If Mweetwa is not adopted on UPND ticket, CF might consider looking at his CV – Kalaba
OPPOSITION Citizens First (CF) president Harry Kalaba says his party could consider looking at chief government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa’s curriculum vitae (CV) if the ruling UPND fails to adopt him as its candidate in Choma this year.
Speaking when he appeared on Diamond TV, he responded to comments recently made by Mweetwa, who described Kalaba as a “baby in politics” needing lollipops for the festive season.
“This is coming from a man who has clearly lost touch with the political realities on the ground,” Kalaba said.
“For us in the CF, if Mr. Mweetwa is not adopted in the UPND in Choma, we might have to look at his CV. The earlier he does that, the better for everyone.”
The remarks follow a heated exchange between the two politicians, with Kalaba accusing Mweetwa of focusing more on personal publicity than serious political engagement.
According to Kalaba, Mweetwa’s attention to petty political squabbles has left him vulnerable and has opened space for others to challenge his parliamentary position.
Kalaba said the Information and Media Minister’s current political situation in Choma should serve as a wake-up call to take stock of his career and make the necessary decisions for his future.
“This is his last term and he should understand where he stands. If he is not adopted, he must consider what comes next,” Kalaba said.
🇿🇲 Chawama Votes Tomorrow as Grief, Power and the Future Collide in a High-Stakes By-Election
Chawama goes to the polls tomorrow, January 15, in a by-election that has drawn national attention far beyond the boundaries of Lusaka. What began as a routine parliamentary contest has evolved into a symbolic test of political momentum, opposition survival, and the fading grip of grief-driven politics.
The ballot features six candidates, but on the ground the contest has narrowed into a clear two-horse race. The ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) is fielding Morgan Muunda, while the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) candidate Bright Nundwe carries the weight of opposition backing, including support from the fractured Patriotic Front (PF).
Other contenders from Citizens First, the Leadership Movement, Zambia Must Prosper, the Independent, the New Congress Party and the National Democratic Congress have maintained visibility, but their campaigns have struggled to match the scale and intensity of the two leading camps.
Campaigns had remained notably peaceful, a point repeatedly acknowledged by observers and residents alike. Security deployment remains heavy but measured, with police presence visible across Chawama, from filing centres to market areas and major junctions.
As of filing this report, no serious incidents have been recorded, making this one of the calmest by-elections in recent memory.
UPND has run a disciplined, highly coordinated campaign, marked by strong branding, constant ground engagement and a steady flow of defectors from PF structures. Party officials have framed the vote as a choice between continuity and disruption, pointing to expanded social cash transfers, community programmes and visible state engagement since 2021. The message has been consistent and omnipresent.
The opposition, by contrast, has leaned heavily on symbolism. Chawama was the home constituency of former president Edgar Lungu, and his unburied body has remained a powerful emotional reference point throughout the campaign.
PF leaders and allied figures have openly invoked his legacy, seeking to convert mourning into political capital. Whether that strategy still resonates with voters facing daily economic pressures remains the central question of this contest.
Allegations of impending rigging have surfaced in the final days. Opposition figures, including leaders outside the constituency, have accused UPND of manipulating the process, though no evidence has been presented publicly.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has repeatedly assured stakeholders that the process remains transparent and secure, urging parties to respect the outcome.
For many voters, tomorrow’s decision appears less about ideology and more about direction. Should Chawama continue under a ruling party MP with direct access to state power, or should it become a rallying point for an opposition still struggling to define itself after years of internal collapse?
Polling opens tomorrow morning, with heightened security expected throughout the day. By nightfall, Chawama will have delivered its verdict. Whether grief still commands the vote, or whether the constituency is ready to turn the page on a powerful political legacy, will soon be known.
Zambia on firm economic trajectory under Hichilema – PF MP Mung’andu.
Chama South PF member of parliament Davison Mung’andu says there has been real restoration of macro-economic fundamentals under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema.
Mung’andu said on Let the people talk programme on Phoenix Radio that President Hichilema has made tough decisions to revive the economy.
He wondered how Zambia could have continued with subsidies, for example, in the petroleum sector when she was owing more than US$300 million to a ship that had docked in Mozambique.
“You keep subsidizing, meanwhile you are accumulating a debt which you will not manage. Eventually you will die. Simple economic decisions, but with huge impact, had to be made.
“There has been real restoration of economic fundamentals that this President has done. And you expect me to start opposing when a foundation is being laid,” he said.
The lawmaker is elated that under the New Dawn administration, there is financial discipline and budget credibility,
“Go and check in these ministries. We are on a firm trajectory as a nation,” Mung’andu said.
He said Zambia cannot develop without enhancing production in various sectors.
“Zambia has always relied on copper production. If President Hakainde Hichilema did not make tough decisions, by now Lumwana mine should have been closed, mining activities on the Copperbelt would have halted,” he said.
He said President Hichilema has made policies which are predictable in the mining sector.
“We are seeing Shaft 27 in Luanshya finishing de-watering. Anytime production will kick in. At Mingomba, they are sinking a new shaft and production has started at Kalengwa mine in Mufumbwe district.
“This appreciation of the kwacha against the dollar is backed by economic fundamentals, which is production. It will be sustainable. Look at the copper output levels. We were around 750 , 000 metric tons but we are now clocking almost a million metric tons of copper. That has an impact,” Mung’andu said.
He said Zambia, under the previous regime, borrowed beyond its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Most infrastructural projects stalled during the PF period.
“Go to Isoka; there was a boarding school that was being built there. It stalled. In Sind, the construction of a boarding school but it stalled,” he said.
Mung’andu recalled that construction of Chama – Lundazi road stalled during the PF reign.
“There was a pronouncement by the PF government that all projects which are below 80 percent be suspended.
“Then how do you expect your colleagues who have taken over from you to do magic if yourselves suspended the projects? Citizens should interrogate us politicians on an informed point of view, than just criticising,” he said.
Mung’andu said the previous government borrowed not only from multilateral institutions which have controlled interest rates.
“We went to the open market and borrowed kaloba. We went to shylocks. There is borrowing from the bank and then there is also borrowing from micro finance institutions which have different interest rates. We went to borrow from the open market and if you remember, there was that celebration when we borrowed US$750 million in September 2012. We were saying we want to inject in to revamp Zambia Railways.
“But is Zambia Railways today different from what it was before we borrowed? The answer is no. Aside that, we also allowed a lot of public institutions to start accumulating institutional debts which was guaranteed by the government. Zesco borrowed billions to put up the Kafue Lower Gorge power station, to upgrade the Kariba North power station,” said Mung’andu.
President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has commended political parties and independent candidates contesting the Chawama Constituency and ward by-elections for conducting peaceful campaigns.
President HICHILEMA says the calm and orderly atmosphere during the campaign period marks a clear shift from past elections, which were often characterised by violence, intimidation and fear.
He notes that in previous electoral periods, political competition was frequently driven by coercion rather than persuasion, limiting citizens’ ability to participate freely in the democratic process.
The President, who is currently on a working vacation in Southern Province, says he has been closely monitoring developments through daily briefings and is satisfied with reports indicating that political players interacted freely and respectfully throughout the campaign period.
President HICHILEMA says the peaceful conduct seen during the by-elections should be maintained as the country prepares for the 2026 General Election.
This is contained in a statement issued to ZNBC News by State House Chief Communications Specialist CLAYSON HAMASAKA.
UGANDA ELECTION CHIEF UNDER FIRE – HIS RESPONSE CHALLENGES ALL OF AFRICA.
Uganda’s Electoral Commission Chairman, Simon Byabakama, has received death threats warning him not to declare certain candidates as winners in Thursday’s presidential election. His response? A defiant public pledge that **only the law and the will of voters will determine the outcome** – nothing else.
Even more striking: Byabakama has committed to announcing results within 48 hours of polling closing, despite Uganda having 21.6 million registered voters- nearly three times Cameroon’s 8 million.
THE PAN-AFRICAN QUESTION:
This bold stance is raising uncomfortable questions across the continent, especially in Cameroon where Elections Cameroon has historically taken up to two weeks to declare presidential results with far fewer voters to count.
If Uganda can process 21.6 million votes in 2 days, why does Cameroon need 14 days for 8 million? The math doesn’t add up, and African citizens are taking notice.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR AFRICAN DEMOCRACY:
The contrast exposes critical questions about electoral transparency, institutional independence, and public trust across our continent. When electoral bodies delay results, it creates room for manipulation, rumors, and loss of faith in democracy itself.
African voters deserve better. We deserve electoral commissions that serve the people, not political interests. We deserve transparency, speed, and accountability.
Simon Byabakama’s public commitment – made even under threat of death – sets a new standard for what courage and integrity look like in African democracy.
The question now: Will other African electoral bodies rise to this challenge?
CITIZENS First President Harry Kalaba has invited PF members to join his party, stressing that he will reach out to them in good faith and focus on removing President Hakainde Hichilema.
He has compared his political journey to that of Joseph in the Bible, saying that just as Joseph was sold by his brothers but later positioned by God to provide for them during famine, his own 2017 departure from the party has prepared him to now welcome the PF into Citizens First.
Appearing on 5FM, Monday, Kalaba said PF members facing challenges and moving from one ‘house’ to another are welcome to join Citizens First.
“You know I want to tell my colleagues in the former ruling party, those who might have challenges with what is going on now. They are welcome to the Citizens First, those who are having problems of [PF] is or not registered and they keep on [moving] from this house today. I think this is why when I left in 2017; I’m like Joseph in the Bible, I went ahead, remember Joseph? He went ahead, the brothers thought they had sold him off but God was preparing him so that during the time of famine, Joseph would look after his relatives and his own people. I find myself in a similar situation, they are welcome to the Citizens First and people should just admit that we in the CF we’ll reach out to them and we are doing this in good faith; to say please the common person we need to dethrone in August is Mr Hichilema. That’s the person we should be focusing on,” he said.
“Don’t worry, when I become president, dignity in the country returns, load shedding goes, farmers will be paid on time. When I become president, our students; not only will we maintain the student loans in universities that they are getting, we will even increase them looking at the economic hardships that they are going through. Not only are we going to look at those students, we are also going to look at the civil servants, where I was for a long time of my life. We want to correct things, so all those things we are going to look at them. So, I’m extending an olive branch to my colleagues, please not that I’m [fed up] with what Hichilema is doing, I am fed up and I’ve spoken about this matter for a very long time. But where we have reached, we are remaining with only four months before the nominations begin; where we have reached, I’m saying colleagues let’s think through this process. Let’s hold hands and deal with the problem we have”.
Commenting on opposition members defecting to UPND, Kalaba dismissed assertions that CF members had joined the ruling party.
“People in UPND are liars, if they can lie about paying farmers on the 10th and yet they haven’t been paid. If they can lie about reducing mealie meal prices when they get into office, what can stop them to lie that Citizens First have left their party to go to UPND? People are defecting from UPND because they know that UPND is going nowhere.
I was a minister and I stopped because I didn’t agree with what was happening that time, now what can UPND give people today? They told people lies. I left PF on my own because I’m a child of God and a child of God doesn’t get chased. That herbalist you brought here on radio didn’t know what he was talking about, because he was talking about HH is being endorsed by Chiefs and what not. Hakainde Hichilema will lose, I told the PF the same thing I’m saying here, I told Davies Mwila that PF will lose, they argued,” Kalaba said.
Kalaba said he had the experience to run government.
“[To] the herbalist, tell HH that he is losing [and] the one coming in 2026 is Harry Kalaba. We are here on radio and you’ve heard from the phone calls, so I left PF because I didn’t agree with what was happening.
PF won elections in 2016, one year later in December 2017 I left with four years remaining to be in government, I left. They even sent Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate me but they found that I’m a child of God, I don’t go into government to steal for people.
The problem we have is that as leaders we lie to people about promises, immediately you go into government you start doing your own things. I have experience on how to run a government and say things that I’ll do when I become president,” said Kalaba.
WE’VE PEOPLE’S PACT IF TONSE FAILS TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES – SP.
Socialist Party (SP) general secretary Dr Cosmos Musumali says the People’s Pact is an alternative if those in PF and the Tonse Alliance fail to resolve their differences.
Musumali said the SP’s support to the Tonse Alliance candidate in the Chawama by-election was based on principle as the opposition parties needed to be united.
In an interview yesterday, Musumali said SP, together with the Green Party, the Movement for Change and Equality and UBZ had launched the People’s Pact.
And asked about which exact grouping in the Tonse Alliance they were working with in the Chawama parliamentary by-election since the PF had been removed as the anchor party, and subsequently removed from the Chawama campaigns, Musumali said: “We would be blind if we said there are currently no problems in the PF or in https://dailyrevelationzambia.com/weve-peoples-pact-if-tonse-fails-to-resolve-differences-sp/
KALABA PROMISES UNIVERSAL LAND OWNERSHIP AS CHAWAMA HEADS TO BY-ELECTIONS .
Citizens First (CF) Party President Harry Kalaba says a CF-led government would ensure that every Zambian owns land, describing land ownership as a key tool for economic empowerment.
Mr. Kalaba was speaking to thousands of residents in Chawama on Tuesday afternoon, ahead of Thursday’s Parliamentary Constituency by-elections.
He said Zambians should not only end up owning National Registration Cards (NRCs) or voters’ cards, but must also be empowered through access to land.
He argued that land ownership would enable citizens to invest, build homes, and secure their economic future.
Chawama Constituency goes to the polls on Thursday to elect a new Member of Parliament. The Citizens First Party is fielding Mr. Davison Mulenga as its candidate.
Mr. Mulenga is a former Northern Province Permanent Secretary, former Lusaka District Commissioner, former Deputy Mayor of Lusaka City Council, and former Ward Councillor for Chawama Constituency.
The by-election has attracted significant attention, with political parties intensifying campaigns ahead of voting day.
TONSE A CIRCUS OF SMALL PARTIES – KAMBWILI Tonse Alliance is a circus with small political parties in it, says PF central committee member Chishimba Kambwili.
And Kambwili says the People’s Pact led by Dr Fred M’membe’s Socialist Party (SP) could be an alternative if things fail to work out in Tonse and PF.
In an interview yesterday, Kambwili dismissed the Tonse Alliance
“The Tonse Alliance is a circus,” Kambwili said. “Just look at the political https://dailyrevelationzambia.com/tonse-a-circus-of-small-parties-kambwili/
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) Chama South parliamentarian Davison Mung’andu says Zambians should not approach governance based on political party or tribe, but on a safer system that guarantees the future of the younger generation.
Mr Mung’andu also said there was nothing wrong with people of Southern Province referring to their past experiences of humiliation and abuse at Lusaka’s InterCity Bus Terminus.
Featuring on Radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk programme yesterday, Mr Mung’andu argued that some political party leaders cannot guarantee the future of young people because they are selfish.
“I want Zambians out there to listen. I would want us to approach governance not based on tribe, not based on political party,” Mr Mung’andu said.
“Sometimes, you have political party leaders that are selfish, who only think about themselves and their followers, and how they are going to sustain themselves with their families. It should be about how we are going to build Zambia so that even if you are no more, your children are in a safer system – a system that will see them attain their greater potential. That is what we should be looking at.”
Mr Mung’andu said citizens should interrogate politicians based on informed views instead of mere criticism.
He noted that the economic hardships facing the country were not caused by the New Dawn Government but stem from successive administrations.
Message from Aisha Gaddafi to the Iranian People Proud and unwavering Iranian people!
I issue this warning: do not be seduced by the honeyed words and slogans of Western imperialists.
These are the same people who told my father: “If you renounce your nuclear and ballistic missile programs, the doors of the world will open to you.”
My father, driven by goodwill and faith in dialogue, chose the path of reconciliation. Yet, we have seen how NATO bombings reduced Libya to ashes and bloodshed, plunging our people into slavery, poverty, and exile.
Brothers of Iran!
Your resistance, pride, and determination in the face of sanctions, media lies, and economic strangulation are proof of the vitality and dignity of your nation.
Any compromise with imperialists brings nothing but destruction, division, and suffering. Negotiating with the wolf never saves the sheep; it only marks the next meal!
We see nations that, through their resistance—like Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, and Palestine—have won the hearts of the masses and written history with honor. Conversely, we have seen how those who prostrated themselves were ultimately swept away by the ashes of oblivion.
EFF PRESIDENT KASONDE MWENDA RAISES RED FLAG OVER AN ALLEGED SECRETLY CONTRACTED IMF LOAN
8 January, 2026.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (C-EFF) of Zambia *unequivocally condemns* the decision by the Hakainde Hichilema–UPND government to secretly return to the International Monetary Fund for yet another loan programme, a move that places Zambia on a path of deeper debt, harsher austerity, and total surrender of our economic sovereignty.
As confirmed by *Reuters on January 8, 2026*, the Zambian government has quietly resolved to replace the current IMF Extended Credit Facility with *a new full IMF programme* — without first informing the citizens whose lives will be devastated by its conditions.
This is nothing short of *economic betrayal*.
Zambians already know the bitter taste of IMF prescriptions: • Electricity shortages and crippling *load-shedding*. • Austerity measures that punish the poor and working class • The continued *hemorrhaging of Zambia’s minerals* to foreign corporations • Shrinking public services and rising cost of living
Instead of developing Zambia, the UPND administration has chosen to *govern Zambia on behalf of Washington, foreign creditors, and multinational mining interests.
Under IMF pressure, this same government enacted *Statutory Instrument No. 47*, waiving export tax on copper concentrate — effectively *giving away Zambia’s mineral wealth for nothing*, even as copper prices surge globally. The result? *No meaningful benefits for Zambians. No price relief. No jobs. No empowerment.
This is not economic reform — it is *economic colonization.*
Now, Zambians are being dragged into *another five-year IMF programme*, meaning: • *More debt starting this year* • Deeper austerity • Further surrender of our minerals and national policy • A future of permanent dependency and poverty
EFF warns the nation: *The worst suffering is still coming if this path is not stopped.*
President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND have demonstrated that they have *no independent development vision for Zambia.* Their solution to every problem is to *hand the country to the IMF.
EFF stands for a *different future.*
We commit that under a C-EFF government: • Zambia’s minerals and natural resources will *serve Zambians first* • Ownership and real empowerment will be returned to the people • The economy will be structured around *national development, not foreign interests* • Zambia will never again mortgage its future to international financial institutions
We therefore call upon Zambians to *reject this cycle of suffering and deception* and to never again make the mistake of re-electing the UPND in this year’s General Elections.
Zambia must be governed by Zambians, for Zambians — not by the IMF.
Wherever we want to go our feet will take us there.
ALL SET FOR CHAWAMA PARLIAMENTARY BY-ELECTION TOMORROW
ALL is set for the Chawama parliamentary by-election slated for tomorrow, January 15th.
Lusaka District Assistant Electoral Officer Victor Kagoli has confirmed to Phoenix News that deployment of some materials and fitting of tents at designated polling stations is ongoing.
Mr. Kagoli also said all trained polling staff will be stationed at their designated place this afternoon in readiness for tomorrow.
The Chawama seat was declared vacant following the prolonged absence of former Area Member of Parliament Tasila Lungu following the death of her father, former President Edgar Lungu and his prolonged burial.
UGANDA ELECTION CHIEF SAYS HE HAS HAD THREATS OVER RESULTS DECLARATION
THE Head of Uganda’s Electoral Body says he has received threats warning him against declaring certain presidential candidates the winners of Thursday’s election.
Simon Byabakama said he would not be intimidated by such threats from senior state officials, whom he did not name.
He was responding to a BBC question about a widely shared video which shows a presidential assistant saying the electoral commission would never declare opposition candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, as president, even if he were to win.
“Some people say if you don’t declare so-and-so as president, you will see. I tell them that I am not in the business of donating votes,” said Byabakama.
President Yoweri Museveni, 81, who has ruled the country for nearly four decades, is seeking a seventh term in office.
Bobi Wine, a 43-year-old pop star turned politician, is Museveni’s main challenger, seeking to unseat him for the second time after finishing runner-up in 2021 polls.
Six other candidates are also in the race, in which about 21.6 million voters are registered to vote.
Campaigning has been marked by the disruption of opposition activities, including the detention of activists and the breaking-up of rallies by police.
At the Electoral Commission headquarters in the capital, Kampala, Byabakama said he was not worried about threats from what he called “idle people”.
“You can see from my demeanour that fear is a word that does not exist in my vocabulary,” said the poll chief, adding that only the will of voters and the law would guide the process.
In the video shared by the Daily Monitor newspaper on social media last week, Yiga Kisakyamukama, the special presidential assistant for service delivery and monitoring, was captured saying Museveni would never leave power through the ballot.
“Don’t expect, don’t even think, that Simon Byabakama would announce Bobi Wine. President Museveni, who is on the chair, will remain on the chair. Never think that Museveni would leave power through voting. No, no, no – don’t waste our time,” Kisakyamukama was heard saying.
But Byabakama said Uganda’s law, not individual opinions or threats, would determine the outcome of the presidential election.
“The law says that the candidate who receives more than 50% plus one of the total valid votes cast is the president of Uganda. It is the voters who determine how many votes a candidate gets. What the voters have said is what I will declare to the nation,” he added.
The poll chief said he would declare the results within 48 hours of the close of polling, in accordance with the country’s laws.
Responding to concerns about the heavy military presence in the streets, Byabakama said security forces were deployed to maintain peace and stability during the electoral process and should not intimidate voters.
He also acknowledged opposition concerns about some polling stations being located within military premises, saying the commission was investigating the reports.
“If we find that it is true, we shall take the necessary measures to address it,” he added.
On Tuesday, the authorities cut internet access and limited mobile services across the country in order to curb “misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks”.
The network outage has heightened concerns about repression in the run-up to the vote.
LUSAKA WOMAN DEMANDS US$25,000 AFTER ALLEGEDLY FINDING FLY IN MIKA MEATS SAUSAGE
A customer from Lusaka’s Chelstone Obama area, Thelma Simachembele, has sued Mika Meats Limited demanding US$25,000 in damages for negligence and K10,000 in special damages after allegedly finding a green housefly embedded in a beef sausage she purchased on 6th February 2025.
The incident is said to have led to her hospitalization a day later at the University Teaching Hospital -UTH- with severe gastroenteritis, vomiting, intense stomach pain and fever.
According to a statement of claim filed before the Lusaka High Court by her lawyers, Ms. Simachembele was at all material times a customer of Mika Meats Limited at its Chelstone Obama outlet in Lusaka and states that the beef sausage was bought in the ordinary course of business and consumed in the expectation that it was fit for human consumption.
She however, submits that the presence of a housefly in the sausage exposed her to harmful contaminants, resulting in her sudden illness and subsequent admission to hospital on 7th February 2025 and contends that Mika Meats Limited owed her a duty of care to ensure that food products sold to customers are safe and hygienically prepared.
Ms. Simachembele says the incident breached the duty of care through negligence in food handling and storage as confirmed by the food laboratory test by Lusaka City Council on 14th February that the sausage was embedded with a housefly.
The special damages being sought are said to relate to costs incurred as a result of the illness and treatment. Mika Meats Limited is yet to file its response to the claim.
CHIEF MWAMBA SLAMS FARMER PAYMENT DELAYS, LACK OF DEVELOPMENT
Senior Chief Mwamba of the Bemba-speaking people has criticised the current system used to pay farmers, describing it as slow and burdensome.
He revealed that it is taking up to three hours for a single farmer to be served at the bank, a delay he attributed to the excessive paperwork involved.
According to the traditional leader, some farmers were issued as many as sixty receipts, all of which must be individually verified by bank staff, further compounding the delays.
These concerns came to light when Socialist Party President Dr Fred M’membe paid a courtesy call on the chief at his palace in Kasama District, Northern Province.
Chief Mwamba also lamented the lack of development in his chiefdom, stating that no road infrastructure has been improved or constructed.
He urged opposition leaders to avoid fuelling division as the country approaches this year’s general election.
Earlier, Dr M’membe thanked the chief for his unwavering commitment to defending the plight of the people.
Dr M’membe also spoke about the need for inclusive governance, stressing that leadership should not be left solely in the hands of politicians.
He argued that all sectors of society must be involved in the governance of the country, noting that politicians have been in charge for over 60 years with little to show for it.
“The solution is not just changing the President or the ruling party, but transforming the entire system,” he said in Bemba: “Ifilefwaika tekuchinjafye Kateka ulipo nechipani, but ku chinja imitekele.”
FIVE YEARS LATER, THE COURTS OF LAW CANT RESOLVE THE LEADERSHIP QUESTION IN PF – IT’S TIME FOR A “PRISON BREAK”.
Granted, PF itself triggered a leadership crisis.
How this came about is well-documented and indisputable.
But, like it is with any dispute, parties to a conflict seek courts of law for a resolution.
Apart from seeking a resolution, time is of the essence.
When the conflict is settled is as important as the actual resolution.
It’s now almost five years since the courts of law were asked to settle the leadership question in the PF.
How hard can it be to settle this question?
Have the courts of law been inundated with so many other cases that genuinely they have had insufficient time and resources to resolve this matter?
Or, there is nothing special or urgent about this matter to warrant particular attention.
I have come to the conclusion that justice delayed is justice denied.
Consequently, fatigue, fog and confusion, you name it, have characterized the atmosphere in and around the PF.
All these suspensions, expulsions, arguments and counter arguments are all vanity in the absence of a clear legal status pronounced by the courts of law.
I wonder why the politically legitimate members and owners of the PF are even talking about a General Conference when they know fully well that someone will obtain an injunction to stop it from proceeding which injunction shall be delivered in a blink of an eye!
The absence of politically legitimate main opposition politics is an assault against democracy and specifically robbing the country of checks and balances essential in safeguarding public resources and checking against abuse of power.
Since the last elections, these checks and balances have not been provided as effectively as they should have been.
Surrendering democracy to the Zambian judicial system is no longer an option.
The legitimate PF must make a bold move. If you are an aspiring Presidential candidate within the PF, I challenge you to be as daring as making a “Prison Break” and take with you a “coalition of the willing” by which I mean every structure willing to come with you.
ZAMBIA CLOSES 2025 WITH K22.1 BILLION IN DECEMBER TREASURY RELEASES—SUSTAINING SERVICES, STRENGTHENING CREDIBILITY, AND CATALYSING JOBS AND INVESTMENT
By Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, Minister—Ministry of Finance and National Planning, #mofnp, Lusaka-Zambia
Even as global economic prospects remain turbulent, Zambia continues to offer reason for hope: our country is steadily transforming through better economic management, stronger fiscal discipline, and a clear focus on stability, debt sustainability, and growth.
Against this backdrop, the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, released K22.1 billion in December 2025 to finance public service delivery across the country. This reflected continued commitment to prudent debt management and the protection of priority social and economic programmes. It also marked the final disbursement, concluding the 2025 Budget implementation cycle.
Let’s put it simply: these December releases were about keeping the country running, paying what must be paid, clearing what must be cleared, and investing where growth and jobs can follow. They were structured to sustain essential service delivery, honour debt obligations, dismantle domestic arrears, protect vulnerable households, and support productive capital investment in line with national development priorities.
In doing so, they reinforced Government’s determination to consolidate stability and translate it into tangible economic expansion as Zambia advances beyond the IMF-supported Extended Credit Facility (ECF) Programme into a more growth-focused framework anchored on sound economic governance, investment, productivity, and job creation.
From the total K22.1 billion released in December, 2025:
1) K4.6 billion was allocated to the Public Service Wage Bill; 2) K10.9 billion was directed towards debt service (domestic and external) and the dismantling of domestic arrears; 3) K2.5 billion was released for transfers, subsidies and social benefits; and, 4) K1.9 billion supported the implementation of Government programmes and general operations. 5) K2.2 billion was invested in capital expenditure
A key investor and citizen question is always: are we keeping faith with our obligations, and are we preventing the build-up of unpaid bills that later destabilise the economy?
That is exactly why K10.9 billion was released under the Debt and Other Liabilities category. Of this amount, K5.9 billion went towards domestic debt service, K1.5 billion was used to meet external debt obligations, while K3.5 billion was applied to the dismantling of domestic arrears. These actions remain central to sustaining fiscal credibility, preserving the gains from debt restructuring, and preventing the accumulation of new arrears—because stability is not a slogan; it is something you protect through disciplined, consistent actions.
At the same time, budget discipline must still feel real in people’s lives. Under the Transfers and Subsidies category, a total of K2.5 billion was released to support critical institutions and protect vulnerable households.
This included K1.3 billion to Grant-Aided Institutions, including hospitals and universities, to sustain service delivery and operations; K958.4 million for the Social Cash Transfer programme to protect vulnerable households; and K240.7 million to the Local Government Equalisation Fund to strengthen service provision in local authorities.
To ensure public institutions continued to function without disruption—and that programmes did not stall—an additional K1.9 billion was released for the implementation of Government programmes and general operations across public institutions, supporting smooth administration and uninterrupted service delivery.
And because stability must ultimately produce growth, jobs, and opportunity, capital spending remained part of the picture, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning released K2.2 billion to finance ongoing infrastructure development as part of the broader effort to translate macroeconomic stability into productivity and growth. Of this amount, K1.3 billion was allocated to road infrastructure; K460 million supported projects under the Rural Electrification Authority; and K397 million financed infrastructure projects implemented by various ministries. These investments reflect Zambia’s deliberate transition towards a growth-focused framework—one that prioritises productive capital, crowds in private investment, expands opportunity, and supports job creation.
On the Public Service Wage Bill, K4.6 billion went to Personal Emoluments for public service workers across key sectors, including health, education, security services, and overseas allowances for diplomats serving in missions abroad. This ensured continuity of essential public services and the steady functioning of frontline institutions that citizens rely on every day.
My concluding remarks are that:
“While global economic prospects remain turbulent, Zambia offers reason for hope that we are a nation being transformed through better economic management and a steadfast focus on stability, debt sustainability and growth.
“Consistency and predictability of Treasury releases practiced in 2025 are a clear expression of the New Dawn Administration’s commitment to budget discipline, credible reform, and responsible economic management. The steady flow of resources to priority areas demonstrates Government’s resolve to protect fiscal stability while deliberately transitioning the economy toward sustained growth, investment, and job creation.
“Economic reform succeeds when it is understood, when it is owned, and when it is seen to be fair. Transparency in budget execution and clarity in communication will therefore remain critical components of Zambia’s reform journey from stability to sustained growth.
“The December budget releases closed the year with a firm signal of continuity—confirming that stability is being preserved while the foundations for growth are being actively laid. As the country progresses with the 2026 Budget season, and as Zambia advances beyond the IMF-supported Extended Credit Facility (ECF) Programme into a more growth-focused framework, the focus is shifting from consolidation and recovery, to expansion and elevated productivity, and from short-term correction, to medium-term opportunity and long-term growth.
“After next week, a comprehensive performance review of budget execution and reform progress for 2021 to 2025 will be presented during the Townhall Meeting scheduled for 29 January 2026. The event will provide citizens and stakeholders with a clear account of outcomes achieved, challenges encountered, and priorities ahead.
“And with continued commitment to budget integrity and shared responsibility—working together with citizens, the private sector, and cooperating partners—the gains of reform will endure, and the promise of inclusive, resilient and equitable development will increasingly translate into tangible improvements in the lives of present and future generations, in line with our growth-focused agenda.”
This is the heart of the message: Zambia is not trying to impress anyone with words; we are building confidence through predictable execution. When wages are paid on time, when hospitals and universities keep operating, when the Social Cash Transfer reaches the most vulnerable, when arrears are dismantled instead of quietly growing, and when debt obligations are met responsibly—markets take notice, investors take notice, and citizens feel the difference in service delivery and economic direction.
As we move through the 2026 Budget season, we do so with conviction that sound economic governance, disciplined implementation, and open engagement are the surest path to investment, higher productivity, and job creation. Citizens, businesses, civil society and cooperating partners deserve to understand not only what decisions are being taken, but why they are being taken, how they connect to national objectives and what they mean in practical terms for households, communities and enterprises.
The Government, therefore, invites all stakeholders to participate constructively in the 2026 Budget implementation process so that priorities are sharpened, resources directed to the highest-impact programmes, and delivery is strengthened at every level.
Together, with shared responsibility and clear purpose, we will convert stability into lasting opportunity—expanding enterprise, creating jobs, and improving lives in every part of Zambia.
Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, Minister of Finance and National Planning.
OLD BANKNOTES TO CEASE BEING LEGAL TENDER ON MARCH 31 – BOZ
THE Bank of Zambia has announced that old Zambian banknotes will stop being legal tender on March 31, 2026, marking the final phase of the country’s currency transition to the new banknote family.
In a public notice issued on January 14, 2026, the central bank says the cash exchange period for the old currency will end on that date, after which only the new series of banknotes will be recognised for transactions.
The new currency family, which was introduced on March 31, 2025, consists of six banknotes and six coins, and has since been circulating alongside the old notes.
The exchange period was provided for under the Bank of Zambia (Withdrawal and Exchange of Currency) Regulations, 2025, a statutory instrument issued by the Minister of Finance and National Planning.
According to the Bank of Zambia, April 1, 2026, will mark the full implementation of the new currency system, with all old banknotes no longer accepted for payments or transactions.
Members of the public holding old banknotes are advised to exchange them at designated cash exchange points by March 31, 2026. The central bank said exchanges can be done at any commercial bank or NATSAVE branch across the country at no cost.
The Bank of Zambia has urged the public not to delay in exchanging the old notes to avoid inconvenience when they are withdrawn from circulation.
FORMER BURKINABE MINISTER MURDERED AT HER HOME IN OUAGADOUGOU, PROSECUTOR SAYS
FORMER Burkinabe minister Yolande Viviane Compaoré has been assassinated at her home in Ouagadougou, the capital’s public prosecutor’s announced on Tuesday.
Officials said that Compaoré’s body was discovered at her home on Saturday and evidence found at the scene suggests that she was assaulted and murdered.
Judicial authorities have opened an investigation and appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
Compaoré was an influential figure during the presidency of Blaise Compaoré. A former governor of the Northern Region and a member of parliament for the former ruling party, the CDP, she held several ministerial posts, including Minister of Transport and Tourism. She also chaired the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee.
The government of Blaise Compaoré was overthrown by a popular uprising in 2014 and the former president fled to Cote d’Ivoire.
Press Statement (For Immediate Release) Football Association of Zambia Football House, Lusaka 14th January 2026.
FAZ TD TAKES UP FIFA ROLE…as GS Congratulates Him.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) wishes to inform its members and stakeholders that its Technical Director Mr. Lyson Zulu has been appointed by FIFA as the Technical Development Scheme (TDS) High-Performance Specialist for Africa.
Mr. Zulu was appointed as FAZ Technical Director in April 2019 after initially being engaged as a Football Development Manager in March 2019.
Zulu is holder of a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom and also Sports Performance Degree from Bath University.
In 2024, he was among 24 Technical Directors across the globe that were conferred with the FIFA Technical Leadership Diploma in Zurich after an 18-month academic journey.
FAZ General Secretary Machacha Shepande says while the departure of Mr. Zulu would deprive the Association of his expertise his exit to an international platform served as a moment of pride for the institution.
“Congratulations, Mr. Zulu. Your journey is an inspiration, and your impact will continue to be felt far beyond our borders. We can only wish you the best on your next step in your journey,” Shepande says.
“Mr. Zulu’s appointment is a powerful endorsement of the quality of expertise being developed within FAZ and underscores the Association’s growing reputation as a contributor of high-level technical professionals to global football.”
He adds: “This achievement represents not only a personal milestone for Mr. Zulu but also a victory for FAZ, Zambian football, and African football at large. His new role provides a unique opportunity to influence high-performance systems across the continent, ensuring that African football continues to grow in competitiveness, structure, and global relevance.”
For and on behalf: FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA Nkweto Tembwe HEAD OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS
Until Kiev accepts reality, Russia will act militarily, – Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN
▪️Vasily Nebenzya stated that Moscow sees no basis for negotiations until the Ukrainian leadership agrees to realistic conditions. According to him, neither the French summit of the “coalition of the willing”, nor the advancement of NATO forces to Ukraine’s borders will change Russia’s position, and the possible consequences of the presence of foreign troops have already been repeatedly outlined.
▪️Calls for a ceasefire are seen as an attempt by Kyiv to buy time after defeats on the battlefield. The conditions put forward by Zelensky in response to US proposals are absurd and detached from reality, effectively nullifying these initiatives.
▪️He also commented on the European Commission’s statements about the need for dialogue with Russia, noting that Moscow has never refused to negotiate, while the EU was counting on a “strategic defeat” of Russia. According to him, with every day of conflict prolongation, the conditions for Kiev will worsen, and attacks on civilian targets in Russia will be met with a tough response.
The US President announced he had severed all contact with Iranian authorities and expressed his support for the ongoing protests in the country.
Furthermore, he promised aid to the protesters, suggesting it was imminent.
📢 At the same time, Canada is urging its citizens to leave Iran “now” through the borders with Turkey and Armenia.
Following Canada’s appeal and the call from Trump, France, New Zealand, Japan, Ireland, Taiwan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Germany are also urging their own citizens to do the same.
ℹ️ The protests in Iran began in late December 2025 following the devaluation of the local currency.
Starting on January 8, after calls from Reza Pahlavi, son of the Shah of Iran who was overthrown in 1979, the protests intensified. They degenerated into clashes between protesters and police, resulting in casualties on both sides.
The authorities, accusing the United States and Israel of orchestrating the unrest, announced on Monday that the situation had returned to normal.
It would be ‘stupid’ to have Elon Musk’s Starlink in South Africa — Parliament committee chairperson:
Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) chairperson and RISE Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi says South Africa should not allow Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, to operate in the country.
•In a video shared on X, Zibi said the government would be “stupid” to allow Starlink to operate due to Musk’s open disdain for South Africa.
•Zibi accused Musk of being a “white supremacist” who had declared himself an enemy of South Africa’s constitutional order and who frequently spread lies and misinformation about the country.
•Musk has himself repeatedly accused the SA government of discrimination, claiming Starlink was being denied an operating licence “solely because he is not Black.”
Late last year, it was reported that the Minister of Communications Solly Malatsi had issued a directive seeking to bypass BEE rules to allow for Starlink to operate in South Africa. This sparked political backlash from opposition parties.
BRICS+ Naval Drills off South Africa Pose Threat to No-One: South African FM
South Africa conducts exercises with many nations, and has made it very clear that these drills are not a declaration of war against anyone, Ronald Lamola told a South African news outlet.
The drills pose no threat to no country in the world, including Western states and the US, Lamola stressed.
These are ordinary naval exercises, similar to those conducted by other countries, he added.
The international naval exercise “Will for Peace 2026” began on January 9 in the South Atlantic near the Cape of Good Hope, involving ships from Iran, China, the UAE, Russia, and South Africa, with Brazil, Indonesia, and Ethiopia participating as observers.
The US Dollar now represents ~40% of global currency reserves, the lowest in at least 20 years.
This percentage has declined -18 percentage points over the last 10 years.
Over the same period, gold’s percentage has increased +12 points, to 28%, the highest since the early 1990s.
Gold now accounts for more global FX reserves than Euro, Yen and Pound combined.
This comes as central banks continue diversifying away from the US Dollar while rapidly stockpiling gold in their vaults.
As a result, gold prices rallied +65% in 2025, the largest annual gain since 1979, while the US Dollar Index declined -9.4%, its worst annual performance in 8 years.
IRAN BLASTS PRESIDENT TRUMP: “YOU’RE FUELING CHAOS AND VIOLENCE!”
Sub‑headline: Tehran’s UN ambassador accuses Donald Trump of provoking unrest in Iran while the country faces massive protests and political turmoil.
In a striking move, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has formally accused US President Donald Trump of encouraging political destabilisation and inciting violence in his country. The letter, addressed to the UN Security Council, claims that Trump’s recent comments urging Iranians to protest and “take action” against their government amount to interference in Iran’s internal affairs — a serious violation of international norms.
The accusations come amid widespread protests across Iran, sparked by deep economic hardship, soaring inflation, and frustration with government policies. Security forces have responded with heavy crackdowns, resulting in deaths, arrests, and mass detentions, leaving the country on edge.
Trump’s public statements — encouraging protests and hinting at US support for demonstrators — have been hailed by some as a show of support for human rights. Yet Iran argues that such rhetoric risks fueling violence, further destabilising the nation, and potentially justifying foreign intervention.
Experts say the situation is complex: while ordinary Iranians are demanding political and economic reform, foreign involvement can be highly controversial and may worsen tensions. Diplomats worldwide have expressed concern, urging restraint from all sides to prevent escalation into a larger conflict.
In short, Iran sees Trump’s approach as dangerous meddling, while supporters argue that standing with oppressed populations is a moral responsibility. The world watches closely as a nation grapples with internal unrest and international pressure — a moment that could shape the country’s future for years to come
CAF’s Appointment of Controversial Referee Dahane Beida For Morocco Vs Nigeria Clash Sparks Anxiety Among Nigerians
Dahane Beida, a Mauritanian referee, has been appointed to officiate the semifinal match between Morocco and Nigeria. It is essential to note that Beida was recently involved in a controversy where fans accused him of being partial in the Morocco game against Cameroon.
Specifically, he appeared to deny Cameroonians a penalty after forward Mbeumo was brought down in the box.
Moreover, a few months ago, he was also alleged to have favored Moroccan club RS Berkane to beat Simba of Tanzania in the Confederation Cup final. Beida also officiated the 2023 AFCON final in Abidjan, where Nigeria lost 2-1 to hosts Cote d’Ivoire.
President Donald Trump started the morning with a call to expel Somalians from the country, including a smear against Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), a Minnesota congresswoman who has become a target for his hatred in recent months.
Trump, posting on Truth Social, was reacting to a story from the far-right website Just The News, which claimed that federal officials are investigating some $130 million in cash transfers from Minneapolis to destinations overseas by Somali immigrants, through the airport in Columbus, Ohio.
“They should be thrown out of the USA. Get it done, NOW!” wrote Trump. “That includes their loser Rep. Omar, who married her brother (gross!). President DJT.”
Unproven far-right conspiracy theories that Omar’s first husband was actually her brother have been circulating for years, originating from a now-deleted anonymous post on an internet forum for Somali immigrants, which claimed that the marriage was a sham to secure her brother a green card. It persists extensively in MAGA circles, though news outlets that have looked into the matter have found no evidence to back it up.
Trump has frequently pushed this claim, as well as called for Omar, who left Somalia as a child refugee, to be expelled from the United States, along with the Somali-American diaspora community in general.
US President Donald Trump has canceled all meetings with Iranian officials and declared that “help is on its way” to protestors, implying potential intervention.
‘Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!!’,’ he wrote this morning.
Trump is holding a meeting today with Secretary of State Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine, and other top leaders to weigh options for Iran.
Trump has cautioned that military action could come before any diplomatic sit–down if conditions on the ground deteriorate further.
‘A meeting is being set up,’ Trump had told reporters, warning, ‘We may have to act before a meeting.’
Since the nationwide demonstrations began on December 28 in Iran, the US–based human rights organization HRANA reports it has confirmed about 600 fatalities, but according to other reports, that number is more likely in the thousands.
President Trump told a group of reporters on Air Force One that Iranian diplomats had reached out to the administration to negotiate.
‘The communication channel between our Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and the US special envoy (Steve Witkoff) is open, and messages are exchanged whenever necessary,’ Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.
Mohammad Ghalibaf, Iran’s speaker of Parliament, put out a statement Sunday saying that any US military action will result in a retaliatory response from Iran.
‘If the United States takes military action, both the occupied territories and US military and shipping lanes will be our legitimate targets,’ Ghalibaf said. ‘Both US and Israeli military bases could be targets,’ he added.
Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, Trump threatened to intervene, saying: ‘The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options.’
Asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said: ‘If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.’
First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against a mother and her son, an under-trial, after the mother was caught trying to smuggle a mobile phone inside Central Prison, Bengaluru by hiding the gadget inside her pr!vate part.
The mobile phone seized by the security personnel of the Prison found an active SIM in it.
The mother identified as Lakshmi Narasamma, 38, is alleged to have tried to smuggle the mobile phone in her pr!vate part reportedly for her son identified as Bharath to use it inside the prison.
However, the plot came to the notice of the security personnel of the Prison during her physical examination.
Lakshmi Narasamma was given a visitors’ pass to meet her son in Central Prison, Bengaluru, at around 12.30 pm on January 2, 2026.
On her entry to the Prison main entrance, the woman was subjected to a examination by the security personnel. She was taken to an examination room where the security personnel noticed that she was hiding a mobile phone in her pr!vate area.
The FIR was registered against Lakshmi Narasamma and Bharath at Parappana Agrahara police station of Bengaluru city.
Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has shut down a move to Real Madrid after Xabi Alonso’s sacking, insisting that the club’s decision to part ways with the Spaniard had ‘nothing to do with me’.
Klopp, 58, has not managed a football team since leaving Liverpool in the summer of 2024, with the German saying that he wanted some time away from the dugout as he was ‘running out of energy’.
He is currently Red Bull’s global head of football.
When asked if his phone had started ringing after Alonso’s departure, Klopp told Austrian channel Servus TV: ‘I think the rumors have been circulating for some time now. And I know exactly what your question is getting at, but it has nothing to do with me.
‘My phone did actually ring, but not from Madrid. There were, however, a few people who felt they needed to bring it up with me.
‘In general, it’s a sign that not everything there is 100 per cent right when Xabi Alonso, who showed over two years in Leverkusen what an outstanding coaching talent he is, has to leave Real Madrid just half a year later.
‘When you come in after a legend and an incredibly successful coach like Carlo Ancelotti, who had a very specific way of managing his teams, and then try to introduce new rules, that has now proven to be too difficult. I really feel sorry for him, because I consider him a great coach.’
Klopp was quick to emphasise that he was happy in his current circumstances, adding: ‘It has nothing to do with me and didn’t trigger anything in me either.
‘The coaching market is being reshuffled, and it’s not a bad thing to experience all of this from an observer’s perspective and not think about what it mean mean for yourself, because you’re in the right place where you are.’
Real Madrid announced on Monday that Xabi Alonso has mutually agreed to step down from his role after less than eight months at the helm. Alvaro Arbeloa, who had been managing Real Madrid B for the first half of the 2025/26 season, was swiftly named as his successor.
Indian Embassy in Tehran just issued emergency advisory: leave Iran immediately. Commercial flights still available, register with the embassy, go.
When embassies tell their nationals to evacuate, that’s the tell. They’re not saying “consider leaving” or “monitor the situation”… they’re saying run.
India’s got significant population in Iran: business people, pilgrims, workers. They’re pulling them before whatever’s about to happen happens.
Trump’s deciding on strikes. Iran’s at 2000+ dead. Internet’s been down 108+ hours.
Fikile Mbalula Hails EU Decision to Remove South Africa From ‘High-Risk’ List as Major Economic Victory and Global Confidence Boost
The African National Congress (ANC) has welcomed the European Union’s decision to remove South Africa from its list of high-risk third-country jurisdictions, describing it as a powerful vote of confidence in the country’s financial system and a major step toward economic recovery.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said the decision marks a turning point for South Africa’s international standing, showing that the world is beginning to trust the country’s institutions again after years of reputational damage caused by corruption, state capture, and weak financial controls.
“This is not just a technical decision. It is a political, economic and diplomatic victory for South Africa,” Mbalula said, adding that the move reflects the progress made in strengthening financial governance and protecting the integrity of the global financial system.
What did the “high-risk” status mean?
When a country is placed on the EU’s high-risk list, it is viewed as vulnerable to:
Money laundering
Terrorist financing
Illicit financial flows
Weak regulation and oversight of banks and financial institutions
As a result, all financial transactions between that country and Europe are subjected to extra scrutiny, strict compliance checks, and delays. This increases the cost of doing business, discourages investment, and damages the country’s reputation in global markets.
For South Africa, this meant:
Local banks faced tougher checks when dealing with European partners.
Businesses experienced delays in payments and higher compliance costs.
Some international investors avoided South Africa because it was seen as risky.
Why the ANC and Mbalula are celebrating
The ANC says the EU’s decision is recognition that South Africa has made serious reforms, including:
Strengthening anti-money laundering laws
Empowering the Financial Intelligence Centre
Improving oversight of banks and financial institutions
Cracking down on corruption and illicit financial flows
Aligning local regulations with global standards
Mbalula said this shows that South Africa is rebuilding the credibility of its institutions and restoring the rule of law.
What is good for the country?
The removal from the high-risk list is expected to bring several benefits:
1. Restored Investor Confidence International investors are more likely to bring capital into South Africa, knowing the financial system is trusted and compliant with global standards.
2. Stronger Trade With the EU The European Union is one of South Africa’s largest trading partners. Easier financial transactions mean smoother exports and imports, helping local businesses grow.
3. Economic Growth and Job Creation Increased investment can stimulate key sectors such as manufacturing, mining, agriculture, tourism, and services, leading to more jobs.
4. Lower Costs for Banks and Businesses Reduced compliance burdens mean faster transactions and lower operational costs, which can benefit consumers in the long run.
5. Improved Global Image South Africa is no longer seen as a risky financial jurisdiction, strengthening its diplomatic and economic standing in the world and within groupings like BRICS and the G20.
A signal of rebuilding after state capture
The ANC says this development is also symbolic. It shows that the country is slowly recovering from the damage caused by years of corruption and weak governance, and that international partners are acknowledging the reform process.
Mbalula stressed that while much work still needs to be done, the EU’s decision proves that South Africa is on the right path.
“This is a clear message that our efforts to clean up the system, strengthen our institutions and restore trust are being recognised globally,” he said.
In summary, being removed from the EU’s high-risk list is not just about banking rules. It is about restoring confidence, attracting investment, protecting jobs, strengthening the economy, and rebuilding South Africa’s reputation as a credible and trustworthy member of the international community.
NATIONAL Democratic Congress (NDC) leader Saboi Imboela says opposition political alliances are better off without the Patriotic Front (PF) in them, accusing the party of an attitude of superiority and disrespect that has strained coalition partnerships.
Imboela lauded the recent expulsion of the PF from the Tonse Alliance, stating that the outcome was sad but expected.
In an interview with #Kalemba, Imboela said from the onset, the PF has been very disrespectful to alliance partnerships, not only in the Tonse but also in the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA).
She explained that political alliances exist because no single party is strong enough to govern alone, and successful coalitions depend on combining the strengths of all members regardless of size.
“Even if a party has a million members, it still needs smaller parties to reach the numbers required to win,” she said.
The opposition leader accused the PF of entering alliances with an attitude of being the biggest opposition and the immediate past ruling party, which makes them think they must control everything.
This, she said, includes choosing the next leader, deciding who stands in which constituency, and making all major decisions, which undermines collaboration.
“An alliance works when parties look at each other’s strengths, not weaknesses. But the PF has often focused on other’s weaknesses while highlighting its own power,” Imboela said.
She added that opposition parties, big or small, have been running their organisations successfully for years, and alliances require mutual respect to succeed.
Imboela also noted that some smaller parties, despite lacking large national membership have strong grassroots structures and bring vital support during elections.
“When you disrespect partners, you push them away. I hope and pray that this will be the very last time the PF enters an alliance without respecting its partners,” she stated.
“Once they respect others, everything will go well. But if PF goes into another alliance with the same attitude they showed in UKA and Tonse, they won’t go anywhere. They need to change their ways.”
PF faction acting Secretary General Celestine Mukandila says no one is prescribing anyone on how to campaign for the party presidency but correct procedures should be followed.
Over the weekend, the Given Lubinda led faction wrote exculpatory letters to Brian Mundubile and his campaign team members, accusing them of forming parallel structures and gross indiscipline.
And in an interview on Monday, Mundubile expressed confidence of winning the party presidential race, adding that no one could prescribe to him how to conduct his campaign.
Reacting to that in an interview, Tuesday, Mukandila said Mundubile’s confidence was a good thing as it gave him confidence that participants were still much in the game.
“I believe it’s actually a good thing that the aspirants have gotten into gear five of their campaigns and their energies are a bit extremely high. It’s a good thing, I mean, we have always indicated that the Patriotic Front is a democratic party, one that ensures that every member participates in a fair manner. And if there’s that sentiment from Honourable Mundubile, it actually gives me a lot of confidence that the participants and the aspirants are still very much in the game and they want to give their all into this process, it’s actually a very good thing,” he said.
“As a party, we continue to ensure that participants feel welcome. Every person is given an opportunity to conduct their business affairs equitably and in a just manner. And that in itself gives a breath of joy that it shows how much progress we have made in our democratic dispensation of the parties and how willing the participants are to participate in this democratic process”.
And commenting on Mundubile’s remarks that no one should prescribe to him how to campaign, Mukandila said rules of the game and party leadership must be respected.
“Well, I don’t think there’s any person prescribing any particular candidate with regards to their campaign strategies. For us as a party, we want to reassure the participants that every person shall participate equally. However, the rules of the game must be respected. The rules of engagement must be respected. .
The party structure, the party leadership must be respected. Because it is only that that will allow us to get to a point where we have a free and fair election within the party. And that is the only way in which we can have a candidate who everyone in the party will rally behind,” said Mukandila.
“Party functions will continue to perform with or without their actions. Party functions will have to be respected by all aspiring candidates. As far as we’re concerned, every aspiring candidate has to adhere to the rules of the game.
So, with regards to party functions, I think internal matters will be handled internally and away from the media, as the case may be. Because we have a strict policy. When information or communication is done confidential, it is kept as such and it cannot be discussed in public”.
Lunte Member of Parliament Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya writes::::
HH HAS OVERSTAYED IN CHOMA.
What is HH doing in Choma?
Is it normal for the president to stay in one district of the country for 15 days?
Even if he was on working holiday. There is no work that he can conduct for this long in one district.
What is more unfortunate is that his team is not even showing us what work he is doing there. They could only show us a public political rally at which hatred and national division were peddled.
Please tell him that loadshedding has returned to the country. Let him return to State House to work.
Otherwise he should consider going on leave if he wants to stay away from work for no discernable reason in preference for staying at his farm in Choma.
If there is an unavoided issue behind his stay in Choma, let it be made known to the citizens. But if there is none, bring him back to the office.
There are 116 districts in Zambia and it morally incorrect to keep the president in one district for over 15 days when some of them are experiencing flooding and yet he has not visited them.
I hope he can visit flood victims soon enough and for a reasonable time to appreciate their suffering.
