No opposition leader can go neck to neck with HH – Kakoma
Charles Kakoma, former Patriotic Front – PF member of the central committee, stated that no opposition candidate currently possesses the track record needed to challenge President Hakainde Hichilema head-on in the upcoming general elections.
Kakoma cited Hichilema’s strong performance since taking office, including economic reforms, infrastructure projects, and diplomatic achievements.
He acknowledged that while several contenders may emerge, none have demonstrated the same level of consistency or public support required to mount a credible challenge.
JOHN STEENHUISEN RUBBISHES “WHITE GENOCIDE” CLAIMS, SAYS SOUTH AFRICA’S REAL CRISIS IS CRIME AFFECTING ALL RACES, RESPONDS TO COMMENTS BY US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AT DAVOS ABOUT AFRIKANER COMMUNITIES
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has strongly dismissed claims that there is a “white genocide” taking place in South Africa, calling such allegations misleading and harmful. He said the country’s biggest problem is not race-based extermination, but a severe and widespread crime crisis that affects everyone – black, white, coloured and Indian alike.
Steenhuisen was responding to renewed remarks by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who raised concerns at the World Economic Forum in Davos about the safety and treatment of Afrikaner communities, particularly farmers. Trump suggested that white South Africans are being deliberately targeted, a narrative that has circulated internationally for several years.
The DA leader said while farm attacks and violent crime in rural areas are real and must be taken seriously, it is dishonest to frame them as proof of a racially driven genocide. According to him, crime in South Africa is brutal and out of control across the board, with townships, suburbs, inner cities and rural areas all suffering from murders, robberies, gender-based violence and organised crime.
Steenhuisen stressed that the issue is a failing criminal justice system, weak policing, corruption and poor leadership, not a government policy to target any specific racial group. He warned that spreading the “white genocide” narrative creates unnecessary fear, deepens racial divisions and damages South Africa’s image globally, which can scare off investors and tourists and worsen unemployment.
He added that the real solution lies in strengthening the SAPS, improving intelligence, fixing the courts, protecting all communities – including farmers – and ensuring that criminals, regardless of who they are or who their victims are, are arrested and convicted.
In short, Steenhuisen said South Africa’s crisis is not about race, but about safety, law and order, and the failure of the state to protect its people.
Kremlin Demands Ukrainian Withdrawal From Donbas as Key Condition for Any Settlement
The Kremlin has publicly stated that the withdrawal of Ukrainian Armed Forces from the Donbas region is a fundamental condition for Russia in any potential peace settlement or progress in negotiations. The statement was made by Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian president, during a briefing with journalists.
According to Peskov, Moscow considers the presence of Ukrainian forces in Donbas incompatible with Russia’s stated objectives and insists that their withdrawal is a “very important condition” for resolving the conflict. He emphasized that Russia’s position on the status of the region remains unchanged and continues to be central to its diplomatic stance.
The remarks come amid renewed international discussions involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, where territorial control and security guarantees remain the most contentious issues. Donbas which includes the Donetsk and Luhansk regions has been at the core of the conflict since 2014 and remains one of the main obstacles to any negotiated settlement.
Ukraine has consistently rejected demands to withdraw from its internationally recognized territory, maintaining that any peace agreement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. No immediate response from Kyiv was issued following the Kremlin’s latest statement.
Source: Reuters (via Kremlin briefing statements reported on 23 January 2026)
US President Donald Trump has reignited controversy by repeating claims of a so-called “white genocide” in South Africa during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, placing South Africa’s investment drive under an unwanted global spotlight.
Trump made the remarks during an unscheduled media briefing after his keynote address, describing the situation as “serious” and claiming, without providing evidence, that such acts are still taking place based on what he called figures and records.
The comments came at an awkward time for South Africa, as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is leading a high-level delegation to Davos to attract foreign investment and position the country as a gateway to Sub-Saharan Africa.
South African authorities and multiple international bodies have repeatedly dismissed claims of a “white genocide” as false and misleading, warning that such narratives distort crime statistics, inflame racial tensions, and undermine the country’s democratic institutions.
Analysts warn that remarks of this nature risk hurting investor confidence and reviving discredited narratives at a time when South Africa is actively courting global capital.
PRESIDENTIAL Aspirant Brian Mundubile has filed in his nomination for the Tonse Alliance Chairperson position.
Hon Mundubile has since paid the K50, 000 nomination fee.
The Alliance recently announced that it will hold its National Convention on January 31, 2026.
Hon Mundubile will be competing against and Christian Democratic Party Leader Professor Dan Pule who has also successfully filed in his nomination papers.
The winner will be the flag bearer for the alliance in the August 13, 2026 Presidential election.
Meanwhile, FDD Leader Chifumu Banda is going for the First Vice Chairman position while Exhildah Mwenya from the New Era Democratic party wants to be the 2nd Vice Chairperson.
And Hon Mundubile has hailed the level of unity exhibited in the Alliance.
“We are going through a democratic process, a process that we chose ourselves. I know that my big brother Professor Dan Pule has also filed in his nomination as Tonse Alliance Chairman, we met and agreed that whoever emerges winner, the other one should give full support. I remain strongly committed to that undertaking because that is what democracy demands.
My prayer is that even for the other positions, those that will lose, should rally behind those who will emerge victorious. This is the democracy we fought for over 30 years ago, it must be exercised not only at national level but even in the alliance. We must show that we are democratic and ready to compete and support one another going forward,” he said.
GIVE the Patriotic Front (PF) back to its original owners because all efforts to destroy the former ruling party have proven futile because the party has remained in the hearts of its grassroots and has remained a political force to reckon with, says Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa.
Dr Sishuwa, an academician and Stellenbosch University senior lecturer says the recent Chawama parliamentary by-election, which saw the governing UPND suffer a humiliating defeat at the hands of the FDD, the special purpose vehicle for the PF and its alliance partners had proven that it was futile to try to annihilate and kill the former ruling party.
Dr Sishuwa said it was now clear that it had become a futile exercise to block the PF from participating in any election because their supporters knew who the true leaders were and that was why the former ruling party was winning each time it had fielded a candidate on any political party.
He said the Chawama and Petauke outcome had demonstrated that attempts to weaken and obliterate the PF through legal, administrative or political means have failed, as party members and supporters had continued to mobilise around leaders they recognise, even when candidates were forced to contest on alternative party tickets.
“Blocking the PF from fielding candidates does not work. The members will simply follow their leaders and support whoever they are told to support,” he said.
He argued that the by-election in Chawama had also exposed limits to vote-buying, stating that despite reports of heavy spending and distribution of food and gifts during the campaign, voters ultimately chose a candidate of their preference.
“Zambian voters are intelligent. They may accept gifts, but they still vote according to their conscience,” Dr. Sishuwa said.
Dr Sishuwa said Chawama had debunked claims that the opposition was dead, showing instead that it remains capable of winning elections even under constrained conditions.
He added that the PF’s vote share, when compared with previous elections, suggested loyalty to identifiable leaders rather than to party symbols alone. Dr. Sishuwa also touched on broader governance issues, including political accountability, saying public figures should take responsibility when they made false claims.
He said apologising when proven wrong was a sign of responsibility, contrasting this with leaders who rise to power on a diet of lies, which he described as a more serious offence against democracy. Dr. Sishuwa noted that the peaceful conduct of the Chawama by-election and the opposition victory weakened arguments that elections are routinely rigged.
He however cautioned against using a single by-election as proof that democracy is fully secure, urging a wider assessment of the political environment.
Dr. Sishuwa said the key lesson for those in power is to allow open competition. “Let the PF field candidates and defeat them fairly. Efforts to sideline them have only shown that such strategies are futile,” he said.
CITIZENS First Party President Harry Kalaba says it is saddening that farmers have to spend nights braving the rains in bank corridors as they wait to be paid by government for the maize supplied to the Food Reserve Agency.
Speaking when he featured on Radio Mano has he drummed up support for CF Mayoral candidate Aaron Zimba in Kasama last night, Mr. Kalaba said the UPND Government has taken away the dignity and respect of farmers.
He said it is unacceptable that 62 years after independence, farmers have to queue for them to access their hard earned money.
“Since independence in 1964, I have never seen farmers suffer the way they are suffering under the UPND. Firstly a farmer suffers to grow maize with the fertiliser they get in medas, secondly they spend days at FRA depots to sale their maize and now they have to suffer to get paid their hard earned money by spending nights in the cold. You can’t treat a farmer badly and expect to develop as a country. Four years in Government, the UPND have destroyed the agriculture sector. There is hunger in the country. Mr. Kalaba said.
“We warned Zambians that these people you are giving the leadership of the country, they have no experience but some were arguing but do not worry CF is coming. As CF we will ensure that farmers have adequate fertiliser, create feeders roads for farmers to easily transport their produce. We will not allow farmers to spend nights at FRA depots sleeping in the cold for them to sale their produce, FRA officers will work in shifts to enhance efficiency. We will respect and bring dignity to our farmers, ” Mr. Kalaba said.
And Mr. Kalaba urged the people of Kasama to vote for the Citizens First party mayoral candidate Aaron Zimba ahead of the January 29th by election.
He said CF is a party of choice that Zambians are looking upto to liberate them from poverty.
He said the UPND Government is wasting the time of Zambians and it has to be voted out of power in the August 13th General elections.
“UPND is not going anywhere. CF is a party of choice, the only party the people of Zambia are looking upto, to liberate from poverty, a party civil servants, the police, teachers and farmers are looking upto,” the CF leader said.
KBF MOCKS THE TONSE ALLIANCE ELECTIONS, A SHAM THAT DOESNT MEET THE BAREST MINIMUM STANDARDS
“No approved standard rules, illegal and undefined membership and rigged electoral college. It is a sham!”
He says the yellow bees will continue to mobilize and align itself with progressive forces.
“You can’t expel the PF from the group but accept individual members of the Patriotic Front into the group. That’s anarchy on their part and on Tonse Alliance part” “Ignore the so-called elections. They are a sham”
The Lusaka Magistrate Court has viewed video footage in which FRANCIS KAPWEPWE, popularly known as WHY ME, is alleged to have uttered hate speech.
The footage was presented during the testimony of Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority –ZICTA- Director of Infrastructure and Resilience, NAWA SAMATEBELE.
Mr. SAMATEBELE told Principal Resident Magistrate IDAH PHIRI that the videos, which were extracted from social media platforms, could not have been generated using artificial intelligence.
He explained that the videos were subjected to forensic analysis to determine whether they had been AI-generated, following a request from the Zambia Police to support ongoing investigations.
Mr. SAMATEBELE further informed the court that two mobile phones, believed to belong to KAPWEPWE, were submitted to ZICTA for forensic examination.
According to his testimony, forensic software identified a TikTok account named WHY ME – THE LION OF THE WORLD on one of the devices.
In this matter, KAPWEPWE is facing three counts of hate speech and of expressing or displaying hatred, ridicule or contempt against persons on the basis of race, tribe, place of origin or colour.
The court heard that on March 31, April 3 and April 8, 2025, KAPWEPWE allegedly used his TikTok account, WHY ME, to publish content directed against the Tonga people.-ZNBC
Julius Malema’s Pre-Sentencing Postponed: Final Arguments Now Set for 15 April After EFF Leader’s Conviction Under Firearms Control Act Last October
EFF leader Julius Malema will have to wait a little longer before his sentence is handed down. Pre-sentencing proceedings in his case have been postponed, with the final heads of argument now scheduled for 15 April. Malema was convicted last October for contravening the Firearms Control Act, a case that has captured national attention given his high-profile political role.
Supporters and critics alike have been closely following the developments, with the EFF vowing to continue defending their leader while opponents call for the law to take its course. The postponement adds another layer of suspense, as observers debate the potential implications for Malema, the EFF, and South Africa’s political landscape.
The upcoming April hearing will be crucial in determining the severity of the consequences Malema could face, and public interest remains high as the nation waits to see how this high-stakes legal and political drama unfolds.
ARRESTING JULIUS MALEMA WITHOUT EXTREME CAUTION COULD BE A DANGEROUS MISTAKE: Why the State Must Handle His Case Carefully to Avoid Unrest Like the Zuma Riots and the Tragic Fallout After Chris Hani’s Assassination
South Africa has painful lessons from history about what happens when the state moves against highly influential political figures without fully preparing for the social consequences.
The arrest of former President Jacob Zuma in 2021 triggered nationwide unrest, looting, destruction of infrastructure and the loss of more than 350 lives. The assassination of Chris Hani in 1993 nearly pushed the country into civil war because of the deep emotional connection he had with the black working class and the youth.
Julius Malema today occupies a similar space in the hearts of millions of young, unemployed and poor South Africans. To many of them, he is not just a politician — he is a voice of anger, frustration and hope in a system they feel has failed them.
Arresting or sentencing Malema without carefully managing the political and social impact could ignite serious instability. His support base is largely made up of young people from townships, informal settlements and rural areas who already feel excluded from the economy and ignored by those in power. Any perception that the state is “targeting” their leader could easily be interpreted as an attack on them as a generation and as a class.
This is not about whether the law must take its course — the law must always apply equally. But history shows that timing, communication and sensitivity matter. A heavy-handed approach could turn court processes into political flashpoints, just as happened with Zuma, and emotional reactions similar to those that followed Chris Hani’s killing could be triggered.
South Africa cannot afford another explosion of violence driven by anger, poverty and political identity. The Malema case must therefore be handled with extreme care, maturity and strategic foresight, because when millions of desperate young people feel their champion is under siege, the streets can become the courtroom — and the consequences can be devastating.
ARMY IS NOT FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE, CHISHALA KATEKA CONDEMNS ZYEELE’S LANGUAGE
New Heritage Party President Chishala Kateka has castigated Zambia Army Commander Lieutenant General Geoffrey Zyeele over plans to exterminate and fumigate targeted illegal Miners in Mufumbwe District.
Speaking when she featured on Radio Phoenix Let the people Talk Programme, Kateka said the Army commander will do well to apologize to the Zambian people over the use of such language which brought more harm than good in other countries.
She said the words fumigated and exterminated were used in Rwanda on the Hutus and NAZI Germany on the Jews before atrocities were committed.
And Kateka has questioned whether the Zambia Police does not have the capacity to handle internal security matters.
She said the Army should not be used as the first line of defence when there is a security concern within the country adding that such is a prerogative of the Police unless they fail.
The Opposition leader has therefore questioned the motive behind General Zyeele’s utterances.
“The Army is not your first line of defence, why should you use bullets as your first line of defence, these are civilians. Internally, your first line of defence is the police, if you think there is a problem, deal with it and retrain them,” she said.
“This army commander by the use of those words, what is he trying to incite, what is he saying about those miners there, they are cockroaches? When you use those words, it means me in the army, I start to look at those like they do not matter. When they break the law, you must be able to go through a legal process. Not to be fumigated and exterminated. There is a reason the Nations world over, countries are structured like that. The Army is not your first line of defence, why should you use bullets as your first line of defence, these are civilians on civilians? Internally, your first line of defence is the police, if you think there is a problem, deal with it and retrain them……He does not end there, he then starts to issue threats against those people who threw stones. Isn’t there not a process already in place, the police picked up some people? Why should the Zambia army overstep and overreach into the realms of what the police are doing.
“This language is definitely not acceptable in Zambia. It is unfortunate and I think the commander would do well to apologize to the Zambians because, those miners when you look at the social economic factors at play in the country, they are trying to make a living just like the Kachasu Brewers when they know that is wrong…. The way we deal with these issues matters if we want to keep the peace we have been enjoying.”
And Kateka has challenged the government to tell the nation if the police have failed to handle the security concerns in the country.
“This issue of illegal miners, it is a security risk on the miners and apparently there may be some criminal elements coming in. However, it is an internal issue which should be handled by the police. When we have not seen that the police have been deployed and have failed, and yet here we are deployment the army. The Army commander says he is following orders from the president,” Kateka stated.
“The commander uses the word exterminate and fumigate. When I use the word fumigate, what comes to mind is to fumigate cockroaches and then you exterminate them mind is cockroaches, you fumigate them. In Rwanda, those words were used against the Hutus, in Nazi Germany those words were used against the Jews. In Zambia, according to our constitution, we have separation of powers in the manner our security and defence forces operate. We have clearly the Police, Army, ZNS and ZAF. We do not have ZAF coming into the place of the police and do what the police should do. The army deals with external security and if the worse comes to the worse, you can use the army especially if institutions fail. When you have criminals, it is still the police who need to sort them out. In Mufumbwe, they should go there to supplement and not to take over. The Army, when you let them loose in a nation, it can bring consequences. The way the Army commander talks, it does not even give an indication that he will show mercy. When the Army gets involved in certain operations, they are quiet about what they do. But this guy is all over the place. This is a civilian’s thing, even when they needed to use the army they should have done it quietly.”
Meanwhile, Kateka has blasted the UPND Government over their amateurish style of communicating important issues to the public.
She said the issues of President Hakainde Hichilema going on leave should have been handled in a professional manner without raising suspicion among members of the public.
Kateka is of the view that people in the current government are waiting for the President to make pronouncements before they can do their job adding that the country needs Ministers who are proactive and not just the Head of State as a starring.
“Communication is not this government’s strongest points. It is one of their weaknesses. If I were in government holding an important position like that of Minister of Information or secretary to cabinet, I would have said to the Country that the president is going on leave. We waste so much time discussing things that could be avoided if this government was effective in communicating,” she said.
“The first time this was asked, somebody from Government should have come to explain that the president is taking his annual leave. But everything with this government is a secret. We have had presidents going leave before but the difference is that it was announced. Even if he falls sick, people fall sick, there is no harm in saying the President is not feeling well, he is going to the hospital. What you communicate matters.
I think I blame his handlers, what is Cornelius Mweetwa is doing. We are so far behind, we need to be a nation that is moving forward. The problem we have as a nation has a lot to do with mindsets. I have dealt with the issue of mindsets after starting an Organisation. I was doing with young people up to the age of 40. We do not train our people to think in a certain way, that is why we need to change our Education curriculum.”
SEER 1 URGES ZAMBIANS TO SUPPORT ARMY COMMANDER AGAINST ILLEGAL MINING CRISIS
Renowned Nigerian Pastor, Andrew Ejimandu, better known as Seer 1, has issued a warning to Zambians about the potential consequences of supporting illegal mining activities in the country.
Speaking passionately about the issue, Seer 1 compared Zambia’s situation to that of Nigeria, where illegal oil drilling has fueled the rise of dangerous militancy.
Seer 1, who has been a vocal critic of illegal mining, emphasized that while some might criticize Zambia’s Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Geoffrey Zyeele, for his tough stance on the matter, or even President Hakainde Hichilema for his firm directives, the two men were ultimately acting in the country’s best interests.
He urged Zambians to support their leadership in the efforts to curb illegal mining, which he believes could have disastrous long-term consequences for the country.
He recalled the early days of illegal oil drilling in Nigeria, where the situation initially seemed harmless.
“Kidnapping started like a joke in Nigeria when a group of illegal oil drillers began kidnapping foreign expatriates,” he explained.
“At first, many people clapped for them because the government wasn’t allowing us access to our oil.”
However, Seer 1 noted that the government’s lack of action allowed the situation to escalate uncontrollably.
“What started as a joke became a widespread issue, and now kidnapping has become a fashionable crime,” he warned.
The Nigerian pastor added that militants in his home country, originally fueled by illegal oil activities, are now more equipped than the nation’s military forces.
He pointed out that, in some cases, the militants are better armed than the soldiers sent to combat them.
“If you look at the pictures of these militants, you might mistake them for military officers on the front line,” Ejimandu said.
“These are the offspring of illegal oil drilling, and in many cases, they are better equipped than our own military.”
Ejimandu urged Zambians to take the potential dangers of illegal mining seriously, stating that while politics may fuel some of the support for such activities, it should never come at the cost of the people’s lives or peace
“Let those supporting illegal mining in Zambia desist from it,” he said. “Don’t play politics with people’s lives.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian pastor called for a united effort to help Zambia combat illegal mining before it becomes too late, urging citizens to rally behind the country’s Army Commander in the battle for a safer, cleaner Zambia.
“Let us support the Army Commander in his efforts to sanitize Zambia before it’s too late,” he said.
THE ARMY’S CONCERNS ARE RIGHT ON THE SPOT, THOUGH COMMUNICATION WAS POOR
By Nkonkomalimba Kapumpe
Immediately the Army Commander issued a statement about illegal miners in Mufumbwe my first instinct was how could he be threatening to kill citizens, and my second reaction was that it’s not the job of the police. Where is he getting information that they have guns? So, I did some quick research to find out what the Army Commander was seeing that we weren’t.
First, most rebels start in Africa because the government fails to have an intelligent policy towards minerals , unpoliced communities, and an influx of foreigners buying minerals. The three conditions have been met, and he’s trying to prevent a disaster in the making. In short, the Army is scared of what’s brewing and wants to stay ahead of it. Unlike the Mines Minister and the police.
I think most of you would support us in saying that we’ve been warning about Mines Minister Kabuswe’s failure to rise to the occasion of gold being discovered all over the country. We needed a sound policy and a strong team taking over mines and areas immediately they discover minerals, and partnering with the community. This must be done fast before illegal mining grows in numbers and we start shooting people. The Army has the right to be scared or concerned. What if they start shooting back? After that, we’ll have small conflicts all over.
Already, what I’m seeing is a lot of young Zambian people finding ways to make money through mining which is good and need just to be formalised. However, the communities in the bush have no policing – it’s the Wild West, as the English say. They’re doing their own policing, meaning they’re forming their own governance systems and leadership. If left unchecked, they’ll get rich and they’ll need to protect their interests. There’s also an influx of Tanzanians, Kenyans, Indians, Chinese, and Somalis buying gold or sponsoring young people to mine. Some of them are camped there. This is an extreme security concerns, and Zambia is losing income to foreigners illegally.
Though the language was strong over the illegal mining by the Zambia Army Commander, it was just poor communication with civilians.He came out looked hungry to kill citizens in the eyes of civilians, but their concerns are right on the spot. You also dont want problems escalating that we should be involving the Army; we start to involve the Army in civil matters. it will be very difficult to get them back in the barracks. One day they will feel the politicians are wrong, even those in government; and they will be drawn to act. Let’s avoid the Army in political issues, “no it’s only the Zambia army commander speaking”; the Commander inspires his troops.
My intelligent guess is that the President didn’t even have to tell them – they raised the concern and plan, and the President agreed. The Mines Minister should give us a policy fast. Otherwise, the Zambia Army will be busy in Rufunsa, Mpika, Chingola, Ndola, Mufumbwe, mumbwe and many other places where gold has recently been discovered
The Importance of the Zambia Army in Curbing Illegal Mining, A Constitutional and National Security Imperative
By Tobbius Chilembo Hamunkoyo, LLB
All governance and operational authority in Zambia is firmly anchored in the Constitution of Zambia and Acts of Parliament. National security is no exception. The Zambia Army does not operate outside the law, it exists, functions, and acts strictly within constitutional and statutory authority, particularly under Article 192 of the Constitution and the Defence Act, Chapter 106 of the Laws of Zambia.
It is therefore important that citizens are not misled into believing that lawful security operations are arbitrary or politically motivated. Zambia’s peace and stability, since independence, have been built on strict respect for the rule of law. That principle remains the cornerstone of our democracy and national unity.
Under the Defence Act, Chapter 106, the Zambia Army is legally mandated to defend the Republic and to perform such other duties as may be determined by the President in the public interest. Pursuant to Article 91(1) of the Constitution, the President of the Republic is the Head of State and Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force. This constitutional authority extends to responding to serious internal threats that undermine national security, public order, and economic stability.
Illegal mining, by its very nature, threatens all three and therefore justifies the lawful involvement of the Defence Force.
The Zambia Army Commander, Lieutenant General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele, has correctly identified illegal mining as both an economic and national security threat. His directive to evict illegal miners from sensitive areas such as the Lower Zambezi is a clear demonstration of the Army’s constitutional duty to protect national resources, territorial integrity, and public safety. These actions are lawful, measured, and guided by national interest, not partisan politics.
It must also be stated plainly that illegal mining in Zambia increasingly involves foreign nationals operating outside immigration, mining, and environmental laws. The Department of Immigration has confirmed arrests and removals of foreign nationals found engaging in illegal mining activities. This raises serious concerns relating to national sovereignty, organised crime, and the unregulated exploitation of Zambia’s mineral wealth, making security intervention not only justified but unavoidable.
Global experience offers painful lessons. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, illegal mining financed armed groups and prolonged violent conflict. In Sierra Leone, illicit diamonds fuelled a devastating civil war. In Venezuela, competition over illegal mining zones has led to armed confrontations and loss of state control. These examples clearly demonstrate that failure to decisively address illegal mining can destabilise nations and destroy lives.
In my view as a nation, we must therefore resist the temptation to politicise matters of national security. The actions of the Zambia Army are not partisan; they are constitutional. Peace, security, and sovereignty must always rise above political contestation. When leadership acts to protect national resources and maintain law and order, it deserves national support, not division, suspicion, or misinformation.
Zambia’s peace is hard-earned and must be jealously guarded. Supporting the lawful actions of the Zambia Army in curbing illegal mining is an act of patriotism, not politics. Let us remain united, respect our institutions, appreciate responsible leadership, and ensure that Zambia’s natural wealth benefits all Zambians, today and for generations to come.
THE ZAMBIA ARMY COMMANDER, LT. GEN. GEOFFREY ZYEELE, IS ON FIRM GROUND
By Moses Z. Mtonga
As a country, we must be honest with ourselves, we cannot allow lawlessness to take root under the excuse of tolerance. That is exactly how many of our neighbouring countries slipped into instability, small things ignored until they became ungovernable. Zambia is not that big, and if we fail to manage these situations early, the consequences will overwhelm us.
History is clear, when strategic minerals especially gold are left unprotected and poorly managed, they become a breeding ground for criminal syndicates, armed groups, and chaos. Those with access to dangerous weapons are often not ordinary citizens, and in many cases not even Zambians. This is why vigilance is not optional, it is essential.
We must be careful about what we tolerate. What we tolerate today grows tomorrow. And if left unchecked, it can overpower the very systems meant to protect us.
The Zambia Army exists to defend sovereignty, protect national resources, and preserve order. They must be allowed to do their job professionally, lawfully, and decisively, and they deserve our full support and goodwill.
Let us also be clear: hiding behind the narrative of “people just trying to survive” cannot justify actions that endanger national security. We are all citizens, equally bound by the law and equally responsible for doing what is right. Zambia belongs to all of us, and safeguarding it is a shared duty.
We commend the firm and proactive approach taken by the Army Commander. Illegal activity must be stopped, criminal networks dismantled, and order restored within the bounds of the law and the Constitution.
To our men and women in uniform, especially the special forces, We stand with you. Stay disciplined. Stay resolute. Zambia is counting on you.
🇿🇲 BRIEFING | Military Triggers Illegal Gold Miners Exodus From KINKONGE
Illegal gold miners in Mufumbwe District of North-Western Province have begun vacating the Kinkonge gold site following a stern warning issued by Zambia Army Commander Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele, triggering a rushed exodus across what security officials describe as a growing illegal mining axis.
Footage shared by Prime TV Zambia shows groups of miners, including women and youths, boarding trucks and buses as they leave the mineral zone, signalling a sudden retreat from one of the region’s most active gold rush sites.
The development comes as the Zambia Army intensifies operations in North-Western Province, with parallel security movements reported on the Copperbelt.
Youths interviewed on the ground told Prime TV that the military had not used force but advised them to vacate the area, an approach they described as firm but non-violent. The advisory appears to have been enough to unsettle illegal mining networks that have thrived in the area for months.
Despite complying, some of the miners expressed anxiety over their livelihoods. They cited limited employment opportunities in their home districts and said informal mining had become their only means of survival.
Wilard Mambwe, one of the affected youths, lamented the closure of Senseli and other small-scale mining sites, saying many young people were now stranded without alternatives.
The exodus follows blunt remarks by Lt Gen Zyeele, who warned that illegal mining in Mufumbwe had evolved into a national security threat. He said intelligence reports point to the involvement of foreign nationals, some with military backgrounds, allegedly coordinating illegal gold extraction and smuggling operations.
Commander Zyeele warned that such actors would be flushed out, stressing that lawlessness in mineral-rich zones would no longer be tolerated.
Security sources say the unfolding events reflect a broader military push to dismantle illegal mining gangs operating across North-Western Province and the Copperbelt, areas increasingly linked by smuggling routes and organised networks.
The sudden withdrawal from Kinkonge suggests that the warning has sent shockwaves through the gold rush economy, with illegal miners opting to leave before the Army fully closes in.
As the military maintains pressure, authorities say operations will continue until order is restored, licensed mining protected, and the illegal mining axis broken.
Elon Musk has claimed that medical degrees will soon be pointless as AI-powered robots will outperform human surgeons.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO claimed that humanoid robots like Tesla’s Optimus will outperform the world’s best surgeons within three years.
Speaking on the Moonshots podcast hosted by Peter Diamandis, Musk argued that human doctors are slow to train, prone to error, and fundamentally limited.
“Right now there’s a shortage of doctors and great surgeons,” Musk said.
“[It takes] a super long time to learn how to be a good doctor Doctors have limited time, they make mistakes. How many great surgeons are there? Not that many,” he added.
“So don’t go to medical school?” Diamandis asked Musk.
Elon Musk on AI and robotics impact on medical care “Everyone will have access to medical care that is better than what the president receives right now. So don't go to medical school? Yes, pointless.” pic.twitter.com/Iow9tS6Gba
It wasn’t the first time Musk had predicted the end of human surgeons. In April 2025, he had already claimed that robots would soon master surgery, pointing to Neuralink’s robot, which implants ultra-thin electrodes into the human brain with a level of precision difficult for human hands to achieve.
While robotic surgery is advancing rapidly, experts warn that medicine cannot function without human judgement, accountability and ethical responsibility.
“Mama” – Davido Meets French First Lady in Paris Amid Kemi Olunloyo’s Allegations
Nigerian Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has arrived in France for a performance, accompanied by his elder sister and manager, Sharon Adeleke. The trip comes in the wake of renewed controversy sparked by journalist Kemi Olunloyo.
Unfazed by Drama
Olunloyo recently made headlines with damaging allegations, claiming the singer’s twins are autistic, while also trading insults with his aide, Israel DMW, and attacking his father. However, Davido appeared unbothered by the online storm as he stepped out in Paris.
A Warm Encounter
In a viral video from the trip, the singer was seen getting the attention of the French First Lady, Brigitte Macron. He affectionately addressed her as “mama” as she walked by. Hearing him, she stopped to greet the duo, sharing a brief hug with Davido and his sister before continuing.
Supporters have praised the singer for staying focused. Many mocked his critics, noting that while “keypad warriors” are busy arguing over rumors and DNA issues, Davido remains “booked and busy,” moving from one high-profile connection to another.
Presidential Ties
This follows a previous encounter where Davido met with French President Emmanuel Macron. During that meeting, the singer described France as his home and even video-called his wife, Chioma, to introduce her to the President, proudly stating, “That is my wife”. Watch the video below …..
Court Orders Verydarkman and Doris Ogala to Stop Talking About Pastor Chris Okafor
The Lagos High Court has issued a restraining order against social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse (Verydarkman), actress Doris Ogala, and Kelvin Chimaobi Emmanuel, barring them from making any online references to Pastor Chris Okafor or his ministry.
The Injunction
Delivered by Justice M. A. Savage at the Ikeja division on Thursday, the ruling grants an ex-parte application filed by the cleric. Pending the determination of the substantive suit, the three defendants are prohibited from mentioning the pastor or his church (Grace Nation International/Liberation City) or using his images on any platform.
Ban on Private Materials
The court specifically ordered that the defendants and their agents must not publish or release any alleged private materials including chats, text messages, pictures, or videos involving Dr. Okafor. The judge also restrained them from releasing any content intended to blackmail or extort the clergyman.
Next Steps
The court granted a substituted service for the legal processes via newspaper publication and adjourned the case for a hearing on February 2, 2026.
Netizens React
The development has sparked mixed reactions on social media:
bukolaoluyemilabeauty said:
“Nigeria is always supporting paedophille and criminals 😮.”
essysala said:
“As how now!!! Nigeria my beloved country. 😂😂😂😂.”
ajamu0806 said:
“How is that possible ?!”
conyedikachi4 said:
“Omoooo,i hope Doris can adhere to this instruction.”
talknado2 said:
“Woooooooooo!!! Very nice! Thanks very much pastor. Thanks very much my Lord! Erhen wey that hoeloshi? Oya come Court come explain wetin you say pastor do you. Since you and your Barr. Marshall nor gree sue us. We don sue una oooh! Ewu Gambia. You think say na chor chor chor. Ajambene mixed with crocodile tears nor dey help. Come and prove your case. 😂.”
Bernadine Gunner, an African American woman from Camden, New Jersey who was reported missing in 2010, was found dead inside a car at the bottom of Cooper River last spring. Her remains were identified by DNA testing, ending a 14-year mystery for her family.
Gunner, 52, was last seen driving a blue 2006 Hyundai Elantra after telling family members she might take her own life, according to Fox 29. Her sudden disappearance left loved ones searching for answers for more than a decade.
A dive team located the submerged vehicle on the river bed, collecting remains that were later sent to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification. DNA testing confirmed the remains belonged to Gunner.
Authorities have not released a cause of death, and it remains unclear how long the car had been underwater. The discovery provides some closure, though many questions about her final moments remain unanswered.
Camden County Prosecutor Grace MacAulay expressed gratitude for the team’s work, saying, “We are grateful to all those who assisted with returning Bernadine to her family.” She added, “Missing person cases are heartbreaking because family members are left wondering what happened to their loved one.”
Michelle Obama recently weighed in on her husband, President Barack Obama, running for a third term if the law were amended, saying that she would “actively” oppose it.
Per The Hill, Obama, 62, emphasized that the current two-term presidential limit was enough during an interview on the Call Her Daddy podcast that was released on Wednesday.
Though presidents are limited to two terms under the 22nd Amendment, Trump has, on many occasions, spoken about the likelihood of running for a third term, though he has also admitted that it is not permitted by law.
When the podcast host, Alex Cooper, asked Obama if her husband would be interested in running for a third term if it were allowed by the Constitution, the former first lady said, “I hope not.”
“I would be at home working against it,” Obama added. “And maybe a lot of people would be like, ‘Good, we don’t want him anyway,’” she also said.
Obama then went ahead to explain why she felt that the current two-term presidential limit is enough.
“I do believe in the need for new vision,” she said. “The two terms is not just about ‘we like them and we want’ — it’s just like, we’re changing and growing so fast. This is a hard job. And it requires new energy, new vision all the time, new ways of looking at the world,” she explained.
“There’s so many talented people out there. Why would we keep going with the same people?” Obama continued.
“How are we going to build young leaders if the same people keep doing it again, and again and again?” she also told Cooper, per The Hill.
Obama said that when leaders get older, they “live a different life as an older, established person. And I think there’s room for that wisdom, but there’s room for new ideas to come in.”
“I do believe that eight years is enough,” she said. “This new generation is coming up: They travel more, they know more about the world, they’re exposed in a different way. I’m really, really curious about their perspectives on how to fix some of this stuff.”
“I think two terms is enough for everybody.”
Cooper asked Obama if she thought that her husband “would consider running” if Trump “does change the law and runs for a third term, hypothetically.”
“I hope not,” she replied. “I would actively work against that.”
President Trump intensified his attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar in a recent Truth Social post, saying she should be jailed or deported and claiming her removal would allow her to “help to MAKE SOMALIA GREAT AGAIN.” He tied the remarks to alleged fraud in Minnesota and ongoing immigration protests.
In the post, Trump accused the Minnesota Democrat of knowing about what he described as billions of dollars in fraud linked to the state’s Somali community. He referred to Omar as a “fake ‘Congresswoman’” and said she belonged in prison or should be sent back to Somalia
Trump connected those claims to his broader stance on immigration enforcement. He praised ICE for deporting people he described as violent criminals and questioned why Minnesota leaders oppose removals, suggesting protests were driven by paid agitators and anarchists.
He then shifted back to state leadership, accusing Minnesota’s governor and Omar of using controversy to distract from what he called “18 Billion Dollar, Plus, FRAUD” in the state. Trump said his administration was already investigating the matter.
Omar has represented Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District since early 2019. She was born in Somalia and became a U.S. citizen in 2000.
The comments came amid renewed criticism over Omar’s past remark referring to the country as the “U.S. God—- States.” GOP Sen. Mike Lee responded on X, saying no member of Congress should use that language and asking what consequences should follow.
Elon Musk later joined the exchange, replying that the appropriate response was “Whatever the penalty is for treason.”
Aileen Lopera, Stefon Diggs’ former partner, has dropped her paternity and child support lawsuit against the NFL player. This comes just days after her lawyer claimed a DNA test confirmed Diggs as the father, according to exclusive confirmation obtained by Us Weekly.
Lopera formally requested the dismissal of the entire case against the 32-year-old Diggs in court documents filed on January 20. Her attorney, Tamar G. Arminak, told Us Weekly, “The matter has been resolved.”
Lopera’s lawsuit, filed in December 2024, claimed that Stefon Diggs was the father of her daughter, Charliee Harper Diggs-Lopera, who was born on April 2, 2024.
The suit was still active when, in September 2025, the New England Patriots wide receiver’s current girlfriend, rapper Cardi B, announced her own pregnancy, expecting her child with Diggs.
The woman, in her petition, requested the court to legally establish Diggs as the father of her baby girl, Charliee. Her claim was based on having sexual intercourse with Diggs in California, which she asserted resulted in the pregnancy.
Lopera requested the court grant her sole legal and physical custody of her daughter, allowing Diggs only visitation rights. Her petition also sought to make the NFL star responsible for paying child support, expenses related to the pregnancy, and the legal fees incurred for filing the petition.
Lopera’s attorney commented on the case to US Weekly when the lawsuit was initially filed.
“My client looks forward to the day Mr. Diggs acknowledges and provides for his infant daughter in Los Angeles,” Arminak told the outlet.
On July 17, Diggs formally responded to the lawsuit, asking the court to order a DNA test because he was unsure if he was the father. His request for “genetic testing” aimed to confirm his paternity. Should the test prove he is the father, Diggs requested joint legal and physical custody of the baby girl.
Months after that, a statement from Lopera’s lawyer, released on November 6, 2025, asserted that DNA testing had established Diggs’ paternity.
“We can confirm that Mr. Diggs is the father,” Arminak said. “And, we are hopeful that he will meaningfully contribute to the child’s life and coparent with our client who has had to do everything on her own thus far.”
The lawyer also told Page Six, “Now that the child’s paternity has been established and Mr. Diggs has acknowledged his daughter, my client hopes they can work toward being great parents to their child,” Arminak shared in a statement.
Arminak had also stated that Lopera’s case would “move forward if the parties are not able to resolve [their issue] themselves.”
A few days later, Cardi, 33, and Diggs welcomed their first child together, which was her fourth child overall.
Stefon Diggs’ legal troubles have been partially reduced, though he still faces assault charges. According to TMZ, His arraignment for felony strangulation/suffocation and misdemeanor assault/battery was postponed until February 13th, after the Super Bowl.
These charges stem from allegations by his former chef over a salary dispute. Diggs and his legal team deny the claims. He has received public support from the Patriots and his girlfriend, rapper Cardi B, who asserts the chef is lying.
AFTER it imposed sanctions on Guinea following the 2021 coup, the African Union has announced it is lifting them.
It comes after what the Union described as ‘the successful organisation of the presidential election’ in December. The Union hailed what it referred to as “the positive steps taken in the implementation of the Political Transition Roadmap in the Republic of Guinea which culminated in the successful organization of the presidential election on 28 December 2025”.
A civil society group urging the return of civilian rule has denounced the election as a “charade”, while opposition candidates said the poll was rife with irregularities.
Former junta leader Mamady Doumbouya was congratulated by the Union for his election win. In front of a crowd of tens of thousands of supporters, Doumbouya was sworn in as president on Saturday.
It comes after he ousted the country’s first freely elected President Alpha Condé five years ago.
Doumbouya has since clamped down on civil liberties and banned demonstrations, with political rivals arrested, put on trial or forced into exile.
MANDELA’S PRISON KEY, SUNGLASSES AND SHIRT CAN BE SOLD AFTER DAUGHTER WINS COURT BATTLE
A South African court has dismissed an appeal by the country’s heritage body to stop the sale and export of various artefacts connected to anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.
The 70 personal items include a cell key from Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of the 27 years he was locked up, a pair of Aviator sunglasses and one of his signature floral shirts. They were due to be exported to the US for auction.
The objects belong to his eldest daughter, Makaziwe Mandela and Christo Brand, a Robben Island warden during Mandela’s incarceration.
In trying to stop their sale, the authorities said they were part of the country’s heritage and were therefore legally protected from export.
The South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) first found out about the potential sale in a British newspaper article from late 2021, claiming that the key would go for more than £1m ($1.35m).
The agency then wrote to the US auction house, Guernsey, that was planning the sale to ask it to suspend the auction and return the assets to South Africa.
Other items in the lot were a copy of the 1996 South African Constitution personally signed by Mandela, one of his charcoal drawings, an ID card, a tennis racquet he used on Robben Island and gifts from world leaders, including one from former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.
Mandela’s daughter wanted to use the proceeds from the sale to build a memorial garden at the late former resident’s grave in Qunu, in Mthatha, Eastern Cape province.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court of Appeal argues that Sahra’s interpretation of what items fell under the National Heritage Resources Act was overly broad.
The ruling also states that whereas Makaziwe and Brand explained in detail why their respective assets were not heritage objects, Sahra made no attempt to explain on what grounds it believed they were.
It is not yet clear whether the authorities will seek other legal avenues to block the sale. The BBC has contacted the sport, arts and culture department for comment.
Makaziwe, Mandela’s only daughter with his first wife, welcomed the Supreme Court’s judgment, blasting the heritage agency for presuming “to know my father’s last wishes better than those who were beside him at the end – his family”.
“Nobody is more invested in ensuring Tata’s [Mandela’s] legacy endures in the way he would want to be remembered than those who carry his name,” she said.
She added that no decision had yet been made on what would happen to the items meant to go on auction.
Some supporters of the government’s position argued that items connected to Mandela should not be sold or exported but instead kept in South Africa for future generations.
Others believe that Mandela’s family should decide what happens to the objects.
Mandela died in 2013 at the age of 95. He led the African National Congress in its struggle against apartheid – a system of legally enforced racism – and was released from prison in 1990.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 along with then-President FW de Klerk.
Mandela became South Africa’s first democratically elected president in 1994.
Authorities in Atlanta have arrested and charged Djimon Hounsou’s ex-girlfriend after the Beninese-American actor accused her of assaulting him when he tried to make her leave his home.
Per TMZ, Hounsou, 61, shares two children with his ex-girlfriend, Riza Simpson. New legal documents stated that Hounsou reported Simpson to police last December, claiming that she used a closed fist to hit him in the face after he attempted to make her move out of his Atlanta townhouse.
The Gladiator star also said that their children were inside the home and upstairs when Simpson allegedly assaulted him.
A warrant for Simpson’s arrest was ultimately issued, and she was taken into custody on Friday after police went to the home where the alleged assault occurred. Simpson has since been charged with two misdemeanors: simple assault and obstruction for allegedly providing false information.
Police also said that Simpson and her children were at the home when she was arrested. Officers said that when they arrived at the residence and knocked on the door, they heard the children crying, TMZ reported.
Hounsou also shares a son named Kenzo with model and fashion designer, Kimora Lee Simmons. In 2019, the Blood Diamond actor told the entertainment news outlet that he hadn’t seen his son in a while. He further claimed that he did not even get to spend Father’s Day with him.
Hounsou and Simmons ultimately got embroiled in a custody battle.
In March 2020, Hounsou opened up about an incident where his then-10-year-old son was called the N-word by another kid, Face2Face Africa reported at the time. He also revealed what he told him when he reported the incident to him.
Speaking on SiriusXM’s The Clay Cane Show, the Guardians of the Galaxy actor revealed that the incident occurred when he went to pick Kenzo from a soccer game. He recounted the incident when he was asked about how he talks to his kids about issues pertaining to racism.
“It’s tough especially if you don’t live with your kid,” he started. “Because how do you get to have those moments?”
“I went to pick up my son from a soccer game one time and he says to me some other kid called him the N-word. That’s how early it starts,” the 61-year-old actor recollected. “He’s wondering, ‘Why do you have to call me that word?’ I was wondering, ‘When do they start to get treated like a second class citizen?’”
When asked about his reaction and what he told his son, Hounsou said: “I said, ‘Which kid?’ So the kid was getting in the car and left. I said, ‘Well, don’t take that personally. Some people just feel insecure, and they just feel like they have to call you some kind of derogative, you know.’”
Dr. Gladys West, an African American mathematician whose work helped make GPS possible, has died at the age of 95. Her research shaped modern navigation systems used daily in smartphones, airplanes, and vehicles around the world.
West passed away over the weekend while surrounded by family and friends, as reported by WTVR. Though much of her work happened behind the scenes, its impact reached far beyond the scientific community.
She was born on a farm in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, during the Great Depression and grew up under Jim Crow segregation. Despite limited opportunities, West excelled in school, graduating as valedictorian of her high school class before earning degrees in mathematics.
Her academic success led her to the Naval Surface Warfare Center, where she became one of the first Black women hired. There, she spent years performing detailed calculations and developing computer programs to process satellite data.
That work helped create precise models of the Earth’s shape. These models later became a core part of the Global Positioning System, which now guides drivers, pilots, ships, emergency responders, and everyday phone users.
“This woman had so much knowledge and was just such a beautiful person,” said Marvin Jackson, Gladys’ biographer, in a 2022 interview.
TRUP DROPS BOMBSHELL: “THE UNITED STATES PAID FOR ETHIOPIA’S DAM” – NILE WATER WAR EXPLODES!
President Donald Trump just made a shocking claim that could escalate the Nile River crisis to a full-blown international incident.
WHAT TRUMP SAID:
During a White House press briefing Tuesday, Trump declared:
“You know who paid for the dam? The United States. We financed it.”
He wasn’t sure which administration approved it, saying: “I don’t know—maybe it was a Republican president, but I don’t think it was. I think it was a Democrat.”
Trump called the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) a “terrible thing” and described it as a “very tough situation” for Egypt.
He claimed the dam “stops the flow” of the Nile River, threatening Egypt’s “lifeblood” – including tourism and basic water needs.
THE REALITY CHECK:
⚠️ The GERD was primarily financed by ETHIOPIA ITSELF through bonds sold to its own citizens and Chinese loans NOT the United States
⚠️ The U.S. has been involved in negotiations between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan, but did NOT finance the $5 billion project
⚠️ Ethiopia has repeatedly stated the dam is a sovereign project for electricity generation, NOT to cut off Egypt’s water
WHAT THIS MEANS:
➡️ Trump’s comments could inflame an already tense situation between Egypt and Ethiopia
➡️ Egypt depends on the Nile for 90% of its freshwater and fears the dam will reduce its water supply
➡️ Ethiopia insists the dam is essential for development and will provide electricity to 65 million Ethiopians without power
➡️ Sudan is caught in the middle, needing both water flow AND electricity from the dam
THE DANGEROUS PART:
Trump’s false claim that America “financed” the dam could:
➡️ Give Egypt ammunition to demand U.S. intervention against Ethiopia
➡️ Fuel conspiracy theories about foreign control of African infrastructure
➡️ Escalate tensions in a region already on edge over water rights
THE TRUTH:
Ethiopia built this dam with its OWN money and Chinese support. It’s a symbol of African determination to develop WITHOUT waiting for Western permission.
Trump saying “we financed it” is either: 1. Completely false 2. A confession of secret U.S. involvement nobody knew about
Either way, his words just made the Nile water crisis MORE dangerous.
Egypt’s 100 million people need water. Ethiopia’s 120 million people need electricity. Both nations deserve solutions, not inflammatory claims from foreign leaders.
This is Africa’s problem to solve not Trump’s stage for political theater. African hype media
The uncle of British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua has stated that his nephew would not want the driver involved in the fatal crash that claimed the lives of two of his friends to be sent to jail.
The driver, Adeniyi Kayode, 46, appeared before a magistrate’s court in Sagamu, Ogun State, on Tuesday January 20, over the December crash that claimed the lives of Joshua’s close friends, Latif Ayodele, and Sina Ghami.
The magistrate, Olajumoke Somefu, adjourned the case until February 25 after the prosecution applied for a delay to enable the transmission of the case file to the Ogun State Attorney-General’s Office through the Department of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
Kayode, who was behind the wheel of the Lexus 570 SUV when it crashed into a stationary truck on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, is facing four charges, including dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, and driving without a valid national driver’s licence.
Speaking with Punch, Joshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, said the family was not interested in seeing Kayode sent to prison.
“Our son (Joshua) is so much deep in religion and taking everything by faith, he will not want anything to happen to the driver,” Adedamola told the publication .
“I see closeness between them, and he will not like him to go to jail because he has got his own family, and the children will suffer.
“The family is also not interested in him being jailed because an accident can happen anywhere in the world, so they should please spare this man. Let’s move forward.”
Kayode, who had been Joshua’s driver for three years, was earlier granted bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum.
The defence counsel, Abiodun Olalekan, opposed the prosecution’s application for adjournment, arguing that the defence was ready to proceed with the trial. However, the magistrate granted the prosecution’s application.
US President Donald Trump has withdrawn an invitation for Canada to join his newly constituted ‘Board of Peace.’
“Please let this Letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada’s joining,” Trump said on Truth Social in a post addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney, who made headlines this week when he warned of a “rupture” in the US-led global order.
Carney, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday, warned of the erosion of the rules-based international order traditionally associated with US leadership and urged middle powers to diversify trade and strengthen their resilience.
Following Carney’s speech, Trump took a swipe at the Canadian prime minister on Wednesday when he said Canada should be “grateful” to the US.
Relations between Canada and the US have been strained since Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods and later halted trade talks because of an anti-tariff advertisement aired in the US.
Trump did not give a reason in Thursday evening’s post as to why he had decided to revoke Canada’s offer.
Canada’s Prime Minister had indicated last week he would accept Trump’s invite on principle.
But Ottawa had indicated in recent days that it would not pay the $1bn (£740m) membership fee which Trump has said permanent members will be asked to pay to help fund the board.
Trump’s withdrawal of Canada’s invitation came after Carney appeared to irk Trump with a speech that won a rare standing ovation this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The prime minister urged other “middle powers” to band together in the face of economic coercion by “greater powers”, although he did not mention the US president by name.
A day later, Trump told the gathering in the Swiss Alpine resort that Canada gets many “freebies” from the US and it “should be grateful”.
“Canada lives because of the United States,” Trump said. “Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
On Thursday, Carney swiped back at Trump as he delivered another speech back on home turf.
Speaking in Quebec, he said: “Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadians.”
Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ was originally thought to be aimed at helping end the two-year war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and overseeing reconstruction.
Some 60 nations have been invited to join the board, and about 35 have already signed up, according to the White House.
Those who have agreed to join so far include Argentina, Belarus, Morocco, Vietnam, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kosovo, Hungary, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.
Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney has pushed back against President Donald Trump’s claim at the World Economic Forum that “Canada lives because of the United States,” firmly rejecting the assertion while still acknowledging the close relationship between the two countries.
“Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian,” Carney said during a national address in Quebec City ahead of the opening of a new legislative session. He described the relationship between Canada and the United States as a “remarkable partnership,” but stressed that Canada’s success is rooted in its own identity, institutions and values.
Trump appeared to respond later on Thursday via his Truth Social platform, announcing that he was withdrawing an invitation for Canada to join the so-called “Board of Peace,” a body he has promoted as a billion-dollar initiative for resolving global conflicts.
A government source said Canada would not pay to be part of the board, although Carney had earlier indicated he would accept an invitation to join.
The exchange highlights growing tensions between the two long-standing allies. Carney’s remarks followed a widely watched speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he received a standing ovation for warning of a “rupture” in the US-led, rules-based global order.
Although Carney did not mention Trump by name, the comments were widely interpreted as a criticism of the US president’s influence on global affairs.
In Davos, Carney said middle powers such as Canada, which had prospered during the era of an “American hegemon,” must recognize that global dynamics have shifted and that “compliance” would no longer protect them from major-power aggression.
Trump reacted sharply during his own appearance at the forum a day later.
“I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn’t so grateful,” Trump said.
“Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
Speaking later to a domestic audience, Carney said Canada should act as a model at a time of what he described as global “democratic decline.”
“Canada can’t solve all the world’s problems, but we can show that another way is possible, that the arc of history isn’t destined to be warped towards authoritarianism and exclusion,” he said.
Despite his criticism of Trump since the US president took office nine months ago, Carney leads a country heavily dependent on trade with the United States, which accounts for more than three-quarters of Canadian exports.
Key sectors such as automobiles, aluminum and steel have been affected by Trump’s global sectoral tariffs, though the impact has been partially softened by the continued application of an existing North American free trade agreement.
Negotiations on revising that deal are expected to begin this year. Trump has repeatedly insisted that the United States does not need access to Canadian products, a position that would have severe consequences for Canada’s economy.
Trump has also repeatedly threatened to annex Canada and recently posted an image on social media showing Canada — along with Greenland and Venezuela — covered by the American flag.
Carney said Canada was under no “illusions” about the fragile state of global relations.
“The world is more divided. Former alliances are being redefined and, in some cases, broken,” he said.
Referring to plans to increase defense spending, Carney added that Canada must “defend our sovereignty (and) secure our borders,” saying the country has a mandate “to be a beacon, an example to a world that’s at sea.”
STOP DRAGGING THE ZAMBIA ARMY INTO POLITICS: DEFENDING THE NATION IS NOT PARTISAN
By Dr. Martin Mushumba The recent attempts by some opposition political figures to politicise remarks made by the Zambia Army Commander on illegal mining are misplaced, irresponsible, and dangerous to national cohesion.
At the outset, it must be stated clearly and without ambiguity: the Zambia Army is not a political institution. It is a constitutional organ of the State, established to protect Zambia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security. Under Article 211 of the Constitution of Zambia, the Defence Force exists to:
Defend and protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic
Assist civil authorities in times of emergency or threat to public security
Uphold peace, stability, and national security in accordance with the law
Further, the Defence Act empowers the Zambia Army to act against threats that undermine national security, public order, and strategic national resources, especially where such threats exceed ordinary policing capacity. Illegal mining squarely falls within this category.
Clearly, illegal mining is a security threat, and not a political talking point. Illegal mining is not a harmless informal activity. Globally, it has been a proven catalyst for instability, conflict, and state fragility. History consistently shows that states that hesitate in the face of lawlessness pay a far higher price later.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, illegal mining has financed armed groups and prolonged conflict.
In Ghana, it has devastated water bodies and forced military deployment to restore order.
In Nigeria, illegal mining has been linked to banditry, arms trafficking, and organised crime.
In South Africa, it has evolved into violent criminal syndicates operating beyond civilian control.
These are not distant lessons. They are warnings. With mineral discoveries in areas such as Mufumbwe, Kasempa, Mwinilunga, and Mpika, Zambia faces similar risks if illegal mining is tolerated. Unregulated miners undermine lawful mining, destroy the environment, deprive the State of revenue, and create lawless zones that threaten public safety.
There is no responsible government ignores such developments. Therefore, the Army Commander acted within his mandate when he issued a stern warning to illegal miners. The Army Commander’s remarks were not political statements. They were security warnings issued within the scope of his constitutional responsibility.
When a Defence Commander speaks on threats to national security, he is not campaigning, rather he is discharging duty. To suggest otherwise is either a gross misunderstanding of governance or a deliberate attempt to weaken key state institutions such as the Zambia Army .
It is telling that the loudest critics of the Army’s firm stance are those who show remarkable silence on the damage caused by illegal mining. But who really benefits from politicising illegality? One must ask:
Who benefits from disorder?
Who gains when mineral resources are looted outside the law?
Who profits when enforcement is weakened? Certainly not the Zambian people.
Zambia needs organised, regulated, and lawful mining that contributes to national development, job creation, and community wellbeing. Illegal mining, like drug trafficking or smuggling, cannot be handled with leniency once warnings have been issued. The State has an obligation to act. The Zambia Army has a duty to support that action where national security is at stake in order for law, order, and development to prevail.
Dragging the Zambia Army into partisan politics for simply enforcing the law is reckless and undermines national stability. Let the Zambia Army do its job. Defending the country is not politics. Safeguarding mineral wealth is not politics. Protecting citizens from lawlessness is not politics. It is constitutional duty.
IT’S so shocking that a person can come and start challenging my citizenship; ni nzelu kupelebela, ni uchisilu (it’s foolishness), charges Given Lubinda.
The PF faction acting president also says whatever is happening to the party is the work of the devil, who does not want light to return to Zambia.
And Lubinda claims that the PF lost the 2021 elections because it was led by an “ignorant fellow” who did not know the party’s constitution, in apparent reference to former Secretary General Davies Mwila.
Meanwhile, Lubinda says the nation will soon be informed of the measures taken against Brian Mundubile for allegedly creating parallel structures.
Speaking on KBN’s Big Debate programme, Wednesday, Lubinda was asked about the various battles facing the party, including its recent expulsion from the Tonse Alliance.
In response, Lubinda insisted that the party was only fighting the devil and confirmed that he remained the Tonse Chairperson.
“We are only fighting one battle, we are fighting the devil. All this, what is happening to the Patriotic Front is the work of the devil, and the devil is so strong that he doesn’t want light to come back into Zambia. We are not fighting individuals, no. We in the Patriotic Front do not have sufficient interest in fighting battles with individuals, so I cannot even refer to names here. I’ll deal with the principles of the matter. When it was announced that the Patriotic Front had been expelled from Tonse, I’m sure your viewers noticed that we did not respond, we remained mute. We then convened a Tonse council of leaders meeting, which I chaired as Chairman of Tonse on the strength of the constitution of Tonse, which provides that the Patriotic Front shall be the anchor party of the alliance,” he said.
“It provides that the president of PF shall be the chairman of Tonse. This is fortified by the fact that when my position as acting chairman was challenged in March last year, president Edgar Chagwa Lungu, in his hospital bed, realised it was unacceptable that I was being ridiculed. He posted on his Facebook page that I left an acting president of the Patriotic Front, and that acting president is the acting chairman of Tonse. He went further to issue a story to one of the popular newspapers in Zambia, and that story was read by everybody. So fortified by that position, I chaired a meeting of the council of leaders”.
Lubinda argued that removing the PF as the anchor party amounted to a “coup”.
“If you are the anchor party and you have 50% membership to the council of leaders and that 50% is not in that meeting, and the Chairman of that Council of Leaders is not in that meeting, and somebody comes and says I have removed the anchor party and I have removed the party that is supposed to provide the chairman, what is that? Isn’t that a coup? So when you ask the question, ‘am I chairman of Tonse?’ Yes, I’m Chairman of Tonse and after the elections in Kasama, the PF and the Tonse will make their announcement on that meeting that was held by our friends,” he said.
Regarding those questioning his power to hire and fire within the party, Lubinda, in apparent reference to Mwila, remarked that the act of going on TV to claim the acting president had no such powers made him realise why the party lost the 2021 elections.
“Those who are saying I have no power [to fire], I heard some man, a person who held a very senior position in the party coming on television saying, ‘he has no power! He has no power!’ Then I started to realise this is why we lost elections in 2021, we were being led by a person who doesn’t even know what is contained in the constitution that he was supposed to have been using to run the party. What a shame! It’s really a shame, I feel sad that I was part and parcel of the team that was being led by such an ignorant fellow. The constitution is clear, if you read Article 61(j), it will explain to you that the president has such power,” he said.
Lubinda added that questioning his nationality to discredit him was “foolishness”. Last month, Mwila said Lubinda was a white man and could not be President of Zambia.
“Now they bring in [issues] saying, ‘he’s white, he’s not Zambian,’ ati nzelu kupelebela bati. What does the constitution say about being a Member of Parliament? Why didn’t they petition my election in 2001, 2006, 2011 [and] 2016? Does the Zambian constitution allow that a foreigner can be a Cabinet Minister? Ni nzelu kupelebela, ni uchibupa, uchisilu, that’s what it is. I’m sorry for using this language, but it’s so shocking that a person can come and start challenging my citizenship,” he said.
When reminded that it was his party members saying that, Lubinda said it would have been forgivable if it came from less informed people.
He said he was a bona fide and proud citizen who is actually a headman.
“And that’s why I’m saying ni uchisuli (it’s foolishness), had it been less informed people, I would have said forgive them for they do not know, but these ones know. Article 100 explains who qualifies to be a president and the constitution itself provides for who is a citizen, the constitution provides. If you read the constitution, it will tell you who is a citizen of Zambia and that is at Article 33. It talks about the categories of citizens. Article 35: a person born in Zambia is a citizen by birth if, at the date of that person’s birth, at least one parent of that person is or was a citizen. And some fellow comes here and says his father is not Zambian so he’s not a citizen, ah ah, muziba chizungu? (Do you know English?) The constitution says if at least one of his parents is a citizen, and they go and start saying, ‘do you know his village?’ Today in Zambia you are even talking about villages? How silly!” Lubinda responded.
“I’m a bona fide and proud citizen of Zambia. I’m actually a headman and my children are actually heirs to the throne of Chief Mushota, where this man who went on television challenging my citizenship is actually a subject. He’s a subject of my children, ask him, he comes from Chief Mushota and he knows that my children, my blood, are the heirs to the throne of Chief Mushota”.
Asked if Mwila was aware of that, Lubinda refused to mention Mwila’s name, adding he did not care about the identity of the person who accused him.
He revealed that the matter was reported to the police by some people who were upset about the racial remarks and he was hoping the police would take action.
“I don’t know who you are talking about, I’m talking about the fellow who came on television. I don’t care who it is but I’m just telling you, I don’t want to mention names. So the truth of the matter is yes, I’m a bona fide citizen and yes, I qualify to hold any office in the land from the lowest to the highest and nobody can challenge me on that. And I would also like to just tell members of the Patriotic Front that this is very cheap politicking, demeaning propaganda, and I would like to ask those who are campaigning, please campaign on facts. Let’s have focused campaigns, let’s have campaigns of sincerity and truth,” he added.
“Demeaning one another is terrible and you know those remarks are actually racial remarks. I heard that some people who were upset by this matter have reported it to the police. This matter has been reported to the police and I’m hoping that the police will do what they are supposed to do”.
Meanwhile, on suggestions that every party presidential aspirant was creating factions, Lubinda said it was not true as there was only one case which was subject to disciplinary measures.
“Talking about factions, I have not heard that Makebi Zulu has a team in Lusaka Province that is calling itself the ‘Makebi Zulu team’, MZ8. I don’t think you have heard of people calling themselves GL8, Monde 8, GM8, Kambwili 8, Miles Sampa 8, no. So it is not correct and I don’t think it will be fair for me to sit here and not clarify when you say every presidential candidate has a faction, because I’m not aware of any such thing. I have seen on social media, I have read on social media some people talking about one particular person saying this person is an institution unto themselves and that this person is recruiting 72 members in every province at provincial level, and these 72 members are members of that person’s campaign team,” he said.
“72 members at district level, some people have raised an eyebrow and have said this is dangerous. It was brought to my attention as president and my immediate reaction was, ‘read the constitution.’ I have power according to the constitution to take disciplinary action against any erring member. However, that will only be when I see it fit. If it is others who see that somebody has breached the provision of the constitution, they go to the Secretary General and the Secretary General generates disciplinary measures. So to be fair to the majority of those who have expressed interest, I have not heard of anyone creating factions except the one case which I won’t want to delve into because that is already a matter which is subject to disciplinary measures”.
Further, Lubinda said the due process of the constitution was in effect regarding the matter and the measures that would be taken against the person.
“And I don’t think it will be fair for me to be talking about one individual on a television like this without giving them an opportunity to come and defend themselves on this same television programme. All I can say is that the due process of the constitution is taking effect and soon, very soon, the country will be informed about the measures that are being taken against the person who is alleged to be creating parallel structures and is therefore one who can qualify to be said to be creating a faction,” said Lubinda.
MOST MPS WILL LOSE THEIR SEATS THIS YEAR – ANTONIO
DEMOCRATIC Progressive Party (DPP) leader Antonio Mwanza says there will be serious casualties in the 2026 elections, as most MPs will not retain their seats.
In an interview, Wednesday, Mwanza said the majority of MPs had failed to deliver to the expectations of the people.
“Even if we increase the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), if you look at absorption rates, if you look at the projects that have been done, you find that the majority of current members of parliament have failed to deliver to the expectations of the people. And for the majority of members of parliament today, it will be very difficult for them to win elections in 2026. But also, it’s because, to some extent, what has contributed is the mismatch between what a member of parliament is expected to do, and what actually his job is. A member of parliament’s primary job is to pass legislation,” he said.
“Issues of development come in by a member of parliament doing the following things. Number one, holding the Executive accountable in the manner in which the national cake is being distributed. Number two, holding the Executive accountable in the manner in which government resources are used in terms of transparency and accountability. And three, ensuring that the national cake is equitably distributed.
And four, highlighting areas in these constituencies where the Central government must come in and help. The anchor of development, to build schools and hospitals in theory, is the member of parliament’s job. In theory. But in practice, central government handles issues to do with roads and hospitals. If you look at our Constitution, you’ll find that in theory, on paper, it is the job of the local government. But in practice, those are jobs for the central government. Members of parliament have found themselves in a dilemma”.
Mwanza said Zambians had a phobia for a third term, whether at the presidential or parliamentary level.
“Historically, Zambians have a phobia for a third term, whether at the presidential level or parliamentary level. When somebody is trying to go for a third term, it becomes very problematic. And we have seen this not only in politics, we have seen it even in sport.
We have seen it in labour unions, that Zambians have a phobia against a third term. They believe strongly, and rightly so, that if somebody does two terms, that should be enough. If you look at most members of parliament who have managed to go beyond two terms, the majority of those members of parliament are coming from rural constituencies,” Mwanza said.
“In urban constituencies, it has been very difficult for most members of parliament to go beyond two terms. It has been very difficult. With a few exceptions, for instance, Honourable Given Lubinda. But in the majority of urban areas, it’s one term, and if you manage to go for a second term, it means that you have really done an exceptional job. Why? It’s because, generally, most members of parliament have failed to deliver to the expectations of the people. These members of parliament we have in that Parliament, the majority of them have failed to deliver to the expectations of the people”.
Mwanza appealed to MPs to stop campaigning on the basis of infrastructure development, stating that it was the local and central government’s role.
“When they are campaigning, they are telling people that ‘I will build the school, I will build the hospital, I will build the road, I will build this.’ But when they go to Parliament, they find that it is the responsibility of the Central government. And if they don’t find a way to work in collaboration with the Central government, they find it difficult to deliver on the very things they promised the people. Those aspiring for parliamentary seats should stop telling people that they’ll build hospitals or build schools, because that is not their job,” he said.
“They should stop campaigning on the basis of infrastructure development that is in the hands of the local government and the central government. Because it’s a job where CDF is local government; it’s not for the members of parliament. It’s the local government which has decided how these things must be done. Central government is the one providing health and education. Those massive infrastructure projects are for the central government”.
He added that very few MPs who have served for a second term would go back to their constituencies to show what they have done.
“Members of parliament campaign on bringing these developments, but in reality, they find that they don’t have the mandate. They fail to deliver, because what they are promising the people to do, in theory, is in practice the mandate of the local government and central government. Those who aspire to be members of parliament must be telling the people that their role is legislation.
The Constitution is very clear, it defines the role of a member of parliament as legislation. After five years, they find themselves unable to do the things they told people they would do. So, for those who have done two terms, very few will go back to their constituencies and show people what they have done. There will be serious casualties in this election of 2026, as most of those members of parliament in the current Parliament will not come back,” said Mwanza.
WORK TOGETHER, MUNIR TELLS MAKEBI AND MUNDUBILE ….as he warns the opposition against costly political ego
Incarcerated former Lumezi Member of Parliament Munir Zulu has warned that political ego and disunity within the opposition could once again hand victory to the ruling party, drawing parallels with Zambia’s 2001 General Election.
Mr. Zulu recalled that former politicians Ben Mwila and General Godfrey Miyanda lost an opportunity to defeat the MMD because they chose to contest separately, arguing that their decision “left voters spread among them, handing Levy Mwanawasa an easy chance to win.”
He said history was now at risk of repeating itself.
He observed that the current opposition landscape was “mainly driven by ego and self-centeredness,” stressing that regime change could only be achieved if opposition leaders put aside personal ambitions and worked together.
According to Mr. Zulu, “these people who think they can face the enemy single-handedly and win are dreaming.”
Mr. Zulu further cautioned that unchecked ambition had consequences, stating that while some opposition figures were currently visiting colleagues in prison, “tomorrow, when their egos are allowed to play, we in these walls of confinement will be the ones visiting them.”
Turning to the Patriotic Front (PF), Mr. Zulu said it was no secret that the party had clear frontrunners, mentioning Makebi Zulu and Brian Mundubile.
He questioned whether either could win alone, asking, “if Makebi Zulu and Brian Mundubile all go it alone, will they individually win elections?”
He argued that a united ticket, with one serving as President and the other as running mate, would significantly boost the party’s chances.
Quoting Ecclesiastes 9:11, Mr. Zulu said timing and opportunity mattered more than speed or strength, adding that “time and chance seem to favor two individuals now.”
He urged other aspirants to consider yielding in the interest of unity.
Meanwhile, Mr. Zulu asserted that unless opposition leaders were willing to pursue a necessary fusion within the PF, they risked enabling the ruling party to “easily win the 2026 General Elections,” warning that there was “no other way out” if victory was the genuine objective.
VICTORY IN CHAWAMA PARLIAMENTARY BY ELECTION GAVE US LEAKAGE ON HOW TO WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION IN AUGUST – LUBINDA
OPPOSITION Patriotic Front Acting President, Given Lubinda, says he is optimistic that a united opposition will be achieved ahead of the August 2026 general elections.
Mr. Lubinda believes that the most feasible way to defeat the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND), is through a united opposition force.
Speaking on Christian Voice’s Chatback programme in Lusaka today, Mr. Lubinda said a united opposition would involve fielding a common candidate at presidential, parliamentary, and ward levels.
“The Chawama parliamentary by-election victory has given the opposition a clear lesson on what needs to be done in 2026,” said Mr. Lubinda.
He noted that a divided opposition stands slim chances of winning the 2026 general elections.
Meanwhile, Mr. Lubinda said the purpose of forming a united opposition is not only to unseat the UPND, but also to correct what he described as falsehoods allegedly told to Zambians during the 2021 general elections.
IGNORE ACTIVITIES OF ILLEGAL TONSE ALLIANCE FACTION, DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN FORMING OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES
PF acts against those forming parallel structures directs party structures to ignore activities of the illegal Tonse Alliance faction with a purported ECL movement.
This according to directives written to party structures by Acting Deputy Secretary General, Celestine Mukandila.
The illegal Tonse Alliance faction claims it has expelled the Patriotic Front led by Hon Given Lubinda and will hold a process that will pick its leader on 30th January 2026.
The Patriotic Front has warned that anyone participating in such illegal process should consider themselves expelled.
CHISHALA KATEKA DEMANDS APOLOGY OVER ARMY COMMANDER’S REMARKS
By Nelson Zulu
Opposition New Heritage Party President Chishala Kateka has demanded a formal apology from both government and Zambia Army Commander Lieutenant General Geoffrey Zyeele following remarks in which he threatened illegal miners.
Speaking when she featured on the Friday edition of “Let the People Talk” on Phoenix FM, Ms. Kateka described the language used by the army commander as dehumanizing and inappropriate, arguing that miners should not be spoken of in terms suggesting they could be eradicated.
She stressed that while illegal mining must be addressed, any response should respect human life and remain within the scope of civilian law enforcement, rather than involving the military.
Ms. Kateka further called on government to clarify whether the directive for any potential military deployment to mining areas originated from the head of state.
Meanwhile, the opposition leader also criticized government’s handling of President Hakainde Hichilema’s leave in Choma, describing the secrecy surrounding his whereabouts and the unspecified duration of his leave as appalling.
She has called for clearer communication regarding the president’s activities while away, stating that as a national figure, citizens have a right to be informed in order to avoid speculation.
FORMER Defence minister Richwell Siamunene says there is no way the United Party for National Development (UPND) will rig the upcoming August 13 elections.
In an interview with The Mast, Siamunene, the New Focus Party (NFP) leader, said it would be difficult for the UPND to rig the August election in their favour as all loopholes would be sealed.
He said as a former defence minister, he knew the system well and understood all the lacunae in the system, and that he would make sure that they were sealed so that people could not rig the election.
“As you are aware, I was once the defence minister, I know the tricks people use in the system, but I must assure you that we are going to seal all the loopholes, making it difficult for people to rig,” he said.
Siamunene said that they were going to be very vigilant and that they would do anything to stop irregularities, even if they used tricks like rigging underwater,” he said.
He said Zambians were vigilant and would not let anyone manipulate the election results once they made up their minds.
And Siamunene urged the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to restore the broken trust between the institution and the people of Zambia.
He said the commission needed to respect the wishes of the people by not manipulating the results.
“What I can tell you is that not even ECZ can stop the wish of the Zambian people, and they should just do the right things,” he said.
Siamunene said the current government should emulate the two late presidents who freely handed over power after the people of Zambia decided otherwise.
He said the late president Edgar Lungu, whom he described as his close friend, wanted to finish his term but handed over power after the people of Zambia voted him out.
“Former president Lungu wanted to rule a bit longer, but the people decided otherwise; therefore, he respected their wishes, the current government should do the same,” he said.
Siamunene said he had confidence that the UPND would respect the rule of law and would not use underhanded methods to maintain power.
