The United States, Denmark and Greenland have agreed to establish a high-level working group to explore possible areas of compromise as a fundamental disagreement continues over the future of Greenland, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has said.
Rasmussen spoke after meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alongside Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, at the White House. He described the talks as frank but constructive, focused on ensuring long-term security in Greenland, while acknowledging that Denmark and Greenland’s perspectives remain different from that of the United States.
He said U.S. President Donald Trump has made his position clear, but Denmark holds a different view, stressing that Greenland’s long-term security can be ensured within the current framework. According to Rasmussen, the parties agreed it was necessary to engage at a high level to see whether the concerns of the U.S. president could be addressed while still respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark. He added that the working group is expected to meet for the first time within weeks.
U.S., Denmark and Greenland agree to set up working group amid ongoing disagreement over control of Greenland
Rasmussen warned that any ideas that do not respect the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark or the right of self-determination of the Greenlandic people are totally unacceptable.
On Wednesday, Trump said anything less than Greenland becoming part of the United States would be unacceptable, citing U.S. national security interests and the Golden Dome project.
On Tuesday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen held a joint press conference in Copenhagen to present a united front against Trump’s repeated threats to acquire Greenland. Nielsen said that if Greenland were forced to choose between the United States and Denmark, it would choose Denmark.
Frederiksen said Denmark is facing completely unacceptable pressure from its closest ally and warned that the most difficult period may still lie ahead.
Since his first term, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to acquire Greenland. Both Denmark and Greenland have consistently said the island is not for sale, while the White House has stated that Trump will not rule out the use of force.
Greenland is the world’s largest island and a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign policy. The United States currently maintains a military base on the island.
The United States has approved $413 million for counter-insurgency and security operations in Nigeria and other West African countries in the 2026 fiscal year, following the signing of the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) into law in December 2025.
The funding, allocated under the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) budget, reflects Washington’s response to worsening insecurity across the region. It forms part of a broader defence spending package authorising a total of $901 billion in military expenditure and includes a four per cent pay rise for US service members, marking the 65th consecutive annual defence authorisation.
While the Act does not provide a country-by-country breakdown of the $413 million allocation, the amount represents the full sum requested by AFRICOM for its Africa operations and maintenance budget.
The approval comes amid rising threats from jihadist groups, armed bandits and maritime criminals across Nigeria and neighbouring states. Nigeria continues to battle a prolonged insurgency in the North-East, growing banditry in the North-West, and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. In the wider region, Mali is facing renewed militant pressure, while northern Benin has experienced spillover violence from the Sahel.
Recent weeks have also seen intensified security cooperation between the United States and Nigeria. AFRICOM confirmed the delivery of military equipment to Nigerian security agencies in Abuja, describing the move as part of a shared security partnership.
“This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasises our shared security partnership,” the command said.
The increased engagement follows US air strikes on suspected terrorist hideouts in Sokoto State on Christmas Day 2025, carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities. The actions point to deeper US involvement in the region, including intelligence sharing and operational support against extremist groups.
Beyond funding, the defence law introduces key policy changes. It establishes a new Assistant Secretary for African Affairs at the US State Department and creates a Bureau of African Affairs to better coordinate US foreign policy and assistance across sub-Saharan Africa.
The legislation also mandates a comprehensive review of Russia’s military activities and posture in Africa, a move expected to influence future US strategic planning involving AFRICOM, Central Command and European Command.
ANALYSIS | Chawama By-Election: What the Numbers Say About Unity, Grief Politics, and a Changing Battlefield
The Chawama parliamentary by-election outcome offers a rare, data-rich snapshot of Zambia’s opposition politics at a moment of transition. The result was narrow but decisive. Forum for Democracy and Development candidate Bright Nundwe polled 8,085 votes, edging United Party for National Development’s Morgan Muunda who secured 6,542 votes. Beyond the headline, the numbers tell a deeper political story.
First, the arithmetic is impossible to ignore. When opposition votes are aggregated across parties aligned or sympathetic to the Tonse axis and the former Patriotic Front base, the combined tally significantly outpaces UPND. Citizens First alone secured 1,534 votes, while smaller parties and independents added several hundred more. In raw electoral terms, fragmentation nearly cost the opposition a larger margin. Unity did not just help. It proved decisive.
Second, Chawama remains structurally and emotionally shaped by its history as a Patriotic Front stronghold. This is not simply a matter of party colours. It is about memory, identity, and loyalty. Edgar Chagwa Lungu lived here. He built his political base here. His death and the unresolved burial have turned Chawama into a symbolic constituency. Campaign messaging from PF-aligned actors and Tonse Alliance surrogates leaned heavily into this grief narrative, framing the by-election as a referendum on respect, dignity, and legacy rather than policy delivery.
This messaging worked.
The Tonse Alliance and PF-backed campaign succeeded in converting emotional continuity into electoral mobilisation. In a low-turnout by-election, emotional intensity matters. The rains on Friday early morning hours may have emptied the streets, but the result had already been sealed hours earlier by voters who were motivated less by future promises and more by unfinished mourning.
Third, UPND’s performance should not be misread as a collapse. On the contrary, 6,542 votes in Chawama represents a substantial advance for a party that historically struggled in PF urban bastions. The ruling party ran a disciplined campaign, enjoyed visible defections, and maintained organisational superiority. It closed the gap in a constituency once considered unreachable. That is not a loss without lessons.
UPND is slowly converting state performance, social protection messaging, and incumbency into urban traction. But Chawama shows the limit of technocratic governance when confronted with identity-driven politics. Development statistics struggled against grief symbolism. Social cash transfer figures struggled against memory.
Fourth, the by-election reinforces a broader opposition lesson ahead of 2026. Disunity is expensive. Had Citizens First and smaller parties coordinated formally with FDD, the victory margin would have been wider and the narrative clearer. Instead, the opposition won despite itself. The result strengthens the argument that a united opposition front is not just strategic but necessary.
Finally, Chawama confirms that PF’s electoral relevance has shifted from organisational strength to symbolic capital. The party machinery is weakened. Legal authority is fragmented. But the Lungu name, story, and unresolved burial remain potent political assets. As long as that chapter remains open, PF-aligned messaging will continue to resonate in constituencies like Chawama.
Summarily, Chawama was not just a by-election. It was a stress test. Unity passed. Fragmentation failed. Grief mobilised. And UPND learned that closing the gap is not the same as crossing the line.
The 2026 race will reward those who understand all four truths.
I DIDN’T SEE ANY CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR CHAWAMA, I USED PERSONAL RESOURCES – IMENDA
UPND Deputy Secretary General Getrude Imenda says she has been using her personal resources to campaign in the Chawama by-election as she had no access to any campaign funds.
And Imenda says when she inquired from UPND SG Batuke Imenda on the resources, she was told, the guidance was that members of the secretariat should sacrifice if they loved the party.
On Wednesday, UPND Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said the party was strongly addressing the issue of party officials pocketing money which was released for the party activities.
Some UPND youths in Chawama have complained that despite money being released for election campaigns it doesn’t reach them as some party senior members have had a tendency of pocketing the money …
LESSONS FROM CHAWAMA — AND WHAT A LESSON! ==================== The Chawama by-election has delivered one of the most fascinating political plot twists in recent memory. Beyond the memes and the drama, there are real takeaways worth paying attention to.
Let’s start from the top: the vacancy itself.
Many still feel the declaration by Speaker Nelly Mutti was ill-judged and unnecessarily cruel. The moral backlash didn’t just live online it followed the by-election all the way to the ballot.
But here’s where things got interesting…
1. Campaign Culture Shift
For once, Chawama wasn’t a battlefield. The UPND and its supporters campaigned peacefully. The Zambia Police Service managed the atmosphere professionally. No machetes. No cadres. No chaos. This alone is a milestone in Zambia’s political evolution.✅
2. ECZ’s Selective Blindness
Then came the famous “political symbols” saga. PF was told to keep its identity locked in the wardrobe. But when Dr. Nevers Mumba arrived in full regalia — the ECZ looked away like nothing happened. The public didn’t miss the double standard, and it fed into a growing perception that certain rules now exist mainly to erase PF from the political scene.❌
3. The Voter Is Always Ahead
There were nine candidates on the ballot and still, voters turned it into a two-horse race. The #ICHABAICHE,” #CitizensFirst and other splinter players had their day, but not their moment. The message was loud: unity matters and voters hate fragmentation even more than politicians think.✅
Meanwhile, the former SPV of the opposition Tonse alliance, the NCP was brutally reminded that relevance isn’t transferable once the mission is over.
4. Chawama’s Warning Shot
Chawama has now sent a memo to both sides: • Opposition: unite or the electorate will unite for you. • Ruling party: don’t get high on power voters are the real opposition and they’re watching with calculators, not emotions.
The Zambian voter is smart, shrewed, Cunning and increasingly RUTHLESS with politicians who take them for granted. They are the REFEREES , not CHEERLEADERS.
Finally….
August is coming.
If Chawama was just an appetizer, the 2026 General Election is shaping up to be an absolute BLOCKBUSTER .
A MESSAGE FROM EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU’S HOME IN CHAWAMA
By Brian Matambo | Chawama, Lusaka
Chawama did not just elect a Member of Parliament. It exposed, with uncomfortable clarity, where Zambian politics now stand and where they must go.
To start with, the Patriotic Front did not contest this by-election on its own ticket not because PF is dead, but because the courts have been turned into political playground. Any PF candidate would have been dragged into court endlessly. So, PF did what living political movements have always done in history. It adapted and supported a candidate on the FDD ticket. And the voters understood exactly what that meant. They were not voting for a logo. They were voting for a political movement that refuses to disappear simply because documents are contested at the Registrar of Societies.
A political party is not ink on paper. It is people in wards, polling districts, compounds, markets and churches. PF did not only survive in Chawama, but it has asserted its continued relevance. L
UPND poured money into this election. They tried to buy votes. But the people in Chawama remembered the song by the Great Dandy Crazy, MHSRIEP, Donchi Kubeba. So people accepted the gifts. That is the reality of politics in our nation. But when the ballot was finally cast, the arithmetic delivered its verdict. The money was not enough. Those who were bought were not enough. Even against a fragmented opposition, UPND still lost.
That alone should trouble anyone who believes political dominance can be purchased.
The results make the deeper story unavoidable. FDD, backed by PF, obtained 8,085 votes. CF secured 1,534. Independent candidates together collected 894. NCP added 319. EPPP contributed 239. LM had 100. NDC recorded 93. When these opposition votes are placed together, they total 11,264. UPND managed 6,542.
This means the opposition, fragmented and uncoordinated, defeated UPND by 4,722 votes. In percentage terms, more than sixty-two percent of the participating electorate voted against UPND. If the opposition had worked together behind one candidate, this would not have been a competitive election. It would have been a landslide. The margin would not have been symbolic. It would have been humiliating.
Fragmentation did not cost the opposition this seat. It saved UPND from embarrassment.
And yet, even in victory, the numbers are sobering. Out of 93,124 registered voters, only 18,096 participated. More than 80% of registered voters stayed away. That is not indifference. That is political withdrawal. It is a silent referendum on the circumstances under which this by-election was forced upon the nation.
This seat was declared vacant while the Lungu family was still in mourning, and while litigation initiated by the Zambian government in South Africa remained unresolved. Many citizens did not see this by-election as a democratic necessity. They saw it as a continuation of political pursuit. Staying away became, for many, a form of protest.
The ballot box did not feel neutral. And democracy, when it feels partisan, loses participation
What Chawama has therefore delivered is not just a result, but a warning. UPND has lost a seat. But more dangerously, it has lost moral ground in an urban constituency. FDD has won a seat, but inside a protest environment that speaks more about resistance than celebration.
And now we must face the 2026 question honestly. UPND enters 2026 with Southern Province effectively secured. That is a starting advantage of over one million votes. That is not a theory. It is arithmetic. The opposition begins the race already trailing.
You do not defeat such a headstart with pride. You do not defeat it with parallel egos. You do not defeat it with multiple candidates. You defeat it with unity.
Chawama has shown us the formula. A fragmented opposition still defeated UPND. A united opposition would have crushed it.
This is why the roles played by Given Lubinda, Miles Sampa, Lawrence Sichalwe and Chishimba Kambwili in Chawama matter. These men did not lead with speeches. They led with organisation. They went into the ground. They understood the voter. And they delivered a result. Once again, they demonstrated that PF still possesses political heavyweights who know how to win elections, not debates.
Their leadership in Chawama was not symbolic. It was effective. That reality should now force a national conversation among opposition leaders, supporters and strategists. Not about who is bigger. Not about who deserves what. But about what Zambia needs.
Chawama has made something painfully clear. UPND cannot beat the opposition. Only the opposition can beat itself. And if it continues to do so, 2026 will belong to UPND by default. Not because UPND is invincible, but because its opponents refused to unite.
But if the lesson of Chawama is taken seriously, if egos are subordinated to strategy, if ambition is disciplined by purpose, then 2026 is not a dream. It is a reachable outcome.
Chawama has already written the opening paragraph of that story. The rest is now up to us.
Chawama did not just vote in a by-election. It made a political revival for the PF Presidential Campaig. What unfolded in the township was not simply about replacing a Member of Parliament but about memory, loyalty and the unresolved struggles within opposition politics.
For many, the election became a moment to honour the legacy of the late Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Zambia’s sixth Republican President and a son of Chawama. Until recently, the constituency was represented by his daughter. Her seat was nullified after her prolonged absence from Parliament, as she mourned her father in South Africa while a court battle raged over where he should be laid to rest. By the time Chawama went to the polls, emotions were already high.
At the same time, the Patriotic Front (PF), the party Edgar Lungu once led, entered the by-election deeply divided. Two factions continue to battle for control: one led by former Kabwata Member of Parliament Hon. Given Lubinda and the other by Mafinga MP Hon. Robert Chabinga. Until recently, Lubinda’s faction was part of the Tonse Alliance. However, because of internal wrangles in the PF, the Tonse Alliance opted to use the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) as a Special Purpose Vehicle, which is how its candidate, former Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe, stood on the FDD ticket for this by-election.
As Lubinda’s faction pushes toward a convention to elect a substantive party president, pressure has been mounting. Several senior figures have either fallen out or failed in their leadership ambitions. These include Hon. Miles Sampa, Hon. Chitalu Chilufya, Hon. Greymond Monde, Hon. Brian Mundubile, Hon. Chishimba Kambwili, and Hon. Lubinda himself, among others.
The Chawama by-election became personal for Lubinda who led the campaign. Calls grew louder for Lubinda to resign as Acting President, with critics accusing him of failing to mobilise the party after Edgar Lungu’s death. Over a week ago, Hon. Lubinda and his faction were expelled from the Tonse Alliance due to those PF disputes In a moment that captured the confusion within PF ranks, a named party youth even called a press briefing demanding Lubinda’s resignation.
Notably, apart from Lubinda, Kambwili, and Sampa, none of the PF presidential hopefuls actively campaigned in Chawama. Whether deliberate or a result of sidelining, their absence spoke volumes. In the end, the result was more than a win on paper. It was symbolic.
It spoke to the enduring influence of Edgar Lungu’s legacy, the need for relevance within the opposition and most importantly, it breathed new life into Hon. Given Lubinda’s quest to lead the Patriotic Front.
The named PF Youth who had called for Lubinda to resign was in the earlier hours since getting selfies with him whilst congratulating him.
Chawama did not just choose a Member of Parliament. It reshaped a political contest. And in doing so, it gave life to Given.
A very successful former President once told me, “As President, don’t touch these three things. 1…, 2…, and 3… If you touch these, no matter how hard you try to manipulate the system, you can never win a general election”. HH and UPND touched the 3 things right in year one of rising to power and they have touched on even more very important untouchables.
When I was at the funeral of Dr. Peter Magande Z”L, I met with a former minister of justice who is also a Learned Counsel and veteran politician and we discussed at length how the current regime is going about state management. We also spoke about what needed to be done by 2025 because every positive development in an election year is viewed as “vote buying” electioneering.
It’s easier for a ruling party to manipulate a bye election in a rural area, but even then it does not mean that such victory is a sign of strength and likelihood of success in a general election. Incumbency is not defended by words, but rather by results on the ground. The economy should work at household levels. The praise should come from the grassroots and not the Telegraph newspaper in UK. Self praise is also not good for a hungry and angry population.
The days of the UPND in government are numbered. Make no mistake, the people on the ground are the real opposition and they are very clear about who must be voted out in August 2026. At parliamentary level, don’t even mention it. The people are only waiting for whoever will show leadership at Presidential level for them to vote for him/her – the race is still open.
The infamous Bill no. 7 (now an Act) which was arrogantly advanced with a view to increasing seats in UPND strongholds under the impression that winning the presidency is a done deal, will shock the UPND. The Act will be used against HH in ways never before seen in the history of Zambia, especially if whoever among us shall be elected as president takes the route of “pay back” as has been the practice in Zambia.
To make matters worse, HH has distanced himself from the real faces of the UPND, the men and woman who went into the political trenches to fight against the corrupt and brutal PF regime. The same people who ate in MMD and some even in PF have key ministerial positions in government and the UPND party machinery. The real UPND are suffering together with the ordinary citizens.
UPND in its current state does not have proper politicians and advisors. It’s the weakest government since 1964. So far all the actions of the UPND, including the baseless persecution of the Catholic Church are showing that they are begging to be kicked out of power in the coming elections.
Our founding party President General Christon Tembo was first member of parliament for chawama from 1991 to 2001 under MMD.
Geoffrey Samukonga contested in chawama after the seat fell vacant when General Tembo resigned and formed FDD Samukonga won and thus became the first member of parliament for the party FDD. Therefore FDD was born in chawama.
Bright Nundwe has won us chawama as rebirth of our part FDD. Bring wine we celebrate. Congratulations FDD now a party in parliament.
Oscar Choza Committee Chairperson Local Government National policy Committee FDD
Her seat was declared vacant while her father was still not buried.
By: Mulundika Mukelebai
A daughter mourning. A family dragged through courts. A body lying cold in a mortuary. And a nation told to move on.
The Government took Tasila Lungu Mwansa, her mother, and her siblings to court not allowing them space to grieve, not allowing them dignity, not allowing them peace. Because of that, she could not freely return home. She could not bury her father. She could not close the chapter of grief that every human being deserves to close.
Yet somehow, in the middle of this cruelty, she was expected to return to Zambia, walk into Parliament, take her seat, and listen as if nothing was wrong to sit there while Ba Deputy Second speaker curtailed debates “Honorable Member for Mpika take your seat”, while Ba Speaker shouted her “order Honorable Members”, while Ba First Deputy Speaker said “Mr Mpundu conclude” as if her heart was not breaking, as if her father’s body was not waiting in a mortuary.
What kind of pain asks for such performance?
How do you ask a daughter to debate policy when her father has not been laid to rest?
How do you measure attendance registers against a daughter’s tears? How do you punish absence when absence itself was forced by power?
Tasila did not abandon her seat NO Grief was weaponised against her.
She chose humanity over hypocrisy. She chose mourning over make-believe. She chose to stand with her family when the State decided otherwise.
And for that, her seat was vacated.
But let the truth be told plainly and painfully: No seat is more important than burying one’s father. No parliamentary order outweighs a daughter’s right to mourn. No political threat should ever silence grief.
They vacated her seat, yes. But they exposed something far deeper and uglier a system willing to strip titles from a grieving daughter while her father still lies unburied.
History will not remember attendance records. History will remember cruelty.
it will remember that the ruling party failed to get the seat even after allegedly over 3000 PF supporters defected to UPND.
It will remember how all of a sudden loadshedding returned during voter counting.
MORNING WIRE | Chawama Chooses Memory Over Machinery as FDD Clinches Shock By-Election Win
It is a wet Friday morning in Chawama. The rain that fell through the night quieted the streets, but it did not wash away the political signal delivered at the ballot box.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has declared Bright Nundwe of the Forum for Democracy and Development FDD as the winner of the Chawama parliamentary by-election. Nundwe secured 8,085 votes, defeating Morgan Muunda of the ruling United Party for National Development UPND, who polled 6,542 votes. A total of 18,096 votes were cast, with 290 ballots rejected.
The result hands the opposition a symbolic victory in a constituency that has been politically and emotionally charged since the death of former president Edgar Chagwa Lungu, whose legacy loomed large throughout the campaign.
This contest was never only about party machinery or local development promises. It evolved into a referendum on grief politics. The Tonse Alliance and Patriotic Front aligned behind the FDD ticket, framing the race as an act of remembrance and resistance in a community closely associated with Lungu’s final political home. This message resonated with enough voters to tilt the outcome.
UPND entered the race with a visible, disciplined campaign. It leaned on social protection gains, a calm security environment, and a strong ground operation that included high-profile defections from the opposition. The party also pushed back firmly against pre-election claims of rigging, repeatedly endorsed by the Electoral Commission and observers as unfounded.
Still, the numbers show that organisation alone could not fully neutralise emotion.
Celebrations by Tonse Alliance and PF supporters began soon after polls closed on Thursday evening, even before official tallies were announced. By midnight, steady rainfall dispersed crowds and dampened what might have become a prolonged street moment.
By morning, the declaration formalised what supporters had already assumed.
For the UPND, the loss is contained but instructive. It does not alter parliamentary arithmetic in a decisive way, but it exposes the limits of policy messaging when confronted with unresolved political grief. For the opposition, the win offers momentum and narrative leverage, though it also revives questions about coherence, leadership, and whether emotion can be converted into a sustainable national strategy ahead of 2026.
The by-election itself was peaceful. Voting opened and closed on time across all polling stations. Security presence was high but restrained.
Observers and the Electoral Commission described the process as orderly, dismissing social media claims of midnight voting and manipulation.
Chawama has spoken. Not in anger. Not in chaos. But in a quiet, rain-soaked verdict shaped as much by memory as by the present.
HAKAINDE Hichilema is unfit and has disqualified himself to be president of Zambia beyond August this year because of his continuous efforts to divide the country, opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party president Nason Msoni has said.
Recently, Hichilema told the people of Southern Province at a rally in Choma District that if they did not give him one million votes and he lost power in August they would be beaten at Lusaka Intercity Bus Terminus for speaking Tonga as was the case during the Patriotic Front (PF) administration.
Msoni told The Mast in an interview Hichilema and the United Party for National Development (UPND) should not be allowed to govern the country because they lacked sensitivity.
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“If you are deeply attached to your region, then the office that he wants to keep is not for that kind of politics. He may well find something else of interest that he can do in the region where he hails from if he is so deeply entrenched in regional politics,” Msoni said.
He said Hichilema did not qualify to be the president of Zambia because he had taken the country for granted and had total disregard of what the country’s forefathers worked hard to unite the country.
“He [Hichilema] is not fit to be president in the sense that he lacks sensitivity. He’s not politically sensitive in terms of how to sustain peace. He has no idea what it takes or what it took our founding fathers to bring about durable peace in our country,” Msoni said.
He said Hichilema had been politically clumsy such that he did not care what other people thought or what other regions felt about his exclusionist approach to governance.
“And when he goes on a platform. Some of the things that he says are completely insensitive and provocative. A president must be one that makes a deliberate effort to bring everybody together,” Msoni said.
He reminded Hichilema that many Zambians were hating his leadership style of dividing the country.
“A lot of Zambians are hurting. He doesn’t know that a lot of Zambians are hurting his style of politics, his exclusion of citizens from national governance,” Msoni said.
He urged the Zambian people not to squander the opportunity to retire Hichilema and the UPND in August.
“We should not afford to squander the opportunity to retire Mr Hichilema with dignity in August. It will be the greatest mistake for Zambians to vote for Mr Hichilema back in office,” he said.
Msoni warned Zambians that the conduct of Hichilema would be worse than the conduct he had shown just in one term.
“if a President can divisively conduct himself like that just in one term, what more allowing him the second term? He must be stopped before citizens start fighting among themselves,” he said.
Msoni said a leader who pits one group of people against another group of people in a single country is a bad leader. He said the Zambian people will never thank Hichilema for dividing the country.
“He is not the kind of leader that we want. And certainly we will never thank Mr. Hichilema for dividing us with our brothers and sisters in the southern, western, and the northwestern region. We love our brothers and sisters in these regions,” he said.
He urged fellow political leaders to quickly get on the ground and sensitise the Zambian people on the dangers of retaining Hichilema.
“It is our role as political leaders to start talking to our people and sensitizing our people on the dangers of retaining Mr. Hichilema for his second term of office. We would rather get a president who is incompetent but is determined to keep our country together in one piece,” he said.
We extend our congratulations to the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), and in particular to the winning candidate, Mr Bright Nundwe, for emerging victorious in the Chawama Constituency parliamentary by-election after a tightly contested race.
In a democracy, every election must ultimately produce one winner; yet its deeper purpose is to strengthen harmony, peace, and unity among all citizens.
For this reason, we commend the UPND, all participating candidates, and, above all, the people of Chawama, whose collective commitment ensured that the democratic process functioned as it should.
We also express our appreciation to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and law enforcement agencies for conducting a transparent, orderly, and secure election. Their professionalism contributed to an environment in which the will of the people could be freely and peacefully expressed.
Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia
… as he congratulates the FDD for winning the Chawama constituency seat.
LUSAKA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2026 [SMART EAGLES]
DEMOCRATIC Union president Ackim Anthony Njobvu says crying has started for the UPND following the humiliating defeat in the Chawama parliamentary by election by the FDD and Tonse Alliance.
In a Facebook posting, Mr. Njobvu said the UPND’s loss in Chawama demonstrates that the real opposition the ruling party has are the Zambian people.
The DU leader further congratulated the FDD’s candidate Bright Nundwe and the Tonse Alliance.
“As the Democratic Union, we extend our congratulations to the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), Mr Bright Nundwe and Tonse Alliance for emerging victorious in the Chawama Constituency parliamentary by-election after a tightly contested race and comfortable defeat against evil actions and inhumane treatment of Hon. Tasila LUNGU,” he said.
Mr. Njobvu also thanked the Zambia Police for their professional conduct during the by election adding that the UPND should use the remaining months to exit.
“Thank you to the people of Chawama and the Zambia Police for maintaining peace during the period of election. Ba UPND, imisowa has started. The great opposition the people of Zambia have spoken. Like I have said before, use the remaining months to exit,” Mr. Njobvu said.
SIMUUWE COMMENDS MORGAN MUUNDA FOR CONDUCTING A PEACEFUL, ISSUE-BASED, AND DISCIPLINED CAMPAIGN IN CHAWAMA
Details in the statement……
The United Party for National Development (UPND) has received and noted the official results of the Chawama Parliamentary by-election.
On behalf of the UPND, we wish to congratulate the winner of the Chawama by-election, Mr. Bright Nundwe of the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), for emerging victorious and scooping the seat. We equally acknowledge the people of Chawama for exercising their democratic right and making their voices heard.
His Excellency, President Hakainde Hichilema, has stated that this by-election is a clear demonstration of Zambia’s entrenched democratic dispensation, in which elections are held strictly as prescribed by the Constitution whenever a seat falls vacant. It is also a reaffirmation that institutions charged with managing the electoral framework, particularly the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), are operating in a free, fair, and credible environment, supported by law enforcement agencies that are able to execute the law fairly but firmly.
In this regard, we wish to commend the Zambia Police Service and the ECZ for the professional manner in which they discharged their duties. Their conduct ensured an environment that guaranteed the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens to vote peacefully and without fear.
We further thank the electorate of Chawama for the confidence they demonstrated in the UPND. In every political competition, there is ultimately one winner, and the outcome of this contest reflects that democratic reality. For us as a party, elections, whether won or lost, are opportunities for learning, reflection, and renewed mobilisation.
A review of the results compared to the 2021 General Election shows that the UPND has improved in percentage terms, despite the low voter turnout. However, we must be candid; there is no excuse for losing a by-election. Whether one improves in percentages or not, failure to win must trigger serious reflection. For the UPND, this moment marks a critical point of introspection as we re-examine our strategies, structures, and mobilisation mechanisms in Chawama and beyond, even where seats were previously held by the opposition.
https://youtu.be/I7AlGVrABFg?si=ObdDFon-J_rcvuG6
We commend our candidate, Mr. Morgan Muunda, for conducting a peaceful, issue-based, and disciplined campaign, and we thank all our members and supporters who worked tirelessly throughout the process.
As a party, we are fully aware that we now have approximately four months before the 2026 General Election. The UPND will therefore intensify mobilisation across all constituencies, strengthen party structures, and prepare adequately to present ourselves as a responsive, united, and people-centred movement.
We urge the winning candidate to serve the people of Chawama with humility, diligence, and a spirit of unity, putting the interests of the residents above partisan considerations.
The UPND remains committed to peaceful politics, inclusive governance, national unity, and the delivery of development for all Zambians, including the people of Chawama, regardless of political affiliation.
Issued by: Mark Simuuwe UPND Media Director #SunFmTvNews
Gaddafi’s daughter send a strong cautious message to Iranians, warning them on trusting US.
Aisha Gaddafi sent a blunt warning to the people of Iran, saying that don’t trust the West especially the United States and if you trust the west (America) you will end up like Libya.
“Negotiating With the Wolf Won’t Save the Lamb” in her words, and the wolf is USA
She reminds everyone that her father gave up Libya’s nuclear program after America and its allies promised peace for his country.
But what did Libya get in return from them after that?
~ US and NATO drop BOᗰBS in Libya . ~ Executed regime change which goes away with Gaddafi life.
Libya is now a destroyed state, full of slave market everywhere, with permanent chaos and crisis daily.
According to her, Libya did not fail, but it was betrayed by America.
The US shake hands with Gaddafi, praised his nuclear power disarmament… then pulled the bombing trigger on him when he was defenseless, no nuclear power to retaliate.
Dear Iranians, here is Aisha Gaddafi message to you,
~ Your ability to survive sanctions pressure for years is the real sovereignty.
~ Trusting the US is like signing your own death warrant by yourself.
DON’T DO IT!!!
It was a lesson to learn from history, any deal with US empire is addicted to wars fuelled broken promises, you only buys time before the next betrayal and bombing on top your houses.
My dear Iranians I want you to remember, It is the same US that did these…
~ Turned Libya into a failed state today
~ Support Israel genocide , while preaching morality to other nations like yours.
For them they’re normalizing to calls sanctions DIPLOMACY and bombing a nation as PEACEKEEPING.
Again he stated “I warn you not to fall for the false words and slogans of Western imperialists.”
No where US put her leg and peace continue being there present.
Where ever you see US it’s over, only one word replicate and sound there is WAR
The wolf will always talks about peace… right before it eats the lamb.
Comrades! Remember that Copperbelt & Lsk are the two determining factors to either keep or change the govt.
It’s been like that always. These two urban Provinces are crucial in Zambian Politics, meaning if an opposition political party doesn’t get accepted by Lsk and Copperbelt voters forget about forming govt.
The same goes the other way. If the ruling Party desires to return power it must be able to convince the said two Provinces as a matter of priority while the votes from the rest of the Provinces becomes an addition. Failure to which forget.
When you check the history you realize that it took Micheal Sata and PF to get hold of Lusaka and Copperbelt in terms of securing Members of Parliament for in order for him to form govt in 2011 and yet he had been performing well in other Provinces all along.
https://youtu.be/I7AlGVrABFg?si=ObdDFon-J_rcvuG6
Fast forward in 2021 President HH and the UPND ensured they got hold of the two Provinces by winning a good number of seats at Parliamentary level and that is when they formed govt. This is despite the fact that the President HH and the UPND were performing very well in other Provinces along.
I repeat, Luskala and Copperbelt Provinces defines the future of Zambia therefore, don’t mess up with them. Oh my Africa!!! #IP Journalist, Broadcaster & Pan- Africanist
THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has described as misleading and unfortunate social media posts in which Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa accused it of having established a fake polling station on Lilayi road for yesterday’s Chawama parliamentary by-election.
In a statement last evening, chief electoral officer Brown Kasaro demanded that Mr Sampa should apologise for the false allegations, failure to which legal proceedings will be instituted against him.
Mr Kasaro said ECZ is committed to a transparent, credible and inclusive electoral process and urged all stakeholders to act responsibly in the interest of peace and democratic integrity.
And earlier after visiting the alleged fake polling stations, Mr Kasaro said the centres Mr Sampa referred to have existed for a long time and are gazetted for the commission.
He said Mr Sampa’s statement was misleading, false and unfortunate as it had potential to endanger the lives of polling staff operating there.
“The commission wishes to categorically state that we have two polling stations along Lilayi road and, as we speak, I am standing right beside them and these are duly gazetted polling stations,” he said.
https://youtu.be/I7AlGVrABFg?si=ObdDFon-J_rcvuG6
“This is not the first time they have been used for an election and these are duly gazetted and operational [polling stations],” Mr Kasaro said.
He said Chawama Constituency had 111 polling stations for the by-election, and that those Mr Sampa referred to are part of the number.
“So the allegations attributed to Mr Sampa are totally false and misleading, and also very unfortunate to the extent that they are endangering the lives of our polling staff,” Mr Kasaro said.
FORMER Minister of Home Affairs Dr Katele Kalumba says an illegal National Registration Card (NRC) Centre has been established in Matero, producing fraudulent national identity cards aimed at artificially inflating voter numbers in certain areas.
Dr Kalumba expressed doubts about the possibility of a peaceful general election if the government continued to exhibit undemocratic tendencies ahead of the August 13 general elections.
Dr Kalumba, in an interview with The Mast Monday that he had intelligence information indicating that a centre was set up in Matero where illegal NRCs were being produced and given to individuals so that they could vote in various polling centres.
“I have even alerted the intelligence system about this issue and I’m sure they have even confirmed my assertions. They know about this and I will be shocked if they play it down. This is a serious matter of national concern,” he said.
Dr Kalumba said some people had been given the same NRCs and if left unchecked, people would be able to vote in more than one polling station such as in Chawama and Chilenje on different NRC cards.
Dr Kalumba warned that if not stopped, the activities could potentially lead to the rigging of elections manually.
He said it could happen in Zambia where the system was not electronic like in other advanced countries.
“We even carried out a test, the real NRCs and the fake ones look similar. It was very difficult to tell the difference. I have intelligence, and I did inform the system about this development, and they promised to investigate the matter,” Dr Kalumba said.
He said his intelligence informed him about the clandestine issuance of NRCs happening in Matero, which started way before the official government process began.
“Actually, it began in places that were not designated but were sanctioned by the powers that be, and this had raised eyebrows because only a few individuals knew about it. It was not official,” he said.
Dr Kalumba said the clandestine undertaking started with Southern Province before Lusaka.
He described the matter as a serious national and security concern, adding that action should be taken address it as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Dr Kalumba has expressed doubts that a peaceful election will be possible in August if the United Party for National Development (UPND) continues to stifle citizens’ rights and freedoms.
He warned that restricting freedoms of assembly, movement, and expression was a recipe for anarchy in a democratic society.
“If left unchecked, violence can erupt and would be of huge magnitude. This is what we need to avoid as a people by allowing people to speak freely, to mobilise and associate in a manner supported by the law,” he said.
Dr Kalumba said the current UPND regime was practicing the Machiavelli type of politics and that there was need to level the playing field.
He said politics did not require anger but reasonableness in order achieve national objectives.
“There is no need for politicians to insult each other. This is uncalled for, and the Constitution did not allow such trends. We need to promote unity,” he said.
He urged both the opposition and ruling party to exercise maturity when conducting their politics.
Dr Kalumba warned that creating fear in people was a time bomb, and a danger to society.
https://youtu.be/I7AlGVrABFg?si=ObdDFon-J_rcvuG6
And when contacted for a comment, Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security, principal public relations officer Mwala Kalaluka expressed ignorance about the matter.
Kalaluka said any such activity pertaining to the issuance of NRCs was always done within the confines of the law and in public glare, with regular updates.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security is not aware of that issue, as alleged by your source. The 2025 first-ever countrywide issuance of NRCs through mobile registration is the best example of what we are talking about. If anything, if the activities you are talking about are true, those who are aware should promptly report to law enforcement agencies so that appropriate action is taken in accordance with the law,” said Kalaluka.
“WASHINGTON VS PRETORIA: US WARNS SOUTH AFRICA OVER IRAN NAVAL DRILLS – ‘THIS IS NOT NON-ALIGNMENT, IT IS TAKING SIDES WITH A REGIME ACCUSED OF TERROR AND REPRESSION’”
Tension between the United States and South Africa is rising after reports that Iran was allowed to take part in naval exercises involving the South African National Defence Force, allegedly in defiance of concerns raised within government structures.
From Washington’s point of view, Iran is not just another country. It is viewed as a major destabilising force in the Middle East, accused of sponsoring militant groups, threatening shipping lanes, and violently suppressing its own citizens who demand basic freedoms. Allowing Iranian military forces to operate alongside South African forces, or in South African waters, is therefore seen by the US as a direct contradiction to the values of democracy, human rights, and international security.
The anger is not only about warships. It is also about symbolism. At a time when Iranian security forces are accused of shooting protesters, imprisoning activists, and torturing political opponents, South Africa – a nation that fought a long and painful struggle for freedom – is perceived to be rolling out the red carpet to the very type of repression it once resisted.
To the Americans, this looks like hypocrisy: How can South Africa speak loudly on justice, human rights, and international law, yet stand shoulder to shoulder with a government accused of crushing peaceful dissent?
How can it claim to be “non-aligned” while conducting military cooperation with a state that much of the Western world regards as a sponsor of terror?
This is why Washington argues that hosting or training with Iranian forces is not neutral diplomacy. In their view, it sends a message that Pretoria is drifting away from the Western democratic bloc and moving closer to countries openly challenging the US-led global order.
What could happen next?
• Diplomatic pressure: The US may formally protest, summon South African diplomats, and demand explanations at high level. • Cooling of relations: Cooperation on security, intelligence, and defence could become more cautious. • Economic implications: While not immediate, political tension can influence investor confidence, trade negotiations, and access to strategic partnerships. • Global positioning: South Africa risks being increasingly grouped with Russia, China, and Iran in a new geopolitical bloc, rather than seen as a neutral bridge between East and West.
Supporters of the government will argue that South Africa has the sovereign right to choose its partners and that non-alignment means engaging with all sides. Critics, however, say there is a difference between diplomacy and military solidarity, and that inviting forces from a regime accused of brutal repression crosses a moral line.
The big question now is: Is South Africa truly non-aligned, or is it quietly choosing a side in the growing global confrontation between the West and the emerging Eastern power bloc?
“All of Us Collect” – Davido Reacts After Losing $348K Bet on Super Eagles
Afrobeats superstar Davido has publicly reacted following a massive financial loss tied to the Nigerian Super Eagles’ exit from the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations. The singer missed out on a potential payout of $348,000 (approximately N495 million) after the Nigerian team was defeated by Morocco in the semi-finals.
The $50,000 Gamble
Before the high-stakes match, Davido revealed he had placed a wager of $50,000, banking on Nigeria to secure a spot in the final. However, his hopes were dashed on Wednesday night when host nation Morocco triumphed 4–2 in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou sealing Nigeria’s fate.
Sharing his ticket prior to the game, Davido had written:
“Nigerians to make the finals and I’ll double my stake on my slip,”
Moving On
Despite the heavy loss, the “Timeless” crooner appeared to take the defeat in stride. Shortly after the match, he shared a photo of himself unwinding with a meal of grilled fish as he prepared to fly out of Morocco.
Netizens React
The incident has sparked a debate on social media. While some users felt the loss was a shared pain, others speculated that the bet was merely a promotional stunt for the betting platform, or criticized the singer for gambling such large sums.
@martinsafrikan.ng criticized the financial decision:
“If he has used the money to build shelter homes for the homeless people, generations to come will forever appreciate him. There is no difference between our celebrities and the yeye misleaders politicians. There is money but they do not know what to use the money to do.”
@spaceonn_ expressed skepticism:
“It’s all for promo for STAKE Lol believe it at your own risk”
“Suddenly It’s Five” – Anu Adeleke Challenges Davido’s Claims of Multiple DNA Tests
The controversy surrounding Anu Adeleke, the teenager claiming to be Davido’s biological daughter, has taken a new turn as she publicly questions the singer’s consistency regarding paternity tests.
The Discrepancy
In an emotional rebuttal to Davido’s recent outbursts, Anu highlighted a significant contradiction in his narrative. She questioned how the singer went from claiming two DNA tests were conducted to now asserting that five separate tests returned negative results. She insisted that, to her knowledge, the rigorous testing history Davido describes never happened.
“It Was Fake”
Anu went a step further to allege foul play regarding the only test she acknowledges. She claimed that her mother maintains only one test was ever administered facilitated by Davido’s father, Dr. Deji Adeleke and alleges that the result was doctored.
She wrote:
“At first, he said there were two. Now suddenly it’s five. He even said the last one happened on my 10th birthday. According to my mom, we only went for one test, which Chief Dr Deji Adeleke took us to, and it was fake.”
Emotional Distress
The teenager also expressed her devastation at the singer’s harsh response. She noted that she never expected to be “cursed out” or bullied by the man she believes is her father, nor did she anticipate his public threats to have her mother imprisoned. She reiterated that her initial demand for a test was born out of a desperate need to stop the bullying she endures from classmates who mock her identity.
‘We took 5 negative DNA tests’ — Davido fires back at girl claiming he’s her dad
David Adeleke, the Afrobeats star better known as Davido, has issued a rebuttal after an online paternity claim by a teenager.
The controversy began when an Instagram user Anu Adeleke posted an open letter pleading with the singer to take a DNA test.
The young lady, who said she was about to enter her teenage years, claimedthat not knowing her father had led to severe bullying and mental anguish throughout her school life.
She stated she was seeking to establish her identity and respectfully requested the test from “Mr David Adeleke”.
Breaking: Canada Is Repairing Ties With China and Here Is Why ->
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney didn’t go to China on a whim. This visit is about reality setting in.
For years, Canada was told to treat China as a problem to be managed rather than a partner to engage. That advice didn’t come from Ottawa. It came from Washington. And Canada paid the price for following it.
China is not a marginal economy. It’s the world’s largest trading nation, a manufacturing superpower and central to global energy, supply chains and growth. Cutting yourself off from that doesn’t make you principled. It makes you poorer and more dependent.
Meanwhile, what did Canada get in return for loyalty to the US? Tariffs slapped on Canadian steel and aluminium.
Threats to tear up USMCA. Economic pressure used openly as leverage. And constant reminders that allies are disposable when US domestic politics demand it.
This is the part that rarely gets said out loud: Canada didn’t “pivot” to China. It was pushed there by American behaviour.
When the US uses trade as a weapon, undermines partners and treats agreements as temporary inconveniences, countries adapt. They don’t do it out of ideology. They do it out of survival.
Re-engaging with China is Canada acting like an adult in a multipolar world. Diversifying trade. Reducing vulnerability. Repairing damage that was never in Canada’s interest to begin with.
And let’s be honest about the moral posturing too. Canada trades with plenty of countries it disagrees with. So does the US. Values suddenly becoming a barrier only when China is involved has always rung hollow.
This visit is simply a quiet acknowledgment: the tired old playbook doesn’t work anymore. Blind alignment hasn’t protected Canada’s economy, its sovereignty, or its leverage.
This isn’t betrayal, it’s a course correction.
And it’s happening not because China forced anything, but because the US showed, repeatedly, that even close allies are expendable when power is on the line
In a world like that, repairing ties with China isn’t radical, it’s completely rational.
What do you think, is this the start of Canada reclaiming strategic independence, or just a temporary pause before more pressure from Washington?
ONE BAD MOVE FROM WAR? IRAN CLAIMS HYPERSONIC MISSILES AIMED AT ISRAEL
Fears of a dangerous new escalation erupted last night after claims from Iranian-linked intelligence sources suggested Tehran has hypersonic missiles “locked on” to eight Israeli military targets. According to the unverified reports, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is allegedly prepared to deploy next-generation missiles capable of striking key Israeli air bases and strategic installations.
While neither side has confirmed the claims, the mere suggestion has sent shockwaves through security circles. Hypersonic missiles travel at extreme speeds and can change direction mid-flight, making them notoriously difficult to detect or intercept with existing defence systems.
Military analysts warn that even rumours of such weapons entering the equation dramatically raise the stakes in an already volatile region. One miscalculation, one order given too quickly, could trigger consequences far beyond the Middle East.
For now, the world watches nervously hoping this is brinkmanship, not a countdown.
UGANDA: CDF Gen. Muhoozi has congratulated the Ugandan people for voting peacefully and commended the security team for maintaining peace and order across Uganda.
He however mentioned that the trending video clip of unknown persons seen marking ballot papers in the bush are Bobi Wine’s desperate supporters whose mission is well known.
He added that the security apparatus are on high alert monitoring the situation closely after some reports reached him that the same people are planning to sneak in the marked ballot papers today midnight.
He said that even if they’ll bring the marked ballot papers through spirits they won’t manage to enter any polling station in Uganda.
Meanwhile Museveni is in his rural home waiting for the official announcement of the winner come Saturday 5PM in the evening.
UPND’s TREVOR MWIINDE DEMANDS APOLOGY FROM MILES SAMPA OVER ECZ ‘ILLEGAL POLLING STATION’ CLAIM.
By: Justin Banda
United Party for National Development UPND youth deputy chairperson for politics and mobilisation Trevor Mwiinde has demanded an apology from Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa for accusing the electoral commission of Zambia(ECZ)for setting up an illegal polling station during the Chawama by election.
Speaking at Chawama primary school which was the totaling center for the elections Mr. Mwiinde urged politicians to be factual whenever they make reports.
He also expressed gratitude that the elections were held without any violence.
Mr. Mwiinde called on Zambians to conduct themselves the same way during the August polls. #SunFmTvNews
It is critical for us to conduct a post election strategic review and conduct an institutional assessment of chawama by-elections.
“He who refuses to look at his footprint cannot know where the road bent.”
This review sets out a candid, structured, and non-adversarial assessment of the factors that materially contributed to the loss of the Chawama Parliamentary By-Election. The objective is corrective governance, not retrospective blame.
Here are the 10 reasons why we lost Kabwata.
Weaponisation of Collective Emotion by Opponents
PF and FDD successfully prosecuted a campaign grounded not in policy alternatives or developmental propositions, but in emotive symbolism, leveraging the image and memory of a late Head of State as a mobilising device.
“Emotion often defeats reason where reason fails to speak loudly.”
While legally permissible, this strategy exposed a vulnerability: where our message did not sufficiently counter sentiment with substance, emotion prevailed. No alternative policy framework was offered by our opponents yet sentiment saying Tulelosha bane ( we are mourning) filled the vacuum.
Strategic Under-Resourcing of a High-Risk Constituency
Chawama constitutes a historically sensitive and politically symbolic constituency for PF and ECL Legacy. The deployment of limited financial, logistical, and human resources into such terrain amounted to strategic miscalculation. You can not go to bweengwa as an opposition political party with a just a K100 and expect to win an election in a stronghold of UPND.
“You do not send a canoe to cross a river known for crocodiles.”
Political realism dictates that strongholds of former leadership require over-investment, not austerity.
Candidate Selection Misalignment
The principle of community proximity was insufficiently weighted. We need a resident of Chawama like the way Potipher Tembo was a house hold name in Kabwata . Constituencies of dense social networks, such as Chawama, respond strongly to residential familiarity and lived experience.
“The drum sounds sweetest in the village where it was carved.” You can’t import a candidate from somewhere and PF and FDD all they lied the electrolates is that don’t vote for someone from Garden Compound.
Future selection frameworks must privilege residency, local legitimacy, and organic social capital.
Inadequacy of Campaign Materials
Campaign visibility was compromised by insufficient branding, messaging collateral, and ground-level materials. Elections are fought not only in speeches, but in symbols, colours, and repetition of messages of what you want to do for the people .
“What the eye does not see, the heart does not follow.”
Demotivation of Foot Soldiers
Foot soldiers constitute the operational spine of any campaign. Inadequate logistical support, food, transport stipends, and morale-boosting incentives resulted in visible fatigue and disengagement of our people . There was no money.
“An army that marches hungry will retreat before the enemy appears.”
Absence of a Clear, Localised Campaign Narrative
Messaging failed to sufficiently crystallise around specific, lived challenges in Chawama, including: • Overcrowding and informal settlements • Housing insecurity • Youth unemployment • Survival-level economic pressures on the urban poor
“A man drowning does not need a lecture on swimming; he needs a rope.” We failed to give Chawama people a rope.
Policy achievements at national level must be translated into ward-level relevance.
Leadership Apathy and Strategic Absences
The absence of senior party figures and recognised mobilisers weakened momentum and voter confidence.
“When elders stay away from the fire, the children assume the house is cold.” Where was ba Garry Nkombo? His absence pained us.
Visible leadership presence is not ceremonial it is electoral currency.
Logistical Failures on Polling Day
Inadequate coordination of voter transportation and mobilisation on polling day materially suppressed turnout among known supporters.
“Winning the argument means nothing if your supporters never reach the ballot box.”
Underestimation of Structurally Weak Opponents
The defeat by a party with minimal organisational structures underscores a critical lesson: structure does not always defeat sentiment.
“A man without a spear can still kill if the opponent sleeps.”
FDD our opponents offered no manifesto, no development plan only a message of exclusion and emotional appeal. That message was not sufficiently countered.
Insufficient High-Level Political Reinforcement
Given the symbolic weight of the constituency, strategic deployment of top executive leadership including the President and Vice-President may have altered perceptions, turnout, and momentum.
“When the lion roars, even the forest listens.”
CONCLUDING OBSERVATION
This outcome does not reflect rejection of governance performance, but a failure of campaign translation, coordination, and emotional counter-narrative.
“Elections are not lost at the ballot box; they are lost in planning rooms.”
The lesson is clear: emotion must be met with empathy, strategy with resources, and leadership with presence.
FDD’s Bright Nundwe has been declared winner of the much anticipated Chawama Parliamentary By Election.
Nundwe polled 8,085 votes against his closest rival Morgan Muunda from the ruling UPND who got 6, 542 votes.
Muunda entered “early campaigns” in Chawama and was seen as a front runner by his supporters while Nundwe was adopted under the FDD ticket after the seat was declared vacant following the prolonged absence of Lawmaker Tasila Lungu.
Nundwe was backed by the Given Lubinda Led PF Faction and some Tonse Alliance members.
Other notable results saw the opposition Citizens First candidate Davison Mulenga getting 1,534 while an Independent Candidate George Mwenya supported by the “Ichaibaiche Movement” was fourth with 466 votes.
The New Congress Party led by Peter Chanda despite campaigning vigorously including using the portrait of Former Republican President Edgar Chagwa Lungu on campaign materials saw their candidate Mutete Mohammed settle for sixth Position with only 319 votes.
Nundwe B. Bright of the FDD has won the Chawama parliamentary by-election.
With results from 98 of the 111 polling stations announced, FDD’s Nundwe is leading with 7,150votes, while UPND’s Morgan Muunda has 5,556 votes.
BREAKING: CONSOLIDATED RESULTS FROM 30 POLLING STATIONS
Preliminary results from 30 polling stations in the Chawama by-election show a tight contest, with the FDD taking an early lead. Results so far: FDD – 1,942 UPND – 1,507 CF – 364 Independent (George) – 133 Independent (Elijah Siatwambo) – 93 EPPP – 91 NCP – 75 LM – 21 NDC – 17 Rejected ballots – 75 Total votes cast: 4,318 The outcome remains subject to change as more polling stations submit their returns.
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: ZNS 1
POLLING STATION: TWATASHA PRIMARY SCHOOL 1
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 14 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -0 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 2 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 58 Mwenya George -IND : 6 Ndiweni Alfred M-EPPP : 0 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 48 PHIRI James -NDC: 0 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 5
REJECTED: 2 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 135
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: LITUNGA 1
POLLING STATION: CHIMWEMWE PRIMARY SCHOOL 1
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 17 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -0 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 6 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 52 Mwenya George -IND : 2 Ndiweni Alfred M-EPPP : 3 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 80 PHIRI James -NDC: 1 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 3
REJECTED: 2 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 166
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: EYE CLINIC 1
POLLING STATION: AFRICAN METHODIST 1
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 10 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -1 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 4 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 87 Mwenya George -IND : 8 Ndiweni Alfred M-EPPP : 1 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 74 PHIRI James -NDC: 0 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 3
REJECTED: 4 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 193
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: EYE CLINIC 1
POLLING STATION: AFRICAN METHODIST 1
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 10 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -1 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 4 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 87 Mwenya George -IND : 8 Ndiweni Alfred M-EPPP : 1 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 74 PHIRI James -NDC: 0 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 3
REJECTED: 4 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 193
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: MWAZIONA 1
POLLING STATION: WORLD WIDE CHURCH 1
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 11 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -1 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 3 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 53 Mwenya George -IND : 2 Ndiweni Alfred M-EPPP : 7 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 31 PHIRI James -NDC: 0 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 8
REJECTED: 2 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 118
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: CHAWALILA 8
POLLING STATION:CHAWAMA PRIMARY SCHOOL 8
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 10 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -0 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 2 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 52 Mwenya George -IND : 3 Ndiweni Alfred M-EPPP : 1 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 69 PHIRI James -NDC: 0 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 2
REJECTED: 9 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 148
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: CHITIMBA 2
POLLING STATION: DILI SECONDARY SCHOOL
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 09 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -0 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 0 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 57 Mwenya George -IND : 7 Ndiweni Alfred M-EPPP : 13 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 49 PHIRI James -NDC: 1 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 2
REJECTED: 1 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 139
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: NDIZKO NI ANTHU 1
POLLING STATION: UCZ 01
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 11 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -03 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 0 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 61 Mwenya George -IND : 0 Ndiweni Alfred M-EPPP : 0 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 54 PHIRI James -NDC: 2 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 3
REJECTED: 2 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 136
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: CHIMACHE A3
POLLING STATION: WORLD WIDE CHURCH 03
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 08 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -02 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 3 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 47 Mwenya George -IND : 1 Ndiweni Alfred M-EPPP : 4 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 38 PHIRI James -NDC: 2 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 5
REJECTED: 1 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 111
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: EYE CLINIC 3
POLLING STATION: AFRICAN METHODIST CHURCH 03
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 06 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -0 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 8 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 88 Mwenya George -IND : 8 Ndiweni Alfred M-EPPP : 1 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 91 PHIRI James -NDC: 0 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 5
REJECTED: 4 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 211
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: CHIMACHE B1
POLLING STATION: WORLD WIDE CHURCH 1
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 20 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -0 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 3 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 73 Mwenya George -IND : 3 Ndiweni Alfred M-EPPP : 8 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 47 PHIRI James -NDC: 1 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 7
REJECTED: 3 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 165
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
: CHAWALILA 2
POLLING STATION: CHAWAMA PRIMARY SCHOOL 2
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 12 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -0 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 1 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 42 Mwenya George -IND : 4 Ndiweni Alfred M-EPPP : 1 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 74 PHIRI James -NDC: 0 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 3
REJECTED: 2 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 139
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: CHAWALILA 7
POLLING STATION: CHAWAMA PRIMARY SCHOOL 7
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 17 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -0 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 0 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 33 Mwenya George -IND : 6 Ndiweni Alfred M-EPPP : 0 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 87 PHIRI James -NDC: 1 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 3
REJECTED: 1 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 148
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
: CHAWALILA 2
POLLING STATION: CHAWAMA PRIMARY SCHOOL 2
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 12 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -0 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 1 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 42 Mwenya George -IND : 4 Ndiweni Alfred M-EPPP : 1 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 74 PHIRI James -NDC: 0 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 3
REJECTED: 2 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 139
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: MWAZIONA 5
POLLING STATION: WORLD WIDE CHURCH 01
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 9 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -01 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 1 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 36 Mwenya George -IND : 1 Ndiweni Alfred -EPPP : 0 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 24 PHIRI James -NDC: 0 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 5
REJECTED: 4 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 81
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: MOTOMOTO A2
POLLING STATION: CHAWAMA PRIMARY SCHOOL 2
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 14 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -01 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 6 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 54 Mwenya George -IND : 1 Ndiweni Alfred M-EPPP : 0 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 56 PHIRI James -NDC: 1 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 1
REJECTED: 1 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 135
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: MWAZIONA 5
POLLING STATION: WORLD WIDE CHURCH 01
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 9 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -01 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 1 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 36 Mwenya George -IND : 1 Ndiweni Alfred -EPPP : 0 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 24 PHIRI James -NDC: 0 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 5
REJECTED: 4 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 81
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: MWAZIONA 5
POLLING STATION: WORLD WIDE CHURCH 05
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 16 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -01 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 2 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 40 Mwenya George -IND : 2 Ndiweni Alfred -EPPP : 1 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 58 PHIRI James -NDC: 0 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 7
REJECTED: 5 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 132
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: MOTOMOTO A1 POLLING STATION: CHAWAMA PRIMARY SCHOOL 1
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 9 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -01 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 1 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 32 Mwenya George -IND : 3 Ndiweni Alfred -EPPP : 0 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 81 PHIRI James -NDC: 0 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 3
REJECTED: 1 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 139
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: CHAWALILA 5 POLLING STATION: CHAWAMA PRIMARY SCHOOL 5
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 15 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -2 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 1 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 34 Mwenya George -IND : 7 Ndiweni Alfred -EPPP : 0 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 76 PHIRI James -NDC: 0 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 1
REJECTED: 2 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 138
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: BASOPO POLLING STATION: TWATASHA PRIMARY SCHOOL 2
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 11 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -0 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 1 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 45 Mwenya George -IND : 5 Ndiweni Alfred -EPPP : 0 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 80 PHIRI James -NDC: 0 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 4
REJECTED: 1 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 147
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: MAZUNZO B2 POLLING STATION: TWATASHA PRIMARY SCHOOL 2
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 14 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -1 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 1 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 46 Mwenya George -IND : 5 Ndiweni Alfred -EPPP : 1 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 33 PHIRI James -NDC: 1 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 3
REJECTED: 5 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 110
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: LUBWA 1 POLLING STATION: CHIMWEMWE PRIMARY SCHOOL 1
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 11 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -0 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 5 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 42 Mwenya George -IND : 4 Ndiweni Alfred -EPPP : 1 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 81 PHIRI James -NDC: 2 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 5
REJECTED: 3 TOTAL VOTES CAST : 154
CHAWAMA CONSTITUENCY BY ELECTION RESULTS
POLLING DISTRICT: CHIMACHE A1 POLLING STATION: WORLD WIDE CHURCH 1
Mulenga Davison K CF-: 08 Musukuma Ntazana M LM -01 Mutete Muhammad -NCP : 02 Muunda Morgan – UPND : 49 Mwenya George -IND : 2 Ndiweni Alfred -EPPP : 1 Nundwe Bright B -FDD : 40 PHIRI James -NDC: 0 Siatwambo Elijah-IND : 8
Voting has closed peacefully in the Chawama parliamentary by-election, capping a day marked by order, heavy security presence, and competing narratives over credibility and turnout.
All 111 polling stations opened around 06:00 hours and closed on schedule, with early morning queues giving way to slower mid-day traffic before activity picked up again in the afternoon. Election officials and observers reported no incidents of violence, disruption, or intimidation across the constituency.
Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis, who toured several polling stations, described the process as “free, peaceful and orderly,” praising both voter conduct and the work of polling staff. By mid-day, ECZ said more than 150 voters on average had cast ballots across polling centers, a figure the Commission said reflected steady participation rather than apathy.
The ballot featured a crowded field, including Morgan Muunda of the United Party for National Development, Bright Nundwe of the Forum for Democracy and Development, Davison Mulenga of Citizens First, Musukuma Ntazana of the Leadership Movement, Mohammad Mutete of the New Congress Party, James Phiri of the National Democratic Congress, alongside three independents.
While the field has been broad, the contest is widely viewed on the ground as a tight race shaped more by local sentiment and political symbolism than ideology.
As voting progressed, the ECZ moved to counter online claims of “midnight voting” and pre-poll manipulation. Zaloumis warned against election misinformation, urging the media and political actors to report responsibly.
An observer from the Exodus Party for Peace and Prosperity confirmed that voting began at 06:00 hours, dismissing social media speculation that ballots had been cast overnight.
Some residents raised concerns about eligibility, particularly among voters who recently transferred polling stations. The ECZ clarified that the by-election is being conducted using the 2021 voters’ register, meaning newly registered voters will only participate in the 2026 general elections.
Despite the calm on the ground, the political temperature has remained high online. PF figures including Miles Sampa, Ichabaiche Movement leader Binwell Mpundu, and sections of opposition-aligned media have continued to push rigging allegations through the day, claims the ECZ firmly rejects
With ballot boxes sealed and counting underway, attention now shifts to the tally centers.
Results are expected by midnight or in the early hours of Friday, setting the stage for what could be a decisive moment in Chawama’s post-Lungu political chapter and an early test of trust ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
From ZERO to HERO and Back to ZERO: The Case of President Hakainde Hichilema and the faked Kwacha/$ Rate.
By Kasonde Mwenda, C-EFF President 15 January 2026
“You cannot rig an economy.” This long-standing economic maxim has survived every attempt at manipulation, spin, and propaganda — and Zambia’s recent currency episode once again proves its enduring truth.
In early January, the Zambian kwacha briefly became the subject of international attention after recording its strongest level in over 18 months. Sections of the United Party for National Development (UPND) quickly converted this temporary movement into a political victory parade. Headlines and party rhetoric portrayed President Hakainde Hichilema as a global economic champion who had “resurrected” a dying currency and engineered one of the world’s best-performing exchange rates.
But economic reality is far less theatrical.
The Illusion of Recovery
On 8 January, Reuters quoted Access Bank in an article titled “Most currencies under pressure from dollar demand.” The report provided the real explanation:
“Zambia’s kwacha is likely to see volatility next week due to an anticipated rise in demand for hard currency and dwindling supply… The kwacha made strong gains this week as corporates offloaded dollars after the central bank’s late-December directive curbing foreign currency use in domestic transactions.”
In simple terms, the appreciation had little to do with improved productivity, export expansion, foreign investment inflows, or structural reform. It was driven by a temporary regulatory shock that forced corporates to release dollars into the market — creating an artificial shortage of kwacha and a momentary excess of foreign currency.
This is not economic recovery. It is a liquidity distortion.
No Fundamentals, No Foundation
A genuine currency turnaround is anchored in economic fundamentals:
rising domestic production,
export diversification,
increased foreign exchange earnings,
improved fiscal balance,
and sustainable debt management.
None of these have meaningfully improved.
Zambia remains heavily constrained by an IMF program whose austerity measures continue to compress domestic demand and weaken local industry. At the same time, the government has granted expansive tax holidays to multinational corporations — costing the country billions of dollars in foregone revenue while enabling aggressive profit externalisation.
This policy mix does not strengthen a currency. It hollows it out.
The Collapse of the Narrative
As the saying goes, you cannot rig an economy.
Within two weeks, the kwacha had surrendered nearly all of its artificial gains, plunging sharply in just three days. The same political machine that had crowned itself a global economic miracle fell silent.
The “hero” moment dissolved as quickly as it had been manufactured.
What remained was the structural truth: a fragile currency, a weakened fiscal base, rising debt obligations, shrinking public confidence, and an economy still searching for real productive transformation.
Conclusion
The episode stands as a textbook case of political theatre colliding with economic law.
President Hichilema’s government mistook a regulatory-induced fluctuation for structural success. The market, as it always does, delivered its verdict.
From Zero, to Hero, and back to Zero — not by political judgment, but by the unforgiving mathematics of economics.
Wherever we want to go our feet will take us there.
Written and Issued by: Kasonde Mwenda C, President, Economic Freedom Fighters-EFF.
BRIAN Mundubile has challenged the Electoral Commission of Zambia to clearly state and disclose which constituencies across the 10 provinces have been delimitated amid growing fears that it has conducted the process in a secretive manner.
Mr. Mundubile, the Patriotic Front presidential candidate says the delimitation of constituencies, was nearing its finalisation as was announced by the ECZ yet stakeholders had not been informed of which constituencies were affected.
“Do you know any of the constituencies that are being delimited now? Have you seen the delimitation report? There is no delimitation report that anyone knows about,” he said.
In an interview yesterday, Mr. Mundubile, the PF Mporokoso Member of Parliament recalled that recommendations arising from the 2019 process proposed an equitable distribution of constituencies across provinces.
“Our minimum expectation is that Government will follow the recommendation from the select committee, which was that there should be a minimum of seven constituencies per province,” Mr Mundubile said.
“That is why the number was upgraded to 70, so that every province could get seven.”
He stressed that the exercise should be uniform and fair and that the ECZ should endeavour to inform Zambians which of the 150 constituencies had been delimitated.
“We don’t expect some constituencies to receive 10 while others receive three,” he said. “There is supposed to be a uniform and equitable distribution of these constituencies.”
Mr. Mundubile expressed concern that the ECZ appeared to be concluding the delimitation exercise without engaging stakeholders.
“So far, it looks like the ECZ is finalising the delimitation exercise without stakeholders knowing which constituencies are being delimited. There is no stakeholder engagement whatsoever. They are relying on their limited wisdom and knowledge to do everything to the end,” Mr Mundubile said.
He described the secretive delimitation process as alarming, noting that constituency delimitation was a sensitive national issue that needed broader stakeholder consultations.
“It’s very disturbing indeed. You can’t do a delimitation exercise in that fashion,” Mr Mundubile said. “This is a highly contentious matter that must be discussed with stakeholders at local level. But in this particular case, it’s just being done. The delimitation is being done from State House.”
And Mr Mundubile has accused the ECZ of turning a blind eye to what he described as blatant electoral malpractices, including the buying of voters’ cards in highly populated areas by the UPND in the Kasama Mayoral by-election.
“They are turning a blind eye to these clear electoral malpractices. That is the only issue we have,” he said. “We want the ECZ to move in and do the right thing. We can’t be in a country that is full of lawlessness.”
PRESIDENTIAL WORDS CAN DIVIDE A NATION, WARNS Dr MUSUMALI.
Socialist Party and People’s Pact General Secretary Dr Cosmas Musumali has warned that careless or divisive presidential rhetoric poses a serious threat to Zambia’s long-standing tradition of national unity, following controversial remarks attributed to President Hakainde Hichilema during a recent visit to Choma..
In a strongly worded analysis circulating in the public domain, Dr Musumali argues that words spoken by a sitting president carry constitutional and moral weight far beyond ordinary political speech, especially in a multi-ethnic country like Zambia.
“The president does not speak as a private citizen or as a party leader. He speaks as the embodiment of the nation,” Dr Musumali said. “When presidential words are perceived as tribal or exclusionary, they do not merely offend they legitimize division and weaken the foundations of our democracy.”
Dr Musumali cautioned that Zambia’s reputation as one of Africa’s most peaceful and cohesive nations should not be taken for granted. He noted that history across the continent shows how quickly ethnic rhetoric, once normalized by leaders, can escalate into instability and violence.
“African history is replete with painful lessons,” he said. “From Rwanda to Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire, we have seen how political leaders who mobilize along ethnic lines open doors that cannot easily be closed. Words spoken at the top can, and often do, translate into real suffering on the ground.”
He stressed that Zambia’s post-independence unity anchored in the founding principle of One Zambia, One Nation was the result of deliberate leadership choices, not coincidence.
“Our unity has survived because past leaders understood that national cohesion must be protected every day,” Dr Musumali said. “Once a president departs from that ethic, the entire national project is put at risk.”
On accountability, the Socialist Party and People’s Pact General Secretary said the issue goes beyond partisan politics and speaks directly to constitutional responsibility..
“The constitution demands that the president represents all Zambians equally, regardless of tribe or region,” he said. “If presidential conduct undermines that principle, then Parliament has a duty not a favour to interrogate it seriously.”
Dr Musumali also called on President Hichilema to issue a clear and unambiguous apology, warning that vague expressions of regret would not be sufficient.
“A genuine apology must acknowledge what was wrong, why it was wrong, and recommit the presidency to inclusive and unifying leadership,” he said. “That is the minimum required to begin repairing the damage.”
He further questioned whether leaders who engage in divisive rhetoric retain the moral authority required to seek national office again.
“Leadership is about uniting people, not energising divisions,” Dr Musumali said. “A leader who exploits tribal sentiment, even once, must seriously reflect on whether they are fit to preside over a diverse nation.”
Dr Musumali urged civil society, religious leaders, and ordinary citizens to reject tribal politics in all its forms, warning that silence or justification today could set a dangerous precedent for the future.
“This is a defining moment,” he said. “If Zambia excuses this kind of rhetoric, it will invite more of it. But if Zambians stand firm across party and ethnic lines, they will reaffirm that unity is non-negotiable.”
As debate over the Choma remarks continues, Dr Musumali’s message is clear: in Zambia’s fragile but proud democracy, presidential words matter and the nation’s future depends on how they are used.
CHIENGE MP QUESTIONS STATES DECISION TO APPEAL HER ACQUITTAL
Chienge Member of Parliament Given Katuta has questioned the State’s decision to appeal her acquittal in a matter in which she was accused of threatening violence against Times of Zambia photojournalist Henry Chunza.
Ms Katuta, who was accused of threatening violence and spitting on the Lusaka photojournalist was acquitted by the Lusaka Magistrate Court on 22nd December, 2025.
Speaking in an interview with KBN TV news, she says the appeal against her acquittal does not make sense and that she will wait to see the grounds on which it has been lodged.
Ms Katuta has also alleged that her announcement to stand as a presidential candidate for the 2026 August Elections has unsettled the ruling UPND.
Ms Katuta claims that the UPND party knows that if a woman enters the race with force, it will not stand a chance in election.
SINKAMBA DEFENDS ARCHBISHOP BANDA OVER VEHICLE DONATION
People’s Pact Vice President-Strategy and Green Party President Peter Sinkamba has come to the defence of Archbishop of Lusaka Dr. Alick Banda, stating that the Catholic cleric should not be harassed for receiving a donated motor vehicle, as clergy have historically received gifts from individuals and institutions.
Mr. Sinkamba said Archbishop Banda is not the first church leader to benefit from donations, noting that such gestures are common and have been publicly acknowledged in the past.
“Archbishop Banda is not the first clergyman in this country to receive a gift from people. Churches and priests have, over the years, benefited from donations by well-meaning citizens, including politicians, without any controversy,” Mr. Sinkamba said.
He cited former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Kwacha Member of Parliament, Mr. Joseph Malanji, who openly donated several vehicles to Churches, Cooperatives and Police Stations in Kitwe.
According to records, Mr. Malanji donated 30-seater Rosa buses to Kitwe’s United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Kwacha East Congregation and St. Peter’s Ipusukilo Parish.
Additionally, Our Lady of Africa Parish Priest, Fr. Benedict Ng’andwe, received and blessed another 30-seater Rosa bus donated by Mr. Malanji.
Mr. Malanji further donated a Mercedes-Benz S350 saloon Car to Fr. Ng’andwe, with the vehicles officially handed over after church services at the respective congregations.
Mr. Sinkamba said the precedent shows that donations to churches are not unusual and should not be politicised.
“To single out Archbishop Banda for receiving a Toyota Hilux is unfair and misleading. If we did not question such donations in the past, there is no justification to harass him now,” he said.
He urged the public to respect the autonomy of the Church and refrain from dragging religious leaders into unnecessary controversy, adding that receiving a donation does not compromise a clergyman’s moral or spiritual authority.
🌍🔥 EUROPE DEPLOYS TROOPS AGAINST AMERICA: FRANCE & GERMANY RUSH SOLDIERS TO GREENLAND AS TRUMP THREATENS TAKEOVER—IF THIS CAN HAPPEN TO THE WEST, WHAT ABOUT AFRICA?🇫🇷🇩🇪🇬🇱
Let that sink in: European NATO allies are deploying troops to DEFEND against the United States.
France sent 15 soldiers. Germany sent 13. Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the Netherlands followed. Not to fight terrorists. Not to fight Russia. To send a MESSAGE to President Donald Trump: Greenland is NOT for sale.
Trump said he wants Greenland “one way or the other” after his military intervention in Venezuela. Denmark warned that any U.S. attack on Greenland would END NATO. So Europe showed up with boots on the ground.
If America can threaten to TAKE a European territory in 2026, what makes Africa think we’re safe? If wealthy, white, NATO-allied Denmark needs troops to protect its land from Washington, what chance does Africa have without UNITY and STRENGTH?
This is the world we live in: empires don’t retire they just find new targets. Yesterday it was Africa’s resources. Today it’s Greenland’s minerals and strategic position. Tomorrow? It’s us again.
Wake up, Africa. Sovereignty isn’t given. It’s DEFENDED.
