PF SETS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO END OF FEBRUARY, CONFIRMS EXPULSION OF MPs

The Given Lubinda led Patriotic Front has resolved to hold its general Assembly by end of February 2026.

The Central Committee that met over the weekend also ratified the expulsion of all members of Parliament who voted for Bill 7.

This is contained in a resolution below issued by Acting Deputy Secretary General in-charge of Administration:

RESOLUTIONS OF THE PATRIOTIC FRONT (PF) CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING

Held on Saturday, 17th January 2026

The Patriotic Front (PF) held an Extraordinary Central Committee Meeting on Saturday, 17th January 2026. The meeting was chaired by the Party President, Hon. Given Lubinda.

The Central Committee resolved as follows:

1. Ratification of Removal from the MCC

Pursuant to Article 61(j) of the PF Constitution, the Central Committee ratified the removal of the following members from the Membership of the Central Committee (MCC):
• Hon. Musonda Mpankata
• Hon. Brenda Nyirenda
• Hon. Melisiana Phiri
• Mr. Abuid Kawangu
• Mr. Tombi Tombi
• Hon. Chris Shakafuswa
• Mr. Chomba Chipili

2. Expulsion of PF Members of Parliament

The Central Committee resolved to expel Patriotic Front Members of Parliament who attended sittings of the National Assembly and voted in favour of Bill No. 7, contrary to a duly issued three-line whip and established international parliamentary practice invoked by the Party.

3. Ratification of Appointments

In accordance with Article 58 of the PF Constitution, the Central Committee ratified the following appointments:
• MCC Jean Kapata – Acting National Chairperson
• Hon. Miles Sampa – Acting Deputy Secretary General (Politics)
• MCC Celestine Mukandila – Acting Deputy Secretary General (Administration)
• MCC Frank N’gambi – Acting Chairperson, Elections
• Mr. Matafwali – Acting Youth Chairperson
• Mr. Matafwali – Acting Chairperson, Lusaka Province
• Mr. Vibetti Chanda – Chairperson, Northern Province
• Mr. Goodson Banda – Member of the Central Committee
• Mr. Brave Mwetwa – Member of the Central Committee
• Ms. Adora Alinadi – Member of the Central Committee
• Hon. Lawrence Sichalwe – Member of the Central Committee
• Mr. Warren Bwale – Member of the Central Committee
• Hon. Tasila Lungu Mwansa – Member of the Central Committee

4. Tonse Alliance Matter

The Central Committee took note of pronouncements made at an illegal Tonse Alliance meeting chaired by Chief Apostle Dan Pule, which purported to expel the so-called “Lubinda-led PF” and “Chabinga-led PF” from the Alliance.

This matter shall be addressed after the Kasama Mayoral By-Election.

5. Stakeholders’ Meeting at Kapingila House

The Central Committee took note of resolutions arising from a meeting convened on 15th January 2026 at Kapingila House by concerned stakeholders in solidarity with opposition presidential aspirants.

Legal Matters Update

The Acting Deputy Secretary General (Administration) updated the Central Committee on ongoing legal matters affecting the Party, as follows:
• The date for delivery of the court ruling on the Kabwe injunction shall be advised.
• The date for judgment relating to the illegal conference convened by Hon. Miles Sampa shall also be advised.

The Central Committee further took note of exculpatory letters issued to the following members for forming parallel party structures:
• Hon. Brian Mundubile
• Hon. Japhen Mwakalombe
• Hon. Davis Chisopa
• Mr. Kennedy Kamba
• Mayor Patrick Chishala

The meeting resolved that disciplinary action, where necessary, shall be considered after the Kasama Mayoral By-Election.

Acting National Chairperson’s Report

The Central Committee took note of the implications of the injunction on the convening of the General Conference.

General Conference Resolutions

The Central Committee resolved that:
• The General Conference shall be held by the end of February 2026.
• Names for appointment of an Independent Electoral Commission for the General Conference shall be presented at the next Central Committee meeting.
• 350 additional delegates shall be admitted to the National Council so as to include Mayors and Councillors.
• The Party Secretariat shall authenticate the final delegate list in view of concerns regarding possible manipulation.

Issued by:
Patriotic Front Secretariat
Lusaka

HH BREAKS SILENCE ON HEALTH RUMOURS: “I AM FINE – ONLY GOD CONTROLS LIFE

By: Emeldah Chikwati

President Hakainde Hichilema has dismissed speculations  circulating on social media and from some opposition members  that his recent absence from the public eye is due to ill health.

During a Diamond TV live program,ministry of information and media permanent secretary Thabo Kawana who  was asked  about  the whereabout of the president and confirm if the president was indeed sick, the PS  emphased
that the president  was fine and later  called  him on phone.

The president  wondered why some people were wishing him dead when it was only God who had control over life .

The president  said he was at his farm in Southern  Province and that  if people were truly worried about his health,they were not going to joke about life and death.

Early January 2026,speculations about the health of president Hakainde Hichilema emerged on social media and from some opposition voices .
Those claims  died down significantly on January 5,when the president appeared in Choma and later addressed a rally.

The president has however not been seen in public for a good number of days now,sparking another wave of speculations about his health and whereabout.

#SunFmTvNews

CHAWAMA VOTE OFFERS LESSONS FOR RULING PARTY AND OPPOSITION AHEAD OF GENERAL ELECTIONS – MUTUBILA

Veteran journalist Frank Mutubila has observed that President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership continues to distinguish itself through discipline, focus and political maturity, while recent electoral developments have underscored important lessons for both the ruling party and the opposition.

In an analysis of Zambia’s political landscape, Mr. Mutubila noted that the current administration had “stabilised the country, restored international confidence and kept the economy on a recovery path,” despite facing climate-related shocks and challenging governing conditions.

He said the cohesion within the ruling party demonstrated “the strength of incumbency and the effectiveness of structured governance.”

However, referring to the recent Chawama by-election, Mr. Mutubila cautioned that even dominant political organisations were not immune to internal pressures.

He reported that remarks by the ruling party’s Deputy Secretary General on funding constraints and the burden placed on party foot soldiers revealed “stresses that can emerge beneath the surface.”

According to Mr. Mutubila, the by-election outcome served as a reminder that “unity is not automatic; it must be deliberately nurtured and maintained,” particularly within large political movements.

Turning to the opposition, he said the Chawama contest demonstrated the potential power of cooperation.

He explained that by working together, opposition forces were able to “alter the electoral trajectory in a race of high interest to the ruling party,” proving that “collective action, when properly coordinated, can yield tangible political results.”

Looking ahead to the 2026 general elections, Mr. Mutubila warned that fragmented opposition efforts would be counterproductive.

He argued that “any individual or party choosing to go it alone against President Hichilema will only divide the vote and weaken the prospects of genuine competition.”

In his view, collaboration and dialogue were “not signs of weakness, but strategic necessities.”

Mr. Mutubila asserted that unless the opposition becomes united, disciplined and purpose-driven, “the advantage will remain firmly with President Hichilema and the ruling party,” adding that Chawama should be seen “not just as an event, but as a guide on how unity ultimately shapes political outcomes.”

▲ BRIAN MUNDUBILE AT THE CENTRE OF OPPOSITION UNCERTAINTY

Brian Mundubile’s political moment has arrived under difficult circumstances. As a PF Member of Parliament, leader of PF MPs, and declared presidential aspirant, his actions now carry consequences beyond personal ambition.

His attendance at a contested Tonse Alliance meeting has placed him at the heart of a broader struggle between structure and momentum. Some view his move as engagement with an alliance attempting to move forward. Others see it as bypassing established authority within PF.

The challenge Mundubile faces reflects a wider opposition dilemma. Remaining tied to PF’s unresolved legal and leadership battles risks limiting future options. Aligning openly with alliance momentum risks alienating loyalists who value continuity and order.

Recent by-elections suggest that voters are responding more to identity, legacy, and coalition appeal than to internal disputes. That reality pressures opposition leaders to prioritise unity over gatekeeping.

Mundubile’s next steps will signal whether he intends to unify fractured structures or remain constrained by them. In a divided opposition landscape, hesitation benefits incumbency more than decisiveness.

🟥 PRESIDENT HICHILEMA DETAILS MAIZE PAYMENTS, ENERGY REFORMS, EXPORT STRATEGY, AND DISPENSES WITH HEALTH RUMOURS IN LIVE TV CALL

President Hakainde Hichilema has provided a detailed explanation of delayed farmer payments, Zambia’s food security strategy, power supply stabilisation, fuel logistics, and mining sector reforms during a live phone-in on Diamond TV, while dismissing speculation surrounding his health as irresponsible and misleading.

Speaking while on official leave at his farm, President Hichilema said governance continued uninterrupted, describing his leave as “working time out” rather than disengagement from national affairs.

On maize payments, the President explained that government initially planned to purchase 500,000 metric tonnes of maize through the Food Reserve Agency. However, following a drought period and a national call for increased food production, farmers exceeded expectations. Government then decided to raise the purchase target to 1.6 million metric tonnes to avoid leaving farmers exposed to exploitative buyers.

He said this expansion created a funding gap, but confirmed that the necessary resources had since been mobilised and deposited with commercial banks. Payments, he said, were ongoing but slower than expected, largely due to logistical constraints.

President Hichilema acknowledged delays and issued an apology to farmers, stressing that all those who delivered maize would be paid. He said banks had been instructed to accelerate electronic transfers, noting that challenges remained for farmers without bank or mobile money accounts.

He emphasised that protecting farmers was a deliberate policy choice, aimed at ensuring producers received fair value for their maize rather than being forced to sell at reduced prices to briefcase traders.

On food security, the President said Zambia’s annual maize consumption, including human and animal use, stood at approximately 2.6 to 2.7 million tonnes, compared to a production target of about 10 million tonnes. He said this reality made structured export markets essential.

He named the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and other countries as export destinations, explaining that government policy favoured exporting value-added products such as mealie meal and stock feed rather than raw grain.

President Hichilema described Zambia as a land-linked country whose economic growth depended on producing, processing, and exporting surplus output, noting that exports were critical for foreign exchange earnings.

The President also addressed energy supply, stating that electricity availability had improved following increased import capacity through Zimbabwe under the Southern African Power Pool. He said transmission capacity had risen from about 200 megawatts to approximately 400 megawatts.

He added that government had accelerated solar power projects and diversified energy sources to ensure resilience against drought-related hydroelectric shortages. He said the improvements delivered by December 2025 were the result of methodical planning rather than election-driven activity.

On fuel logistics, President Hichilema disclosed that Zambia had secured structured berthing arrangements at the port of Dar es Salaam through agreements with the Tanzanian government. He said these arrangements ensured predictable offloading windows each month, reducing fuel supply instability.

Turning to mining, the President said government anticipated rising global copper prices and therefore prioritised restoring dormant mines soon after taking office. He cited Mopani, Konkola Copper Mines, and Kalengwa Mine as examples, stating that improved production was the result of consistent policy implementation.

Responding to rumours about his health, President Hichilema said he was healthy and criticised attempts to politicise life and death. He said such conduct undermined seriousness in national discourse.

He concluded by stating that government reforms in agriculture, energy, mining, education, and infrastructure were intended to deliver tangible benefits to citizens and required patience and sustained effort.

CHURCHES DIRECTED TO STAY AWAY FROM POLITICAL STATEMENTS AT THE PULPIT

THE Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia has urged all churches under its umbrella to refrain from making political statements from the pulpit.

EFZ Executive Director, Allan Kasungami, says guidance from the church mother body is that the church must remain a unifying force, rather than endorsing or denouncing political candidates during sermons.

Reverend Kasungami emphasised that the church should not be compromised in any way, especially as the country approaches an election year.

“Churches are further guided not to alter their services because politicians will be visiting them, they must stick to their normal programmes and continue preaching the Word of God,” said Reverend Kasungami.

He stressed the need for the church to remain objective and faithful to its core mandate of preaching the Word of God, adding that the church’s role is to promote peace, unity, and moral guidance in society.

RCV

IMF CONDITIONS PARTLY TO BLAME FOR DELAYED PAYMENTS OF FARMERS – BANDA

AGRICULTURE expert, Gilbert Banda, has attributed the delayed payment of farmers who supplied grain to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to International Monetary Fund (IMF) fiscal conditions, which require government to operate strictly within its approved budget.

Mr. Banda explained that government had budgeted to purchase 543,000 metric tonnes of maize, but eventually bought 1,659,368 metric tonnes, with the additional quantities not provided for in the national budget.

He said IMF conditions only allow government to pay for what has been budgeted for, adding that the unplanned purchases created challenges in settling payments to farmers on time.

Speaking when he featured on Christian Voice Chatback Programme under the topic “2026 Outlook for the Agriculture Sector,” Mr. Banda stated that had it not been for the IMF programme conditions, farmers would have already been paid, noting that government has the capacity to pay farmers promptly.

“While fiscal discipline under the IMF programme is important, such emergencies should be treated as exceptions,” said Mr. Banda.

He has, however, expressed concern that the delayed payments will negatively affect farmers’ preparedness for the current farming season, warning that this could, even in small ways, impact projected crop yields.

RCV

Didier Drogba: Patrice Motsepe is the best CAF President, he improved African football in a short space of time

Didier Drogba has praised CAF President Patrice Motsepe for his leadership and vision, saying African football has never seen a president make such big changes in a short space of time.

According to Drogba, Motsepe is the kind of leader who comes once in a lifetime. He has transformed the way African football is managed, improving competitions, increasing prize money, and ensuring more support for local leagues and national teams.

Drogba highlighted that Motsepe’s leadership has brought more attention to African football globally, attracting sponsors and broadcasting deals that were previously hard to come by.

Drogba said Africa is very lucky to have a president with such big goals and a clear vision to improve the sport on the continent.

He also praised Motsepe’s reforms, including plans to modernise competitions and give more opportunities to local players through new tournaments like the African Nations League, which will replace CHAN in the future.

Drogba’s comments were shared during an interview on an Ivorian sports broadcast, where he emphasized that Motsepe’s influence will be remembered for generations and that African football has entered a new era under his guidance.

 EXCLUSIVE | Makebi’s Eastern Enclave Calculations

Eastern Province has never been an easy region to read politically. It is patient, slow to shift, and deeply anchored in historical loyalty. Voting patterns here do not change overnight. The region stayed with UNIP long after Kenneth Kaunda left office. Even today, decades after the MMD lost power, its political memory still lives in parts of the province. The UPND holds parliamentary seats here. The PF still has influence. .

No party fully owns Eastern Province, and no leader walks in assured of victory.

This context matters as Makebi Zulu re-emerges on home soil.

Makebi’s return to Malambo is not a surge. It is a recalibration. He understands that Eastern Province does not move on excitement but on familiarity, reassurance, and long memory. This is a region was once mobilized around the Wako ni Wako logic, a political instinct popularised by late former President Rupiah Banda. The idea is simple. Protect what is yours. Rally around one of your own. The language may not be spoken openly, but the thinking survives quietly in villages, wards, and party structures.

Within the PF base, this instinct is colliding with unresolved bitterness. Many self-described “original greens” still trace the party’s 2021 defeat to the succession that followed Michael Sata’s death. Edgar Lungu, an Easterner, took over. The party later lost power to Hakainde Hichilema. Among some northern-based PF figures now aligned with Brian Mundubile, the belief persists that Eastern Province leadership cost the party State House. This sentiment remains unspoken publicly, but it shapes resistance to another Eastern figure inheriting the PF brand or its political legacy.

Makebi is reading that terrain carefully.

He knows the PF cannot say these things aloud without tearing itself apart further. He also knows that internal PF hostility makes a national takeover impossible without first building a home base. This explains the turn to chiefs, rituals, and regional affirmation. Today’s trending anointing by Chief Mkanya is not theatre. It is a calculated message to local structures that Makebi is reclaiming legitimacy from the ground up, not waiting for party endorsement from a divided centre.

But this path is not without contradiction.

Makebi served as Eastern Province minister and Malambo MP. He lost his seat in 2021. That loss still hangs over his mobilisation claims. The political figures around him, including former ministers and loyalists from the Lungu era, carry history but little current ground power. Their strength lies in memory, not structures.

Makebi is leaning on them because they are trusted within the Lungu circle and because he is positioning himself as a custodian of that legacy at a time when the PF itself cannot agree on what that legacy means.

This is why Edgar Lungu’s name remains central to his messaging. It is not nostalgia alone. It is survival politics. In a fractured opposition space, grief still mobilises where ideology cannot.

The police presence at his Malambo home earlier today adds another layer. Authorities say the gathering lacked a permit. Supporters say the move was intimidation. Either way, the optics matter. A leader returning home to organise, surrounded by police, feeds into Makebi’s narrative of resistance and struggle. In Eastern Province, that narrative resonates more than polished press statements.

This is not yet momentum. It is groundwork.

Eastern Province will not move quickly. It never has. Makebi’s gamble is that regional affirmation, Lungu loyalty, and quiet ethnic calculation can rebuild relevance before August. Whether that is enough, especially against entrenched party structures and voter memory of 2021, remains uncertain.

What is clear is that opposition politics is drifting further into regional logic. Parties are weakening. Personalities are rising. Old wounds are shaping new strategies.

Eastern Province is once again being asked to choose between memory and the future. How it responds will not be rushed, and it will not be simple.

© The People’s Brief | Editors

*MAKEBI ZULU’S HOMECOMING SENDS TREMORS THROUGH UPND POLICE*

_*By Brian Matambo | January 19, 2026*_

Clearly, Makebi Zulu gives the UPND regime sleepless nights. His homecoming today, 19 January 2026, was no different. For the first time since surviving a serious road traffic accident in December, Makebi Zulu returned to his home in Malambo Constituency. It was not an ordinary visit. It carried the weight of survival, the echoes of national politics, and the unease that has increasingly followed opposition figures across the country.

The December accident, which occurred as Makebi Zulu was travelling to Kasama, nearly claimed his life. In that vehicle were former DDMU national coordinator Chanda Kabwe and former Minister of Mines Richard Musukwa, a close confidant of the late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu. Makebi Zulu’s survival elevated him in the public imagination from an outspoken constitutional lawyer to a figure many now view through a providential lens.

Residents of Malambo lined the roads, chanting and singing in welcome, their voices rising with the refrain, “Awela mwana wasu Makebi.” It was a homecoming marked by warmth, cultural pride, and an unmistakable political undertone. Makebi Zulu later paid courtesy calls on traditional leadership, including Senior Chief Nsefu and Chief Mkanya of the Kunda people, where he received blessings that further reinforced the gravity of the visit.

It is what happened at his home in the early hours of the morning, however, that shocked the people of Malambo. News of a heavy police presence surrounding Zulu’s residence in Mambwe District spread rapidly across the area and on social media. Reports circulated that Zambia Police had raided the home of a Patriotic Front presidential hopeful at his own residence.

Eastern Province police commanding officer Robertson Mweemba later moved quickly to deny any wrongdoing. Speaking to the media, he said officers had been deployed not to harass or arrest Zulu, but to maintain peace after intelligence indicated that roughly 300 people had gathered at the residence without notifying the police. According to Mweemba, the situation had been “blown out of proportion” and unfairly politicised. He insisted the police were acting within their duty to protect the public and stressed that the service was not involved in politics. That explanation has done little to calm the controversy.

At the heart of this standoff lies a fundamental legal question that Zambia has wrestled with before: what power, if any, do the police have over private gatherings held in a private home?

The law is unambiguous. Article 17 of the 2016 Constitution protects the sanctity of the home. Without consent, a warrant, or specific statutory authority, the state cannot lawfully enter private premises or interfere with who may visit. The Public Order Act, often cited in political policing, governs public meetings and assemblies in public places. It does not apply to invited guests gathered inside a private residence. Only in exceptional circumstances, such as a declared state of emergency, court-imposed bail conditions, or public health quarantine orders, can authorities lawfully restrict visitors to a home. None of these conditions were in effect in Malambo today.

This legal reality stands in sharp contrast to the justification offered by police, and it explains why today’s events resonate far beyond Eastern Province. For many Zambians, the issue is no longer simply about crowd control. It is about selective enforcement, the shrinking space for political activity, and the uneasy pattern that follows opposition figures wherever popular support begins to crystallise.

What is undeniable is that Makebi Zulu’s return has altered the political temperature. A man who survived death on the road has come home to songs, blessings from traditional leaders, and a police cordon at dawn. That juxtaposition alone ensures that Eastern Province today is not merely hosting a visit. It is hosting a test of law, power, and the country’s tolerance for political momentum outside the ruling establishment.

Whether intended or not, the police presence has amplified Zulu’s profile rather than subdued it. In politics, moments like these have a way of escaping their authors. Eastern Province has spoken loudly today, not only in song, but in questions that the nation can no longer ignore.

Supporters and commentators questioned why a private residence would require police notification at all. Online reactions were swift and unsparing. Mozai Lungu, a supporter of Brian Mundubile, publicly asked whether Makebi Zulu could be “the chosen one” and urged the Patriotic Front to rally behind a leader worth running with.

Others were more confrontational. “You want President Makebi Zulu to notify you when he is visiting his own property?” one commentator asked, capturing the disbelief that has come to define today’s debate. Reports from Malambo District of arrests of individuals who had merely gone to visit Zulu only deepened suspicion and anger.

OPPOSITION UNDER MUNDUBILE WILL WIN 2026 – KAPYANGA

MPIKA PF MP Francis Kapyanga says the opposition under the leadership of Brian Mundubile will win the 2026 general election with a big margin.

And Kapyanga argues that President Hakainde Hichilema will not get 50% +1 in the general elections as Mundubile is moving like a bullet train in China politically.

On Wednesday, political analyst Dr Neo Simutanyi said the ruling UPND will easily get the 50% + 1 threshold needed to win the elections.

Commenting to that in an interview, Kapyanga said Dr Simutanyi’s analysis was flawed and should therefore be ignored, adding that anyone could defeat the UPND.

“He’s not a new guy on the scene and his analysis is flawed. We were there when we were young and battling with MMD under the Patriotic Front. The same guy predicted that MMD of Rupiah Banda, may he rest in peace, would win with a bigger margin and he cited the weakness in the opposition of Michael Sata and all that. What came out was shockingly the opposite. Humiliating to a point where MMD people cried, they lost elections. Those who know him cannot even listen to him. We in the opposition, under the leadership of Honourable Brian Mundubile, will win the 2026 general elections with a bigger margin Anyone today can defeat a UPND,” he said.

“If you look at it, what kind of campaign message will UPND have, which they have never had before and nothing has happened? It’s about the campaign message, it’s not about the political party certificate. It’s about the campaign message because the Zambian people are the biggest opposition. So, when you do not have a message for them, how can you win an election? The UPND is in trouble of industrial proportions. They’ve exhausted all the lies and they will have no new message to the Zambian people. Nothing can come out of the UPND’s mouth and that can inspire the Zambian people to even give them a vote. Nothing literally. So, what Mr Simutanyi is saying is not even something to listen to… A message of hope is in the opposition. What kind of hope will those in the UPND give to the Zambian people to a point where they can even give them a 50 percent plus one vote? That’s unattainable”.

Kapyanga said on the ground, potential challengers like Mundubile were moving at the speed of a bullet train while the UPND was struggling.

“And when you go on the ground, please try, you’ll find that candidates such as Brian Mundubile, their speed is like a bullet train in China. They are moving at such a very high speed politically. I’m sure even the UPND themselves, look at how they are struggling in Chawama. We have four months until the nomination day. The ruling party is struggling in Chawama, that’s an indication that what is coming will be shocking. So we are organising ourselves, we are packaging the messages right now. I’m at the site where we are packaging the messages from,” Kapyanga said.

“When we launch our campaign machinery, the kind of message that we have for the Zambian people, the UPND will go into hiding just to avoid hearing the new messages, because they will have no message for the Zambian people. And they wouldn’t even want to hear this new message. So instead, they will choose to go and hide and leave the campaign stage for the opposition. Because they will have no message. if you are at a dancing competition, and you can’t dance better than your competitor, you obviously leave the stage and just go and hide somewhere in shame. Then you leave the guy to dance for the audience”.

Meanwhile, Kapyanga claimed the UPND will experience voter apathy in their strongholds as it had not met the expectations of the
in those regions.

“I heard the President urging the people of Southern Province to give him one million votes. That’s not even attainable, that’s where the UPND will experience high voter apathy. Why? Because they’ve not met the expectations that the people in their strongholds had when they were in opposition. So, they were pushing that hard because they wanted to have a party that would care for them. This is what we used to do, we used to have a lot of huge turnout in our strongholds during Michael Sata’s time. But when we formed government, because PF did not meet the high expectations of those people in our strongholds, we started having voter apathy, it’s just normal. So you don’t expect a miracle to happen from the UPND strongholds”, said Kapyanga.

“Where we have a huge voter turnout is from the opposition strongholds and the urban areas, because these ones will be influenced by the need to change the government, replace it with something that they will think will attend to their challenges. So, if Dr Simutanyi did not look at it from that perspective, then his analysis is flawed, like it has always been. I’m sure he even predicted the victory of PF in 2021, if I’m not mistaken. I’ll have to check. I’m not sure, but I think I remember something like that, but I’m not sure. I’ll have to check what his prediction for 2021 was”.

News Diggers

🇿🇲 READER OPINION | Miles Sampa’s Apology is Not a Slip, It’s a Pattern

The apology by Miles Sampa to the Electoral Commission of Zambia over his false claim that a “fake polling station” had been mounted along Lilayi Road during the Chawama parliamentary by-election should not be treated as a minor lapse. It must be understood for what it truly represents: a continuation of deliberate political misinformation.

Mr Sampa did not make a single inaccurate statement. He published a series of false claims on social media. These claims were amplified by his supporters within the Patriotic Front ecosystem, creating confusion and undermining confidence in the electoral process. The eventual apology does not erase the damage caused. It only confirms that the allegation was knowingly false.

This episode did not occur in isolation. It fits into a broader and recurring pattern of misinformation associated with PF political messaging. Between November and December, PF-aligned voices aggressively circulated claims that President Hakainde Hichilema had suffered a stroke and was hospitalised in South Africa. No evidence was provided. When the President appeared publicly at a rally in Choma on January 5, that narrative collapsed.

The propaganda did not stop. It simply shifted. Attention moved to the Tonga language used at the rally, with renewed attempts to inflame ethnic sentiment. Days later, on January 15, fresh claims of election rigging were introduced. More recently, new rumours have surfaced alleging that the President is sick again or engaging in ritual practices at his farm in Choma. These claims follow the same script. No proof. High circulation. Maximum confusion

This is not political criticism. It is organised misinformation. It erodes public trust in institutions, fuels tension, and distorts democratic engagement. Left unchecked, it normalises lying as a political tool and rewards those who manufacture outrage for attention or influence.

The State cannot afford to treat this lightly. Freedom of expression does not include the right to deliberately mislead the public on matters of national security, public health, or electoral integrity. The government has both the legal authority and institutional capacity to respond. That response must be firm, lawful, and consistent.

Miles Sampa’s case presents an opportunity. His false claims were clear. The apology was public. The harm was measurable. Accountability must follow. Not to silence opposition, but to signal that deliberate misinformation carries consequences.

Democracy depends on contestation grounded in truth. Political competition built on lies weakens the Republic. Zambia deserves better standards from those who seek public office and public influence.

⬆️ Submission By: Mwasha Chilopa —Concerned Citizen

🔖 Editor’s Note: This article is part of our Reader Opinion series. The People’s Brief publishes diverse views to encourage informed public debate and accountability. Have a view to share? Send opinion articles to editor.peoplesbrief@gmail.com.

© The People’s Brief

MWALITETA ISSUES WARNING OVER FALSE AND MALICIOUS ONLINE CLAIMS

Lusaka, Zambia – UPND Lusaka Province Chairperson Obvious Mwaliteta has strongly condemned the continued circulation of what he has described as false, misleading and malicious statements published by a social media page known as “The Candidates,” warning that legal action will be taken if the conduct persists.

In a strongly worded statement, Mr. Mwaliteta expressed serious concern over fabricated claims alleging that he made hateful remarks against the people of Chawama, describing the allegations as entirely false, misleading and deliberately calculated to tarnish his image.

“I categorically state that I do not associate myself with cheap propaganda, divisive politics or campaigns of hate and falsehoods. Such conduct undermines democratic values and is clearly intended to damage my long-standing political reputation and character,” Mr. Mwaliteta said.

The UPND Lusaka Chairperson reminded the individuals behind the page, as well as the public, that the Zambia Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act No. 2 of 2021 criminalises the publication and dissemination of false information, cyber harassment, hate speech and online defamation. He noted that the law provides for both criminal and civil remedies against perpetrators and administrators of platforms involved in cyber abuse.

Mr. Mwaliteta has since issued a formal and final warning to the page and its operators, demanding the immediate removal of the false publication and the issuance of a public retraction acknowledging that the claims are untrue.

“I am not an ordinary citizen. I am a political leader who has served this nation with distinction and continues to serve the people of Zambia. I will not tolerate attempts to fabricate issues aimed at assassinating my character or eroding the trust I have built with the Zambian people over many years,” he stated.

He further cautioned that character assassination through falsehoods would not translate into electoral success, adding that those engaging in malicious commentary were misleading their own supporters through reckless and hateful personal attacks.

“This warning applies to all individuals, groups and platforms engaging in or contemplating the publication of falsehoods, defamatory remarks or malicious commentary. You will be held accountable,” Mr. Mwaliteta warned.

He further clarified that any statements issued by “The Candidates” page do not represent him in his capacity as a public figure and should be treated as false.

UPND MT

🌍 Is BRICS Falling Apart? India and South Africa Hesitate on New BRICS Currency While Trump and the USA Keep the Dollar in Charge — What This Means for the Global Economy 🌍

The world is watching BRICS — the group of emerging economies including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — and questions are rising about whether the bloc’s dream of challenging the US dollar is actually slipping away.

Recently, India has signaled it won’t fully abandon the US dollar and is cautious about any shared BRICS currency. While discussions have focused on using local currencies or linking digital payments between member nations, India prefers a gradual, pragmatic approach instead of a sudden replacement of the dollar.

This cautious stance is raising eyebrows. If a major player like India won’t fully commit, can BRICS really succeed in creating a strong alternative to the dollar? Experts point out that member countries have very different economies, priorities, and political interests — making a unified currency extremely difficult.

Meanwhile, the US dollar remains dominant in global trade. Countries continue to rely on it for international transactions, reserves, and loans. The influence of Donald Trump and his administration adds another layer: past statements and policies make it clear that any move to challenge the dollar could face economic pressure or retaliation.

The hesitation from BRICS members shows that while the idea of a new currency sounds powerful on paper, the reality is much more complicated. Economic dependence, internal divisions, and geopolitical pressures make replacing the dollar a slow, uncertain process.

For now, BRICS continues to explore digital currency cooperation and local currency trade, but the dream of a fully independent bloc with its own global currency is still far from reality. India and South Africa’s careful approach highlights the challenge: balancing ambition with economic stability, while the US dollar keeps its position at the center of global finance.

💭 The big question remains: Can BRICS overcome internal disagreements and US influence to truly become a global economic counterweight, or is the bloc struggling to keep its ambitions alive?