BAFANA BAFANA STUMBLE AGAINST 10-MAN EGYPT — NOW ALL ROADS LEAD TO A DO-OR-DIE CLASH WITH ZIMBABWE
South Africa failed to do the unthinkable — they could not beat a 10-man Egypt when the opportunity was there for the taking. After Egypt went down to ten players, Bafana Bafana had space, time, and numerical advantage, but once again lacked urgency, creativity, and killer instinct in the final third. What should have been a statement win turned into a frustrating missed opportunity.
Now the situation is crystal clear and extremely dangerous.
South Africa vs Zimbabwe — last group match Both teams MUST win to stand a real chance of qualifying for the Round of 16
There are no calculations, no shortcuts, no excuses left. A draw could bury both teams depending on other results. This is a straight survival match.
❌ Questions Must Be Asked of Hugo Broos
Head coach Hugo Broos must take responsibility. Once again, eyebrows were raised over team selection. Kaizer Chiefs players were completely ignored, despite their experience and fighting spirit, while the squad leaned heavily on Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns players. When the game demanded fresh ideas and hunger, South Africa looked predictable and blunt.
You cannot dominate possession against 10 men and still fail to impose yourself. That falls squarely on tactics and selection.
Zimbabwe Have Everything to Fight For
Zimbabwe are not coming into this match as underdogs with nothing to lose — they need this win just as badly as South Africa. Qualification is within reach, and the players know it. Pride, survival, and regional rivalry are all on the line.
To make matters worse, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has openly shown hostility toward Zimbabwe in the past. He previously expressed anger after Zimbabweans were seen celebrating South Africa’s struggles during World Cup qualification. That resentment has only added fuel to an already fiery rivalry.
⚠️ Expect a WAR, Not a Game
This will not be a friendly encounter. This will not be tactical chess.
This will be blood, sweat, tackles, pressure, and nerves. A loss sends one team home. A win keeps the dream alive.
South Africa failed to finish the job against 10-man Egypt. Now they must face a motivated, desperate, and hungry Zimbabwe.
AFCON football at its most brutal. Winner survives. Loser goes home.
Here’s what makes this different: The package includes $4 billion of HIMARS truck-based missile launchers. 82 systems total.
Range? Enough to hit China’s east coast from Taiwan.
That’s not defensive positioning. That’s offensive capability with strategic reach.
China called Taiwan “the first red line in China-U.S. relations that must not be crossed.” Then watched America cross it with the biggest arms sale in history.
Their response? Economic sanctions on companies that barely operate in China anyway.
Boeing’s defense division getting sanctioned means… what exactly? They’re not building F-15s in Shanghai. Northrop Grumman’s not sourcing stealth bomber parts from Shenzhen. These companies don’t need Chinese market access.
It’s retaliation theater. China’s screaming “red line” while demonstrating they won’t actually enforce it militarily.
Here’s the calculation both sides are making:
U.S. bet: Arm Taiwan enough that invasion becomes impossibly costly. HIMARS that can strike mainland ports and airbases changes China’s risk assessment. If Taiwan can hit staging areas, the invasion math collapses
China’s bet: Economic punishment and diplomatic isolation eventually break Taiwan/U.S. resolve without requiring military action that could spiral into WWIII.
Both can’t be right. One side’s bluffing or miscalculating.
China’s statement was explicit: Taiwan’s “squandering hard-earned money to purchase weapons at the cost of turning Taiwan into a powder keg” and the U.S. is “playing with fire.”
But they responded with sanctions, not missiles. That tells you which outcome they actually expect.
The deterrence is working-for now. Taiwan gets weapons that make invasion suicidal. China complains loudly, freezes some Boeing accounts, and waits.
What changes this equilibrium? Either China decides the cost of not acting exceeds the cost of acting, or the U.S. miscalculates how far they can push before the sanctions become shells.
$11 billion says we’re testing that line right now.
Source: China Foreign Ministry, Pentagon, ZeroHedge
ESTONIA TO RUSSIA: STEP OVER THE LINE AND WE WILL OPEN FIRE
Estonia has openly warned Russia that its forces will be fired upon if they cross the border, a statement that marks a sharp escalation in tone on NATO’s eastern edge.
This matters because Estonia is not posturing, it is a frontline state with recent, repeated provocations involving unidentified Russian personnel and airspace violations.
Estonian FM’s message is deliberately blunt: ambiguity invites testing, and testing invites escalation.
The timing is critical, as Russia increasingly probes borders using “grey zone” tactics designed to avoid full confrontation while eroding sovereignty.
By removing ambiguity, Estonia is signaling that hybrid tactics will be met with real force, not diplomatic caution.
Geopolitically, this hard line raises the stakes for Moscow and reinforces NATO’s credibility at a moment when deterrence is being openly challenged.
The issue goes far beyond a single border incident, it’s about whether Europe draws the line before provocation becomes the new normal.
CHANGALA BOASTS OF SECURING LEBANESE FUNDING FOR OPPOSITION PARTIES
By Thomas Chewe
As opposition political parties and sections of civil society intensify efforts to mobilise resources ahead of the 2026 General Election, Brebner Changala has drawn attention to himself by openly boasting about links to Lebanese business interests, including Lamast International, which he claims are willing to fund opposition activities.
According to sources familiar with the developments, Changala has been openly discussing his connections to the Lebanese business community and portraying himself as a key intermediary capable of linking opposition political parties to potential funders.
Sources describe his conduct as overzealous, suggesting that he has been enthusiastically offering to connect various political actors to Lamast International and other business entities. Our sources have indicated that Changala has already facilitated a funding link between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate in the Chawama parliamentary by-election and these financiers.
In a related development, Changala is said to be operating in close proximity, and possibly in competition, with his associate, former labour leader Shamenda. Shamenda is supported through programmes linked to Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Zambia, with a focus on mobilising and influencing the labour movement. Sources say that both Changala and Shamenda are benefiting financially from these engagements.
What was initially perceived as a noble effort by Our Civic Duty Association (OCiDA) to promote accountability and provide checks and balances within the political system is now being questioned. Critics say that the initiative has been compromised because Changala and Shamenda are personally benefiting from funds while using politicians as instruments to advance their own interests.
Efforts to obtain comment from Changala and Shamenda proved unsuccessful by press time, as calls to their mobile phones went unanswered.
ETHNICITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE FROM 1971 – 1991 & 2001 to 2011
Mcpherson Chanda Wrote;
When one reads some current unchallenged articles and statements which attack Bemba dominance in Zambia since Independence, it becomes necessary to check our history.
Ethnic History in Public Service:
Did you know that after the culmination of Kaunda – Kapwepwe fall out in 1971 no “Bemba person” held the position of Veep/SG, Prime Minister, Speaker, Secretary to Cabinet, Police IG,BoZ Governor, Army Commander etc for 20 years? These were Executive decision making positions which subsequently also affected hiring into the Civil/Public Service.
Observed: Dr Kenneth Kaunda “balanced” his top public service appointments to accomodate all Provinces. It is actually an affront on KK’s unifying leadership style to assert that he allowed Bemba dominance. In any case, he crushed it by dissolving the 1967 elective UNIP Central Committee in which majority where Northerners.
As for President Chiluba – another Bemba speaking President – he has not been acknowledged for “blocking” the fellow Bembas such as Mr Sata, Mr Kasonde and Mr B.Y. Mwila as successors. He instead “chose” Levy Mwanawasa a Lenje – Lamba as his #successor to avoid continuity of “Bemba” leadership. He has been less – praised for this #unifying choice which he made.
Moral : Before you lay a faulty foundation of a “Bemba dominance” since Independence which now needs #reversal and proceed to build a wrong super structure on it, check history properly.
Different ethnicities in Zambia can raise grievances for “discrimination” at different times. We cannot build the future on “grievances”. What is beneficial is to just proceed in an EQUITABLE MANNER which TREATS everybody in the PUBLIC SECTOR the same.
To unify Zambia, there should be no tribal pattern in appointments. Even the forthcoming delimitation exercise should not be seen as biased in the name of correcting “non – existent” historical discrimination.
Conclusion: This post is against the practice of tribalism. It is for inclusion. It encourages looking at every ZAMBIAN as being exactly like you. Make no difference.
Pic : Kenneth Kaunda led a diverse public service in which Northers did not generally have top positions.
Caveat: If you get angry with this article, then you want a distorted historical narrative.
TIMELINES OF PROMINENT LEADERS IN ZAMBIA FROM 1971 – 1991
We have too many young people such that the 70s and 80s feel like antiquity. We however, need to understand our history correctly so that we do not make wrong decisions.
In this article, we will specifically look at top Office bearers in Government for the period 1971 to 1991 against the indictment of “Bemba hegemony or dominance” since Independence. My hope is to placate this #sense of grievance. If needs be, we will further examine the period 1991 to 2011.
The timeline below will show that assuming KK was Bemba 😊, then all regions shared power. If he wasn’t Bemba, the conclusion would be different.
When Zambia turned into a One Party State in 1972, the position of Vice President was replaced with Secretary General of the Party ( as the Party was “supreme” to the Government). The third in command was the Prime Minister. The other Offices were the Speaker and Chief Justice.
1) Office bearers of Secretary General position:
Alexander Grey Zulu : 1973 – 1977
Mainza Chona: 1977 – 1981
Humphrey Mulemba: 1981 – 1985
Grey Zulu: 1985 – 1990
This position of 2nd in command rotated among Eastern, Southern and North – Western Province.
2) List of Prime Ministers
Mainza Chona: 1972 – 1975
Elijah Mudenda: 1975 – 1977
Mainza Chona: 1977 – 1979 (overlapped as SG):
Daniel Lisulo. 1979 – 1981*
Nalumino Mundia. 1981 – 1985
Kebby Musokotwane: 1985 – 1989
Malimba Masheke: 1989 – 1991
This position was occupied by a Southerner or Westerner.
3) List of Speaker of National Assembly
Robinson Nabulyato: 1968 – 1988
Fwanyanga Mulikita : 1988 – 1991
Robinson Nabulyato: 1991 – 1998
Amusa Mwanamwambwa : 1998 – 2011
Patrick Matibini : 2011 – 2021
Nelly Mutti. 2021 – to date
This position has largely been occupied by a Westerner to – date
Observed:
Dr Kaunda practiced the above pattern of “regional balancing” in other positions not listed here which largely promoted Southern and Western Province alongside Eastern Province because he felt that he HIMSELF was Bemba.
The other reason for non – appointment of Bembas to these top post which is cited by political analysts is that because most of Bemba – speaking people were more loyal to Kapwepwe than to him, he felt betrayed and disowned and had to ensure that Bembas did not hold key positions after 1971. In any case the key Kapwepwe supporters such as Mr Justin Chimba and Mr Robinson Puta were taken into Prison without trial from about 1973 to 1984.
My Copperbelt Childhood Experience:
Growing up on the Copperbelt it did NOT matter what tribe the Prime Minister or SG was. We read about them in CIVICS. We were “infatuated” by a young and charming young Prime Minister Kebby Musokotwane. When he visited my Primary School in Ndola in 1986, it was a joy to see him. We affectionately nicknamed him “Musoko – soko”.
Of course, KK often used the word “tribal balancing”, but it didn’t register. Only by looking back today does one realize that the currents of regionalism which we grapple with today have been with us the past 55 years. History is still alive.
Conclusion : All regions have had a bite of the Cake. There is nothing to #reverse. Let us be united and avoid pointing at one another..
THERE’S TOO MUCH CORRUPTION IN PF PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM – KAMBWILI … where are they getting K25,000, K40,000 to give the structures?
PF presidential aspirant Chishimba Kambwili says there is too much corruption in the PF presidential campaign system, where some candidates are leaving a minimum of K25,000 to K40,000 in party structures they are visiting across the country.
Commenting on information that PF Mafinga member of parliament Robert Chabinga wanted a neutral person to act as PF president to resolve the impasse in the former ruling party, Kambwili said PF cannot resolve an illegality with another illegality.
And commenting on information that he did not see fellow PF presidential aspirant Brian Mundubile as “green enough” to take https://dailyrevelationzambia.com/theres-too-much-corruption-in-pf-presidential-system-kambwili-where-are-they-getting-k25000-k40000-to-give-the-structures/
EXPLAINER | 2025 Final Cabinet Decisions: Key You Must Know
Zambia’s Cabinet has published its final decisions for 2025, closing the year with a wide range of policy and legislative moves that will shape the economy, energy supply, social protection, and governance landscape as the country heads into a politically sensitive election year.
The meeting, held on Tuesday, 23rd December 2025 and chaired by President Hakainde Hichilema at State House, focused on measures aimed at stabilising fuel supply, strengthening energy governance, responding to food insecurity, and aligning regulatory frameworks with the 2026 national budget.
While some decisions are structural and long term, others have immediate implications for households, farmers, and markets. At the centre of public interest is Cabinet’s approval of a pilot programme for the bulk importation of petroleum.
Under the decision, government will pilot bulk fuel importation for a period of four months using a limited bidding process. Demand will be aggregated across multiple oil marketing companies, allowing the selected supplier to negotiate better international purchase terms, reduce per unit import costs, and streamline logistics and storage. Cabinet argues that economies of scale created by this approach could lead to lower pump prices, improved fuel security, and more efficient use of existing fuel depots.
In practice, the impact will depend on how savings are passed through the supply chain. While bulk procurement can lower landing costs, pump prices are also influenced by taxes, exchange rates, transport, and regulatory charges. The pilot nature of the programme suggests government is testing feasibility rather than guaranteeing immediate relief.
Transparency in procurement and pricing will be critical, especially in an election year where fuel costs are politically sensitive.
Closely linked to energy policy, Cabinet also approved the creation of the Constituency Energy Benefit Trust. The Trust will provide a legal and governance framework for equity held by the Minister of Finance in the Zambia National Energy Corporation on behalf of constituencies.
The intention is to allow constituencies to benefit from returns generated through energy investments implemented under the Presidential Constituency Energy Initiative.
If properly governed, the Trust could create a new model of local benefit sharing from national energy projects. However, the absence of detailed disclosure on dividend flows, oversight mechanisms, and distribution criteria leaves questions about how benefits will be realised at constituency level.
On the social policy front, Cabinet approved the Revised National Health Policy and its 2025 to 2029 implementation plan. The document acknowledges progress in health systems strengthening but also concedes persistent gaps affecting women, children, adolescents, and other vulnerable groups. Government says the revised policy will improve service delivery, expand universal health coverage, and improve health outcomes.
The success of the policy will hinge less on approval and more on funding, staffing, and execution. In past cycles, policy ambition has often outpaced implementation capacity. Cabinet also moved on labour and governance matters by approving the ratification of the International Labour Organisation Protocol on Forced Labour. The protocol strengthens prevention measures, protection of victims, labour inspection, and enforcement across sectors where forced labour risks persist.
This decision aligns Zambia with international labour standards and may affect industries with complex supply chains, though enforcement remains the key test..
In the area of food security and disaster management, Cabinet agreed to urgently clear outstanding payments owed to farmers who supplied maize to the Food Reserve Agency. Government also approved a cash based disaster transfer programme targeting households in 42 districts classified as food insecure in the 2025 vulnerability assessment.
The intervention will run through the lean season from October 2025 to March 2026, alongside community maize sales by the Food Reserve Agency.
These decisions come at a time of heightened sensitivity around farmer payments, rural livelihoods, and food availability. Clearing arrears could restore confidence among small scale farmers ahead of the next planting cycle, while cash transfers offer flexibility to affected households, provided targeting and monitoring are effective.
Cabinet further approved regulatory measures tied to long term economic management. These include the Competitive Procurement Framework for Private Sector Investment in Renewable Energy, intended to standardise project selection and financing, as well as new Carbon Market Regulations to operationalise the Green Economy and Climate Change Act. Together, these measures aim to attract private investment, improve investor confidence, and formalise benefit sharing in climate related projects.
Additional decisions included approval of amendments to citizenship regulations to align fees with the 2026 budget, the declaration of fisheries reserves to protect declining fish stocks, and endorsement in principle of the Securities Bill, 2025, which will repeal the existing law and strengthen capital market regulation.
Taken together, the final Cabinet meeting of 2025 reflects a government seeking to balance immediate economic pressures with longer term structural reforms. Fuel procurement, food security, and energy governance stand out as the most politically consequential decisions as Zambia enters an election year where cost of living, service delivery, and trust in institutions will remain central to public debate.
For citizens, the implications will be felt not in policy statements, but in prices at the pump, payments to farmers, reliability of energy supply, and the credibility of implementation in the months ahead.
Here is another presidential option for you in 2026: 66 year-old Sebastian Kopulande
He is People’s Party 2026 presidential candidate and his name is Sebastian Kopulande
Dr Kopulande started his public service career in 1991 when was appointed as senior private secretary in the Office of the Vice-President (Levy Mwanawasa).
He was then transferred to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry where he served as director of industry.
After the 1996 elections, Dr Kopulande was appointed as permanent secretary in the Ministry without Portfolio where Michael Sata was the minister.
President Frederick Chiluba then appointed Dr Kopulande as State House permanent secretary.
Under President Levy Mwanawasa, Dr Kopulande served as special assistant to the President for special duties.
From August 2016 to May 2021, Dr Kopulande was Chembe PF member of parliament.
A KING SHOULD NEVER BE BURIED AWAY FROM HIS LAND 2025.
By David Lengwe
Kafue – 26th December, 2025
A king belongs to his people, both in life and in death. For this reason, the former Republican President of Zambia, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, should be buried on Zambian soil. Zambia is where he lived, served, and led the nation. It is only fitting that his final resting place be among the people who entrusted him with the highest office in the land.
Burying President Edgar Lungu in Zambia would allow the nation to mourn collectively. It would give citizens an opportunity to reflect on his leadership, to remember the moments that defined his presidency, and to heal as one people. National mourning is not only about grief; it is about unity, closure, and respect for the office he once held.
The people of Zambia gave Edgar Lungu a chance to serve as their Republican President. Whether one supported him politically or not, he remains a former Head of State whose contribution to the country is part of our national history. Allowing Zambians to pay their last respects on home soil is a gesture of dignity and gratitude to a leader who carried the responsibilities of the nation.
At this difficult moment, it is important that emotions do not create unnecessary narratives. The funeral of a former president should rise above politics and personal misunderstandings.
The presence or willingness of the sitting President, Hakainde Hichilema, to attend the funeral should be viewed as a sign of respect for the office and for national unity, not as a threat or ill intention. Funerals are moments for reconciliation, peace, and humanity, not division.
Let us remember that Zambia is bigger than individuals, families, or political parties. Honouring a former president on Zambian soil honours the nation itself.
A king should never be buried away from his people. Let President Edgar Chagwa Lungu be laid to rest in Zambia, so that the nation may mourn, reflect, heal, and move forward together.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemns the United States of America’s airstrikes carried out on Nigerian soil on 25 December 2025, which were publicly announced and celebrated by President Donald Trump as “powerful and deadly” attacks against what he termed “ISIL Islamic State” targets in northwest Nigeria. These airstrikes, conducted under the guise of counter-terrorism, represent a dangerous escalation of American military imperialism on the African continent and a reckless disregard for African sovereignty.
What occurred is clear: the United States launched airstrikes in the northwest of Nigeria, particularly in Sokoto State, claiming to target militants linked to the Islamic State. Trump framed the attack using highly inflammatory and religiously charged language, alleging that Christians were being “viciously killed” and positioning the United States as a self-appointed saviour.
This narrative did not emerge in a vacuum. For weeks leading up to these strikes, Western political figures and media outlets have deliberately overhyped and distorted reports of violence in northern Nigeria, reducing a complex crisis rooted in poverty, state failure, land dispossession, and decades of instability into a simplistic and dangerous story of “Christian killings by Muslims.”
Need a summary or specific analysis of any part of this statement?
This framing is dishonest and it is deeply reckless. Violence in northern Nigeria has affected Christians, Muslims, and traditional communities alike, and has been driven by banditry, criminal networks, insurgent factions, and socio-economic collapse. By selectively amplifying a religious narrative, the United States manufactured moral justification for military intervention, turning Nigerian suffering into propaganda for imperial violence. This mirrors a familiar pattern: the deliberate isolation and branding of enemies as Muslim terrorists in order to strip entire regions of context, dehumanise local populations, and legitimise foreign bombs.
The invocation of “ISIL Islamic State” is particularly cynical, even the Western news reports and are rarely referring to Nigeria and deliberately so. The United States has repeatedly used this label across the Middle East and Africa to justify its own terrorism leaving behind destroyed states, mass civilian casualties, and permanent instability. Now, that same script is being deployed in West Africa. Once a territory is branded “ISIL-linked,” it becomes open season for American missiles, drones, and airstrikes, with no meaningful accountability and no regard for long-term consequences.
Equally alarming is the response of the Nigerian state. Instead of asserting sovereignty and challenging this dangerous precedent, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a submissive press release praising “security cooperation” with the United States and describing the airstrikes as lawful and precise. This response does not reflect a confident or independent state but reflects a form of capitulation. It endorses the narrative imposed by the United States and signals to the world that African governments can be pressured, persuaded, or politically cornered into legitimising foreign military action on their own soil.
The EFF takes this opportunity to caution the government of Nigeria, which has either through desperation or ignorance allowed the United States to conduct military
U.S. ORDERS CAMBODIA AND THAILAND TO CHILL AFTER BORDER FIGHTING BREAKS OUT AGAIN
The U.S. is now straight-up ordering Cambodia and Thailand to respect the peace deal they signed just 2 months ago after a new round of deadly border clashes exploded this December.
Sec. Marco Rubio called Cambodia’s PM Hun Manet to say “cut it out” and reminded him Trump wants peace, not chaos, in a region that’s already a power powder keg.
Rubio said the U.S. is ready to mediate again, but let’s be real, the last deal was already brokered by Washington and it’s falling apart faster than a cheap umbrella.
Since December 7, at least 86 people have died in gunfire and rocket attacks, with thousands fleeing their homes near the jungle border filled with disputed temples and colonial-era confusion.
That line between Cambodia and Thailand?
Still based on a French map from 1907 that no one agrees on, and that keeps triggering skirmishes that never really stay “minor.”
Here’s where the interests take place:
The U.S. sees Southeast Asia as a key chessboard in its global rivalry with China, and anything that destabilizes the region screws up supply chains, trade routes, and military logistics.
China’s been flexing hard across the region, locking in deals, building ports, and pushing soft power everywhere from Myanmar to Laos, while the U.S. is trying to hold onto allies like Thailand.
So when two countries on China’s doorstep start bombing each other despite a peace treaty Trump personally brokered in Malaysia, Washington worry about civilians but also about the losing control in the region.
This is the U.S. playing referee in a fight where history, symbolism, and power politics all get mixed into one giant mess.
And while the U.S. can help mediate, the truth is this won’t cool down unless both Cambodia and Thailand actually want it to and stick to it.
BREAKING: China announced SANCTIONS against 20 US companies in response to Trump’s arms sales to Taiwan – Reuters
The sanctions include freezing assets in China, prohibiting transactions with Chinese entities, and banning individuals from entering China.
Targeted companies include branches or units of Boeing (e.g., St. Louis operations), Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, L3Harris Maritime Services, Anduril Industries (its founder is among the sanctioned individuals), and others..
SOMALIS VOTE IN THE FIRST ONE-PERSON, ONE-VOTE ELECTION IN DECADES
RESIDENTS of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu voted Thursday in a controversial local election that marks the country’s first one-person, one-vote poll since 1969.
Analysts say it is a major departure from clan-based power-sharing negotiations.
The voting of local council members, to be conducted across Mogadishu’s 16 districts, has been organized by the country’s federal government but rejected by the opposition parties, which have called the election flawed and one-sided.
Somalia has for decades selected its local council members and parliamentarians through clan-based negotiations, and it is the leaders who later elect a president.
Since 2016, different administrations have promised to reintroduce one-person, one-vote elections, but insecurity and internal disputes between the government and the opposition have delayed their implementation.
This will be the first major voting exercise overseen by the country’s National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, with up to 20 political parties fielding candidates.
Voter Farhiyo Mohamed was excited to vote.
“Such an election happening before my own eyes and to take part in a universal election like this. As mothers, we are elated because we are an important section of the population,” she told The Associated Press.
The election will not determine the mayor of Mogadishu, who also serves as the governor of the central Banadir region.
That position remains appointed, as the constitutional status of the capital is unresolved and requires a national consensus a prospect that has grown increasingly distant amid deepening political rifts between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the leaders of the states of Jubaland and Puntland over constitutional reforms.
The central region has more than 900,000 voters registered across 523 polling stations, according to the electoral commission.
Somalia has faced security challenges, with the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militant group often carrying out deadly attacks in the capital.
Security in the capital has intensified ahead of the local elections.
Analysts say the Mogadishu vote represents the most concrete attempt yet to move Somalia away from its longstanding clan-based, power-sharing system.
“GOOD LUCK WITH THE ALIENS!” Pilot’s Mid-Air Shock as ‘Silver Object’ Hovers by His Wing
What began as a routine flight over Rhode Island suddenly turned into a jaw-dropping aviation mystery and an instant internet sensation.
A stunned pilot radioed air traffic control to report a strange object hovering just feet from his wingtip at around 3,500 feet. He described it as a “small silver canister” that appeared to be completely stationary in midair.
Controllers pressed for details, but the pilot insisted it was no drone, no balloon, and not attached to anything at all. It wasn’t moving. It wasn’t drifting. It was simply… there.
The bafflement was shared on the ground. One controller blurted out “Creepy!” before another jokingly or nervously wished the pilot “good luck with the aliens!”
No official explanation has been offered, and the FAA has yet to comment, leaving the skies filled with questions.
Was it cutting-edge tech, a rogue experiment, or something far stranger?
WE’LL USE ANOTHER PARTY IF PF IS BLOCKED NEXT YEAR – MAKEBI
MAKEBI Zulu says the PF will use another party to stand in the 2026 elections, in an event where the party is not allowed to be on the ballot.
Zulu, who is PF aspiring presidential candidate adds that as things stand, it will be impossible for President Hakainde Hichilema to get 50%+1 in the 2026 general elections.
He adds that President Hichilema is insecure because he promised what he cannot deliver.
Speaking when he featured on Prime TV, Tuesday, Zulu said the opposition were holding meetings and would emerge stronger from the defeat of Bill 7.
He added that the PF would not disclose the special purpose vehicle they might use for fear that the party might be victimized.
“There’s need for the opposition to come together; the issue of Bill 7 is something that just put a blow on the people of Zambia to say, your people can’t even be trusted, now we need to rebuild this trust. I can assure the people of Zambia that we are going to emerge and we’ll emerge stronger out of this because we have a plan and as late as yesterday, the other day, we are having meetings almost on a daily basis. We know that we need to go in a particular direction, cognisant of the fact that the long reaching hand of this administration may not allow PF to be on the ballot, we’ll keep fighting for PF but we’ll not be oblivious to the fact that they will not allow it,” Zulu said.
“As such, we are really prepared that we are going to move together with the people of Zambia on a vehicle that we dare not disclose at this particular time for fear that the persons that are holding this organisation may be victimised”.
Zulu charged that the decision to increase the number of constituencies is meant to reward the long serving members of UPND, who may be threatening to contest as independent MPs.
“The fact that they’ve increased the number of constituencies does not necessarily mean that they are going to win the next election because it doesn’t impact the presidential vote. The presidential vote still remains that he must get 50+1. As things stand, it is impossible for President Hakainde Hichilema to get 50+1, he will not get 50+1. This move was intended to serve most of the dinosaurs that are in the UPND.
The level of discontentment in the UPND, if you’ve noticed, has been that there are those that are said to have served for a very long period of time and what the UPND has been grappling with, you saw that meeting they had at their conference centre, where they were saying, we will not allow any independents, we’ll not allow anyone to go independent. It’s because they were looking at the constituencies where we have these members of parliament that have overstayed,” he explained.
“These members of parliament are saying, listen, ‘we know we have been there for long but we just formed government, it is our time to also enjoy, after we usher you into government. Why do you want to disadvantage us now?’ Now, at this stage, what the UPND was looking at is, how do we save the status? Let’s go to those constituencies where these people are and divide them, so that these long serving members of parliament also have an opportunity to stand on one part of the constituency and create a part of the constituency for their competitor, who, if we don’t adopt, is going to stand as an independent and will disturb the configuration of our numbers. It was a political move of the UPND, nothing to do with the good of the people; it was a fight for survival”.
Zulu argued that increasing members of parliament did not in any way guarantee that government would be much more efficient.
“You are saying we are creating new constituencies so that you could have more CDF, that is not making sense because you are just telling us that the system is broken. So, the question of the increase of members of parliament has got nothing to do with efficiency in terms of governance but it has everything to do with enshrining oneself to be able to overstay in government, to be able to manipulate the law into one’s favour.
Increasing the members of parliament does not in any way guarantee that government will be much more efficient. When you were coming into government you were saying we have a bloated government, we are going to reduce the ministries, then you create a 115 [parliamentary seats], what are your priorities? We have farmers that are queuing up to receive monies which FRA has not paid and you are going to spend over K5 million on each member of parliament,” Zulu noted.
“We already have a budget that has been passed, our budget, 90 percent of it is personal emoluments, 10 percent towards debt servicing and development. You can’t achieve anything with that 10 percent. In terms of development, it’s nothing. So, you have 90 percent that has already gone towards personal emoluments, salaries, wages and all. You did not factor that into your budget.
At the end of the year you come and introduce 115 new members of parliament. These 115 new members of parliament, they all have to be paid salaries on a monthly basis, not just that, there are allowances that go with that, not only allowances, they are entitled to vehicles which essentially, government gets to pay for. You have this huge wage bill [but] you are saying we need to introduce these new members of parliament”.
He further charged that President Hichilema is insecure because he promised what he could not deliver.
“I think we are where we are because of just one word; insecurity. I think President Hakainde Hichilema is insecure; he’s insecure because he promised what he couldn’t deliver. He stayed too long in opposition and made all the promises that are in the book and has delivered on none of them. There was a promise of fertiliser, a 50kg bag costing K250.
What is the cost [now]? I was just buying fertiliser, it costs over a K1000 to buy one pocket of fertiliser. You have a person that promised that and now he’s insecure that I’ve not delivered on this promise, how do I secure myself in this position or in this seat that seems to be sweet. He promised that fuel will be costing K12, where are we now? It’s not costing K12,” said Zulu.
LUBINDA SHOULD EXPLAIN WHY PF CONVENTION HAS DELAYED – KAPYANGA
MPIKA PF MP Francis Kapyanga says acting president Given Lubinda should explain why the party has not held a convention.
Kapyanga adds that the party wrangles can only be settled once PF goes for a convention and elects a president.
In an interview, Thursday, Kapyanga wondered how the party convention was postponed with approval of the central committee.
“The decision of the conference was made by the central committee and thereafter the conference has been postponed without the involvement of the central committee. I have asked around all members of the central committee if at all the central committee decided that the conference should not proceed. Remember, the only legal entity in the party that makes decisions is the central committee. After it was mentioned that on 29th November we would have a conference, no single central committee has ever sat to make a decision otherwise. So, whatever has happened, honourable Lubinda should explain to all of us how a decision made by the central committee was nullified and which body nullified the central committee because under the Patriotic Front constitution, the only body that can nullify its own decision is the central committee, not any other body,” Kapyanga noted.
“We all want to go to the conference; I love all these presidential candidates despite the fact that I have endorsed honourable Brian Mundubile, I love all of these other candidates as fellow party members. The conference must proceed. You cannot solve the issues of internal wrangles by postponing the conference, you only solve them by going to the conference so that the membership gives the mandate to the leader of their choice. I have always been of the view that the elective conference must be held as quickly as possible because with an elective conference, the PF membership will be given an opportunity to give a mandate to the person they want”.
Kapyanga stressed that Lubinda should step aside and let the convention proceed, stating that party members are willing to rally behind him if he is elected as party president.
“The acting president has brought forward his nomination, he also wants to contest. So, he should not be the one to block the conference because everyone now thinks it’s because he knows he’s going to lose. He should have stepped aside and just ensured that the conference proceeds then if the people at the conference elect him as the party president, everyone of us will rally behind him.
I’m just consulting the members of my constituency on the way forward because they equally need direction. People in Mpika need direction, people in Muchinga province where I am, the provincial youth chairman also needs direction and the only thing that can chart that direction is the conference, so the conference must be allowed to proceed,” he added.
“As a party member, I’m very worried with the happenings in the party and more especially with the expulsions, the suspensions and all those decisions that are being emotionally made without consulting anyone and they are not even in the best interest of the party. This is the more reason why you cannot have a referee also playing. Our party president should have been a referee in this game, oversee[ing] the transition, then the people who will come in will still respect him as the father figure of our party. We lost president Edgar Lungu who was a father figure of our party and now we need one such as honourable Lubinda to remain our father figure instead of this confusion. I have always wanted that honourable Lubinda remains a father figure of our party, and allow other contenders to vie for the position, whoever will be elected at the conference; we’ll rally behind them and get united”.
Kapyanga expressed disappointment that the party had not learnt from its mistakes, and highlighted the importance of unity in the PF.
“The Zambian people have been calling on us to get united but is there anyone who is listening? I don’t think so. The same way they did not listen prior to the 2021 general elections until they made president Lungu lose, the same way they did not listen after losing the elections when people said get united and choose a leader. They called for a conference, collected K200,000 from would be candidates and later postponed the conference indefinitely.
In the midst, also suspended Miles Sampa and he retaliated by holding a conference of his own. What followed? We lost the party. Even after that, no one has learnt anything, seemingly so, and we are in this situation where we don’t have the party and instead of getting united, we are having these wrangles,” said Kapyanga.
America has now said the quiet part out loud: comply with our mining interests, or your people will suffer. This is not aid. It is coercion. Zambia must reject it without apology.
By Daimone Siulapwa
With the bluntness captured on the News Diggers front page, the American envoy to Zambia has confirmed what many Africans have long understood but were discouraged from saying publicly: aid is conditionalobedience.
According to the envoy’s remarks, the United States will not give aid to Zambia while the country “fails to do business” with America as Chinese mines allegedly poison citizens.
This is not a misunderstanding. It is not a slip of the tongue. It is a declaration of policy. The message is simple and brutal. Align your mining sector with American interests, or your people will pay the price. That price includes the withdrawal of aid that sustains health systems, supports clinics, and underpins life-saving programmes.That is not partnership or diplomacy, it is blackmail.
The headline “Those Days Are Over” is revealing. What days, exactly, are over? The days when aid was dressed up as humanitarian concern while serving strategic interests quietly? If so, then at least there is honesty now.The quiet part has been said out loud, America has finally dropped the pretence.
Zambia is being informed that its health, welfare, and international standing are now bargaining chips in a widening geopolitical war between the United States and China. Our country is not being engaged as a sovereign state with its own priorities, laws, and future. It is being treated as contested ground, a pawn in a struggle for control of copper, cobalt, lithium and strategic influence.
Yes, environmental pollution is real. Yes, any mining company, Chinese or otherwise, that poisons water sources and destroys livelihoods must be held fully accountable. Sino Metals and others must face the full force of Zambian law if investigations confirm wrongdoing. Environmental justice is not negotiable.
But environmental concern can not be selectively weaponised. If pollution were truly the central issue, the response would be consistent, legal, and grounded in Zambia’s regulatory institutions. Instead, pollution is being invoked as moral cover for economic pressure. It is being used to justify withholding aid until Zambia tilts its mining sector in a preferred geopolitical direction.
That is not environmental justice. That is strategic manipulation. What makes this moment even more dangerous is the precedent it sets. Aid is no longer presented as support for human life, but as a reward for alignment.
It is now clear that health funding is no longer a humanitarian commitment, but leverage in commercial and geopolitical negotiations. Zambian citizens are being reduced to pressure points and this is an extraordinary ethical failure.
Mining concessions are not short-term arrangements. They bind generations. They shape industrialisation, revenue, land use, and national capacity for decades. To attach such concessions to health funding is to mortgage the future under duress. It is to tell a nation that its children’s tomorrow must be surrendered to secure medicine today.
Zambia has already paid too high a price for externally imposed dependency. Debt restructuring, IMF conditionalities, and austerity have shifted unbearable burdens onto future generations. Now, on top of that, we are being told to trade the very minerals that could liberate those generations in exchange for conditional mercy.
My position to President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND government is direct and unapologetic: reject this coercion. Do not allow Zambia’s health sector to be weaponised. Do not allow mining policy to be dictated through threats. Do not allow foreign powers, whether American or Chinese, to define Zambia’s sovereignty.
If the United States believes that withholding aid is an acceptable tool of persuasion, then Zambia must respond with clarity and dignity. They can keep their aid. Zambia is not a client state. We are not a colony in waiting. We are not owned by Washington, Beijing, or anyone else.
Yes, rejecting this pressure will be difficult. The strain will be real. But hardship endured with integrity is not defeat. What is defeat is surrendering sovereignty while applauding ourselves for avoiding short-term discomfort. A nation that trades its minerals for medicine today will never be free tomorrow.
This moment is bigger than Zambia. It is a test for Africa. If Zambia submits, the lesson to the continent will be unmistakable: defy great power interests and your people will be punished. That is not global leadership. It is imperial discipline. If “those days are over,” then let it be the end of dependency politics altogether.
Let it be the day Zambia declares that its environment will be protected by its own laws, its resources governed by its own people, and its future decided without blackmail. Our children deserve more than a country that chose comfort over courage, and the future is not for sale, not for aid, not for minerals, and not for anyone.
Daimone Siulapwa is a seasoned Political Analyst and Consultant, as well as a dedicated governance and social activist. He is also a strong advocate for citizens’ empowerment and tribal unity. Comments, dsiulapwa@gmail.com
The decision by the Citizens First (CF) Party to field a candidate in the Chawama Parliamentary by-election has sparked tension within the opposition camp, with concerns that the move could divide opposition votes and jeopardise prospects of victory.
Sources within the opposition alliance have revealed that Brebnar Changala, a prominent figure associated with the Our Civic Duty Association (OCiDA), was tasked with engaging CF President Harry Kalaba to persuade the party to withdraw its candidate from the by-election in the interest of opposition unity. However, Mr. Kalaba declined the proposal. The refusal has angered Changala, who has since vowed to actively campaign against the CF candidate in the Chawama by-election.
https://youtu.be/zJcSD4x02NU?si=4v05mieQ9GpoIGQZ
Sources further say that Changala has extended his decampaigning stance to include Mr. Kalaba personally, with plans to oppose him politically ahead of the 2026 General Election.
According to insiders, Changala has also assured OCiDA members that he will mobilise resources to support the opposition campaign, including seeking financial backing from his Lebanese associates to fund campaign activities.
The developments highlight growing fractures within opposition ranks at a time when unity is widely viewed as critical to mounting a strong challenge in both the Chawama by-election and the forthcoming general elections.
Efforts to obtain an official comment from the Citizens First Party and OCiDA by press time were unsuccessful.
Because PF has no leader, I will stand as independent Parliamentary candidate for Munali constituency.
After a careful review of my political environment, I have taken time to speak to my conscience in the darkness of night and sought counsel during the light of day from friends, family, and my support base.
For many years, I have openly aligned with and supported my party, the Patriotic Front, from Michael Chilufya Sata to Edgar Chagwa Lungu, until now, when we have become headless or multifaceted.
Almost five years ago, I embarked on a journey to pursue my political ambitions on a full scale when I contested the election as an independent candidate for Munali Constituency. Traversing the six wards of the constituency and listening to the many voices of hope from the people validated my ambition and the inherent desire to uplift the livelihoods of the people in Munali Constituency.
Post the 2021 election, the voices of hope have become louder, and my desire to be the voice of these people has grown even bigger. These people have sought the bare minimum for too long. All they have asked for is access to clean water, improved sanitation in their households, access to job opportunities and life skills, good health infrastructure, and education opportunities for their children. They have sought a voice that will lobby for their basic needs from the powers that be, but this has not been forthcoming for so many years.
The infrastructure in Munali is dilapidated; community based activities that inspire the youth are unavailable, hence we have now bred the highest number of youths turning into substance abusers (junkies) resorting to illicit activities within our communities.
https://youtu.be/zJcSD4x02NU?si=4v05mieQ9GpoIGQZ
The happenings in our communities continue to be an eyesore for me. The desire to lobby and contribute to the legislation of this nation has become greater, especially following the display of unpatriotism by elected members of parliament towards Bill 7. To walk alone on this journey is not ideal, but to walk with others and be a cult follower is a lack of wisdom, especially when you have a functioning conscience.
I have made a decision to continue on the journey that I began four years ago, not to walk alone but to avoid the path of personalized leadership and cult worship that has cancered our politics. I want to receive a mandate from the people and be accountable to the same people that will put me in office.
I am happy to announce that I will once again contest as an independent member of parliament for Munali Constituency in the 2026 general elections, and I seek your support.
In the next few weeks, my team will outline our agenda for Munali Contituency, building on from 2021 agenda, as many things if not all remain unchanged but also highlighting the many things we have done for our communities to assist in improving their livelihoods.
The Green Party and United for Better Zambia (UBZ) have resolved to withdraw from the Tonse Alliance amid growing dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Patriotic Front (PF), which is a key member of the opposition grouping.
Sources familiar with the developments have confirmed that Green Party President Peter Sinkamba and UBZ leader Hector Soondo are aggrieved by persistent internal wrangles within the PF, which they say have stalled the Alliance’s progress, particularly efforts to agree on a presidential candidate for the 2026 General Elections.
According to the sources, the two leaders are also unhappy with what they describe as unequal treatment within the Alliance. They contend that the PF has assumed disproportionate authority, often overriding the collective decision-making processes of other member parties, contrary to the spirit of partnership upon which the Alliance was founded.
“The continued infighting within the PF has paralysed meaningful engagement within the Alliance,” a source said. “There is growing concern that the Tonse Alliance can no longer function effectively under the current arrangement.”
https://youtu.be/zJcSD4x02NU?si=4v05mieQ9GpoIGQZ
Meanwhile, preparations to form an alternative opposition alliance are said to be at an advanced stage. Sources indicate that Mr. Sinkamba has already reached an understanding with Socialist Party leader Dr. Fred M’Membe, who is expected to lead the new alliance ahead of the 2026 polls.
Efforts to obtain official comment from the Tonse Alliance leadership by press time were unsuccessful. However, political analysts say the reported split could significantly reshape opposition politics as parties begin positioning themselves for the next general election.
The Tonse Alliance was formed as a broad coalition of opposition parties, but recent developments suggest growing strains that may redefine its future composition and electoral strategy.
“I Refuse to Learn” Makebi Zulu and the Dangerous Privilege of Uninformed Debate
By Tobbius Chilembo Hamunkoyo-LLB
I took time to listen to Counsel Makebi Zulu’s commentary on Zambia’s economy during his discussion with Frank Mutubila. In my view, what he presented was not only misleading but also a public display of economic misunderstanding.
One expects better from someone who presents himself as an authority in national discourse. An economy is not measured by street opinions, daily frustrations, or nshima conversations.
It is measured by hard indicators such as GDP growth, inflation, exchange-rate stability, foreign exchange reserves, and fiscal credibility. On these indicators, Zambia today is in a far stronger position than it was during the last ten years of Patriotic Front (PF) rule.
While some may resist such comparisons, the truth is simple, the present cannot be separated from the past. And during that period, Makebi Zulu and his political allies were not passive observers, they were active participants.
Under PF leadership, Zambia’s economy collapsed. Foreign exchange reserves were depleted, public debt became unsustainable, inflation rose above 20%, and the kwacha lost most of its value. When the late President Michael Sata took office, the dollar stood at about K3.7 (K3,700 old currency). By 12 August 2021, it had reached about K19.30 (rebased), meaning the kwacha lost over 80% of its value in ten years. Worse still, Zambia defaulted on its Eurobond obligations in 2020, an international embarrassment that placed the country among distressed economies.
PF propaganda dismissed the importance of debt relief under the HIPC initiative of the Late Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, yet within a few years of PF rule, Zambia was poorer, more indebted, and locked out of international financial markets. These are not opinions, they are historical facts that are proven beyond reasonable doubt.
President Hakainde Hichilema inherited a broken economy and chose stabilization over populism. Any serious student of economics and political leader understands the correct sequence, stabilize the currency, reduce inflation, rebuild reserves, and then allow growth to take root. This is exactly what has happened.
Inflation has fallen from PF-era highs, the kwacha has become more stable compared to previous volatility, and Zambia’s credibility has been restored through debt restructuring and fiscal discipline. These outcomes are not miracles, they are basic economic principles, apparently unfamiliar to Counsel Makebi Zulu.
The clearest evidence of recovery is Zambia’s historic US$5.2 billion in foreign exchange reserves, the highest level ever recorded. Numbers do not lie. This is not a ceremonial figure. It means Zambia can cover several months of imports, protect the kwacha from speculative attacks, pay for fuel, medicine, fertilizer, and other essential goods without panic, and negotiate internationally from a position of strength. Zambia is now ranked among the top countries in Africa in terms of foreign exchange reserves.
Economies do not collapse when reserves are rising, instead they collapse when reserves are exhausted ,exactly what PF did. For Makebi Zulu to dismiss this achievement reflects either ignorance or deliberate dishonesty.
Equally troubling is Counsel Makebi Zulu’s silence on mining revenues and taxation. Today, mines contribute through mineral royalty tax, corporate income tax, PAYE, customs duties, VAT where applicable, and dividends where the state holds equity.
It is a notorious fact that under President Hichilema, policy consistency has improved compliance, production, and transparency. Mining now contributes meaningfully to national revenue instead of operating under confusion and secrecy. Development is funded by predictable tax systems, not slogans, something PF repeatedly undermined through erratic policy shifts.
Economic growth is now visible at both macro and micro levels. GDP growth has turned positive, meaning Zambia is producing more goods and services than before. This is how jobs are created, incomes increase, and social services become sustainable. These benefits are not instant. Only the economically illiterate expect overnight prosperity after years of mismanagement (mwebantu) people.
Truth be told serious nations accept short-term discipline in order to secure long-term stability for future generations.
Counsel Makebi Zulu should therefore pause, study, and understand before speaking. Across the world, progress is measured using the same tools, GDP growth, reserves, inflation control, and fiscal discipline, from the U.S. Federal Reserve to the World Bank, from the UK Treasury to global investment banks. To suggest that Zambia has discovered a new economic truth known only to Makebi Zulu is laughable. Zambia deserves informed debate, not loud ignorance disguised as expertise.
IT IS WRONG AND DISRESPECTFUL CALLING MAKEBI ZULU A MALUKULA-As funny as it appears, we’re setting our standards very low as a country.
Firstly, are we trying to insult the services the mortuary attendants/technicians (Ma Malukula) give to this great nation?
We can do better politics, with decency: with civility.
I was once in love with the PF party, I stopped the time their supporters and leaders started speaking from their stomachs. Most UPND members, are currently becoming excited and petty as if they’re in opposition. Let’s rise above hateful politics; what we say against each other is more important than whatever development the government can bring. Love, peace, unity and coexisting: must never be underrated.
Let’s choose to engage in respectful dialogue rather than insults, abuse, or demean those with differing opinions. Let’s choose to argue with decorum and campaign or decampaign with maturity. Disagreements are a healthy part of democracy, but allowing those disagreements to turn into hatred and division is dangerous and counterproductive to a country’s progress. Remember that people can hold different opinions without being enemies.
Let our able president give direction to members who are wrongly supporting UPND. UPND has achieved what they could in the past 4 years: worth to talk about. Politics of calling political opponents names, at least doesn’t impress someone like me. That’s like taking my vote for granted.
We must stop attacking those who are opposing this government. The lesser a government is criticized the lesser it delivers. Actually, when citizens can voice their needs and hold their leaders accountable, the development that occurs is more likely to be relevant and beneficial to their actual lives.
Makebi Zulu offered a service to the Lungu family as an official spokesperson and legal counsel just like any other Zambian would have done if they had an opportunity and the qualifications to do so. Calling him a Malukula is not only wrong but disrespectful and also dividing the country the same way tribalism does. This must be condemned with all the energy it deserves. Let’s have sanity on these socials.
Can we stop this animosity!
I repeat: it’s okay, to disagree politically, but let’s say no to character assassination. In a democracy and country that respects human rights: mental health is a fundamental human right, everyone deserves the highest standard of mental well-being and care, free from discrimination, stigma, and abuse. No citizen is less deserving to be a president. No citizen deserves to be painted black unjustly, hate is very unnecessary.
Yes, ECL must be buried in Zambia (it’s every citizen’s wish including the government), but it’s not the duty of Makebi Zulu but the family to decide. Makebi Zulu as a lawyer protected the decisions and wishes of the family by pushing for a dignified, private burial that honored Lungu’s wishes over state protocols. If at all there’s something like holding someone accountable over ECL’s remains: it must be the Lungu family not their lawyer.
Regardless, both the government and the Lungu family are right in their demands; hence, the inertia in progress. But, our prayers should be for the government and the Lungu family to find the middle way, to let ECL rest in peace.
Signed. 26.12.25 (Shipungu, Debt Justice Champion, Human Rights and Good Governance Advocate)
CATHOLIC PRIEST SAYS PRESIDENT HICHILEMA’S CALL FOR PEACE HYPOCRITICAL
By Nelson Zulu
Director at Dignitatis Humanea, Father Andrew Mukosa, has described President Hakainde Hichilema’s call for renewed peace, love, and reconciliation in the country during this festive period as hypocritical.
Father Mukosa says although the President’s call is welcome, it is empty unless preceded by tangible justice and corrective action from leaders, saying reconciliation must follow demonstrable steps to address grievances.
In an interview with Phoenix News, Father Mukosa has emphasized that justice should come before peace, noting that true unity flows from fair treatment, accountability, and open dialogue rather than ceremonial appeals.
https://youtu.be/zJcSD4x02NU?si=4v05mieQ9GpoIGQZ
He has urged leaders to self-reflect, acknowledge failures, and engage communities in genuine processes of reconciliation rather than relying on rhetoric.
Father Mukosa cited systemic failures in service delivery, including neglected health infrastructure, unfinished district projects, underfunded constituency development programs, and perceived mismanagement, as signs of neglect that have eroded public trust and deepened social fractures.
He warns against a negative peace where silence masks unresolved tensions and stressed that service delivery and justice are prerequisites for lasting harmony, especially among public servants prioritizing the needs of the poor.
It does not feel like Christmas today, says PF presidential hopeful, Mundubile
He writes the below: Today, I speak not as a lawmaker or public servant, but as a son of this soil — a fellow citizen burdened by the weight of our shared suffering. On this Christmas Day, my heart bleeds.
“It does not feel like Christmas. The joy, the warmth, the hope — all have been eclipsed by the harsh realities confronting our nation.”
Since independence in 1964, never has the cost of living soared so mercilessly. Zambia, rich in minerals and promise, now kneels before the IMF and World Bank with a begging bowl. What a shame.
It is a betrayal of our potential. I think of my grandmother in Mporokoso, my aunt in Shangombo, and the families in Petauke — all struggling to survive.
Zambian children are going to bed hungry. Mothers are dying in childbirth at rates worse than when we were a fledgling republic. Farmers remain unpaid, their dignity trampled, while the government splashes money on constitutional amendments that feed no one.
Hundreds languish in jail for daring to speak out — more than during the entire 27 years of UNIP’s single-party rule. Our judiciary is crippled, our legislature compromised, and our freedoms — of speech, assembly, and conscience — are under siege.
Inflation bites with double-digit cruelty. Poverty now threatens 80% of our people. Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. If we do not unite now — as opposition, as patriots — we risk losing Zambia altogether beyond August 13th.
And how can we celebrate Christmas when our sixth President, H.E. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, lies frozen in a Pretoria morgue — denied dignity by the state? What does his burial cost in empathy? What does it gain in justice? How does keeping him frozen reduce poverty?
“Mr. Hichilema, the continent is watching. History will judge you harshly. How do you sleep at night sir?”
I remember Christmases of laughter, of music, of shared meals and hope. Today, I see despair. But I also see resolve. Let us rise, not in anger, but in unity. Let us reclaim our country, our dignity, our future.
Family reveals gospel singer Chansa died 3 days after giving birth
TEARS flowed freely at Kabwata SDA Church yesterday as a family member of late gospel singer Chansa Katuntamfwa struggled to come to terms with how the celebrated vocalist died three days after delivering a baby girl.
Speaking during a church service held in her honour, the family member represented by Austin Katuntamfwa told mourners that Chansa, who died on Monday, was an expecting mother who had shown no signs of complications after giving birth.
Chansa, 28, was first taken to Chawama Level One Hospital before being referred to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), where doctors performed a successful caesarean section on Thursday night.
A baby girl was born, bringing joy and celebration to the family.
According to the family, the days that followed were filled with happiness as Chansa admired her newborn child, laughed with her sisters and looked forward to being discharged.
By Sunday, doctors had informed the family that she would be going home the following day.
However, on Monday morning Chansa suddenly started experiencing breathing difficulties.
Medical staff rushed to attend to her and later moved her to the emergency room, where she was placed on oxygen and efforts were made to stabilise her condition.
Despite hours of medical intervention, her condition worsened.
“She started struggling to breathe and the doctors tried everything possible to save her life, but God had other plans,” Austin said.
After battling for several hours, Chansa was pronounced dead around 17:00 hours.
The family described her death as devastating, especially because she had appeared healthy and strong just hours earlier.
Born into a family of eight children, four boys and four girls, Chansa was the last born.
She attended John Laing Primary School from grade one to seven before proceeding to Makeni Ecumenical School for her junior secondary education.
She later married Warren Jalata, whom she has left with two children, including the newborn baby girl born on December 18.
The family also recalled that Chansa discovered her gift for singing at a tender age, often singing while doing household chores, a passion that later grew into a full gospel music ministry.
Her sudden death drew a large crowd of mourners who flocked Kabwata SDA church to pay their last respect, reflecting the many lives she touched through her music and character.
The gospel songbird was later laid to rest at Leopards Hill Memorial Park yesterday.
THE Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG) says the UPND has become the main perpetrator of political violence.
Meanwhile, UPND Media Director Mark Simuuwe says the party has not eradicated political violence but has reduced the vice.
Speaking during a debate organized by BBC Media Action at Mulungushi Conference Center, Wednesday, CCMG programmes coordinator Peter Mwanan’gombe said the country since 2021 had seen a shift in terms of who was the main perpetrator of political violence from PF to the UPND.
He added that the UPND had become the main perpetrators of violence because institutions that were charged with the responsibility to deal with the issues were ignoring the matters.
“We have been documenting political violence from 2021 through our political monitoring.
The CCMG is comprised of a consortium of four core partners:
●Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ). ●Evangelical Fellowship in Zambia (EFZ). ●Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflections (JCTR). ●Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) through Caritas Zambia.
The Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG) is an independent, non-partisan organization in Zambia that monitors electoral processes to promote transparency and accountability. It is a consortium of four partner organizations.
SPOTLIGHT | Power Returns, Grid Expands: Tracking Zambia’s Energy Rebuild
For years, the dominant political narrative has been simple and blunt: Zambia’s energy sector has failed. Load shedding became routine. Hydropower shortages deepened public frustration. Opposition voices have framed the crisis as proof of policy collapse under President Hakainde Hichilema.
But away from the noise of rallies and studio debates, a quieter story has been unfolding. Transmission lines have stretched into districts that had never been connected to the national grid. Solar plants have moved from drawings to steel, panels and live megawatts. Some of these projects are now feeding power into the system.
This is not a story of instant relief or political vindication. It is a documentation of what is underway.
At exactly 17:00 hours on Friday, December 21st, electricity reached Mwasemphangwe Chiefdom in Lumezi District for the first time since Zambia’s independence.
ZESCO energised the newly completed Mwasemphangwe 132/33kV transmission line, officially linking Lumezi to the national grid and ending more than 60 years of reliance on candles and paraffin lamps.
The commissioning forms part of the Chipata–Lundazi–Chama 132kV Grid Extension Project, which has already connected Chama and Lundazi districts, eliminating dependence on imported electricity from Malawi.
ZESCO senior manager for contracts engineer Mathew Phiri said the project was designed to unlock economic activity, not merely provide household lighting.
“The expected and immediate impact of this commissioning is to uplift socio-economic development in Lumezi and Chipangali as it will be an enabler for increased commerce for local business growth, improved healthcare and improved agricultural efficiency and productivity and basically increase access to electricity,” Phiri said.
Communities expected to benefit include Diwa, Nkhanyu, Chamfinsi, Dwankhosi, Mphingozi, Kateme, Ndaiwala, Mwimba, Chikomene, Champoyo, Chinyumbu, Kamkwezi, Chivindu, Mwndanamphingo and Lupampha.
Lumezi sits along a key agricultural and trading corridor linking Chama and Lundazi, with farmers producing beans, rice and tobacco. Power access changes what can be stored, processed and transported.
On Christmas Day, another milestone quietly arrived.
The 50-megawatt Mabumba Solar Power Plant in Mabumba Chiefdom, Mansa District, began evacuating 14 megawatts into the national grid, easing power deficits in Luapula Province. The plant has reached about 90 percent completion and entered the pre-commissioning phase. Transmission lines have been charged. Transformers and inverters configured. Point-to-point testing is underway.
Once fully commissioned, the plant is expected to meet Luapula Province’s peak demand of about 27 to 28 megawatts, effectively ending load shedding in the province and releasing surplus power to the wider grid.
ZESCO fully owns the project. China Machinery Engineering Corporation is the contractor. The Zambian government is financing the plant at a cost of over US$40 million.
By June 2025, the project stood at 40 percent completion. By July, 45 percent. By October, 73 percent. By December, it had crossed the 90 percent mark. Full commissioning is expected by early 2026.
Mabumba is one piece of a broader shift. Zambia’s energy strategy now places solar at the centre of diversification, driven by repeated droughts that have exposed the vulnerability of hydropower.
Several projects are already operational or under construction:
– Chisamba Solar Power Plant: Phase 1, a 100MW facility, is commissioned and operational. Phase 2, another 100MW, is under construction.
– CEC Itimpi Solar Power Station: Phase 1 is operational. Phase 2, adding more than 130MW, is underway.
– Serenje (Mailo) Solar Plant: A 25MW facility is operational, with additional capacity planned.
Other large projects are at various stages:
1. Mumbwa Mega Solar Plant, targeting up to 200MW.
2. Choma Solar Power Plant, a 50MW project under construction.
3. Chipata West Solar Plant, a 100MW facility that has broken ground.
4. Kasama Solar Power Plant, planned at 100MW.
5. Kafue Gorge Lower Solar Facility, integrating solar into an existing hydropower complex.
6. Maamba Energy Corporation’s Solar Project. Kariba North Bank Solar Project.
7. Smaller installations are progressing in Pensulo, Nambala, Kanona, Itezhi Tezhi, Livingstone, Kasupe, Chadiza, Monze, Senanga, Mafinga, Kawambwa and Kaputa.
Together, these projects feed into a national target of producing up to 1,000 megawatts of solar power by the end of 2025.
Another layer of the strategy sits at constituency level. Under the CDF Solar Project, each of Zambia’s 156 constituencies is expected to install a 2MW solar plant, translating into a potential 312MW of decentralised generation.
The model is designed to reduce pressure on the national grid while supporting schools, clinics, markets and small businesses in underserved areas.
Loadshedding has not vanished. Power shortages remain uneven across regions. Critics argue that recent improvements coincide conveniently with the electoral calendar.
What can be verified is narrower and more concrete.
Transmission lines have been completed and energised. Solar plants have moved from planning to production. Megawatts are now entering the grid from facilities that did not exist three years ago.
The energy crisis is not resolved. But the infrastructure response is visible, measurable and ongoing.
In energy, outcomes rarely arrive overnight. They accumulate, line by line, panel by panel, megawatt by megawatt.
“OUR FARMERS ARE SUFFERING!” — UPND ACCUSED OF ABANDONING FOOD HEROES!
Farmers across Zambia are gripped by fear and uncertainty as delayed payments from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) continue to disrupt their livelihoods, despite government assurances that funds are being processed.
Opposition leaders have launched a fierce attack on the UPND government, accusing it of neglecting the very people who secure the nation’s food basket, while prioritizing Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 instead.
Democratic Union president, Ackim Antony Njobvu, expressed outrage over the situation, saying the government has failed to demonstrate responsibility and empathy.
“This is what happens when you have a government that does not care for its people, except for themselves,” Njobvu said during an interview on KBN TV. “I am made to conclude that they used money meant to pay our farmers to fund their Bill 7.”
Government officials have attributed the delays to banking procedural challenges, but the Bankers Association of Zambia has disputed this explanation, creating further confusion and mistrust.
Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) leader Sean Tembo has also stepped in, demanding clarity from President Hakainde Hichilema on why government reportedly borrowed K5 billion to pay farmers when only K3.7 billion was owed. Tembo further questioned why farmers remain unpaid despite maize having been sold to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi for cash.
Beyond the heated political exchanges lies the harsh human reality. The farming season has begun, yet many farmers remain without the money they desperately need to purchase inputs, prepare fields, and support their families.
“We delivered our maize in good faith,” says a farmer from Eastern Province. “We trusted the system. Now the rains are here, and we have nothing to plant. Our families are depending on money we still haven’t received.”
Many farmers fear their livelihoods are at risk, and with reduced planting, Zambia’s future food security may also be endangered.
Njobvu has challenged Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo Phiri to come clean and give a truthful explanation to the nation.
“We cannot be playing politics at the expense of our farmers who are crucial to food security,” he said. “The government must act now before more damage is done.”
As political debate intensifies, farmers continue to wait not for speeches, but for payment. And with every passing day, their patience, hope, and ability to sustain their families continue to fade.
UPND OPPOSES SENTIMENTS OF POWER INCREASE BEING A POLITICAL GIMMICK
UNITED Party for National Development has opposed social media sentiments that the increase in hours of electricity supply is politically motivated to lure Zambians into voting for UPND in the 2026 general elections.
This follows the recent announcement by the Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote of increase in energy supply with some receiving 10 hours of electricity per day which some opposition political parties have portrayed to be a political gimmick.
But speaking in an interview with RCV News in Lusaka, UPND Deputy Media Director Sikwindi Situla bemoaned the allegations, stressing that it will be unrealistic for the government to do that when election date is far away.
Mr. Situla explained that government ‘s intention has always been to ensure that every Zambian is enjoying the steady supply of electricity, for business productivity thereby, contributing to the growth of the economy.
https://youtu.be/zJcSD4x02NU?si=4v05mieQ9GpoIGQZ
“We are a serious government that is working on resolving most of the challenges facing Zambians, our ambition and effort is in play”, said Mr. Situla.
He emphasised that people must not be shocked that electricity supply has increased as government has invested in different alternative sources of energy, and still is, to address the energy deficit.
He has urged those doubting the works of the UPND government to Aquent themselves with all the projects implemented in the energy sector such as the Chisamba solar power plant and another one in Chipata among others.
SICHONE MAINTAINS CALM AS CHIPOLOPOLO SHIFT FOCUS TO COMOROS CLASH
HEAD Coach Moses Sichone says he is not under pressure ahead of Chipolopolo’s second Group match against Comoros, despite the fixture being viewed as a potential decider at the ongoing AFCON tournament.
Zambia will face Comoros tomorrow at the Mohammed V Stadium, following an opening draw against Mali.
Speaking ahead of the match, Sichone said the technical bench remains composed and focused on tactical discipline, with no intention of placing added pressure on the players.
“The game tomorrow is more of a decider, but I am not putting my players under pressure. I am not under pressure going into this game,” Sichone said.
The Chipolopolo coach added that previous meetings with Comoros will have little influence on the upcoming encounter, noting that each match requires a different approach.
“Every game is different and every game is prepared differently, with a tailored formation. Having played Comoros before may not count,” he said.
Sichone also drew positives from the first match against Mali, adding that the team showed improvement as the game progressed.
“I saw a lot of positives in my players as the game against Mali progressed. That was one big takeaway for me,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Chipolopolo captain Fashion Sakala reaffirmed the team’s determination to advance to the next stage of the competition.
“The team’s focus is still on progressing to the next stage,” Sakala said, describing the draw against Mali as a wake-up call.
Zambia will be targeting a positive result against Comoros as they continue their AFCON campaign.
Kick off for the match is at 19:30 hours (Zambian time).
THE Road Development Agency wishes to inform the public that due to ongoing flash floods, an Armco (steel) pipe culvert has been washed away at kilometre 87 in Rufunsa District along the Great East Road, from the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) Roundabout in Lusaka.
Motorists and the general travelling public intending to use this route are advised to reschedule their travel until further notice to avoid inconvenience and ensure safety.
The RDA is currently on site and has commenced remedial works to address the emergency situation. The Agency regrets the inconvenience caused to road users..
A comprehensive statement will be issued later today to provide further updates on the situation.
Issued by: ANTHONY MULOWA CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS MANAGER
ANOTHER ZAMBIAN TRUCK DRIVER ABDUCTED IN DRC AND LATER RELEASED AFTER RANSOM
ANOTHER Zambian truck driver, identified as Steven Kalusa, has been attacked and abducted this morning in the Democratic Republic of Congo –DRC.
Confirming the incident in an interview with Phoenix News, Southern African Truck Drivers Association General Secretary Jackson Banda has since enhanced calls for protection of drivers working along cross-border routes saying limited efforts to rescue and protect drivers from attacks in the DRC is worrying.
According to Mr. Banda, a passing driver noticed something amiss, approached the scene and found a DRC soldier inside the truck who confirmed an attack had taken place and described how the victim was held by attackers and later released after a payment was made.
He explains that the abducted driver was reportedly released after paying more than US$1,000 and sought medical attention about an hour after the incident with his fingers almost severed.
Mr. Banda says medical staff managed to stabilize the victim’s condition and has since been discharged from hospital.
He says the latest incident follows a series of assaults on regional truckers barely three weeks after the killing of driver Martin Chivanga in DRC with his body awaiting repatriation.
Netanyahu Condemns Attacks on Christians in Nigeria
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a strong warning over the continued attacks on Christians in Nigeria, describing religious persecution as unacceptable under any circumstances.
He condemned the violence carried out by Muslim militant groups, which has led to the killing and displacement of many Christians across parts of Nigeria, stressing that such attacks must stop.
Netanyahu stated that Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians live freely and safely, highlighting Israel’s commitment to religious freedom.
In his message, he also extended Christmas greetings to Christians around the world, reaffirming that Israel will always stand with Christian communities globally.
“Laughable and Gold-Digging Story” – Pastor Chris Okafor Sues VeryDarkMan
Senior Pastor Dr. Chris Okafor has officially initiated legal proceedings against controversial social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, over allegations of cyber harassment and defamation.
The Charges
According to a public statement, the lawsuit addresses a series of alleged offenses including cyber incitement, bullying, stalking, and malicious impersonation. The legal action targets both VeryDarkMan and a woman identified as Miss Chi, accusing them of collaborating to tarnish the cleric’s image.
The Doris Ogala Connection
The statement noted that while the initial wave of online attacks was allegedly instigated by Nollywood actress Doris Ogala and her associates, this specific lawsuit focuses on the roles played by VeryDarkMan and Miss Chi in amplifying the damaging narrative.
“Fabricated Lies”
Pastor Okafor’s legal team dismissed Miss Chi’s claims entirely, describing them as a calculated attempt to exploit the pastor’s reputation for financial gain.
The statement read in part:
“it has come to our notice as well the public domain of the cyber incitement, cyberbullying, cyber harassment, cyber stalking cr!minal defamat!on, and mal!cious impersonat!on perpetrated by Martins Vincent Otse popularly known as Verydarkman and one Miss Chi.
It is no longer news that this act of criminal stalking, cybercrime and libelous article articles against our client Senior pastor Dr Chris Okafor started by one miss Doris Ogala and cohorts. However, our interests in this press briefing is on her and her laughable and gold-digging story, calculated to exploit our client.”
Hijacked Buildings in South Africa: The Truth Behind the Myth of “Foreign Takeovers”
There is a growing and dangerous myth in South Africa that foreign nationals are “taking over buildings” and getting away with it. This narrative is misleading, incomplete, and contradicted by what South African documentaries, court records, police investigations, and major newspapers have consistently reported over the years.
Here are the facts.
Hijacked buildings in South Africa are not taken over by foreigners. They are overwhelmingly seized and controlled by South African criminal syndicates. These are organised gangs that exploit weak building management, corrupt officials, abandoned properties, and slow legal processes.
How building hijacking actually works
Building hijacking follows a well-documented criminal pattern:
South African criminal gangs identify abandoned or poorly managed buildings, mostly in inner cities.
They illegally take control by removing lawful caretakers, threatening owners, or forging documents.
They install their own “management” structures, often using violence, intimidation, and extortion.
Rent is then collected illegally from anyone desperate enough to need shelter.
The people living in these buildings include:
South Africans
Zimbabweans
Mozambicans
Malawians
Nigerians
Other foreign nationals
Everyone pays rent to South African criminal gangs. Foreign nationals are tenants, not owners. They do not control the buildings. They do not have the political, legal, or criminal infrastructure to hijack properties and evade law enforcement on that scale.
https://youtu.be/CSlhjUN7Xbo?si=cQa_bGxJ6PRswggk
Why foreigners end up in hijacked buildings
Many migrants:
Work low-paying jobs
Have no access to formal rental markets
Are excluded by landlords demanding documents, deposits, or credit histories
Hijacked buildings become a last resort, not a criminal strategy.
Who is really responsible?
The crisis is driven by:
Organised South African crime syndicates
Corrupt officials who look the other way
Property owners who abandon buildings
Weak municipal enforcement
A housing shortage in major cities
Blaming foreigners distracts from the real criminals and delays real solutions.
What newspapers and investigations have shown
South African media has repeatedly exposed:
South African hijacking “kingpins” operating openly
Illegal rent collection networks
Links to drug trade, human trafficking, and extortion
Victims being both South Africans and foreign nationals
This is not hidden information. It has been widely reported for years.
The danger of misinformation
When facts are ignored:
Innocent people become targets
Violence is misdirected
Criminals continue operating untouched
Communities are divided instead of protected
If you read newspapers, watch investigative documentaries, or follow court cases, this reality is clear.
The issue is not nationality. The issue is organised crime.
Until South Africans confront the truth, hijacked buildings will remain a weapon used by criminals—while ordinary people, local and foreign, continue to suffer.
“I WILL ARREST NETANYAHU” — NYC MAYOR-ELECT MAKES A SHOCKING PROMISE. BUT CAN HE REALLY DO IT?
New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has caused a political firestorm after publicly stating that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be arrested if he enters New York City.
Mamdani says this would be done in line with an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant linked to alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The statement has gone viral — but the real question is: Is this legally possible, or is it political theatre?
Let’s break it down clearly.
WHAT MAMDANI ACTUALLY SAID
Mamdani, who will officially take office in January 2026, has repeatedly said that New York City should respect international law and that leaders accused of serious crimes should not move freely without consequences.
He has argued that if the ICC issues arrest warrants for figures like: • Benjamin Netanyahu • Vladimir Putin
then cities and governments should not ignore them simply because those leaders are powerful.
In his words, no one should be above the law.
NETANYAHU’S RESPONSE
Netanyahu has dismissed the threat, saying he still plans to visit New York and is not concerned about being arrested.
Israeli officials and supporters have described Mamdani’s statement as: • Unrealistic • Politically motivated • Legally unenforceable
The issue has now become a symbolic standoff played out in public.
⚖️ THE LEGAL REALITY (THIS PART MATTERS)
Despite the strong rhetoric, most legal experts agree Mamdani cannot actually arrest Netanyahu. Here’s why:
• The United States does NOT recognize the International Criminal Court • ICC warrants are not enforceable by U.S. cities or state police • Only the U.S. federal government can handle matters involving foreign leaders • Sitting heads of government usually enjoy diplomatic immunity • A city mayor does not control international law enforcement
Even New York State officials have said clearly: A NYC mayor has no authority to arrest a foreign prime minister.
So while the statement is real, the power to act on it is not.
易 WHY MAMDANI MADE THIS PROMISE
Mamdani’s position reflects: • Growing anger over Israel’s war in Gaza • Pressure from progressive and pro-Palestinian activists • A global debate about accountability for powerful leaders • A desire to challenge U.S. double standards on human rights
For his supporters, this is about morality and justice. For critics, it’s about grandstanding and symbolism.
WHY THIS STORY MATTERS GLOBALLY
This controversy highlights a much bigger issue:
✔ Who enforces international law? ✔ Are powerful countries and leaders untouchable? ✔ Is the ICC only for weak states? ✔ Can cities take moral positions even without legal power?
It also shows how local politics are now deeply connected to global conflicts, especially the Gaza war.
WHAT COULD HAPPEN NEXT
• Netanyahu may still visit New York with full federal protection • Mamdani may continue using the issue as a moral and political stance • The U.S. government could publicly override or ignore the rhetoric • The debate over ICC authority will intensify worldwide
But an actual arrest in New York? Highly unlikely under current law.
茶 BOTTOM LINE
✔ Mamdani really did say it ✔ The statement is politically powerful ✔ Legally, it is almost impossible to carry out ✔ The controversy reflects global frustration with selective justice
This is less about an arrest — and more about a message.
The message: Some leaders are no longer afraid to publicly challenge the immunity of power.
QUESTION FOR YOU: Should international law apply equally to all leaders — or only to the weak?
US LAUNCHES ‘POWERFUL STRIKES AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE IN NIGERIA, SAYS TRUMP
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has said the US launched a “powerful and deadly strike” against the Islamic State (IS) group in north-western Nigeria.
The US leader described IS as ” terrorist scum”, accusing the group of “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians”.
Trump said the US military “executed numerous perfect strikes”, while Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was “grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!”
The US Africa Command later said the strikes were carried out in co-ordination with Nigeria in the Sokoto state.
Separately, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC it was a “joint operation”.
Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, saying this depended on “decisions to be taken by the leadership of the two countries”.
In November, Trump ordered the US military to prepare for action in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militant groups.
Are Christians being persecuted in Nigeria as Trump claims?
‘We fear for our souls’ – Nigerian farmers need armed guards to protect them from jihadists
In his post on Truth Social late on Thursday, Trump said that “under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper”.
In his warning back in November, the US leader did not say which killings he was referring to – but claims of a genocide against Nigeria’s Christians have been circulating in recent months in some right-wing US circles.
Groups monitoring violence say there is no evidence to suggest that Christians are being killed more than Muslims in Nigeria, which is roughly evenly divided between followers of the two religions.
An adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu told the BBC at the time that any military action against the jihadist groups should be carried out together.
Daniel Bwala said Nigeria would welcome US help in tackling the Islamist insurgents but noted that it was a “sovereign” country.
He also said the jihadists were not targeting members of a particular religion and that they had killed people from all faiths, or none.
President Tinubu has insisted there is religious tolerance in the country and said the security challenges were affecting people “across faiths and regions”.
Trump earlier announced that he had declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” because of the “existential threat” posed to its Christian population. He said “thousands” had been killed, without providing any evidence.
This is a designation used by the US state department that provides for sanctions against countries “engaged in severe violations of religious freedom”.
Following this announcement, Tinubu said his government was committed to working with the US and the international community to protect communities of all faiths.
Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have wrought havoc in north-eastern Nigeria for more than a decade, killing thousands of people – however most of these have been Muslims, according to Acled, a group which analyses political violence around the world.
In central Nigeria, there are also frequent clashes between mostly Muslim herders and farming groups, who are often Christian, over access to water and pasture.
Deadly cycles of tit-for-tat attacks have also seen thousands killed – but atrocities have been committed on both sides.
Human rights groups say there is no evidence that Christians have been disproportionately targeted.
