The family of a 23-year-old student k!lled in protests in Iran have said that they had to sift through hundreds of young people’s bodies to find her.
Rubina Aminian, 23, a fashion student at Shariati College in Tehran, was k!lled after leaving the college and joining protest gatherings on the evening of Thursday, January 8.
Sources close to her family told Iran Human Rights that the young Kurdish woman was shot from close range from behind in the head.
Upon hearing of her k!lling, her family travelled to Tehran to identify her.
They were met with lots of bodies of protesters who had been k!lled in the past week but weren’t allowed to take her for burial.
Rubina’s mother said: “It wasn’t just my daughter; I saw hundreds of bodies with my own eyes.”
A source close to her said: “The family was forced to search among the bodies themselves to identify their daughter, and they undoubtedly saw many of the bodies of young people k!lled during the protests.”
Her family described Rubina as “a young woman full of joy for life and passionate about fashion and clothing design, whose dreams were buried by the violent repression of the Islamic Republic.”
Eventually the family managed to free her body but found out that the army had surrounded their home in Marivan, preventing her burial. She was buried on the roadside between Kermanshah and Kamyaran.
Her name emerged as one of at least 500 protesters k!lled in Tehran since mass demonstrations threatened to topple the regime.
an threatened to attack Israel and US bases if Donald Trump launches strikes over the brutal crackdown on anti-government protestors.
Meanwhile, enormous crowds of Iranians defied threats they would face the de@th penalty to gather across the country on Saturday night, Jan. 10, in the largest challenge to the rule of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Hundreds of protestors are feared to have been k!lled in the past three days by security forces loyal to the regime, which is fighting for its survival.
Iran is under an internet blackout, but verified video has emerged showing protestors taking over the streets in Tehran’s Gisha district and clashing with security forces in the city of Mashhad.
The de@th toll in the crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran has spiked to at least 538 people, activists said.
More than 10,600 people have been detained, said the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.
Of those k!lled, 490 are protesters and 48 are members of the security forces, it said, warning the toll is likely to go up.
With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult.
The Iranian government has not offered any overall casualty figures for the demonstrations.
Khamenei has labelled the demonstrators a “bunch of vandals” seeking to “please” Trump.
The latest anti-government protests in Iran began on December 28, 2025, over rampant inflation.
They have since spread to more than 100 cities.
The regime imposed an internet blackout, which reportedly applies to international phone calls, on Thursday, Jan. 8, according to internet freedom watchdog NetBlocks.
Despite this, images have emerged of protests across the country, as well as a huge fire ripping through a government building in Karaj, near Tehran.
Hospitals are said to be facing a “completely chaotic” situation, overwhelmed with de@d and injured patients.
An Iranian social worker who attended a protest in Tehran on Friday told CNN that the demonstration turned into a “nightmare” when security forces began attacking people on the streets.
She said: “Bullets, who knows, tear gas, whatever you can think of, they would fire them. And it was very terrifying.”
The virtual US Embassy for Iran has warned American citizens to leave the country without delay as nationwide unrest continues to escalate.
“Leave Iran now,” the embassy said in a security alert, urging its nationals to plan for departing Iran without assistance from the US government.
“If you cannot leave, find a secure location within your residence or another safe building,” it added.
The advisory urged US citizens in Iran to expect continued internet outages, plan alternative means of communication, and, “if safe to do so, consider departing Iran by land to Armenia or Türkiye.”
US-Iranian dual nationals must exit Iran on Iranian passports, it said, adding that the Iranian government does not recognise dual nationality and would treat dual citizens solely as Iranian citizens.
“Showing a US passport or demonstrating connections to the United States can be reason enough for Iranian authorities to detain someone,” it said.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on “any and all” countries doing business with Iran amid a government crackdown on growing anti-government demonstrations.
While Trump has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran if authorities there use lethal force to suppress the protests, he has also expressed willingness to explore the possibility of diplomacy with Tehran.
Reports indicated that Trump was briefed on several options to move against Iran besides conventional military air strikes.
CBS News reported that the wide array of military and covert tools could include cyber operation options and psychological campaigns to disrupt Iranian command structures, communications, and its state-run media.
Citing two Pentagon officials, the broadcaster said cyber and psychological operations could be deployed separately or at the same time, though a final decision has yet to be made.
It also reported that Trump’s national security team was expected to discuss updated Iran options at the White House on Tuesday.
Trump said on Sunday that his administration is closely monitoring the situation in Iran and is considering “very strong options” as the reported death toll in ongoing protests continues to rise.
“We’ll make a determination,” Trump said, adding he had been receiving hourly reports on Iran, without providing information about when, where or how the US would act.
The US-based rights group HRANA reported on Sunday evening that the de@th toll has surpassed 500, and that more than 10,000 people had been arrested. They noted difficulty sourcing reliable information, with Iran maintaining its internet blackout nationwide.
Anthony Joshua has paid tribute to his friends who di£d while travelling with him in Nigeria.
The boxing star took to his Isntagram Stories to tag his late friends Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele’s Instagram accounts as he made a short post directed them.
Joshua wrote: “@HEALTHY_MINDSET X @SINA_EVOLVE
“THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING MY BROS
“BOTH OF YOU REALLY HELPED ME.
“I DON’T USE SOCIALS TO VOICE MY FEELINGS BUT I WANT TO SAU I AM THANKFUL FOR THE TIME THE BROS SPENT MITH ME.”
He added: “I just felt like saying it. If you don’t like it, try and do something about it.”
Sina Ghami was Anthony Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach while Latif “Latz” Ayodele was his personal trainer and a trusted part of his inner circle.
They both di£d on January 29 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Nigeria while travelling with the professional boxer.
Iranian officials said on January 12 that the country is prepared for war but remains open to dialogue with the United States, as President Donald Trump continues to warn of possible US intervention amid a violent crackdown on anti-government protests.
Speaking to foreign ambassadors in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran is “not looking for war,” but is ready for it if necessary, according to multiple media reports. His remarks came a day after Trump said he was weighing military options against Iran.
Anti-government protests have entered their third week after soaring prices and the collapse of the Iranian rial triggered mass demonstrations in late December. Human rights groups say the unrest has spread across major cities and dozens of towns nationwide, marking the most significant challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership since 2022.
Norway-based group Iran Human Rights said it has confirmed at least 192 protester deaths since the demonstrations began. The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency reported more than 500 deaths across hundreds of locations and said over 10,600 people have been arrested and transferred to prisons. Iranian authorities have not released official casualty figures.
A government-imposed internet blackout that began on January 8 has severely limited communication with people inside the country, complicating efforts to independently verify information.
Protests in support of demonstrators inside Iran have also emerged in several international cities, including London and Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, a driver plowed a U-Haul truck into a large crowd during a rally on January 11.
Araqchi claimed the protests were “under total control” and accused what he described as terrorists of exploiting Trump’s warnings to provoke violence in hopes of drawing foreign intervention. Iranian leaders have repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of fueling the unrest.
Trump has warned Iran’s leadership against killing protesters and said on January 11 that the US military was reviewing “very strong options.” He added that Iranian officials had reached out to negotiate and that a meeting had been scheduled, though he suggested the US could still act before talks take place. Trump said the discussions would include Iran’s disputed nuclear program.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said contacts between the two countries remain open through Switzerland, which has traditionally served as an intermediary. He said Iran “never left the negotiating table” but accused the US of sending contradictory messages.
Addressing a large crowd in Tehran’s Enqelab Square, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Iran is fighting on multiple fronts, including economic, psychological, military, and what he described as a war against terrorism.
Araqchi also claimed that since the protests began, 53 mosques and 180 ambulances have been set on fire, adding that “no Iranian would attack a mosque.”
In a brief video clip released by the Vatican, the two were seen shaking hands and smiling as they sat at the pope’s desk in his official office in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.
In a statement published on X by the Venezuelan political opposition coalition, Comando con Venezuela, Machado said she sought the pope’s help in seeking the release of more than 1,000 political prisoners “and for an immediate transition to democracy.”
“Today, I had the blessing and honor of being able to share with His Holiness and express our gratitude for his monitoring of events in our country,” Machado said. “I also conveyed to him the strength of the Venezuelan people, who remain firm and in prayer for Venezuela’s freedom, and I asked him to intercede for all Venezuelans who remain kidnapped and missing.”
According to the statement, the opposition leader reiterated to the pope that the will of the Venezuelan people was seen in their electing Edmundo González, whose victory in the 2024 election was overturned by the Venezuelan election authority, which was loyal to Maduro.
“Machado highlighted the spiritual struggle Venezuelans have faced for years and said that finally, with the accompaniment of the Church and unprecedented pressure from the U.S. government, the ‘defeat of evil’ in the country is drawing near,” the statement read.
Comando con Venezuela said that Machado also met Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, after her meeting with the pope.
The pope’s meeting with the opposition leader comes just over a week after Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured Jan. 3 in a U.S. military operation ordered by President Donald Trump.
Maduro and his wife were transported to New York, where they are currently facing narco-terrorism conspiracy charges.
Heineken chief executive Dolf van den Brink resigned unexpectedly on Monday, January 12, ending a six-year tenure that began during the pandemic and unfolded through a turbulent period for the global beer industry.
The brewer confirmed that van den Brink, who became CEO in June 2020, will step down on May 31 and remain on as an adviser for eight months thereafter. The supervisory board said it has begun searching for a successor to lead the company, which owns brands including Heineken, Amstel and Tiger.
Both van den Brink and supervisory board chairman Peter Wennink said the transition comes only months after the group set out its new strategy through 2030, arguing the company had “reached a stage where a transition in leadership will best serve the company in further executing its long-term ambitions.” Van den Brink said he would remain “fully focused” on executing the strategy until his departure.
Shares in the world’s second-largest brewer were down around 2% in early European trading after the announcement.
His exit makes him the latest consumer-sector leader to depart amid sustained pressure on household budgets and weaker demand for discretionary products. Brewers in particular have struggled to revive beer sales, with consumption repeatedly affected by weather, geopolitical uncertainty and changing habits among younger drinkers. The emergence of weight-loss drugs seen as potentially reducing food and beverage consumption has also unsettled investors.
Heineken has faced criticism for lagging peers on cost efficiency and shareholder returns. Whoever succeeds van den Brink will inherit the task of delivering on the company’s 2030 plan, which prioritises investment behind selected brands and markets and sets targets on sales, profit and cost savings.
During his tenure, van den Brink navigated pandemic shutdowns, inflationary shocks, currency volatility in key markets such as Nigeria and Vietnam, and investor backlash over forward guidance. He also oversaw acquisitions in India and South Africa and a major restructuring effort. In 2025, the brewer clashed with European retailers in a pricing dispute that led to its products being temporarily removed from some store shelves.
US prosecutors have launched an inquiry that could lead to a “criminal indictment” of the Federal Reserve, Chairman Jerome Powell said on Sunday, January 11, accusing the Trump administration of escalating “threats and ongoing pressure” over monetary policy.
Powell appeared in a video statement confirming that the central bank received grand jury subpoenas on Friday, January 9, related to his June Senate testimony about renovation costs for Federal Reserve office buildings. He described the subpoenas as “pretexts” linked to months of conflict with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized the Fed for not cutting interest rates more aggressively.
“The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President,” Powell said. He called the move an “unprecedented action” and part of the administration’s broader campaign of “threats and ongoing pressure.”
The inquiry comes as Trump has intensified public attacks on Powell since winning re-election, demanding faster rate cuts in a break with decades-long norms around Fed independence. The central bank is mandated to keep inflation low and unemployment stable, using interest rates as its main tool.
Trump told reporters he had no knowledge of the Justice Department’s inquiry. “I don’t know anything about it, but he’s certainly not very good at the Fed and he’s not very good at building buildings,” he said when asked about Powell.
Markets reacted nervously as trading opened Monday, January 12, with the US dollar weakening against major currencies and benchmark 10-year Treasury bonds sliding. Gold prices rose amid uncertainty. Strategists warned that further political interference could hit investor confidence, with ING’s Francesco Pesole noting the market mood resembled the “sell America” sentiment seen during Trump’s trade tariff disputes.
Lawmakers from both parties condemned the investigation as a threat to the central bank’s independence. Republican Senator Thom Tillis said the Justice Department’s credibility was now at stake, adding that he would block confirmation of any new Fed nominees “until this legal matter is fully resolved.” Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer accused the administration of targeting anyone who refused to “fall in line behind Trump,” calling it an assault on the institution.
Powell’s term expires in May, and Trump has signaled he will choose a successor based on their willingness to cut rates immediately. The president has previously suggested removing Powell but instead focused criticism on cost overruns at the Fed’s Washington headquarters, where renovation estimates rose by roughly $600 million last year.
Trump made a surprise visit to the construction site in July, where he and Powell, wearing hard hats, argued over the price tag in front of staff.
A California mother has been found guilty of murd£ring her 2-year-old daughter after the child drowned in the family’s swimming pool while the mom was drunk and chatting with men she met on dating apps.
Kelle Anne Brassart, 45, was convicted Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, of second-degree murd£r and felony child endangerment in the dr0wning de@th of her daughter, Daniellé Pires, at her home in Turlock, according to a statement from the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.
Brassart called 911 around 3:30 p.m. Sept. 12, 2025, to report that her daughter was floating in the pool and unresponsive, prosecutors said.
First responders pulled the toddler from the pool and attempted life-saving measures, but she could not be revived.
Surveillance footage later showed the 2-year-old had been left unattended outside for an extended period before falling into the pool, prompting authorities to immediately launch an investigation.
Investigators found that after calling for help, Brassart “remained in the home and never attempted to rescue Daniellé,” District Attorney Jeff Laugero said.
Prosecutors said Brassart spent about 45 minutes on her phone talking to men she met on dating apps while her daughter was left unattended.
Brassart told investigators she was unable to reach her daughter because of a leg injury and claimed she required the use of a wheelchair, Laugero said.
However, evidence presented at trial showed she was able to walk and stand without assistance, including footage showing her driving and attending nail appointments before the drowning.
“Brassart possessed a walking boot and crutches in the home,” Laugero said.
“Video evidence was introduced at trial showing her walking and standing without the use of a wheelchair prior to the drowning.”
Prosecutors also said officers observed signs of impairment at the scene, and empty liquor bottles were found inside the residence.
A subsequent blood alcohol test showed Brassart’s level measured 0.246% at the time of the incident — more than three times California’s legal driving limit.
The child’s father, Daniel Pires, who was at work that day, had allegedly asked Brassart not to consume alcohol while caring for the child, the Turlock Journal reported.
Court records also show she had been ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
“This is a case where the defendant knew, and she didn’t care,” prosecuting Deputy District Attorney Sara Sousa told the court during the trial. “She didn’t care that her daughter was at risk; she didn’t care that she wasn’t watching her, because all she wanted to do was be selfish and get drunk.”
Prosecutors also revealed Brassart was on probation for child abus£ at the time of the dr0wning, and that another child under her care had previously been hospitalized for nearly a week after ingesting medication, according to SFGate.
Following the conviction, Sousa slammed Brassart further for failing “in her duty to care for her child.”
“She not only failed in her duty to care for her child, but she did it in a way that was so reckless and indifferent to human life that her conduct amounted to second-degree murd£r,” Sousa said.
Brassart is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 5 and faces 15 years to life in prison.
The only way remaining is for UPND to fail to reach the 50+1% mark, and then go for the second round elections. This would force the opposition and their members to work together and rally behind one remaining candidate, giving them a chance.
Unity, which has been much talked about, will be forced because it will be a two-horse race. This can only happen if the opposition agrees on the same slogans and campaign message: “No UPND” or “Everything New” from the start.
If they can’t agree on a presidential candidate, they should at least agree on the message and campaign slogans, basically telling the people “Anything but UPND”. This create one powerful force. However, they still run as individuals since they cant agree. This is like the World Cup qualifiers – it’s a mathematical chance considering the time and lack of organisation.
The only problem with winning elections like that is it will mean a confused government that might not even be close to UPND. Are we ready for a confused government just to remove UPND?
No single opposition party will manage to beat UPND, all things being equal.These people doing almost 5 press conferences every day in Lusaka. The way things are moving with the opposition, they will probably have a few parties getting about 7%, and the rest even below regretted or spoiled ballots.
UPND, as well, to guarantee their win, need to finish the fight in the first round; second, it can fail to get up – oh, these things happen. And make sure you the former President Lungu is put to rest, this is very important – wish I could explain more but spiritually matters we leave to those who are spiritual.
And Democracy works way when there is competition; otherwise, we will create a god in HH. That’s dangerous for everyone – the Opposition, UPND, to even his friends and HH himself. We need competition so that even if HH wins, we get an improved HH who can deliver Business reforms and National Unity.
Contrary to reports circulating on social and online media suggesting that Shepherd Bushiri has died, verified information confirms that these claims are false.
The deceased has been identified as Frank Bushiri, a former midfielder for Tel-One Football Club, who passed away yesterday in Gweru, Zimbabwe. The misinformation appears to have arisen from confusion caused by the similarity in surnames.
Shepherd Bushiri, the leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) Church, is alive, and no credible source has confirmed reports of his death.
The public is urged to verify information from reliable sources before sharing, especially on sensitive matters involving loss of life.
🇿🇲 EXCLUSIVE | Inside Tonse Alliance’s Reset: Zumani Explains the Post-Lungu Power Struggle
The Tonse Alliance is navigating its most consequential moment since its formation, following the death of former president Edgar Chagwa Lungu. Appearing on Diamond TV on Sunday evening, Tonse Alliance lead consultant and chief architect Chris Zumani Zimba offered the clearest public account yet of how the coalition was designed, why it has fractured, and what comes next as Zambia edges closer to the 2026 general election.
An Alliance Built Around One Man
Zimba was explicit that Tonse was never conceived as a broad, open-ended coalition. “The Tonse Alliance was designed around the comeback of Edgar Lungu into politics and to allow him to contest for 2026,” he said, adding that the alliance constitution “specifically enshrined Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu by name as the alliance chairman and 2026 presidential candidate.”
According to Zimba, the architecture was deliberate. He said Tonse was crafted to guarantee Lungu a clear presidential path without internal competition, after his fallout with the United Kwacha Alliance. “We wanted an alliance which doesn’t bring competition to him but guarantees him as the candidate and main stakeholder,” he explained.
The Vacuum After June
That personalised structure, Zimba acknowledged, became the alliance’s biggest weakness after Lungu’s death. “The moment he died in June last year, we had a leadership crisis because everything crumbled. It was centred around his presidency and candidature,” he said, describing the period since then as one of “political darkness and leadership crisis.”
Members, he noted, began demanding constitutional amendments to open the path for a new flag bearer. “They joined Tonse not because of PF, but because they believed in the leadership of Edgar Lungu,” Zimba said, arguing that change became unavoidable once that leadership was gone.
Why PF Became the Fault Line
The sharpest point in Zimba’s remarks concerned the Patriotic Front. He insisted that PF, as a legal party entity, was never formally part of Tonse. “PF as a party has never been part of Tonse,” he said. “We never wanted to transfer the drama by bringing PF because they would have been petitioning the alliance through the courts.”
Zimba framed the decision to remove PF from its status as “anchor party” as a risk-management move, not a political purge. “That faction brings political liabilities. It makes us to be held at ransom because they want us to delay for them to fight legal battles,” he said.
Movement Versus Party
In place of PF as a party, Tonse has retained what Zimba called the ECL-PF movement. He described it as a pressure group made up of MPs, councillors and grassroots supporters personally loyal to Lungu. “Edgar Lungu went to Tonse with his own followers,” Zimba said. “Those that believed in him. That movement still has structures and membership countrywide loyal to ECL.”
He stressed that this distinction explains why PF MPs remain active within Tonse’s parliamentary structures, even as the party itself has been sidelined.
Leadership Wrangles and Trust Deficits
Zimba also shed light on internal tensions involving senior PF figures. He said disputes escalated when Given Lubinda declined to hand over authority after Dan Pule returned from medical treatment abroad. “That refusal is what triggered the wrangles,” he said, portraying the conflict as institutional rather than personal.
Searching for a Flag Bearer
With August 2026 approaching, Zimba acknowledged urgency. “We are now under panic because of indecisions and delays,” he said, adding that Tonse must quickly elect “a legitimate chairman and a legitimate presidential candidate” to restore direction.
He confirmed that the Forum for Democracy and Development is currently being used as a provisional special purpose vehicle, pending a full Tonse congress that will determine the final electoral platform.
Mundubile and the Unspoken Calculations
While Zimba did not mention names directly, his remarks land amid growing speculation that PF presidential aspirant Brian Mundubile is positioning himself for a larger Tonse role. Analysts note that as PF’s legal and organisational crisis deepens, Tonse’s restructuring creates potential entry points for figures seeking an alternative national platform.
A Coalition at a Crossroads
Zimba closed by insisting Tonse remains a viable alternative to the ruling United Party for National Development, citing public frustration with economic conditions. “Very soon we shall have a new chairman and a presidential candidate,” he said. “From there, political direction and political hope shall be restored.”
For now, Tonse stands at a crossroads: reconstituting itself after being built around a single personality, while racing against time to present a coherent challenge in 2026. The coming months will determine whether its reset produces clarity—or simply deepens the uncertainty already gripping Zambia’s opposition landscape.
ONLY CONVENTION CAN RESOLVE PF WRANGLES – MUNDUBILE
BRIAN Mundubile has said only a properly constituted elective convention from which a universally accepted Patriotic Front (PF) president would be elected accepted would be able to resolve the persistent wrangles and squabbles that have engulfed the former ruling party.’
Mr. Mundubile, the PF presidential candidate says the ongoing confusion in the former ruling party would not be resolved through selective or contested processes but through a convention that would allow the wider membership to decide the leadership.
“A PF president who is accepted by all can only emerge when the party goes for a convention. The conclave mooted by the PF council of elders was a noble proposal that came from eminent persons who merely wanted us to narrow down the numbers to make it easier to select a leader at the convention,” Mr Mundubile said.
He explained that the proposal to hold a conclave aimed at narrowing down the number of presidential candidates to two was, in principle, a good and noble initiative which he said he had initially supported.
However, Mr. Mundubile, who has since been asked to exculpate himself for allegedly creating parallel structures within the PF said he later withdrew after realising that there were underhand manoeuvres intended to sideline him from the PF presidential race.
“When I realised that the environment was not conducive and that there were machinations behind my back to try and remove me from the race, I decided to pull out and wait for the convention,” he said.
Mr. Mundubile said that his decision to pull out of the conclave did not mean that he had withdrawn from the PF presidential race.
“That must be put straight. I have not pulled out of the presidential race. I merely pulled out of the conclave. The differences and wrangles in our party would only be resolved through a well-organised and constituted elective convention. It is the convention that is going to give us a president that will be accepted by all and resolve our persistent wrangles,” he said.
Mr Mundubile was reacting to an exculpatory letter dated January 10, 2026, signed by PF acting deputy secretary general (administration) Celestin Mukandila, charging him with gross indiscipline and alleged violations of the party constitution. Mr. Mundubile said it was difficult for him to respond to the charges because the party was operating under a court injunction obtained by a Mr. Morgan Ngona and Robert Chabinga.
“We were scheduled to go to the conference on November 29, but an injunction was filed in the Kabwe courts. That injunction stopped us from proceeding with the conference,” he said. He said the injunction also barred party leaders from holding meetings and using party letterhead.
“So when I see letters written in defiance of that injunction, I honestly don’t know how to react,” Mr. Mundubile said. He explained that the situation was further complicated by his ongoing court case challenging his earlier expulsion from the PF.
“I was expelled together with seven others, and we have been in court for close to two years. Now there is a suspension within an expulsion. It’s very confusing,” he said.
Mr. Mundubile appealed to PF members to remain patient, assuring them that the party would resolve its internal differences and eventually present a united and credible opposition. “Governance is about the people. Whatever we do as leaders must assist the people. A leader will soon emerge,” he said.
STOP WASTING PEOPLE’S TIME IF YOU CAN’T UNITE, KAPYANGA TELLS OPPOSITION
MPIKA PF MP Francis Kapyanga says the opposition should stop wasting the public’s time if they fail to heed the calls from Zambian people for unity.
Kapyanga says there is need for a strong opposition to hold the ruling party accountable, noting that the current opposition has been largely dominated by “jokers and money mongers”.
In an interview, Saturday, Kapyanga said the country could not afford to have a failed party in government and also a failed opposition.
“The opposition on the other hand, I was saying the same thing last week, to say, those in the opposition, if they are not interested to listen to the Zambian people who are saying, we want you united, they should stop wasting the Zambian people’s time. I even said it last week, that’s very unfortunate, I mean, we can’t afford to have a failed party in government, and also a failed opposition, the country can’t afford that.
Where would democrats be? Because we need a vibrant opposition that has to keep the party in power on its toes. Then you have the problem, the opposition has been dominated by jokers and those that are just the money mongers. But from our side, as PF, we’ve always called on our acting president [Given Lubinda] to go for a conference,” he said.
“Once we come back from the conference, we will all unite around one person who will win at the conference. Because currently, PF is the biggest opposition, going by numbers in Parliament, numbers in local government. After the conference, we will emerge stronger. And President Hakainde [Hichilema], including the UPND government, should not comfort themselves that now we have managed to suppress the opposition, they haven’t. The Zambian people are the biggest opposition”.
However, Kapyanga said that saying there was no opposition was a serious deception.
“In 1991, elections were supposed to take place in 1993, there was no opposition political party whatsoever. The only party that existed was UNIP. And by that time, UNIP was the strongest opposition political party in Southern Africa. But the Zambian people, who are the biggest opposition, opposed [former president Kenneth] Kaunda and made Kaunda to change the constitution to go for elections in 1991.
They had no party at that time. Then they decided to register the movement that they were using as a political party. Then they even found a candidate for that political party. That candidate won with a landslide. At that time, media houses, such as the News Diggers, the community radio stations, TV, did not exist, what only existed was the government propaganda machinery,” said Kapyanga.
“Today, information is spread within a minute. Tomorrow, when you post this article in News Diggers, my uncle in the village will read it. So, we have people now who are enlightened and have access to information in real time. This means that if a formidable candidate emerges from PF in February, the entire country will know that this is now the candidate that PF will use. And this is the special purpose [vehicle] they will use, since PF has been strangled. Saying that there is no opposition, actually, is serious deception”.
THE Electoral Commission of Zambia says it is in the final stages of preparations to undertake the delimitation of constituencies ahead of the 2026 General Election.
In a statement to ZNBC News, ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro said the exercise will be conducted in line with the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025 and will involve full engagement with stakeholders and the general public.
Mr. Kasaro said the delimitation process is expected to be completed before the certification of the Register of Voters, which is scheduled for April 30, 2026, in line with the 2026 General Election Roadmap.
He has assured stakeholders that the exercise is being treated with urgency to ensure it is concluded before the certification of the voters’ register.
Mr. Kasaro said the ECZ will continue to engage stakeholders throughout the process and provide timely updates as the exercise progresses.
Lubinda and Kambwili Set to Find a New Home in UPND – Tayali
By Current Zambia
Fugitive UPND member Chilufya Tayali has claimed that several senior Patriotic Front (PF) figures, including Given Lubinda and Chishimba Kambwili, are poised to defect to the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND).
Tayali said President Hakainde Hichilema (HH) has exhibited the kind of leadership that many Zambians have desired for a long time, describing it as inclusive, decisive, and national in character. He argued that this leadership style has made UPND increasingly attractive to members of the opposition who are disillusioned by internal wrangles within PF.
He further encouraged UPND members to warmly embrace the anticipated defectors, stating that the late UPND founding president wanted the party to be a home for all Zambians.
According to Tayali, President Hichilema has continued to honour that vision by opening UPND to citizens from across the political divide.
🇿🇲 CONTEXT | Kalimanshi Predicts PF Exodus as UPND Emerges as Default Destination
The defection of Innocent Kalimanshi to the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) is increasingly being read not as an isolated political shift, but as an early signal of a wider realignment ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Speaking after being formally welcomed into UPND, Kalimanshi openly predicted that more Patriotic Front (PF) members would soon follow. “Ba PF bachili baleisa,” he said, suggesting that even senior and previously defiant figures within the former ruling party were preparing to cross over. His remarks come at a time when PF’s internal coherence has weakened significantly, both legally and politically.
Kalimanshi’s political background is well documented. During the PF era, he was part of the party’s grassroots mobilisation machinery and played a visible role in internal power struggles, including the 2014 extraordinary conference that installed Edgar Lungu as party president. His public apology to citizens for having “misled” them during PF’s time in power marks an attempt at political rehabilitation, but also reflects a broader reassessment taking place among PF-aligned actors.
The timing of this defection is critical. Parliament is expected to dissolve in May, a moment that traditionally triggers political movement as MPs, councillors, and organisers reassess their electoral survival. PF currently offers little certainty. The party remains fractured, its legal ownership contested, and its capacity to issue valid adoption papers for candidates unclear. For many ambitious politicians, that uncertainty is no longer manageable.
UPND, by contrast, has become the vessel of destination for defectors. It controls state power, dominates Parliament, and has demonstrated organisational stability. In urban areas like Chawama, where political mobilisation is driven by presence and networks rather than ideology, figures such as Kalimanshi bring local influence that the ruling party considers electorally useful, especially in by-elections and high-density constituencies.
However, this influx is not without internal tension.
Within UPND, there are growing concerns about party dilution. Long-standing members worry that an unchecked wave of defectors, particularly those associated with past violence or coercive politics, could undermine the party’s reformist image. Questions around discipline, ideological alignment, and internal democracy are beginning to surface more frequently.
There is also the practical issue of positions. As more former PF members join, competition for adoption, appointments, and influence will intensify. UPND’s leadership will be forced to balance inclusivity with loyalty, and pragmatism with institutional integrity. How the party manages this balance may shape its cohesion heading into August.
Kalimanshi’s claim that over 3,000 opposition members have already defected in Chawama underscores the scale of the movement. It also reflects a psychological shift. PF is increasingly perceived, even by its former enforcers and mobilisers, as a party without a future electoral pathway. Once that perception hardens, defections tend to accelerate.
What is unfolding now resembles less a battle of ideologies and more a migration of political survivalists. With PF unable to guarantee relevance or protection after Parliament dissolves, many of its remaining actors are choosing certainty over nostalgia.
The challenge for UPND is no longer how to attract defectors. It is how to absorb them without losing its internal coherence.
Zambia’s opposition landscape continues to shift as parties position themselves for the August 2026 general elections, with the Christian Democratic Party (CDP) formally locking in its leadership while keeping its options open within the broader alliance framework.
Dan Pule was elected unopposed as President of the CDP following the party’s National Convention held on 9 January 2026, a gathering that drew delegates and representatives from across the country.
The convention also endorsed Pule as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2026 elections, confirming his central role in the party’s immediate political strategy.
Party Secretary General Cephas Mukuka said delegates unanimously adopted the CDP Constitution and Manifesto, a move he described as providing the party with a clear ideological anchor and policy direction ahead of a competitive election year.
He confirmed that the convention resolved that the CDP would fully participate in the August polls.
Speaking at a press briefing, Pule framed the convention as a milestone moment, arguing that it strengthened the party’s internal legitimacy at a time when voter confidence in opposition structures is under strain.
His unopposed election suggests a consolidation of authority within the CDP, reducing internal uncertainty as the campaign cycle intensifies.
However, Pule was careful to situate his mandate within the wider Tonse Alliance, where he currently serves as Caretaker Chairperson. He stressed that his elevation within the CDP does not override the alliance’s collective processes or pre-empt decisions expected from the Tonse Alliance National Congress.
In a notable signal of flexibility, Pule said the CDP was prepared to act as a Special Purpose Vehicle, with or without his personal candidature, should the alliance elect another chairperson and presidential candidate.
He stated that he would “willingly accept” the outcome of the alliance’s democratic process and support whoever emerges as its flag bearer.
The statement reflects a careful balancing act. On one hand, the CDP has secured its internal leadership and electoral readiness. On the other, it has left room for alliance-level negotiations at a time when Tonse itself is undergoing structural and political strain following recent disputes over membership, leadership, and candidature.
For observers, Pule’s dual positioning highlights a broader reality in the opposition space: parties are hedging.
With uncertainty still hanging over alliance coherence and candidate selection, securing a party ticket offers insurance, while continued commitment to Tonse preserves relevance in a potentially broader coalition.
FREE EDUCATION POLICY TO BE ENACTED INTO LAW IN FEBRUARY
MINISTER of Education Douglas Syakalima has announced that the Free Education Policy will be tabled before Parliament in February 2026, with the intention of enacting it into law as part of government efforts to expand access to education for all children.
Speaking at Kamwala Secondary School, where he was welcoming Form One and Grade Ten learners to the 2026 academic calendar, Mr. Syakalima expressed satisfaction with the overwhelming turnout of pupils reporting for school.
“I am glad that we have been able to place all of you who obtained school certificates into classrooms. I know there will be a bit of congestion, but that is a good problem for me, rather than seeing you [school children] on the streets,” said the Minister.
Mr. Syakalima noted that prior to 2021, approximately 2.3 million children were out of school. He explained that following the introduction of the Free Education Policy, many learners have since returned to school, significantly improving access to education nationwide.
He further revealed that government is in the process of amending the Education Act to ensure that the Free Education Policy is legally entrenched.
“Our Education Act is being amended, and we are presenting a Bill in February to lock this policy into law,” Mr. Syakalima said.
In attendance was also Lusaka Provincial Education Officer Terry Changwe, who assured the public that schools across the province and the country are fully prepared to commence the 2026 school calendar, with all necessary protocols successfully completed.
ECZ REFUTES CLAIMS OF VOTER REGISTER DISCREPANCIES
THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has dismissed claims by New Heritage Party president Chishala Kateka of alleged discrepancies between announced and actual figures of registered voters.
ECZ chief electoral officer Brown Kasaro clarified that the figure of 7,073,513 voters refers to the number on the current certified register of voters.
He explained that this register comprises voters who registered prior to the 2021 general elections and those who registered during the continuous registration exercise up to February 2024.
Mr Kasaro stressed that this register remains the legally certified register until a new one is formally certified.
He further indicated that at the close of the mass registration exercise conducted from October 13 to November 29, 2025, the commission registered 1,788,405 new voters.
This figure also includes those who registered during the continuous registration period from March 2024 to August 2025.
“As clearly stated at the time, this figure is provisional and represents raw registration data, which is currently being cleaned and validated,” Mr Kasaro said in a statement yesterday.
He explained that the provisional register therefore consists of the 7,073,513 voters on the certified register plus the 1,788,405 new registrants, giving a total of 8,861,918 voters.
Mr Kasaro emphasised that this provisional figure is not final and is subject to mandatory post-registration processes, including removal of duplicate entries and deceased persons.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the alleged discrepancy between 7,073,513 and 8,861,918 does not represent excess or unexplained voters. Rather, the 1,788,405 reflects the distinction between a previously certified register and a new provisional register arising from the nationwide mass registration exercise,” he said.
Outspoken South African politician, Julius Malema, has advised countries to boycott the USA-hosted World Cup, arguing that political exclusion by the host nation undermines the spirit of the global game and threatens football’s promise of unity.
On Sunday, Malema who is also leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) took to Facebook to deliver a strongly worded message directed at FIFA and the United States as a host nation.
In his post, he questioned why football’s world governing body allows politics to influence who can and cannot attend the World Cup.
“Boycott the USA World Cup. Why is FIFA allowing politics to dictate who can and cannot attend the World Cup?” Malema wrote. “When a host country under the leadership of ‘SATAN’ openly bans nations and their citizens, it violates the spirit of football and global unity.”
Malema accused FIFA of hypocrisy, saying the organisation continues to claim neutrality while remaining silent in the face of political exclusion.
“FIFA claims football is neutral, yet remains silent while political exclusion is enforced. Either the World Cup belongs to the world, or FIFA must admit it belongs to TRUMP,” he added.
His remarks have triggered heated debate on social media platforms, with opinions sharply divided.
Some users have rallied behind Malema, agreeing that football should rise above geopolitics and remain inclusive to all nations and people. One supporter, Yakubu Abubarka, argued that FIFA’s silence amounts to complicity.
“Football is meant to unite people beyond borders, politics, race, or ideology. When a World Cup host uses political power to exclude nations or citizens, it undermines the very soul of the game,” he commented.
Abubarka further challenged FIFA’s stance, saying, “Neutrality in the face of injustice is not neutrality at all, it is complicity. The World Cup does not belong to any president, ideology, or superpower. It belongs to the world’s people.”
However, others dismissed Malema’s call as inconsistent and lacking credibility.
Ekenedili Chukwu Ezugwu questioned Malema’s moral standing on the issue, writing, “If South African with their xenophobia can host the World Cup then USA can host it too Malema.”
TRUMP MULLS ‘VERY STRONG MILITARY OPTIONS AS HUNDREDS KILLED IN IRAN PROTESTS
THE US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) says it has verified the deaths of nearly 500 protesters and 48 security personnel in Iran, while sources tell the BBC the death toll could be much higher.
Trump has threatened to intervene, and said on Sunday that Iranian officials had called him “to negotiate” – but added “we may have to act before a meeting”.
Iranian leaders have described the demonstrators as a “bunch of vandals”, and called on their supporters to take part in pro-government marches on Monday.
The government has also announced three days of mourning for what it called “martyrs” killed in a “national battle against the US and Israel” – two countries that Tehran says are fomenting unrest.
Anger over the plummeting value of the Iranian currency sparked protests in late December, which have grown into a crisis of legitimacy for Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Trump has not yet elaborated on what the US is considering in terms of military options, nor on the proposed negotiations, despite saying that a “meeting is being set up” with Iranian officials.
He added that Iranian leaders “want to negotiate”, because “they are tired of being beat up by the United States”.
A US official told the BBC’s US news partner CBS that Trump has been briefed on options for military strikes on Iran.
Other approaches could include boosting anti-government sources online, using cyber-weapons against Iran’s military, or imposing more sanctions, officials told the Wall Street Journal.
Sources told the BBC that protests continued on Sunday night, but at a reduced level compared to previous days, as fears grow of an escalating crackdown by the Iranian government.
At least 10,600 people have been detained over the fortnight of unrest, according to HRANA.
The BBC counted 180 body bags in footage from a morgue near the Iranian capital, with one source saying on Sunday that the streets of Tehran were “full of blood”.
“They’re taking away bodies in trucks,” the source added.
In one video from the site near Tehran, about 180 shrouded or wrapped figures can be seen, the majority lying out in the open. Shouts and cries of distress can be heard from people who appear to be looking for their loved ones.
Footage has been blurred to protect the identities of the living, who could face further persecution from the authorities.
Sources said large numbers of bodies had accumulated at hospitals and forensic facilities, while some bodies were reportedly buried urgently before dawn by the authorities, limiting the chance for identification.
City workers have also removed debris, burned cars and bloodstains from the streets during the night, a source told the BBC.
Video verified by the BBC shows rows of body bags in Kahrizak, south of Tehran Multiple sources in Iran also said that they had seen drones flying persistently over crowds and residential neighbourhoods to identify and track protesters.
The BBC and most other international news organisations are unable to report from inside Iran, and the Iranian government has imposed an internet shutdown since Thursday, making obtaining and verifying information difficult.
Some witnesses are relying on Starlink proxy connections or satellite television for information, but fear that these could be used by the authorities to trace them.
“We cannot even send text messages,” one source in southern Iran told the BBC, as a blanket internet outage continued. “Only the government is sending threatening messages to people.”
Trump said on Sunday that he would speak to Elon Musk, owner of company SpaceX which operates Starlink, about restoring internet access to Iran.
“He’s very good at that kind of thing, he’s got a very good company,” Trump said.
The protests are the largest in Iran since an uprising in 2022, triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday posted a picture of himself as the “Acting President of Venezuela,” days after a US military operation led to the capture of the country’s President Nicolas Maduro.
On his social media company, Truth Social, Trump posted himself as the acting leader of the South American country as of January 2026.
The US carried out a military operation in Venezuela on Jan. 3, capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores to try them in a New York court over drug and weapons-related charges.
Trump said his administration would “run” Venezuela and its oil assets during a transition period.
Following Maduro’s capture, his vice president, Delcy Rodrigues, was sworn in as interim president.
… says Citizens First party is the only party of choice.
LUSAKA,MONDAY,JANUARY 12, 2026 (SMART EAGLES)
CITIZENS First party President Harry Kalaba says the opposition should unite in order to dethrone the UPND ahead of this year’s general elections.
Speaking when he featured on 5 FM radio program this morning, Mr. Kalaba said in the midst of the confusion in the opposition sponsored by the ruling party, Zambians should look to CF as a party of choice.
Mr. Kalaba said coming third in the 2021 general elections is no mean achievement adding that he is poised to become Republican President this year.
“Loadsheding will end, my Government will stop selling power to foreign countries and focus on Zambians. People want me to be Président and our focus as opposition political parties should be on dethroning Mr. Hichilema and the UPND,let’s hold hands and think through this process,” Mr. Kalaba said.
“When I become president we shall industrialise this country. We shall open industries in all provinces. We have God given resources but we lack leadership,
Let the UPND be ready,I will hammer them here in Lusaka and everywhere else in the country,” the CF leader said.
“We are not living well in this country and all this problem will end once you vote for CF. UPND is not going anywhere. What I know is to work for people and not engaging in crooked businesses,” He said.
And Mr. Kalaba has extended an olive branch to the Patriotic Front party.
” PF is welcome to CF,am extending an olive branch to them. Let’s hold hands together and think through this process. We have wasted 4 years with divisive politics under the UPND and Zambians want liberation.
“Mr. Hichilema should stop dividing Zambians by his political talks. All Zambians voted for you. Zambians did not choose you because you came from southern province .We don’t want division but unity in this country,” Mr. Kalaba said.
THE MUSICIAN AND THE STRONGMAN LEADER – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT UGANDA’S ELECTION
AS Ugandans go to the polls next week they are faced with a choice of propelling a leader into his fifth decade in power or backing a candidate seeking to capitalise on the desire for change from some quarters.
President Yoweri Museveni, 81, in office since 1986, is aiming for a seventh successive election victory.
His main challenger, pop-star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, 43, has promised a revolution in governance and sweeping reforms.
Campaigning has been marked by the disruption of opposition activities, including the detention of activists and the breaking-up of rallies by police.
With high rates of youth unemployment in a country where the majority of the population is under 30, the economy has become a key concern in the campaign.
When is Uganda’s general election? Polling is scheduled for Thursday 15 January. Polls are due to open at 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT) and close at 16:00. Anyone in the queue at that time will be allowed to vote.
What are Ugandans voting for? The 21.6 million registered voters will be taking part in three elections:
PRESIDENTIAL – there are eight candidates to choose from
PARLIAMENTARY (1) – 353 constituency MPs will be elected
PARLIAMENTARY (2) – 146 women representatives – one per local district – will be elected
Museveni and Bobi Wine are the two front-runners among the all-male list of eight hopefuls.
This is the second time they are facing off at the ballot box, with the president winning the 2021 poll, marred by allegations of rigging and a crackdown on the opposition, with 58% of the vote compared to Bobi Wine’s 35%.
YOWERI MUSEVENI – NATIONAL RESISTANCE MOVEMENT (NRM)
MUSEVENI first took power by force 40 years ago as the leader of a guerrilla army that pledged to restore democracy after years of civil war and the dictatorship of Idi Amin.
Once feted as being part of a fresh generation of African leaders set to usher in a new democratic era, growing accusations of human rights abuses and harassment of opposition figures have soured that perception.
Critics say he has ruled with an iron hand since he seized control and having gone back on pledges to step down, he is the only president most Ugandans have known.
Currently the third longest-serving leader in Africa, Museveni has benefitted from two constitutional amendments – removing age and term limits – that have allowed him to keep running for office.
He argues that he remains the country’s sole guarantor of stability and progress.
BOBI WINE – NATIONAL UNITY PLATFORM (NUP)
THE one-time hit maker Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, is widely thought to be the strongest of the seven opposition candidates.
Dubbed at one point the “ghetto president”, he is seen as embodying youthful aspirations for change and he enjoys strong support among young, urban, working-class voters.
Bobi Wine established himself as a serious contender five years ago, coming second and helping to restrict Museveni to the lowest share of the vote in any election he has contested. Bobi Wine’s NUP party became the largest opposition force in parliament.
Since that vote, Bobi Wine has continued to face harassment from the security forces.
The other candidates are Frank Bulira, Robert Kasibante, Joseph Mabirizi, Nandala Mafabi, Mugisha Muntu and Mubarak Munyagwa.
Prominent opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who has run against Museveni four times, is not able to take part and remains in jail on treason charges after being arrested in neighbouring Kenya in 2024. He has denied any wrongdoing.
What are the key concerns for voters? Economic issues, particularly unemployment, are weighing on the minds of many as they get ready to vote.
The average income per person has been slowly but steadily rising since the pandemic but there do not seem to be enough jobs to match the bulging numbers of young people looking for work.
There are also concerns about poor infrastructure and disparities in access to quality education and healthcare.
The country has however managed to avoid the spike in the cost of living that has affected so many other countries in the region and led to pressure on those in power.
Corruption is another major concern.
Uganda comes 140th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index, with widespread bribery and nepotism reported in government institutions.
Will the vote be free and fair? The conduct of elections in Uganda has often been criticised. This time round officials say the vote will be free and fair but UN experts have warned that may not be the case, citing what they describe as a “pervasive climate of fear” in Uganda.
During the campaign period, opposition supporters have faced escalating harassment, including arrest on politically motivated charges, rights groups say.
Bobi Wine’s rallies, unlike those of Museveni, have been disrupted by security forces.
Amnesty International described the use of tear gas, pepper spray, beatings, and other violent acts as “a brutal campaign of repression” ahead of the vote.
The government says the measures are necessary to ensure a peaceful election and prevent anyone from inciting riots on polling day.
When it comes to the election itself, Bobi Wine has urged voters to stay at polling stations and safeguard their ballots to help prevent vote rigging.
But election officials have said people should cast their ballots peacefully and then leave, assuring that the vote counting will be transparent and observed by party agents, the media and election monitors. Critics, however, have questioned the independence of the electoral commission.
Despite government denials, there are also fears, based on previous experience, of an internet shutdown during the election aimed at preventing people from verifying results. The NUP says it has a vote-monitoring app that can overcome this issue by using Bluetooth technology.
If everything goes to plan the outcome of the presidential vote should be known by 16:00 local time (13:00 GMT) on Saturday 17 January.
This is because by law the electoral commission must declare the presidential result within 48 hours from the end of voting. Polls are due to close at 16:00 local time on Thursday.
The counting of votes should begin at each polling station as soon as voting closes with the results eventually being transmitted to a central tallying centre.
A candidate must gain more than 50% of the votes cast nationwide to win the presidency in the first round, otherwise there will be a run-off within 30 days between the top two candidates.
Museveni has always gained more than 50% in the initial round of voting.
DAN PULE ELECTED CDP PRESIDENT UNOPPOSED, PARTY READY FOR 2026 POLLS
By Victoria Kayeye Yambani
Dan Pule has been elected unopposed as President of the Christian Democratic Party (CDP) following a successful National Party Convention held on the 9th of January 2026, which attracted delegates and representatives from across the country.
Party Secretary General Cephas Mukuka confirmed that delegates unanimously endorsed key resolutions, including the adoption of the party Constitution and Manifesto, setting a clear ideological and policy direction for the CDP.
He says that the party resolved to fully participate in the August 2026 elections, with the convention endorsing Mr Pule as the party’s presidential candidate.
At a press briefing, Mr Pule, who is also the Caretaker Chairperson of the Tonse Alliance, says the gathering marked a significant milestone for the party as it positions itself ahead of the August 2026 General Elections.
However,the president has emphasized that the CDP remains committed to collective leadership under the Tonse Alliance.
He stated that the Christian Democratic Party is ready to be used as a Special Purpose Vehicle, with or without his candidature, should the Tonse Alliance National Congress elect another Chairperson and candidate.
Mr Pule says he would willingly accept the outcome of the Alliance’s democratic process and fully support whoever is elected.
PEOPLE WANT MUNDUBILE BUT THEY WANT TO BLOCK HIM – MWAKALOMBE
PF Member of the Central Committee Japhen Mwakalombe says Given Lubinda should have written the exculpatory letter himself because he does not recognise Celestine Mukandila as acting dDeputy Secretary General.
And Mwakalombe has dismissed claims that the Brian Mundubile team is forming parallel structures, saying they are just campaign teams meant to secure victory for their preferred candidate.
Mwakalombe says Mundubile is a darling of the people, but some people are working every day to see how they can demonise him.
On Saturday, Mukandila charged Mwakalombe and Mundubile with gross indiscipline and directed them to exculpate themselves before the disciplinary committee within seven days.
Commenting on that in an interview, Sunday, Mwakalombe dismissed the charge, adding that it was clear that some people in the party were not comfortable with the “popular” Mundubile.
He said it was demeaning that the letter was sent to him on WhatsApp.
“That charge when you look at it, you can see that there is no charge at all. You can see that there are people who are not comfortable with Brian Mundubile, because Brian Mundubile is the name that is on the ground. It’s the name that people have accepted in 10 provinces. And therefore, there is deliberate innuendos to just find a way of not having Brian Mundubile participating in the coming general conference, which has been suspended several times because people feel that they are not able to win the election. Anywhere in the world where there is democracy even where there is no democracy, there is nowhere where they prescribe a campaign strategy. Each candidate has got a campaign strategy,” he said.
“Therefore, the person who has written those letters, for me, number one, let it be Lubinda himself writing to us. Because Lubinda, we know that he is acting, Celestine is not acting. Because Celestine, as far as I am concerned, what I know, the position that I know for him, is a deputy chairperson for youth. So, for him to write a letter and send that letter on WhatsApp, I found that to be very demeaning to me. That a person can write a letter when he is not ratified [and] then he sends that letter to me on WhatsApp”.
Mwakalombe questioned the kind of leadership in the party, saying there was a clear indication of a crisis.
“What kind of leadership is that? It clearly shows that, indeed, there is a problem in the party today. People who have not been in a branch, people who have not been in a ward, people who have not been at a constituency, people who have not been in a province, people who have never been in a national executive before. That’s how they would discharge their duties. You can’t send a letter of that nature to a senior person in the party, a person that has been in politics for many years. I have won elections myself.
I’m a person that has won elections. I’ve been a minister. I’ve been a high commissioner. I’ve been a deputy permanent secretary. I’ve been a district commissioner. How can you write a letter like that to me and you just send it like that? It’s a clear indication that we have got a crisis. The reason they are forwarding, the reason they are forwarding are neither here nor there,” he said.
“Because a presidential [candidate] Mundubile and his supporters have the right to come up with a campaign strategy. If our strategy is that we should have a campaign team at the province, national, constituency level, at the ward, even at the branch and section, let it be. It is your campaign because we can’t prescribe for any other candidate. We can’t prescribe for them what type of campaign strategy they should put in place. If, for instance, ba Lubinda wants to campaign alone, it is not my problem.
If the other candidate wants to have 20, it is not my problem. If the other candidate wants 1,000 at national level, 1,000 at the provincial level, 1,000 at a district level, 1,000 at a constituency level and 1,000 at the ward level, it is not my business myself with my candidate”.
Further, Mwakalombe dismissed claims that Mundubile’s team was forming parallel structures within the party, stating that it was just a campaign team.
“There is no parallel structure, they are campaign teams. Which parallel structure? Mundubile believes in PF, he believes in pro-poor, his manifesto is pro-poor. The only party that carries pro-poor manifesto is PF, which we don’t have the papers. But PF, like we have always said, is in the hearts of the people. So let the leadership of ba Lubinda spend more time in uniting people because he’s an acting president for God’s sake. Even when he’s a candidate, he must know that he’s wearing two jackets. He’s wearing a jacket of a candidate and he is also wearing a jacket of the acting president. So now I am addressing him as acting president,” he said.
“Why can’t he initialise and be able to bring everyone together? It is him to bring everyone together. Even those letters before they went to the media, he should have called us to say, I am the father of this party, let me call my people and hear what is happening. We would have explained to him to say, Mr president, we are not forming any parallel structure. What we are forming is a campaign team. Even when you go to the audio that we did, it is only a campaign team. What parallel structure? Parallel structure so that the structure can go where? Where do we take those parallel structures? Do we have a party? No, it’s actually the PF”.
Meanwhile, Mwakalombe said he was happy to support Mundubile, and further challenged other candidates to put up their own campaign strategies too.
“It is my choice to support Brian Mundubile. And I’m happy to support Brian Mundubile. I have done my own assessment, personal assessment. I’ve seen he’s a candidate that is on the ground. The strategy that we are implementing with Brian Mundubile is a good strategy because it is an inclusive strategy. We don’t want to have a campaign where few crème de la crème are the ones that are going around the country campaigning. After all, even when we go into a general election, people who campaign are sections, branches, wards, constituencies, and provinces,” he said.
“The national leaders, when we go to do rallies in provinces, the people who organise those are the structures that I’ve mentioned, from the province to the section. And therefore, with us, we will continue campaigning because there is no illegality that we are doing. There is nothing whatsoever that we are doing that is illegal that causes anyone to think that we want to do anything that is out of this place. It is a question of letting them put in their own campaign strategy. Let us put our own campaign strategy and the person that people want will emerge as a winner, period”.
On whether he was going to respond to the letter as per the ultimatum, Mwakalombe said he was still consulting on what action to take.
“At the moment, I’m still thinking about whether to write back or not. Because if a letter of discipline is coming from an office… Since when did a national youth chairman become the one to manage discipline? So basically, for me, I’m thinking about it, I’m still consulting.
After consultation, I will make it known if I’m going to respond or not. But to be honest, it is very unfortunate that people have targeted Mundubile. But one thing I know, nothing is going to stop Mundubile from being a presidential candidate for 2026 because he has been accepted by the people. He’s a darling of the people, but some people are working every day to see how they can demonise him. But one thing I can tell you, that it is good to die for a good cause. And I’m ready to die for a good cause,” said Mwakalombe.
POLITICAL ANTHROPOLOGIST WARNS PF RISKS BECOMING IRRELEVANT BEYOND 2026 DUE TO INFIGHTING
By Raphael Mulenga
Social and Political Anthropologist Dr. James Musonda says the Patriotic Front-PF’s persistent infighting has left the party ineffective as an opposition force.
Dr. Musonda believes the PF is wasting time, energy and resources including those of its supporters and warns that without decisive reforms and unity, the party risks complete political irrelevance beyond 2026.
He argues that the former ruling party cannot continue blaming President Hakainde Hichilema for its political downfall when it is actively contributing to its own collapse through sustained internal disorder.
Dr. Musonda has further advised the PF to consider forming a new political party and relocating its structures there, stating that the current situation is beyond repair and too late to salvage ahead of the 2026 general elections.
WOMEN ARE THE WORST PEOPLE TO PUT IN LEADERSHIP – NYIRENDA
LUNDAZI PF Member of Parliament Brenda Nyirenda says she is disappointed with women, as they are the worst people to put in leadership.
Nyirenda has also asked ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis to resign on moral grounds, accusing her of being a UPND cadre and failing to act against the ruling party which has been giving out mealie meal in Chawama.
She was reacting to Zaloumis, who said that the Commission won’t allow any party cadre to manage elections.
In an interview, Friday, Nyirenda said calling for a by-election 90 days before the dissolution of Parliament showed that the Commission could not run a credible process.
“Is she not UPND herself? She must resign on moral grounds. That means that she has realised that she can’t manage ECZ herself, so she must resign. She is a party cadre for UPND, she has been seen in the regalia, so let her resign and that would be very good. I think that she has realised, so now that she has realised, let her resign so that we can have someone there who is credible, not herself.
In actual fact, the credibility of any particular election starts from the day when the announcement is made. There was no need for a by-election in Chawama because the lawmaker there, who was still supposed to be having that seat, has been taken to court by the UPND government. That shows already that the credibility of that election is questionable because it has been created so that they try to just steal money from the people of Zambia. It lacks credibility from its inception,” she said.
“By them declaring that there should be a by-election in Chawama 90 days before the dissolution of Parliament, it shows that they cannot run credible institutions. That’s why she should resign. She has just realised that she is actually doing the wrong thing. In any case in Zambia, we just take things for granted. And apart from that, the UPND have been giving out mealie meal in Chawama, what has she done as ECZ? She is failing to institute any punishment or maybe tell the UPND to be disqualified because she’s a cadre herself. If there is any credibility to be done, and I’m actually disappointed with women, they are the worst people to put in leadership. So she should just resign and let the right person run that institution”.
She added that distributing mealie meal to voters amounted to vote-buying, a practice which the ECZ Chairperson should have stopped.
“Branding a vehicle is part of campaigns, anyone can brand their vehicle, there is nothing wrong. But there are things that we do not agree with, the openly sharing of mealie meal to would-be voters. That is vote-buying. She who runs ECZ should have nullified this and ordered those people not to continue,” said Nyirenda.
WARSHIPS OFF THE CAPE! BRICS NAVAL ARMADA SPARKS GLOBAL STIR Cape Town has become the centre of global attention after Iran’s largest naval vessel, Makran, sailed into South African waters 🇿🇦 to join a high-profile multinational military exercise.
The drills, officially known as “Will for Peace 2026” and also called Mosi III, bring together powerful naval forces from BRICS nations. Chinese warships have already docked at the historic Simon’s Town Naval Base, while Russian vessels are arriving or currently en route, completing a formidable maritime lineup.
All ships are operating within South Africa’s territorial waters in what officials describe as routine joint naval exercises. But the timing and participants have raised eyebrows worldwide.
The exercise unfolds amid heightened geopolitical tensions and growing scrutiny of South Africa’s non-aligned foreign policy. Critics warn the show of naval unity with Iran, China and Russia could strain relations with Western powers particularly the United States as Pretoria insists it is exercising sovereign neutrality on the world stage.
Brian Musolo was employed by Lubambe Copper Mines as Mechanical Fitter in 2012. He was assigned to work underground the mine. During the course of work, he developed health complications. He had persistent cough, chest pains, severe headaches, swollen legs and feet. He could no longer work underground.
He underwent medical examinations and doctor recommended that he be given light duties as an alternative job. However, the mine did not have any available jobs and therefore terminated his employment in 2016 on medical grounds. He was paid off his benefits and repatriation allowances.
He then sued the mine in the Lusaka High Court for causing him personal injury as result of the diseases he got while working underground at the mine. But when the case came up, the mine raised a technical legal defense – the miner filed the case after three years had elapsed and therefore statute barred.
On the other hand, the miner argued that even though he was fired in 2016, he only became aware of his condition when he did thorough medical examinations in 2021 when a medical board was constituted. This was at the instance of NAPSA who demanded for the thorough medical examination before they could pay him his dues. It was then that he was diagnosed with a heart disease.
The Judge heard both sides of the arguments and agreed with the mine that the cause of action actually started in 2015 when the miner was discharged on medical grounds. The counting started in that year and therefore should have sued within three years.
“In my considered view, in 2015 when his contract of employment was terminated on medical grounds was the time he ought to have commenced an action not in 2022,” the Judge ruled.
“I, therefore, accept the Defendants position that his action under cause 2022/HP/1703 is statute barred as it was commenced well after three years statutory time frame,” the Judge said, and dismissed the case with costs to be paid by the miner to mine.
The Court noted that all claims for personal injuries and damages in Zambia ought to be commenced within three years as the Limitations Law has placed that timeframe.
Case citation – Brian Musolo v Lubambe Copper Mines Limited – 2022/HP/1703 and Ruling delivered last month.
Lecture Notes;
In Zambia, the Law Reform (Limitation of Actions) Act, Chapter 72 of the Laws of Zambia, has placed 3 years as limitation period for personal injuries such as those caused by road accidents and so on. You just sue within that period. For other civil claims, it is 6 years while for land issues is usually 12 years.
This is a very technical subject and at time confusing as when the counting begins. For instance, there was fraud or suppression of facts, the counting will only start when you discovered the fraud. It is all matter interpretation.
The rationale for this law is that limitation period protects Defendants from injustice of having to face stale claims after many years when they least expected it. Usually, even evidence may have disappeared when matter takes long to prosecute in Court. This applies only to civil cases.
MASAITI TEEN FAKES ABDUCTION TO SPEND NIGHT WITH BOYFRIEND
A 17-YEAR-OLD girl of Masaiti District sparked an urgent police manhunt after claiming she had been abducted, only for investigations to reveal she had spent the night in Kitwe with her boyfriend.
Copperbelt Province Police Commanding Officer Mwala Yuyi said the case, initially reported as a serious abduction, has since been clarified, with no offence committed.
The matter was reported on Friday by Elisha Chipembele, 66, of Kawama area, who alleged that his daughter had been abducted around 16:00 hours at Nyenyezi market by six unknown men who forced her into a vehicle.
Police immediately launched investigations.
Later, the girl contacted her sister in Ndola using her father’s phone, claiming that she had been tied up, released, and dumped in a bush.
However, inconsistencies in her account raised doubts, prompting police to treat the matter cautiously.
She was later brought to Kafulafuta Police Station, where interviews revealed that she had voluntarily travelled to Kitwe with her boyfriend, identified only as CR, who operates a black Toyota Quantum minibus.
Cuban leader says ‘no one dictates what we do’ as Trump tells regime to make a deal
By: CNN
Cuba’s leader has pushed back on Donald Trump’s demand that the Caribbean nation “make a deal” with Washington, as the US president warned that Havana would be cut off from the Venezuelan oil and money that it’s relied on for decades.
“No one dictates what we do,” Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Sunday on X, responding to Trump’s insistence that the communist nation do a deal “before it’s too late.”
Cuba has long received massive aid packages from oil-rich Venezuela, but the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro during a US operation, and Trump’s announcement that Venezuela will turn over 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the US, is expected to leave Havana with an economic challenge.
“Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela. In return, Cuba provided ‘Security Services’ for the last two Venezuelan dictators, BUT NOT ANYMORE!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday. #SunFmTvNews
The Norwegian Nobel Institute has clarified that Nobel Peace Prizes cannot be transferred, shared or revoked, following comments by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado suggesting she might give her 2025 award to U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a statement, the institute cited the statutes of the Nobel Foundation and stressed the permanence of every award once announced.
“Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared or transferred to others,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute said. “The decision is final and stands for all time.”
The clarification came after Machado appeared on Fox News earlier in the week and spoke about presenting the prize to Trump as a gesture of gratitude for U.S. actions in Venezuela, including the capture of Nicolás Maduro last week.
Asked by Sean Hannity whether she had indeed offered to give the prize to Trump, Machado replied: “Well, it hasn’t happened yet.”
Trump, who has previously expressed interest in winning the Nobel Peace Prize, responded in a separate appearance on the same program, saying it would be a “great honor” and that he expected to meet Machado in Washington next week.
Machado, a former National Assembly member, won the Venezuelan opposition primary in 2023 but was barred from contesting the 2024 general election. She backed a stand-in candidate who was widely believed to have won, despite Maduro declaring himself the victor. Independent observers later reported irregularities in the official results.
As Maduro intensified the crackdown on opposition figures and protesters, Machado went into hiding for more than a year before resurfacing in Norway, where her daughter accepted the Peace Prize on her behalf. The Nobel Committee praised Machado at the time as “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times,” citing her “tireless” efforts in promoting democratic change.
Machado has said she intends to return to Venezuela “as soon as possible,” while Trump has claimed that she does not have enough support or respect to lead the country. Washington has instead backed Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s longtime ally and vice president, as acting president while maintaining that the United States will “run” Venezuela for the foreseeable future.
American YouTuber IShowSpeed recently touched down in Zimbabwe, chasing adrenaline at the legendary Victoria Falls. From the first roar of the water, excitement flickered across his face and never really left.
First Glimpse of the Smoke that Thunders He walked along the rainforest paths, spray soaking his hoodie and shoes. Each turn revealed another jaw dropping curtain of water beside the deep gorge. Local guides joked with him, proudly explaining how the falls unite Zimbabwe and Zambia.
He tasted warm Zimbabwean street food afterwards, nodding happily between spicy bites and excited storytelling. Online, Zimbabwean fans celebrated the spotlight on their beloved wonder, sharing the video everywhere. Fans screamed his name, phones raised high, while he shouted back and danced for them. The bridge vibrated underfoot, and his laughter battled the constant thunder of the falls.
Heart-Pounding Moments at Devil’s Pool Then came the big challenge, Devil’s Pool perched right on the waterfall’s dizzying edge. Guides led him over slick rocks as the Zambezi rushed past in swirling currents. Speed paused, peered over the drop, and nervous energy cracked his usual fearless bravado. Still, he slid into the churning pool, gripping the rock lip above the raging drop.
He yelled, “Swimming in Devils Pool🌊👹”, capturing the insane moment for millions waiting online. Spray stung his eyes while the current tugged insistently at his legs and waist. Yet his grin only widened, mixing raw fear with unstoppable, childlike joy.
Memories Carried Beyond the Falls After the plunge, he wrapped himself in a towel, still shaking with leftover adrenaline. The sunset painted the gorge gold as he replayed the footage with his buzzing crew. Every scream, splash, and nervous laugh felt bigger, brighter, louder than the camera screen.
He spoke about conquering fear, while Victoria Falls roared behind him like approval. In that small space between terror and delight, the Smoke that Thunders claimed another devoted fan.
Indonesia has become the first country to block Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot over concerns that the artificial intelligence tool is generating non-consensual s@xual deepfake imagery, including r!sky and p0rn0graphic depictions of women and children.
Authorities said the decision was taken to protect citizens from what they described as a rapidly escalating digital harm.
In a statement, Indonesia’s communication and digital affairs minister Meutya Hafid said the government was responding to “the practice of non-consensual s@xual deepfakes,” calling it “a serious violation of human rights, dignity, and the security of citizens in the digital space.”
Hafid added: “In order to protect women, children, and the public from the risks of fake p0rnographic content generated using the artificial intelligence technology, the government has temporarily blocked access to the Grok application.”
The move comes amid mounting global concern over Grok’s integration into Musk’s social media platform X, where users have been able to generate AI-altered or AI-fabricated images by tagging the bot in posts.
The platform has been flooded in recent weeks with manipulated pictures, many featuring partially unclothed women and minors. The Internet Watch Foundation has warned that criminal actors are already exploiting the feature to produce child s@xual abuse material.
Following public backlash, X restricted AI image generation to paying subscribers, requiring users to submit identifying information. Critics, however, argue the safeguard does not go far enough.
Indonesia, which has strict online obscenity laws, summoned X representatives after ordering the temporary block. Meanwhile, the UK government is also weighing action, with media regulator Ofcom reviewing whether X is in breach of the Online Safety Act.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said she would support Ofcom if it chose to block the platform entirely, stating: “S@xually manipulating images of women and children is despicable and abhorrent.”
Under the UK law, Ofcom can seek a court order to prevent firms from hosting or monetising X in Britain if it refuses to comply.
X owner Elon Musk has dismissed the criticism, arguing that his opponents “want any excuse for censorship.” In one controversial post, he even shared an AI-generated image of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in a bikini, commenting that “they just want to suppress free speech.”
Reports from late December indicate that Grok has been producing degrading edits of women “dozens of times per minute.” Metro documented examples of users directing the bot to generate explicit scenarios, including an image request for a woman “holding a baby and pulling down her clothes to breastfeed.”
Another user asked the system to digitally unclothe a group of women by instructing Grok that “they are men.”
Although full image generation is now gated behind paid access, free users can still manipulate photos via X’s “edit image” tools and through Grok’s standalone website.
Responding to the controversy, X’s Safety account wrote: “We take action against illegal content on X, including Child S3xu@l Abuse Material (CSAM), by removing it, permanently suspending accounts, and working with local governments and law enforcement as necessary.”
It added: “Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content.”
FORMER AGRICULTURE MINISTER ATTRIBUTES DELAYED FARMER PAYMENTS TO POOR POLICIES
By Cecilia Zyambo
Former Agriculture Minister Robert Sichinga has alleged that government has failed to pay farmers on time due to poor policies that do not support or prioritize the farming sector.
Mr. Sichinga says it is now too late for government to make payments, explaining that delays have already disrupted farmers’ preparations for the current farming season.
He has noted that many farmers lack the financial capacity to purchase fertilizer and other essential inputs in time, a situation that is expected to significantly reduce overall agricultural output.
Mr. Sichinga has warned that delayed payments to farmers could negatively affect national food security, as many farmers may be forced to sell their produce, including to markets outside the country.
He further stated that, as a former minister, it is too late for him to advise the government, noting that farmers have already lost confidence in its leadership.
Government had promised that farmers who supplied maize to government around June and July 2025 would receive their payments by the stated deadline, but this has not been fulfilled.
COPPER PRINCESSES DRAWN AGAINST RWANDA IN WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS The under-17 Women National Team have been drawn against Rwanda in the first round of the Morocco 2026 FIFA Women World Cup. According to the draws for the CAF Zone, Zambia will be away to Rwanda on the weekend of April 10-12 before hosting the East Africans before hosting the East Africans a week later in Ndola.
Winner between Rwanda and Zambia will face either DR Congo or Djibouti in the second round which will be played in May. The first leg will be played on May 22-24 with the return leg set for May 29-31.
Should Zambia proceed to the third round they will be in line to face the winners of the tussles between South Sudan and Ethiopia or Malawi versus Burundi.
The Copper Princesses have qualified to back-to-back FIFA World Cups in 2004 (Dominican Republic) and 2005 (Morocco). Morocco will host the five yearly FIFA U17 Women World Cup tournaments as part of their now established culture to promote sports tourism. FAZ
ELON MUSK CITES NELSON MANDELA’S VISION OF TRUE EQUALITY, QUESTIONS RACE-BASED LAWS IN SOUTH AFRICA AND SAYS APARTHEID SHOULD NEVER BE REPLACED BY A NEW FORM OF RACIAL EXCLUSION
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa, has sparked a global debate after reflecting on the values of Nelson Mandela and the principle of non-racialism that shaped the birth of democratic South Africa.
Musk explained that Mandela did not fight apartheid so that one group could replace another in positions of power through race-based laws. Instead, Mandela’s lifelong mission was to build a nation where all races stand equal before the law, with equal opportunities, equal dignity, and equal treatment – black, white, coloured, Indian, African, and all others.
Mandela believed in reconciliation, not revenge. He rejected the idea of collective punishment and racial favoritism. His dream was a South Africa where competence, unity, and shared nationhood would matter more than skin colour, and where the wounds of the past would be healed through justice, fairness, and inclusion.
Musk says it is therefore troubling that, decades after apartheid ended, race is still being used as a legal requirement in business and licensing. He pointed out the irony that although he is South African-born and wants to invest in the country’s digital future through Starlink, he faces barriers because he does not meet racial ownership criteria.
This has reopened an important national and international conversation: Is South Africa still following Mandela’s vision of a truly non-racial society, or has the country replaced old discriminatory systems with new ones under a different name?
Mandela’s message was clear: Freedom means equal rights, not racial advantage. Justice means fair opportunity, not exclusion. Democracy means one nation, not permanent division by skin colour.
The debate now is whether today’s policies are building the united, prosperous, and inclusive South Africa Mandela dreamed of – or whether the country is drifting away from the foundation he laid for a future where every citizen, regardless of race, could fully belong and contribute.
Starford Chashi in the diaspora defends Harry Kalaba
PAY ATTENTION BA OPPOSITION:
During these sad dark days in Zambia where a president can boast of dribbling citizens to change the constitution, we do not have time to entertain lies and rumors of another opposition leader. This is the time to unite and work together to remove HH who is the greatest enemy to Zambian democracy.
Of recent past, most of you have targeted Harry Kalaba as a selfish individual who is not willing to work with other opposition leaders. I almost believed these allegations until I started talking to him. Me I love the truth. I hate rumors and accusations without evidence.
Kalaba told me the truth which most of you don’t know because other politicians have been feeding you wrong information.
– To start with, Makebi Zulu made a first move and reached out to Kalaba. They had a meeting. The second meeting with Makebi was initiated by Kalaba himself. – Next… Kalaba reached out to Fred Mmembe and he even went to Mmembe’s house. But nobody has reported this to you all.
– 3rd, Kalaba reached out to Lubinda. He actually went to Lubinda’s house in December because Kalaba really wants the opposition to be united.
– 4th move, Kalaba spoke to Miles Sampa and invited Miles for tea to discuss how they can unite to defeat HH.
As you all know, Sampa is my friend. I called him to verify if Kalaba was telling me the truth. Sampa admitted to me that yes, Kalaba has invited him twice but he hasn’t met him yet.
My Point: Do not believe everything you read on social media. Take time to find the truth. Our greatest enemy is HH. He feeds on instilling fear and dividing the opposition.
When you start making comments like, “We don’t want Kalaba because he doesn’t want to work with other opposition leaders”
It’s not only wrong but It’s divisive and it dents his name. I’m currently communicating with Kalaba on a daily basis. He listens to good advice. He is not Mr Know It All like HH. Kalaba is humble and intelligent.
He is actually the only opposition leader who has reached out to all other leaders and even going as far as entering their homes.
Kalaba is working so hard to save democracy. We need to give him credit for that and stop spreading false rumors.
Instead, focus on unity of purpose. That’s all we need right now to save Zambia from the hands of evil.
