I AM STILL PF, MUNDUBILE CLARIFIES TONSE CHAIRMANSHIP BID

TONSE Alliance Chairman aspiring candidate Brian Mundubile says his bid for the Tonse chairmanship should not be misconstrued as him quitting the PF.

Mundubile says he believes all opposition political parties will come together through Tonse and that he is the right man to lead the alliance.

On Friday, Mundubile, together with Dan Pule, filed nominations for the Pule-led faction of the Alliance, which will see the winner become the presidential candidate for the August polls.

Speaking during Friday’s episode of BM8 Unfiltered, when asked if he did not foresee the Lubinda-led PF and Tonse faction fighting him for his move, Mundubile said Zambians were tired of fights within the political space.

“I want to put this very clearly, I’m a leader in Tonse, in the Tonse Council of Leaders. I’m one of the leaders in the Tonse Council of Leaders and I have been, all I’m doing is vie for a position within that council higher than where I am. So people should not mistake my contesting of chairmanship to quitting PF. I have been in Tonse, president [Edgar] Lungu appointed me to Tonse, so if I was in PF as National Chairperson for Tonse, I am still PF, this should be understood. So as regards to who may fight or not fight me, that’s not for me to answer. I think the Zambians are very tired of the fights within the political space. It’s always that politician reconciling with the other or they are having tea, they quarrelled yesterday and so on,” he said.

“Let it be about the Zambian people. The farmers that have been waiting for payments for seven months have been waiting for us to fight for them. The kids who are going to school sitting in one class 120 of them are waiting for us to speak for them. The taxi drivers, the bus drivers who are paying K30 per litre are expecting us to speak for them. The people who are experiencing load-shedding and high cost of living are expecting us to speak for them. So it can’t be about politicians themselves, it’s about the Zambian people, so we want to put the fights behind”.

He added that Tonse needed a chairman to replace late former president Edgar Lungu, adding that it was the alliance that was going to unite all opposition political parties.

“What Tonse needs, Tonse needs a leader, Tonse needs a chairman because the Chairman for Tonse, president Edgar Lungu, died a couple of months ago. There is need to replace the Chairman with a substantive chair. What we are doing, we are not going through any negotiated process, we are going through a democratic process. I had a meeting with one of the contenders, Professor Dan Pule, to say ‘look, we are going for this position.’ I told him ‘if you win I’m going to support you as Chairman’. He equally said if I win that position he’s going to
me,” Mundubile said.

“My assurance to you is that through Tonse we are going to unite the opposition. Zambians have been crying for far too long that the opposition need to unite. Practical steps have been taken by Tonse, we are not choosing a leader sitting on a table, we are competing. We are going to compete and the Council of Leaders, the delegates, will choose one from amongst ourselves. He will emerge as Chairperson for Tonse and that leader will have a duty to immediately go beyond the membership of Tonse to look at other opposition political parties, like minds to come together and be able to form a united opposition, be able to present a strong opposition. Tonse has been in existence, Tonse has got, for instance, myself as the National Chairperson for Parliamentary Affairs, meaning that Tonse already has MPs that are under it”.

He said he was the right man to lead Tonse as he has had interactions with most of the opposition political parties in the country.

“Like I said, I have been a leader of Tonse under the Council of Leaders from inception. I fully understand the vision of Tonse and how Tonse was created and for what purpose. So looking at the experience that I have had in Parliament, in government, both in Parliament as Government Chief Whip and in the opposition as Leader of the Opposition, you will be happy to learn that as Government Chief Whip, president Edgar Lungu had appointed me to chair a committee that was in charge of putting opposition political parties together. This was the time we were negotiating or having dialogue for constitutional amendment,” said Mundubile.

“So I chaired that committee and interacted with all opposition political parties with no exception, including the current ruling party. It was my committee under my chairmanship that was putting all these opposition political parties together for over a year. So, I have got a good rapport with most of these opposition political parties, so I truly believe that from the experience that I have had in different capacities be it in the opposition or in the ruling party and indeed the interactions that I have had at individual level with all these opposition political parties, I feel I’m the right man to lead Tonse”.

News Diggers

WE ARE BETRAYING HICHILEMA, SAYS LISWANISO

UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) national youth chairman Gilbert Liswaniso has accused some Cabinet ministers and senior party officials of betraying President Hakainde Hichilema following the ruling party’s defeat in last week’s Chawama parliamentary by-election.

Speaking when he featured on a programme dubbed On this Day on Diamond TV on Wednesday night, Liswaniso said he was not afraid to be fired for speaking the truth.”

He said many senior leaders, including himself, were failing to advance President Hichilema’s agenda, which amounted to betrayal.

“We are betraying President Hakainde Hichilema because those in the system are not protecting the power, and if this continues, it is going to cost us a lot,” he said.

Liswaniso expressed concern that there was a disconnect between the party leadership and the grassroots because most senior UPND officials were not approachable.

He warned that this was contributing to the party’s challenges at the grassroots level.

Liswaniso said many UPND officials acted as if they already knew everything, which made it difficult for others to advise them on party matters and the concerns of people at the grassroots.

He emphasised that the purpose of holding government positions was to protect power and ensure the party’s vision and that of President Hichilema could be implemented.

Liswaniso described Hichilema as a good leader committed to improving the lives of Zambians, but lamented that senior officials were letting him down through their actions and inaction.

“I am disappointed with some leaders, like Members of Parliament and Ministers, who were not protecting power, and a case in point was the Chawama by-election. Some MPs were not even campaigning in Chawama and that resulted in the UPND losing the seat,” he said.

“I would rather be fired for doing the right thing, which will protect the power and the President’s vision. I am sure some people will hate and even tell the president to fire me for the stance I have taken, but what I want is for the party to retain power. Some people were not on the ground and did not understand what was happening on the ground,” he said.

Liswaniso said the Chawama loss was not the end of the UPND but that it offered a moment of reflection ahead of the August 13 general elections.

The Mast

BREBNER CHANGALA SAYS MILES SAMPA’S COURT CASE COULD TRIGGER BY-ELECTION IN MATERO IF NOT WELL HANDLED

By Chamuka Shalubala

Political Commentator Brebner Changala says the court case surrounding Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa is signaling a potential by-election before the August general elections.

Mr. Sampa was last week granted a K1 million bail in his own recognizance after appearing in court for a case in which he alleged that the Electoral Commission of Zambia –ECZ- staged a fake polling station in Chawama during the recently held by-election.

Speaking to Phoenix News in an interview, Mr. Changala says the court case could easily result in a by-election if not well handled.

He claims that government is in panic mode and doing everything possible to gain momentum ahead of the elections.

Mr. Changala however says the opposition seems prepared for this year’s general elections, with or without a by-election in Matero.

PHOENIX NEWS

By Kabanza Blessings

The reasons why the PF convention will not happen:

1. There is an injunction against the PF convention.

2. Given Lubinda does not want to give up the PF President title, as evidenced by his statement yesterday that he is the most popular, talented, and wise man to lead PF.

3. Under any model, the party holds its convention, Given Lubinda does not want to lose at the conference, as it would be a huge embarrassment for his political career, so he will continue clinging to the PF President title.

4. Since Mundubile has technically left the so-called PF Presidential race, the rest of the candidates would have been okay losing to Brian Mundubile, not Lubinda. Neither Kambwili nor Mutotwe Kafwaya would want to lose to Given Lubinda. Most candidates will likely pull out.

5. Even if PF were to hold a convention today, they do not have a party, as it legally belongs to Chabinga.

I must say that Hon. Brian Mundubile has done well to leave the Lubinda-led faction, which had planned to expel him after the Kasama elections. Aspiring to lead the biggest alliance in the country, he will eventually become the president of FDD.

WE SHALL RESUSCITATE AND UPGRADE INDENI PETROLEUM INDUSTRY – KALABA

… in order to stabilise the fuel prices and end the jokes by ERB and the UPND Government. .

KASAMA, SUNDAY, JANUARY, 25, 2026 [ SMART EAGLES]

Citizens First party President Harry Kalaba says in order to stabilise the prices of fuel and create jobs for Zambians, his party will resuscitate and upgrade the Indeni Petroleum industry in Ndola.

Speaking when he featured on Radio Mano in Kasama last night, Mr. Kalaba said it is unacceptable that 62 years after independence Zambia has continued to import fuel and other related products.

He said this has led to instability in the fuel pump prices and affecting businesses in the country.

” When CF forms Government, we shall end the jokes of the Energy Regulation Board and the UPND Government in the energy sector, because they are finding every excuse to increase the prices of fuel. We told the UPND that there is no country that can develop without strategic national reserves. That’s why as CF we will resuscitate the Indeni Petroleum industry in Ndola by buying the hydrocarbon cracker which is missing for it to become a refinery, when we do that we will be able to refine crude oil and create jobs for Zambians, ” Mr. Kalaba said.

” The problem is that the UPND lacks experience and have failed, but don’t worry in seven months time, they are packing and CF which is the only party with ideas to develop this country is coming. There is no way that after 62 years of independence, we are still importing fuel and other related products, there is a problem and that problem is having business men in leadership positions who only think about making deals,” he said.

The CF leader adds that by stabilizing the supply and pricing of fuel, businesses will be able to plan in advance unlike the current system where pricing is unpredictable.

“We want businesses to plan in advance unlike the current situation where supply and pricing of fuel is unpredictable. The UPND ERB always find an excuse to hike the prices of fuel but as CF we shall end these jokes,” Mr. Kalaba said.

#SmartEagles2026.

STATEHOUSE CAUTIONS OPPOSITION OVER CALLS FOR UNCONTROLLED MINING

STATE House has raised concern over statements by some opposition leaders that appear to promote uncontrolled mining practices, warning that such calls pose a serious threat to Zambia’s peace, stability and national security.

Chief Communication Specialist Clayson Hamasaka said leaders promoting uncontrolled mining should clearly explain to Zambians whether illegal mining serves their own interests and whether they are prepared to risk the lawlessness, violence and environmental destruction that have ravaged other countries

In a statement, Mr Hamasaka said President Hakainde Hichilema’s commitment is clear: Zambia’s natural resources must be a blessing for both the present generation and those to come, managed openly, extracted responsibly and shared fairly.

He said President Hichilema has both a moral and constitutional duty to uphold law and order across the country, including within key economic sectors.

Mr Hamasaka said the ongoing clampdown on illegal mining is a decisive measure aimed at ensuring that Zambia’s mineral wealth benefits all citizens, rather than a few individuals.

“This initiative also provides vital protection against negative patterns seen in other regions, where criminal syndicates seize control of mining sites, terrorise communities and create persistent instability,” he said.

He added that illegal mining is far from harmless, as it fuels organised crime, undermines national security, destroys the environment and deprives citizens of their rightful share of Zambia’s resources.

Mr Hamasaka said Government recognises the important role played by artisanal and small-scale miners in the economy, stressing that the clampdown is not directed at those who wish to mine legally and responsibly.

“To advance this goal, the President has authorised expert teams to study international best practices, with particular focus on how some Middle Eastern countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, have successfully managed and regulated their natural assets,” he said.

Mr Hamasaka noted that in countries where resources such as oil have been responsibly managed, nations have achieved sustainable economic growth, improved infrastructure and enhanced quality of life for their citizens.

He further said Government, through the Ministry of Mines, has already begun establishing a mechanism to legalise the trade in gold and other minerals in a way that benefits both the country and its people.

Mwebantu

MWATA KAZEMBE PRAISES GOVERNMENT

MWATA Kazembe of the Lunda people in Luapula Province has commended the government for the positive development being recorded in the province and across the country.

The Mwata has particularly pointed out the construction of chiefs’ palaces and the continued recruitment of teachers, health workers, and defence personnel among others.

The traditional leader has further expressed hope that the current employment drive stands to increasingly benefit young people.

According to a statement issued to Zanis by Luapula Province Public Relations Unit, the Mwata said this when Luapula Province Permanent Secretary, Prudence Chinama, paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Mwansabombwe District.

The Mwata has also commended the Luapula Provincial Administration for its leadership in steering development in the area.

He noted that the region has continued to register steady progress under the leadership of Ms Chinama the second female Permanent Secretary to serve the province since Zambia attained independence in 1964.

“We appreciate how the Provincial Administration is managing the affairs of the province. So far, so good. While not everything may be at 100%, the direction being taken gives us hope,” the Mwata said.

Mwata Kazembe has also underscored the significance of preserving Zambia’s traditions, citing traditional ceremonies such as Umutomboko and Kuomboka, which he observed as among the oldest cultural ceremonies in the country with well-documented histories that reflect the country’s heritage, identity, and continuity.

He emphasised the need for sustained research and proper documentation to ensure that cultural heritage is safeguarded and passed onto future generations in a spirit of unity and mutual respect.

Meanwhile, the Mwata has stressed that engagements by traditional leaders should be guided by patriotism and constructive dialogue.

“When we speak, it is out of love for the country. President Hakainde Hichilema was duly elected by the Zambian people and deserves our respect,” the Mwata said.

Ms Chinama assured the Mwata that the government had taken note of the concerns raised, particularly regarding the construction of the chiefs’ palaces.

She further disclosed that President Hichilema has since directed the termination of slow-moving contracts and the engagement of new contractors to accelerate the works.

Zanis

🟩 WHY THE ARMY WAS SENT TO MUFUMBWE OVER ILLEGAL GOLD MINING

The decision to send soldiers into Mufumbwe District wasn’t just about illegal mining — it was about weapons, foreign nationals, and growing security fears. That’s how UPND Media Director Mark Simuuwe explains the military deployment around Kikonge Mine.

Simuuwe says some illegal gold miners in the area are armed and backed by undocumented foreigners who are supplying weapons. Intelligence reports, he says, showed that the situation had moved beyond routine policing, forcing authorities to bring in the army.

He pushed back against opposition leaders who argued that the police should have handled the issue, pointing out that past governments, including the previous administration, had also used military forces when mining-related threats escalated.

Authorities say illegal mining in the region has become linked to broader criminal networks, environmental damage, and cross-border smuggling. Officials believe that without strong intervention, the situation could worsen and threaten both local communities and Zambia’s control over its mineral resources.

Army operations remain active, with patrols, checkpoints, and arrests continuing as security agencies try to contain the situation.

WHY BRIAN MUNDUBILE’S MOVE DESERVES NATIONAL SUPPORT FROM PF MEMBERS

Zambia’s political environment has fundamentally changed, and it is time for the Patriotic Front (PF) to confront this reality with honesty, courage, and strategic clarity. The move taken by Hon. Brian Mundubile is not an act of defiance against the party; it is an act of political survival—and one that deserves the full support of all well-meaning PF members across the country

Let us speak plainly. Under the current UPND administration, PF has been systematically suffocated. Court injunctions, selective policing, administrative blockades, and endless legal traps have made it virtually impossible for PF to function as a normal political party. In this environment, the idea that PF will freely hold a convention, reorganise itself, and appear on the ballot as PF is, at best, wishful thinking—and at worst, self-deception.

Time is not on our side. Elections wait for no one. While PF debates procedures and internal ownership, the ruling party tightens the noose. Politics rewards those who adapt, not those who cling stubbornly to structures that have been deliberately crippled.

This is where Brian Mundubile’s leadership stands out. Mundubile has done what many fear to do: he has read the political moment correctly. He understands that the battle PF is fighting is not internal—it is external. He recognises that survival requires strategy over sentiment, foresight over comfort, and unity over factional pride.

It must be clearly stated: PF does not belong to a few individuals or committees. PF belongs to its members and supporters across Zambia. No one owns PF members, and no one has the moral authority to hold them hostage to a process that the political system has already rendered impossible.

Brian Mundubile’s move offers PF members a practical path forward—a way to remain politically relevant, organised, and competitive despite the hostile terrain created by UPND. Supporting him is not abandoning PF values; it is preserving them in the only viable way left.

Beyond strategy, Mundubile brings critical strengths that the party needs at this hour:
He is calm, disciplined, and legally grounded, not reckless.

He understands parliamentary politics, grassroots mobilisation, and national messaging.
He commands respect across regions and factions, making him a unifying figure.

Most importantly, he is focused on winning elections, not winning internal arguments.

PF members must ask themselves a hard but necessary question: Do we want to be right procedurally, or do we want to be relevant politically?
History is littered with parties that collapsed because they failed to adapt to repression. PF must not join that list. The choice before us is not ideal—but politics rarely is. The choice is between action and paralysis, between survival and slow extinction.

This is a call to all well-meaning PF members—from the grassroots to the national leadership—to rally behind Brian Mundubile. Set aside fear, factionalism, and false hopes. The moment demands unity, speed, and courage.

Time is not with us. But with the right strategy—and the right leadership—PF can still fight another day.

The future belongs to those who move when it matters.

By Charles Chishimba aka CC.
Brian Mundubile Hon.Changala Mwaume Lily Mutamz Tv

NO WIND OF CHANGE AHEAD OF AUGUST ELECTIONS

By Josphat Hamakala

Chasefu Independent Member of Parliament Misheck Nyambose says the country will not experience a wind of change in the forthcoming August elections.

Speaking on Diamond TV’s Diamond Live show, Mr. Nyambose says the UPND government has performed well, particularly in rural constituencies where unprecedented development has taken place through enhanced Constituency Development Funds.

The lawmaker has dismissed suggestions that the Chawama parliamentary by-election loss signals dissatisfaction with the ruling party, stating that Zambia is bigger than Chawama.

Mr. Nyambose, however, acknowledges that farmers are facing challenges following delays in payments for their produce which remain ongoing.

#NewsOnTheGo

Bread, Wine, and Democracy: Why Unity Matters More Than Division

Saturday thought—24. Jan.26.

I recently shared what I thought was a harmless picture of unity between hon. Brian Mundubile and Snr Counselor Makebi Zulu.

They are both household names in Zambian politics.

To my surprise, tongues wagged, and for the life of me, I cannot fathom why. In that moment, Senior Counsel Zulu and brother Mundubile showed us that even in the sizzling pot of politics, six months before presidential polls, there is more that unites them than divides them.

Brother Makebi joined hands to mourn with brother Mundubile during the funeral of bo Mundubile’s mother-in-law, mhsrip.

How could that possibly be a bad thing? Has our politics become so toxic that two men in a political contest cannot break bread and share wine together over grief?

I faced the same flak when I took a picture with Senior Counsel Zulu, whom I have known for years, and or when I openly supported Hon. Mundubile’s right to run for President.

Why should friendship and respect be treated as betrayal?
Take the ruling PF for instance.

As I said during a hot off-mic KBNTV appearance, when Mundubile decided to break ranks and run for president, “instead of support, he faced attacks from his comrades.”

That is not healthy. If someone else feels they are best suited to run, why not step up and announce like Mundubile has? Why stand in his sun? Who is stopping who from ‘coming out.’

Democracy thrives when those who aspire to lead stand alongside each other, not when they bury one another. Let Mundubile, Zulu, Greyford Monde and others run.

Don’t stop anyone or monkey-wrench their dreams six months before the big day. I have not seen Mundubile stop anyone from running or MZ.

If Mundubile, Zulu, Given Lubinda, Harry Kalaba, Kelvin Bwalya Fube, and Fred M’membe, Muhabi Lungu or Bishop Trevor Mwamba decide to run together, even better.

Common sense tells us that united we stand, divided we fall.
History offers lessons. In Europe, the Franco-German reconciliation after World War II birthed the European Union, proving that former rivals can build lasting peace and prosperity when they choose unity over division.

In Africa, the coalition government in Kenya after the 2007 crisis showed that even bitter rivals can sit at the same table to prevent national collapse. These examples remind us that unity is not weakness—it is strength.

Opposition in-fighting only strengthens the ruling party. Democracy is best served when opposition is strong, cohesive, and constructive.

There is enough room for everyone to work together rather than devour each other. Don’t hate people for seeking to work together.
That is my Saturday point: unity is love, and love is democracy.
« L’union fait la force. »
(Unity makes strength.)

—Amb. Anthony Mukwita Reflections.

MAKEBI ZULU CONDEMNS ARMY CHIEF’S REMARKS ON ILLEGAL MINERS 

Patriotic Front (PF) Presidential Aspirant Makebi Zulu has strongly condemned recent remarks made by Army Commander Lieutenant General Geoffrey Zyeele regarding illegal miners.

Mr Zulu, a renowned constitutional lawyer, described the Commander’s statement as deeply unfortunate, irresponsible, and unbecoming of a professional military institution.

In a statement issued, Saturday, Mr Zulu criticised the use of terms such as “exterminate and fumigate” in reference to citizens, calling the language dehumanising and dangerous.

He warned that such rhetoric evokes memories of atrocities like the Holocaust in Germany and the genocide in Rwanda. 

Mr Zulu stressed that Zambia, as a nation that upholds human rights and the rule of law, must never normalise such expressions. 

He argued that the Zambia Army’s constitutional role is to defend territorial integrity, not to enforce civilian law. 

Deploying the army against citizens, he noted, raises serious concerns about the erosion of professionalism within the defence forces. 

Mr Zulu questioned whether the government’s move suggests a lack of confidence in the police’s capacity to handle illegal mining. 

He emphasised that illegal mining is a governance issue that should be addressed through law enforcement and regulatory institutions. 

Mr Zulu urged the Ministry of Mines to engage, formalise, and license small-scale miners to ensure safety and environmental compliance. 

He also called for simplified tax systems tailored to small-scale miners to promote inclusive and sustainable development. 

Mr Zulu appealed to the President, as Commander-in-Chief, to withdraw the directive involving the army and instead empower civilian agencies to manage the situation lawfully.

CHAPTER ONE FOUNDATION CONDEMNS ARMY COMMANDER’S THREATENING REMARKS

Chapter One Foundation has noted a video circulating on social media in which remarks are attributed to the Zambia Army Commander, indicating that the Army has been directed to “exterminate” illegal miners, while also suggesting that force is not intended to be used.

We recognise that illegal mining poses serious risks to national security, public order, the environment, and Zambia’s lawful economy.

We also acknowledge public concern regarding reported cases of irregular and illegal migration, particularly where illegal mining is linked to organised criminal networks and other cross-border offences. Read more below:

#ChapterOneFoundation

🇿🇲 EXCLUSIVE | Kasama is the New Battlefield as PF Splinters & Tonse Alliance Ties Itself in Knots

Kasama has emerged as the latest pressure point in Zambia’s opposition politics, not because of a single election, but because of unresolved power struggles now spilling into open contradiction.

The Given Lubinda–led Patriotic Front enclave has moved into the Northern Circuit at a moment of acute internal confusion, just a day after Brian Mundubile openly crossed to the Tonse Alliance and filed nomination papers to contest its chairmanship. The move comes weeks after a Tonse Alliance faction formally expelled the PF from its books, a decision Lubinda’s camp continues to reject as illegal.

On Friday, Mundubile submitted his nomination at the Tonse Alliance Secretariat in Lusaka. Within hours, the Lubinda enclave, through its self-exiled U.S based information chief Emmanuel Mwamba, issued a sharply worded statement warning PF members to stay away from what it described as an illegal process.

“The so-called nominations and congress held by the Zumani Zimba Tonse Alliance must be regarded as a totally non-PF activity,” Mwamba said, warning that PF members who participate “risk serious sanctions from the Party.”

The statement reaffirmed that the Patriotic Front is preparing for its own National Conference in February 2026, where presidential aspirants paying K200,000 would contest under the party constitution. It also reasserted the Lubinda camp’s position that only structures established under late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu remain legitimate.

This declaration, however, now collides with political reality on the ground.

While rejecting Tonse Alliance processes in Lusaka, the same PF leadership is actively campaigning under the Tonse Alliance banner in Kasama.

Lubinda is leading a high-profile team into the Northern Circuit to support Peter Yuda Chikwete, a mayoral candidate running on the FDD ticket with Tonse Alliance backing. Among those on the ground are MPs Stephen Kampyongo, Mutotwe Kafwaya and George Chisanga.

The paradox is stark. The Lubinda camp does not recognise the Tonse Alliance faction organising elections in Lusaka, but it is relying on the same alliance machinery to contest and defend political territory in Kasama.

Kasama itself is no longer politically predictable.

The district has more than 133,000 registered voters, 19 wards, and 171 polling stations spread across Kasama Central and Lukashya constituencies. Historically a green base, the whole Northern Circuit has become contested territory. The ruling UPND has steadily penetrated the region, building structures once considered out of reach.

Kasama Central MP Sibongile Mwamba, elected on the PF ticket, has publicly endorsed President Hakainde Hichilema and supported Bill 7, underlining the fluidity of loyalties in the region.

Unlike Chawama, where grief politics linked to the unburied remains of Edgar Lungu shaped voter sentiment, the Northern Circuit operates differently. Lungu body politics carries limited emotional weight here. Voting patterns in the North have historically shifted slowly, moving from UNIP to MMD, then to PF, and now increasingly opening space for the UPND. Identity alone is no longer enough to secure dominance.

This reality explains why both the red base and the green base are treating Kasama as a frontline rather than a safe zone.

Lubinda’s visit also carry a symbolic dimension. He paid condolences to Mwine Lubemba and the Bemba Royal Establishment following the burial of Abasano ba Mfumu, Mama Bernadette Mwamba. The gesture reinforces PF’s continued courtship of traditional authority in the North, even as political control fragments.

What is unfolding is not just a by-election campaign but a broader struggle over who speaks for the opposition.

Mundubile’s move into Tonse Alliance structures has unsettled PF hardliners. KBF, Dan Pule, Mundubile and other figures are jostling for space under the Lungu legacy banner, even as Lubinda insists that only PF structures sanctioned before Lungu’s death remain valid.

Everyone wants the name. No one trusts the process.

As Kasama votes on January 29, it does so under competing flags, overlapping alliances and unresolved disputes. The Northern Circuit as a whole is no longer a green stronghold nor a guaranteed red pickup. It is a contested voting bloc where old loyalties are weakening and new calculations are taking shape.

© The People’s Brief | Gathering —Chileshe Sengwe; Fact-checking —Mwape Nthegwa & Filing —Ollus R. Ndomu

🇿🇲 EXCLUSIVE | Kikonge Falls, Gold Rush Axis Clears in 48 Hours

By late Saturday afternoon, the Kikonge gold rush site in Mufumbwe District was largely empty.

Less than 48 hours after Zambia Army Commander Lieutenant General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele issued a public warning and deployed Special Forces to the area, illegal mining activity at one of the country’s most volatile mineral zones had come to a halt. Aerial footage released by the Zambia Army, captured from a military helicopter, showed wide stretches of cleared ground where thousands of miners, traders, and handlers had operated only days earlier.

According to the Central Joint Operations Committee, Kikonge was fully cleared by midday Saturday. Zambia Army Commandos shut down the Swahili Market and the Ukraine Market, two trading hubs identified by security agencies as central to the illegal gold economy in the area. The operation involved the Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Drug Enforcement Commission, Immigration Department, and other security agencies.

The military confirmed that most illegal miners left voluntarily following the commander’s warning. Those who initially remained reportedly fled upon the arrival of Commandos. No casualties were recorded. Equipment used for illegal mining and related criminal activities was confiscated, while abandoned items were collected.

Authorities say none of the seized equipment will be returned.

Interviews conducted during the exodus provide insight into how Kikonge functioned.

“We were working for a boss at Ukraine Market,” said Mbambo Lwiji, one of the men leaving the area. “Most of us were not owners. We were just doing piece work.”

Another worker, Champo Ndiyoyi, described a heavily securitised environment. “Working at Kikonge needed security. Many people had at least a gun or a machete for protection,” he said.

Accounts from multiple sources indicate that many Zambians on site were employed as casual labourers by organised syndicates. These groups provided basic pay, food, and protection, while controlling access to pits and coordinating gold movement out of the area. Security agencies say the syndicates relied on weapons and intimidation to maintain control.

The impact of the operation extended beyond Mufumbwe.

Across Mumbwa and Mpika, precious stones dealers reportedly abandoned sites even before security forces moved there. Reporter Chileshe Sengwe confirmed that trading activity slowed sharply as news of the Kikonge operation spread.

Similar movements were observed across other mineral-rich zones in Central Province.

Quoted by Zambia Army reporter, Lt Gen Zyeele said security forces would remain in Kikonge to maintain order and allow the Ministry of Mines to guide the transition to lawful mining. He warned that any attempt to return illegally would result in forcible eviction.

The commander said the operation was based on intelligence indicating the involvement of foreign nationals, some with military backgrounds, as well as the presence of weapons, explosives, and advanced equipment within illegal mining networks.

Accordingly to authorities, the objective is to restore state control over mineral zones and prevent the entrenchment of armed groups.

The Zambia Daily Mail reported that some groups remain stranded in Mufumbwe following the clearance, expressing concern over livelihoods after the closure of illegal sites. Government agencies have not announced any immediate relief measures for those affected.

Security officials say similar operations will continue in other areas identified through intelligence assessments.

For now, Kikonge remains under military watch, its gold rush economy abruptly dismantled as enforcement moves across the illegal mining axis.

© The People’s Brief | Ollus R. Ndomu

iShowSpeed’s Liberia Stream Ended Abruptly After Unprecedented Crowd Chaos

What was meant to be a celebration of culture turned into a security nightmare that even local authorities couldn’t handle.

Popular YouTuber iShowSpeed was forced to abruptly end his highly anticipated Liberia livestream after receiving an urgent warning from officials. The situation? Completely out of control. Thousands of passionate fans flooded the streets of Monrovia, creating crowd levels that Liberian authorities admitted they had never experienced before. Even the police struggled to maintain order as the sheer volume of supporters overwhelmed the city.

Speed, clearly emotional, apologized to his fans for the sudden shutdown. He had planned several more stops and a proper finale to honor the West African nation, but safety had to come first.

Despite the chaos, the content creator emphasized how much he genuinely enjoyed experiencing Liberia’s rich culture and connecting with its people. The overwhelming turnout, while ultimately forcing the stream’s end, proved just how much his presence meant to the community.

The incident highlights the immense influence of digital creators in Africa and the need for better crowd management strategies when global personalities visit. Speed never expected such an explosive reception, but Liberia showed up in numbers that made history.

Want more stories about Africa’s digital revolution and cultural moments? Follow african.echo for compelling updates you won’t find anywhere else.

Source: iShowSpeed’s official statement via his social media platforms and livestream announcement.

“GOD OR THE CONSTITUTION?”
Opposition Slams ‘Anointed to Rule’ Claim as Threat to Democracy

Opposition leader Jameson Timba has launched a blistering attack on claims that Zimbabwe’s leadership is “ordained by God,” warning that such rhetoric endangers the Constitution and the country’s democratic future.

Responding to remarks attributed to Paul Tungwarara, suggesting President Emmerson Mnangagwa is divinely chosen to rule until 2030, Timba insists Zimbabwe is a constitutional republic, not a theocracy. Power, he says, comes from the people through elections not prophecy.

“The Constitution is clear,” Timba argues. “Presidential terms are limited. No leader can extend their rule through religious language or political convenience.”

He warns that using faith to justify unconstitutional ambitions cheapens religion and weakens democracy. While churches play a vital moral role, Timba says faith must never be used to silence dissent or intimidate citizens.

History, he cautions, shows that when leaders claim divine entitlement, accountability collapses. Zimbabweans, he says, are not debating theology, they are defending the Constitution.

THE DEBATE AROUND PR OFFICERS USING THEIR PICTURES FOR EVERY STATEMENT THEY ISSUE – IS THIS IN ORDER?

By Kellys Kaunda

Pictures are added to a story if they add value to it. And this decision is purely that of the Editor.

If the latter asks for it, it is advisable to comply because that is their decision.

Sometimes, adding a personal touch to a statement is a good thing.

It’s like putting a face to a phone conversation when you finally get to meet in person the individual you have always been communicating with.

But here is a basic fact: Public Relations Officers are the face of organisations while everybody else confine themselves to their roles.

They are also the voices or spokespersons of their respective organisations.

The police have been exemplary in this regard. The PR officer speaks more often than the IG.

This is as it should be because PR officers are employed specifically to speak and appear on behalf of the organisation.

Remember when Kapata was PR at Lusaka City Council and ZESCO, he was the face and voice of these organisations.

That’s exactly as it should be. So, those pictures you are seeing coming along with PR Officers of different Ministries and government departments are perfectly and professionally in order.

In fact, Permanent Secretaries must be shunted to their Chief Executive roles of their respective ministries while PR officers take their rightful roles – the face and voice of their respective ministries.

If the PS’s feel their PR officers are outshining them, tough. Their insatiable appetite to talk need not be entertained at the expense of professional standards.

George N Mtonga writes:

Charles just didnt quit, his wife made a braii for PF thats why we will never forgive him.

You can quit UPND but that means you are no longer in politics. But to quit UPND and then make a braii for PF, the same party that arrested our president and chsrged him with treason… aikona man. You can never be forgiven.

Braii sure… of all things.

QUIT. BUT DONT GO TO OUR ENEMIES.

PF LAWMAKERS CONGRATULATE MUNDUBILE ON TONSE ALLIANCE CHAIRMANSHIP BID

A group of Patriotic Front (PF) and Independent Members of Parliament have congratulated Hon. Brian Muntayalwa Mundubile following his successful filing of nominations to contest the position of Chairperson of the Tonse Alliance.

Speaking on behalf of 40 PF MPs who endorsed Hon. Mundubile’s candidature, Acting Spokesperson Mr. Francis Robert Kapyanga said the move signalled decisive leadership at a time when the opposition required clarity and unity ahead of the 2026 General Elections.

He stated that Hon. Mundubile’s decision to contest reflected “clarity of purpose, courage, and responsiveness to the calls of the Zambian people.”

The lawmakers noted that the Tonse Alliance Parliamentary Liaison Chairperson had demonstrated readiness to provide direction and rally progressive forces, adding that his decision showed a commitment “to mobilise and reposition progressive forces toward electoral victory.”

However, the MPs expressed concern over continued indecision within the Patriotic Front, citing the failure to convene a legitimate party conference with only months remaining before nominations.

Mr. Kapyanga said the actions of some party leaders had “undermined cohesion, suppressed internal democracy, and weakened the party’s readiness.”

The statement further urged PF structures across the country to unite behind Hon. Mundubile, whom the MPs described as a stabilising figure capable of restoring focus and direction.

Party members were also reminded to remain anchored in the founding values of the party, guided by the legacy of former Presidents Michael Chilufya Sata and Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

The lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to the Tonse Alliance, noting that it remained “a critical political vehicle that must be protected, strengthened, and defended” against any attempts to weaken it.

They have called on the Patriotic Front to set aside personal interests and recommit to its founding principles of unity, discipline and service to the people of Zambia.

The statement was issued by Mr. Francis Robert Kapyanga, MP, Acting Spokesperson for 31 Patriotic Front and Independent Members of Parliament, on behalf of the Brian Mundubile (BM8) Campaign Secretariat.