myself and any other person, they are not gods. They are not above any other person, they are only but aspirants. The party has well-established structures which must be respected by every person,” said Mukandila.
🇿🇲 CONTEXT | PF’s April Convention Clock, Court Battle & Opposition Unity Problem ──────────────────────── The Patriotic Front’s internal crisis has entered a deadline phase, with the Given Lubinda faction now signalling that an elective conference must happen by April 2026. The message is framed as order and procedure. The subtext is survival, in a season where the party’s legal identity, command structure, and electoral usefulness are all being contested at once.
PF faction deputy secretary general Celestine Mukandila says the party is “extremely intact” and dismisses talk of confusion as “within their bubble of imagination”.
He links the delay to court action, saying the Central Committee had agreed on a conference date but “before the 29th of November, Mr Ng’ona decided to file an injunction in a Kabwe court,” and that aspirants later agreed the party could not proceed while “court matters that are subsisting” remained unresolved.
Mukandila’s core claim is that the April window is not optional. “The calendar of the Patriotic Front holding the convention ends in April,” he says, adding: “constitutionally, by April we must go for the General Conference.” His argument is that the party must be seen to respect court orders, while still meeting internal deadlines that speak to legitimacy and organisational discipline.
That discipline theme is not subtle. Mukandila warns he will not “sit and watch indiscipline go on,” and says he would “rather we have very few disciplined people than having a bunch of indisciplined persons.”
He frames the dispute as one about authority, insisting that only the party president, vice-president, and secretary general or secretariat can issue positions that bind the party.
But the political reality is that PF is not only fighting about dates. It is fighting about who speaks, who commands, and who legally owns the brand. The Lubinda enclave is trying to keep internal structures intact while the Robert Chabinga camp asserts control through legal instruments and public counter-messaging. That is why the convention pledge is being presented as a defiant act of identity, not just a routine conference.
This is where Brian Mundubile’s messaging sharpens the pressure. Mundubile says the confusion ends when a credible convention is held and a leader is chosen. “What is creating the confusion is the delayed convention,” he says.
“All we need is a credible process, an accountable process to the convention. Once the convention is held… all this confusion will calm down.” This is a direct challenge to any leadership that cannot deliver a credible conference under legal constraint.
Mundubile also ties the convention problem to the Bill 7 vote fallout. He says six MPs who voted for the Bill disappointed “the whole nation,” especially because they were part of the 29 MPs who endorsed him for party president.
He stresses that these MPs are “representatives of the people” who, in his view, acted against what their constituencies expected.
The April promise therefore reads as damage control on two fronts: reasserting authority after the Bill 7 rebellion, and preventing further fragmentation as rival centres of power multiply. In fact, the struggle is now multi-layered.
Lubinda’s bloc is not simply under attack from outside. It is also being squeezed from within by competing presidential ambitions and rival narratives about legitimacy, procedure, and strategy.
Outside PF’s internal fight, the wider opposition field is displaying the same weakness that PF claims it must cure: multiple candidates, multiple platforms, and no enforceable coordination.
PF central committee member Emmanuel Mwamba has argued that opposition parties are “fielding numerous candidates” and “splitting the votes,” warning that races like Chawama show how three or more credible contenders can hand advantage to the ruling party by arithmetic, not persuasion.
This vote arithmetic matters in a cycle where turnout, mobilisation, and organisational reach decide outcomes more than online enthusiasm.
So the PF April convention pledge is best read as an attempt to restore a centre of gravity before nominations season pressure tightens and before litigation, defections, and parallel press briefings turn into permanent structure.
Mukandila’s line that “the party is a law-abiding party” is also a warning: the PF wants to look institutional while it argues politics, because legitimacy in 2026 will increasingly be tested in courts, registers, and compliance.
The unresolved question is whether a convention can be both timely and credible under legal uncertainty, and whether it can unify a party whose factions disagree on authority itself. If April arrives without a clean process, PF risks entering 2026 as a brand with competing owners, competing candidates, and competing chains of command.
If April arrives with a credible outcome, PF still faces the broader opposition problem Mwamba is pointing at: unity is not a slogan. It is maths, discipline, and enforceable compromise.
As New Congress Party (NCP), we have been questioned on why the image of the late former Republican President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, appears on our T-shirts and posters.
Let me state this clearly and without apology, this is a party President Edgar Chagwa Lungu choose as a special purpose vehicle on which he was to use to get back to state house, NCP does not belong to individuals, it belongs to the people of Zambia.
I am fighting to protect, preserve, and grow that legacy he started because it represents values many Zambians still believe in humility, inclusiveness, and leadership that speaks to the common person. Some may not yet understand this truth, and that is okay. History often takes time to be appreciated.
As NCP, we are not exploiting his image, we are carrying forward his ideals. We believe that through our actions, conduct, and commitment to the people, Zambians will one day fully understand why we chose this path.
Legacy is not built by noise, but by deeds. We will continue to build, to serve, and to honor the legacy of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu in a way that uplifts the people of Zambia.
Current opposition alliances driven by selfish motives – Antonio Mwanza
OPPOSITION Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Antonio Mwanza says current opposition alliances can’t work because they are solely driven by selfish and greedy motives.
The opposition leader contends that opposition parties and leaders are teaming up to solely remove the UPND, only to replace them with politicians whose main interest is sharing offices, allowances, contracts, and corrupt business opportunities.
“An alliance formed solely to remove the UPND, only to replace it with another group of politicians focused on sharing offices, allowances, contracts, and corrupt business opportunities, does not advance the interests of the Zambian people. Such arrangements merely recycle political elites while the hardship faced by ordinary citizens deepens,” Mwanza observed, in a media statement.
“A meaningful alliance must therefore speak directly to the lived realities of Zambians. It must clearly articulate how it will tackle poverty, reduce youth and women unemployment, and address the high cost of living,” he stated.
Mwanza pointed out that a political alliance must present practical and measurable plans for creating millions of decent jobs, restoring national control over the economy, and ensuring that Zambia’s natural resources—such as copper, gold, mukula, and sugilite—are managed for the primary benefit of Zambians.
Further, Mwanza said a political alliance must also outline concrete steps to reduce the tax burden, empower small and medium enterprises, and build an economy that rewards productivity, innovation, and hard work rather than political connections.
He noted that with less than eight months remaining before the 2026 General Elections, the country had no single opposition figure capable of defeating the current President.
“An increasing number of citizens are calling on opposition political parties and leaders to rise above personal differences and individual ambitions and unite behind a single presidential candidate to challenge President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND,” he noted.
“This appeal is rooted in a clear-eyed assessment of the political reality: no single opposition party or candidate currently commands the numerical strength, national reach, or organizational capacity required to dislodge the UPND on their own,” he added.
Mwanza said persistent fragmentation has weakened the opposition’s electoral competitiveness and steadily eroded public confidence in its ability to present a credible alternative government”.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba December 28, 2025
For immediate release
With less than eight months remaining before the 2026 General Elections, Zambia finds itself at a decisive moment, particularly in relation to the state of the opposition. An increasing number of citizens are calling on opposition political parties and leaders to rise above personal differences and individual ambitions and unite behind a single presidential candidate to challenge President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND. This appeal is rooted in a clear-eyed assessment of the political reality: no single opposition party or candidate currently commands the numerical strength, national reach, or organizational capacity required to dislodge the UPND on their own. Persistent fragmentation has weakened the opposition’s electoral competitiveness and steadily eroded public confidence in its ability to present a credible alternative government.
Yet Zambia’s political history offers a sobering lesson. Since independence in 1964, alliances have frequently been formed as short-term electoral arrangements rather than as vehicles for lasting national transformation. From UNIP-led configurations in the First Republic, to the broad MMD coalition that ended one-party rule in 1991, the UDA of the early 2000s, and the PF–UPND Pact of 2006, most alliances have shared a fundamental weakness: they were marriages of convenience, not partnerships grounded in shared values, ideology, or a common long-term vision.
The failure of these alliances has been largely self-inflicted. They were undermined by dishonesty, lack of principle, and the absence of strategic clarity. Short-term political calculations replaced national interest, while greed, personal ambition, and the scramble for positions took precedence over policy coherence. Supporters were often misled, internal agreements hidden, and leadership structures left weak and undefined. With no clear ideology, no unified vision for governance, and no effective mechanisms for managing internal conflict, these alliances predictably collapsed once power—or proximity to power—was attained.
Zambia cannot afford to repeat this costly cycle. Any future alliance must be firmly anchored in a clear, credible, and people-centred economic agenda. An alliance formed solely to remove the UPND, only to replace it with another group of politicians focused on sharing offices, allowances, contracts, and corrupt business opportunities, does not advance the interests of the Zambian people. Such arrangements merely recycle political elites while the hardship faced by ordinary citizens deepens.
A meaningful alliance must therefore speak directly to the lived realities of Zambians. It must clearly articulate how it will tackle poverty, reduce youth and women unemployment, and address the high cost of living. It must present practical and measurable plans for creating millions of decent jobs, restoring national control over the economy, and ensuring that Zambia’s natural resources—such as copper, gold, mukula, and sugilite—are managed for the primary benefit of Zambians. It must also outline concrete steps to reduce the tax burden, empower small and medium enterprises, and build an economy that rewards productivity, innovation, and hard work rather than political connections.
Simply replacing one political party with another that has nothing new to offer is a waste of national time and energy. While politicians often live comfortably, the majority of Zambians are struggling to survive. Any alliance that fails to present a tangible, measurable, and people-focused economic programme to confront the current crisis should be firmly rejected. Zambia does not need slogans or survival politics; it needs serious solutions, principled leadership, and a clear vision for inclusive economic transformation.
Antonio Mourinho Mwanza President Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) 28 – 12 – 25
SAKWIBA SIKOTA SAYS OPPOSITION HAS NOT FAILED TO FIELD A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
By Nelson Zulu
Chairperson of the We Are One Alliance –WOZA- Sakwiba Sikota, says the opposition has not failed to field a single presidential candidate to challenge President Hakainde Hichilema in next year’s elections.
In an interview with Phoenix News, Mr. Sikota says the alliance is working to resolve outstanding issues among member groups and is committed to producing one unified candidate before the end of January and that the process will be transparent and inclusive of independent participants.
He has revealed that the alliance has set 24th January, 2025 as the nomination date for the initial selection, with a contingency runoff scheduled for 31st January 2026, should no candidate secure a clear outcome on the first ballot.
Mr. Sikota adds that the selection mechanism will include non-partisan figures alongside political operatives to enhance credibility and reflect a broader “people’s choice”, approach aimed at addressing public calls for unity among the opposition.
AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA REGARDING UNPAID MAIZE DELIVERIES
Dear President Hakainde Hichilema,
I hope this email finds you well; if not, I wish you good health.
Mr President, the transition of power under your leadership was heralded by immense hope, particularly within the agricultural sector.
As a successful farmer yourself, you campaigned on a steadfast promise to prioritize and uplift the welfare of the Zambian farmer, recognizing agriculture’s critical role in national food security and economic diversification.
One of the expectations, Mr President, was that the New Dawn administration would ensure prompt and fair compensation for maize delivered to national grain reserve – the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), especially during the crucial post-harvest period.
However, the current reality, characterized by significant and protracted delays in paying farmers who supplied their maize in July, has sown deep seeds of disappointment and threatens to undermine the very trust upon which your administration was elected.
The failure to pay farmers has severe ramifications. The disappointment felt by the farming community stems directly from the perceived betrayal of electoral promises. Farmers invested their capital, labour, and time based on the assurance that their output would be remunerated efficiently. When these payments stall months after delivery, the impact is not merely financial; it is systemic to the next farming cycle.
Mr President, for a smallholder farmer, the funds from the maize sale are the primary source of working capital needed for inputs such as fertilizer, quality seeds, and labour for the subsequent planting season. Late payments directly translate into delayed preparation, reduced input quality, and ultimately, lower yields in the next harvest. This vicious cycle created by your administration risks pushing viable farming operations toward collapse, contradicting the administration’s stated goal of transforming agriculture into a prosperous sector.
The delay suggests a fundamental disconnect between the policy rhetoric emanating from your government and the operational realities faced by those on the ground whose livelihoods depend on timely cash flow.
Mr President, a significant component of the current crisis is the alarming lack of transparency regarding the actual status of funds intended for farmer payments.
When questioned about the delays, government narratives have appeared inconsistent, at times shifting the burden of responsibility onto the financial institutions or banks. This tendency to accuse commercial banks of failing to execute payments is problematic, particularly when juxtaposed against clear statements from the Bankers’ Association of Zambia (BAZ.
Mr President, the BAZ has explicitly challenged the government to name the specific banks that have received the allocated funds, asserting that once the money is released by the paying authority, the transfer process to farmers takes a mere two days. This public refutation by the banking sector strongly implies that the bottleneck resides within the government’s disbursement mechanism, not the commercial banking infrastructure.
Mr President, the government’s failure to provide clear, verifiable timelines and transparent accounting for the delayed payments erodes public trust faster than almost any other administrative failing. Farmers require certainty to plan; opaque financial processes breed speculation and foster the perception that the administration is either incompetent in managing these crucial transactions or deliberately obfuscating the facts.
Given the evidence presented by the BAZ, the narrative blaming banks appears less like a genuine explanation and more like an attempt to deflect accountability from the executive branch responsible for authorizing and releasing these substantial public funds.
For the credibility of the New Dawn administration to be restored within this vital sector, an unreserved public apology is warranted.
This apology must be coupled with a concrete, time-bound action plan detailing when every outstanding kwacha will reach the intended recipient.
Mr President, the delayed payment for maize supplied in July represents a critical juncture for your commitment to the agricultural sector. The economic hardship imposed upon farmers who diligently fulfilled their obligations must be rectified immediately. Beyond payment, the administration must address the systemic issue of non-transparency, which has allowed blame to be misdirected toward the banking sector without substantiation. Moving forward, genuine partnership with farmers demands accountability, clear communication regarding fund flow, and the swift delivery of dues.
Only through decisive action and a transparent admission of failure regarding these delays can your administration begin to repair the significant trust deficit currently afflicting the very community it pledged to champion.
ZAMBIA’S 2025 CHALLENGES: ENERGY CRISIS, POLITICAL TENSIONS AND NATIONAL GRIEF – NJOBVU REFLECTS
Democratic Union (DU) president, Ackim Antony Njobvu, has described 2025 as one of the most difficult years Zambia has endured in recent history, citing the crippling energy crisis, political unrest, and lingering national grief as key challenges citizens were forced to confront.
Speaking during an interview on Millennium Radio, Njobvu said the nation went through one of the worst electricity crises ever recorded, with many households and businesses surviving on less than three hours of power daily. He noted that the extended load shedding severely disrupted economic activity, forcing a number of enterprises to shut down while others significantly scaled back operations.
“The electricity crisis crippled most businesses, especially those dependent on Zesco for production and service delivery,” he said, adding that livelihoods were lost and productivity stalled across critical sectors.
While acknowledging the recent improvement in power supply, Njobvu questioned the sustainability of the stability, suggesting that the sudden relief may be politically motivated ahead of the 2026 general elections. He stated that several stakeholders believe the improved electricity supply could be a deliberate move to influence public perception in favour of the ruling UPND.
Reflecting further on national developments, the DU leader expressed concern over the political tensions evidenced by the stoning of President Hakainde Hichilema in Chiwempala, Chingola, earlier in the year. He attributed the incident to poor communication and limited community engagement regarding mining matters, arguing that citizens feel excluded from conversations surrounding the country’s vast mineral resources.
Njobvu also lamented the prolonged delay in the burial of former President Edgar Lungu, six months after his passing, describing it as a painful experience that has placed the country in a prolonged state of mourning.
He said these events collectively reflect a deeply strained nation grappling not only with economic pressures, but also with emotional and political uncertainty.
The outspoken opposition leader has since called for healing, reconciliation, and unity among citizens and political leaders, urging the country to adopt new approaches that prioritize national interest. He appealed to Zambians to rally behind the Democratic Union, stating that the party stands ready to provide viable solutions to the challenges the nation continues to face.
THE TELEGRAPH SELECTS HICHILEMA AMONG OTHERS AS ONE OF THE BEST PERFORMING LEADERS IN 2025
It’s understandable that President Hichilema feels nice, even vindicated, by this recognition.
It’s equally understandable that the UPND as the ruling party feels nice about this accolade.
The recognition couldn’t come at a better time – a couple of months away from the general and presidential election.
Hichilema has been recognized for the management of the economy and foreign relations.
Specifically, he is being credited for debt restructuring, “restoring investor confidence”, etc.
Like I said in my article yesterday, economic fundamentals are important to get right because they serve an important role in the life of a nation.
But it’s important to note their limitations. For instance, since we returned to multiparty democracy, Zambia has generally posted consistently growth in the economy.
But how do you explain that at the same time poverty levels have been growing?
The reality is that economic growth doesn’t necessarily lead to job creation or poverty reduction.
https://youtu.be/5HpRNDyP6kI?si=oH3VUEvw873uGVK4
And yet, this is the greatest need for Zambians – job creation and poverty reduction.
For this reason, the selection of President Hichilema as one of the best performing leaders of the world for 2025 has no practical value for the majority Zambians.
Until the Zambian government demonstrates creativity in its redistributive policies and rapidly opening up new economic frontiers, they should never take to the dance floor when their leaders are called by foreigners to receive rewards or recognition.
I have served my country with my best ability for 55 years in most cases without applause. It’s your democratic right to disagree with or those with diverse opinion but not to insult or threaten me and others. Provided God allows it, l will continue serving my country. Some expect media to report only what flatters power and call questioning disloyalty. By that logic, a mirror is an enemy, and a thermometer is a traitor.
A public relations officer exists to protect institutions, manage narratives, and shape perception. Journalism exists to serve citizens, expose wrongdoing, and hold power to account. When truth is branded as disloyalty, lies become loyalty. When pleasing those in power is defined as duty, serving the people is recast as rebellion. That inversion is not accidental. It is a wicked and dangerous narrative that corrodes democracy itself.
The media is the Fourth Estate, independent, fearless, and relentless. Its duty is not convenience, access, or profit, its real duty is truth. It exists to shine light where power prefers darkness, much like solar energy outshining the darkness of load shedding. When Zesco fails, solar rises. The media must be the same, a beacon of truth and reliability.
Those who demand praise over truth are enemies of progress. Those who fear questions are afraid of reality. Media is not a stage for applause, it is a battlefield for accountability. Leaders who cannot endure scrutiny do not deserve obedience. Democracy dies when fear replaces debate.
Truth does not bend. Criticism is not an enemy. Power that fears light is power that deserves to be questioned. Democracy is not entertainment for the powerful, it is responsibility for the people. I have been like this for many years but it’s the first time I am receiving insults and threats.
Under the PF, I was appointed ambassador. Under the UPND, I was appointed to the board of the Zambia Daily Mail. If serving the country is condemned in one instance and praised in another, let us be honest, the problem is not the appointee, it is selective judgment, often driven by intellectual laziness.
We must embrace diversity and respect divergent views. Always remember that if two people are completely identical, then one of them is unnecessary. We obviously cannot all be praise singers, someone has to remain in the ushering department and quietly do the actual work.
ZAMBIA PROVIDES EMERGENCY MEDICINES TO BOTSWANA AS PART OF REGIONAL HEALTH SOLIDARITY
PRESS STATEMENT
Lusaka – December 28, 2025
The Ministry of Health wishes to inform the Zambian public that Government has facilitated the provision of a consignment of essential medicines to the Republic of Botswana, which is currently experiencing a public health emergency due to critical shortages of medicines.
Botswana’s medicine shortages have arisen from a combination of economic and systemic factors. These challenges have led to stock-outs of medicines for conditions such as HIV, cancer and diabetes, necessitating urgent intervention.
In response, and in keeping with regional cooperation and public health solidarity, Zambia released a 20-tonne consignment of essential medicines to support Botswana’s immediate needs. The medicines were airlifted from Zambia aboard a Botswana Defence Force (BDF) C130 aircraft and received at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport by the BDF and officials from Botswana’s Ministry of Health. The consignment has since been handed over to Botswana’s Central Medical Stores for distribution to health facilities.
The Ministry of Health would like to assure the Zambian people that this intervention has not compromised the availability of medicines in Zambia. The release of the medicines followed a careful assessment of national stock levels to ensure that the health needs of Zambians continue to be fully met.
Zambia’s ability to support a neighbouring country in this manner reflects the strides Government has made in strengthening medicines procurement, supply chain management and overall health system resilience. These ongoing reforms are aimed at ensuring uninterrupted access to essential medicines across the country.
Public health challenges often extend beyond national borders. Supporting a neighbouring country during a health emergency contributes to regional health security and protects the well-being of populations across the Southern African region.
The Ministry commends the swift coordination between Zambian and Botswana health authorities, as well as the Botswana Defence Force, which enabled the timely and secure transportation of the medicines.
The Ministry of Health remains committed to safeguarding the health of the Zambian people while contributing responsibly to regional efforts that promote health security, solidarity and shared resilience.
Issued by: (Original Copy Signed )
Georgia Mutale Chimombo Principle Public Relations Officer Ministry of Health Zambia
I’ve seen conflicting statements, some saying I cheated on Chileshe and he left me. I’m compelled to respond, fellow Zambians. Kindly take note:
A relationship can work or not due to many factors. While I was with him, I never cheated. I was abused behind closed doors, beaten behind closed doors, which I thought maybe things could change. But after realizing the man can’t change, I decided to end the relationship. It’s not like he left me.
While we were having issues, I knew about the woman, but I decided to ignore and tried to resolve issues through his mother. Everything failed; she supported him.
I ask you to leave Kuka and Mariana Mbewe alone. We’ve never been friends. How can old single people mock me? Let’s wish Chileshe all the best as he embarks on this new journey.
Shiwang’andu UPND aspiring candidate Robert Kapeya has congratulated President Hakainde Hichilema for being listed among the world’s 25 best presidents, describing the recognition as a clear testament to hard work, discipline, and principled leadership.
Mr Kapeya said the global acknowledgment affirms that President Hichilema’s leadership credentials extend beyond Zambia and are now firmly recognised by the international community.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the UPND Media Team, Mr Kapeya stated that President Hichilema has consistently proven his capacity to lead with vision, integrity, and a firm commitment to national development.
He noted that under President Hichilema’s leadership, Zambia has experienced sustained peace and security, unprecedented job creation, increased financial empowerment, and notable growth in the production of goods and services.
Mr Kapeya further highlighted Zambia’s economic recovery, appreciation of the Kwacha against major foreign currencies, decisive debt restructuring efforts, and increased citizen participation in improving livelihoods.
He added that the people of Zambia are truly blessed to have President Hichilema as their Republican President, whose leadership ranks among the most impactful of this era.
Mr Kapeya emphasized that the President’s administration has demonstrated fiscal prudence, institutional reform, mining sector revitalisation, and macroeconomic stabilisation.
He also cited President Hichilema’s recent appointment as the interim incoming Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), following his distinguished service as Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
Mr Kapeya has since called on citizens to rally behind President Hakainde Hichilema as a leader committed to national renewal, unity, and progress, while urging the President to ignore political noise makers whose criticism has been discredited by both national and global realities.
LEGENDARY musician and human rights activist Daputsa Nkhata, popularly known as Sista D, has expressed concern over the culture of blaming women when relationships fail.
She described the practice as unfair and outdated. In 2021, Sista D released a single titled Woman Blame, lamenting how women have historically been held responsible when things go wrong in relationships.
She cited the biblical story of Adam blaming Eve for eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. In an online post shared today, the Vitendeni singer urged that women should no longer be blamed for failed relationships. Her remarks come amid online criticism directed at soloist Tianna over a failed relationship with newly wed artiste Chile One.
“WOMAN BLAME! Even when a woman leaves a marriage or relationship, people say she abandoned the man. There are women who leave relationships proudly and decisively. Men are not gods for women to fear leaving or for them to stop living their lives. Especially if a man is famous or rich, people assume the woman is forcing herself on him,” Sista D said.
She added: “Men are human too, and they can fall in love deeply, regardless of their status. What hurts me most is women mocking other women over such matters. Some of you act as if you have perfect relationships, yet others are struggling silently.”
“Stop waiting for someone to be hurt so you can feed your selfish eagles. Why do people thrive on hate, especially on Facebook? Wait until they laugh at you, then you’ll understand what others go through. STOP THE HATE‼” she wrote. (Mwebantu, Sunday, 28th December, 2025)
Mali’s President Assimi Goïta Hands Over AES Leadership to Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré.
Mali’s President, General Assimi Goïta, has officially handed over the leadership of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) to Burkina Faso’s President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Goïta congratulated Traoré on assuming the presidency of the AES, praising his leadership qualities and reaffirming Mali’s continued support for the confederation’s strategic goals.
“I extend my warmest congratulations to my successor, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, called upon to assume the Presidency of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES),” Goïta said.
He described Traoré’s “commitment, determination, and vision” as key strengths for sustaining and strengthening the joint project of the Sahel alliance, adding that he would provide his “full support” to ensure the success of the bloc’s objectives.
The AES was formally established in 2024 by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
I don’t believe prayers work, I solve my problems, I don’t pray over my problems because If prayer solves problems, prisons and hospitals would be empty – Seun Kuti Reveals
Speaking via a recent video broadcast on his Instagram account, Kuti claimed that praying is childish.
According to him, he has never prayed before, and does not believe in prayers. He argued that choices and actions are what shape an individual, not prayers.
He said, “I have never prayed before in my life. I don’t know how to pray. I don’t believe it works. Your life is your prayer. Praying in the public or aloud is eye service. It is childishness.
“Your life is the prayer. What you do with your life is your prayer. That is the only prayer. Your action is prayer. Somebody say so you don’t believe in God?
“This concept of God that most people have is why prayer is even now completely noid and void. Because this God you talked about, you claimed he has already written down what is going to happen from the beginning to end; his will must be done.
So, except your prayer aligns with his will… If your prayer does not align with the will of this your God, then your prayer will not be answered. But clerics won’t tell you this because they want to exploit you.
“I solve my problems. I don’t pray over my problems. If prayer solves problems, prisons and hospitals would be empty.”
A Swiss castle filled with priceless artworks is at the centre of a feud playing out between two women of what is perhaps the world’s famous banking dynasty – the Rothschild family. Baroness Ariane de Rothschild is currently embroiled in a legal battle with her mother-in-law, the 93-year-old senior baroness Nadine de Rothschild.
Who are the Rothschilds? The Rothschild family, the most famous of all European banking dynasties, rose to prominence in the 16th century. Their global banking empire laid the foundations of the world’s current banking system.
Nadine de Rothschild, 93, is a member of the French-Swiss branch of the family. She is the widow of Edmond de Rothschild, who died in 1997.
Edmond and Nadine’s only child, Benjamin, was married to Ariane. Benjamin died in 2021. Since 2023, Ariane, 60, has served as CEO of Edmond de Rothschild Group.
What is the lawsuit about? The lawsuits centre on the family’s vast collection of artworks, paintings, furniture and historic objects housed at Chateau de Pregny castle in Geneva.
The Rothschild family has not disclosed the exact contents of the castle, which overlooks Lake Geneva. According to a Guardian report, it houses treasures including Louis XVI furniture and works by Goya, Rembrandt, Fragonard, El Greco and Boucher.
Visitors and photographers are not allowed at Chateau de Pregny, also known as the Rothschild Castle. Therefore, few pictures exist of the treasures that the chateau houses — but the value of its artworks and furniture could easily run into billions of dollars. In fact, a visitor once described it as a “mini Louvre”.
What the two Rothschild baronesses claim Nadine de Rothschild claims that her husband left her a substantial portion of the collection housed at Chateau de Pregny. She wants to put it on display in a new museum in Geneva.
Her daughter-in-law Ariane has accused Nadine of acting under the influence of advisors. In court documents, Ariane compared her mother-in-law with the late L’Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt — who gave over $1 billion in gifts to a young photographer friend. Her daughter tried to have her declared mentally unsound.
A public feud The ugly feud between the two baronesses is being played out in court and in the media. This is a rare instance of a famously private family airing its laundry in public.
Nadine addressed the parallel between her and Liliane in a statement to the Guardian.
“I knew Liliane and I can tell you she was absolutely not a woman you could make do anything she didn’t want. And neither am I under anyone’s influence. You can tell from my voice and answers that it would be hard to influence me,” she said.
“I am the last Rothschild baroness of my generation. All the others have died. To end my life with a major legal battle like this of course upsets me.
“In the beginning I opened my arms to my daughter-in-law; there are photos of us together, I was generous in my personal gifts to her,” the senior baroness claimed, adding that their relationship broke down after the death of her son Benjamin.
Ghana Earns $10 Billion From Small-Scale Gold Exports in 2025
Ghana has generated approximately $10 billion in revenue from the export of 100 tonnes of gold produced by small-scale miners in 2025, according to official figures released by authorities.
https://youtu.be/alWToB_dCcc?si=NTI4DStxT_Z2vCmW
Ghana is currently the largest gold producer in Africa, overtaking South Africa and Mali to become the continent’s top producer of gold.
Ghana’s annual gold output is around 130–140+ tonnes
Ghana is also ranked among the top gold producers in the world, in sixth position.
