BREAKING! After Capturing Venezuelan President, Trump Puts Columbian President on Notice Over Drug Trafficking to US.
The Columbian President Petro released a statement today condemning US military action in Venezuela and called for urgent UN security council meeting.
US President Donald Trump issued a direct warning to Colombia’s president following the US military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and took him out of the country.
Asked at a Florida press conference about Gustavo Petro saying he was not concerned about repercussions from the strikes on his neighbor, Trump claimed Petro “has cocaine mills” and “factories where he makes cocaine,” adding that “they’re sending it into the United States.”
“So he does have to watch his a–,” Trump added.
Last year, in the runup to the strikes on Venezuela, Trump frequently accused Caracas of being responsible for illegal drugs coming into the US.
On Cuba, Trump described the island country as “a failing nation” and criticized its leadership for what he called decades of economic collapse and suffering.
“The people there have suffered for many, many years, and I think Cuba is going to be something we’ll end up talking about,” he said.
“We want to help the people in Cuba, but we want to also help the people that were forced out of Cuba and living in this country,” he added. Florida has a large expatriate Cuban community that is well known for its fierce opposition to the island’s communist government.
Speaking alongside Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio — a Cuban American born in Miami — said: “Cuba is a disaster. It’s run by incompetent, senile men, and in some cases, not senile, but incompetent.”
He added: “All the guards that helped protect Maduro — this is well known — their whole spy agency, all of that, were full of Cubans. I mean, they basically, it’s amazing, this poor island took over Venezuela in some cases. One of the biggest problems the Venezuelans have is they have to declare independence from Cuba.”
Venezuela’s Supreme Court orders, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez become interim president
CARACAS, Jan 3 (Reuters) – The Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered on Saturday that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assume the role of acting president of the country in the absence of Nicolás Maduro, who was detained early Saturday morning in an operation by U.S. forces.
The court ruling said that Rodríguez would assume “the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the Nation.”
The ruling added that the court will debate the matter in order to “determine the applicable legal framework to guarantee the continuity of the State, the administration of government, and the defense of sovereignty in the face of the forced absence of the President of the Republic.”
Brexit Has Weakened Britain: How Leaving the EU Damaged the UK Economy, Strained Ties with Europe, and Left the Country at a Crossroads
Brexit was sold as a path to freedom, control, and economic renewal for Britain (the United Kingdom). Nearly a decade after the referendum, the reality is far more sobering. Leaving the European Union (EU) has not created new strengths — it has exposed and deepened long-standing weaknesses in the British economy while dulling the advantages the country once relied on.
1. Trade With Europe Has Become Harder — Not Easier
Before Brexit, Britain traded freely with 27 EU countries, including Germany, France, Ireland, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands. Goods moved without customs checks, extra paperwork, or delays.
After Brexit:
British exporters face border checks, customs forms, and regulatory barriers
Small and medium businesses struggle most, as they cannot absorb extra costs
UK exports to the EU have stagnated or declined compared to pre-Brexit levels
European companies increasingly avoid British suppliers
This has hit manufacturing, agriculture, fishing, and food exports hardest.
2. Labour Shortages Are Hurting Key Sectors
Freedom of movement ended with Brexit. While this was a political goal, the economic impact has been severe.
Britain now faces shortages in:
Healthcare (nurses, doctors, carers)
Agriculture and food processing
Construction
Hospitality and transport
EU workers who once filled these jobs left or never came, and the UK has not replaced them fast enough. This has driven higher costs, lower productivity, and weaker services.
3. London’s Financial Power Has Been Eroded
London was once the undisputed financial gateway to Europe. Brexit damaged that role.
Banks and financial firms moved operations to Paris, Frankfurt, Dublin, and Amsterdam
The UK lost “passporting rights,” making it harder to sell financial services in the EU
Investment that would have come to Britain now goes directly to EU capitals
London is still important — but it is no longer dominant.
4. Investment Has Fallen Behind Other Rich Countries
Foreign investors prefer stability and access to large markets. Brexit introduced uncertainty.
UK business investment has lagged behind the US, Germany, and France
Companies delay or cancel expansion plans
Long-term growth has slowed
This has left Britain with low productivity, one of its biggest economic problems even before Brexit.
5. The Pound Is Weaker, Prices Are Higher
Since Brexit:
The British pound has lost value
Imports cost more
Inflation hit harder than in many comparable countries
Ordinary people feel this through:
Higher food prices
More expensive fuel
Rising household bills
Wages have struggled to keep up.
6. Political Isolation Has Grown
Britain is now outside the EU but still deeply affected by EU rules.
It must follow many European standards to trade — without having a vote
Relations with Ireland have been strained over Northern Ireland
Britain has less influence in global trade talks than promised
The idea of “Global Britain” has proven harder to deliver in practice.
SO WHAT CAN BRITAIN DO NOW?
Britain faces hard choices, not slogans.
Option 1: Repair Relations With the EU
Closer trade alignment
Reduced border friction
Easier movement for workers in key sectors This would boost growth — but requires political honesty.
Option 2: Accept Long-Term Economic Loss
Maintain distance from Europe
Rely on deregulation and trade deals elsewhere This risks lower living standards and continued decline.
Option 3: Rethink Brexit Itself
Some argue for re-joining parts of the EU system
Others push for full reintegration in the long term This remains politically explosive but economically significant.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Brexit did not create Britain’s economic problems — but it made them worse and harder to fix. The UK lost friction-free access to its biggest market, weakened its financial edge, and reduced its global influence.
The real question now is no longer whether Brexit caused damage — but how long Britain is willing to live with the consequences, and what it is prepared to do next.
BUYING ELECTRICITY UNITS IN BULK DOES NOT MAKE THEM CHEAPER – ZESCO
By: Thomas Afroman Mwale
ZESCO has dismissed reports suggesting the implementation of higher electricity tariffs, attributing the rapid depletion of units to increased consumer demand and extended power supply hours.
The power utility explained that with stabilized and improved supply, electricity consumption has risen across residential, business, and commercial areas.
Reduced load-shedding has led to greater use of appliances such as stoves, geysers, freezers, and air conditioners, thereby accelerating unit usage.
ZESCO corporate affairs manager Rose Sibisi emphasized that electricity units are driven by consumption patterns, not tariff changes.
She noted that all tariffs are scrutinized and approved by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) in a fair and transparent manner, adding that Zambia continues to maintain the lowest electricity tariffs in the region under the lifeline tariff system.
Speaking on Millennium Radio, Ms. Sibisi explained that the lifeline tariffs consist of three bands with varying costs.
She highlighted that electricity units carry tax implications, including 16% value added tax (VAT) and 4% excise duty, with the remaining revenue directed to ZESCO.
Ms. Sibisi also clarified that buying units in bulk does not make them cheaper. #SunFmTvNews
$4 MILLION TO SUPPORT DISPLACED SENSELI JERABOS AS GOVERNMENT AWAITS NEW MINING SITE ALLOCATION
By: Dina Soko
Government has released $4 million to assist approximately 4,000 small-scale miners, commonly known as Jerabos, who were displaced from the Senseli Open Pit Mine in Chingola.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe said the funds are intended to support the affected miners as they await allocation of an alternative mining site.
He emphasized that government remains committed to ensuring the Jerabos are resettled and able to continue their mining activities in a legal and orderly manner. Mr. Kabuswe explained that the funds had already been taxed by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and were securely held in an account, ready for distribution through duly recognized leaders and representatives of the small-scale and artisanal miners.
He noted that the financial support is a temporary measure designed to cushion the miners following their displacement. In response, representatives of the Jerabos expressed gratitude to government for the gesture, describing the funds as timely relief.
They, however, appealed to authorities to expedite the process of identifying and allocating an alternative mining site so they can resume their work and sustain their livelihoods.
PRESIDENT HICHILEMA DONATES K276,000 TO MULENGA HILL SDA CHURCH, FOR COMPLETION OF CHURCH
January 03, 2025
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has donated K276,000 towards the completion of Mulenga Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church, reaffirming his commitment to supporting faith-based institutions and national unity.
The donation was announced on behalf of the President by his Special Advisor for Political Affairs, Mr Levy Ngoma, who said the gesture reflects the Head of State’s desire to support the work of God through churches.
Mr Ngoma conveyed President Hichilema’s love and goodwill to the congregation, noting that churches play a key role in promoting moral values and social harmony.
Mr Ngoma said the President believes in the biblical principle of loving one’s neighbour, which he described as the foundation of peace and development. He thanked the church for standing in prayer for the country during the debate of Bill 7 in Parliament, a period marked by tension and misinformation.
He said that despite the challenges, the bill was passed by a majority and the country remained peaceful. Mr Ngoma reaffirmed that President Hichilema is committed to upholding Zambia’s Christian values while respecting democratic processes.
On the Day of the Christian Nation, Mr Levy Ngoma revealed that in cementing the observance of the Christian Nation Day on 29th December 2025 last year President Hakainde Hichilema has maintained the day as a Christian observance and pledged that it should be strengthened and gazetted so that it becomes a holy day on which the nation can worship God and honour the day as a country.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of the Church Elder Mwanza expressed gratitude to President Hichilema for the donation delivered through Mr Ngoma. He said the church had struggled to raise funds for the ongoing construction works.
Elder Mwanza recalled that when President Hichilema congregated with the hurch on 13th August 2022, an appeal for support was made, and he assured the President that the funds would be used strictly for the intended purpose.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT PERSECUTION — SEPARATING FAITH FROM THE RULE OF LAW
By Chilufya Kasonde
Father Augustine Mwewa’s reaction to the summoning of Archbishop Alick Banda by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) raises serious concerns, not only about accuracy but also about the dangerous conflation of faith with personal accountability.
To begin with, the DEC did not “arrest” the Archbishop, nor did it summon the Catholic Church. It invited an individual, Archbishop Alick Banda, to appear before its Anti-Money Laundering Unit. In a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law, such an action is neither extraordinary nor hostile. It is standard procedure when questions arise that require clarification. To frame this as “persecution” or a “war against the Catholic Church” is misleading and unnecessarily inflammatory.
The law in Zambia does not exempt clergy from scrutiny. Titles, collars, or ecclesiastical offices do not place anyone above the law. If anything, leaders entrusted with moral authority should welcome transparency, as it reinforces public trust. Accountability does not negate faith; it strengthens it.
Father Mwewa’s assertion that the Government has declared war on the Catholic Church is unsupported by facts. The Church continues to operate freely, speak openly, preach, publish pastoral letters, and critique government policy without restriction. Disagreement with government performance, whether on mealie meal prices, fertiliser, fuel, or load shedding, is a legitimate civic right. However, such policy debates must not be weaponised to shield individuals from lawful inquiry.
Equally troubling is the attempt to rally Catholics into a siege mentality. Encouraging believers to interpret a lawful summons as an attack on their faith risks polarising the nation and undermining institutions meant to protect all citizens, including church members. Zambia’s democracy thrives when institutions function independently, not when they are intimidated by public pressure or religious sentiment.
Prayer and unity are noble virtues, but they should never be presented as substitutes for accountability. One can pray and still cooperate with investigations. One can speak prophetically and still respect the law. These are not mutually exclusive.
Furthermore, invoking “cyber laws,” “mingalato,” and warnings of an impending crackdown creates fear rather than fostering truth. Such rhetoric shifts the conversation away from the real issue: a simple request for clarification by a lawful authority.
The Church has historically played a vital role in Zambia’s moral and social development. That role is best preserved not by politicising legal processes, but by upholding integrity, humility, and respect for the rule of law. Defending the Church does not mean defending every individual action taken by its leaders without question.
In the end, the strength of both the Church and the State lies in their willingness to submit to truth. Accountability is not persecution. Transparency is not intimidation. And justice, applied equally, is not an enemy of faith.
U.S. Military Action Against Venezuela Exposes the Dangers of South Africa’s Reckless Foreign Policy Rhetoric
Recent military action by the United States against Venezuela has once again pushed the long-simmering U.S.–Venezuela conflict into dangerous territory. While the focus of global attention remains on Washington and Caracas, the situation has also revived uncomfortable questions about South Africa’s own conduct and rhetoric in relation to this volatile standoff.
Not long ago, South Africa’s ambassador to Venezuela made remarks that shocked diplomats and observers alike. He openly suggested that South Africa should take military action against the United States and went further to claim that if war were to break out between the U.S. and Venezuela, South Africa would ensure that Venezuelans would not “die alone.” Although these comments were later withdrawn, they were never convincingly explained, nor were there visible consequences.
At the time, the remarks were dismissed by some as ideological grandstanding. Today, with real military action unfolding, they appear far more serious—and far more reckless.
A Conflict Decades in the Making
The hostility between the United States and Venezuela did not emerge overnight. Since the rise of Hugo Chávez in 1999, relations deteriorated sharply as Venezuela positioned itself as a vocal opponent of U.S. global influence. Under Chávez and later Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela accused Washington of interference, economic sabotage, and backing coups. The U.S., in turn, accused Venezuela of authoritarianism, human rights abuses, and dismantling democratic institutions.
Over the years, Washington imposed sweeping sanctions, particularly targeting Venezuela’s oil sector. Venezuela responded by deepening ties with U.S. rivals such as Russia, Iran, and China. The result has been a prolonged geopolitical standoff, punctuated by periodic crises—one of which has now escalated into direct military action.
Where South Africa Fits In
South Africa is not a neutral bystander in this story—but neither is it a meaningful strategic player.
Historically, South Africa’s post-1994 relationship with the United States has been economically vital. The U.S. is one of South Africa’s largest trading partners, a key investor, and a major destination for South African exports. Trade agreements such as AGOA have supported thousands of jobs in automotive manufacturing, agriculture, and industry.
Yet politically, relations have grown increasingly strained. The ANC’s liberation-era worldview, shaped by Cold War politics, often frames the U.S. as an imperial power. This has led South Africa to adopt positions that align rhetorically—though not materially—with governments hostile to Washington.
Venezuela is one such case. South Africa’s support for Caracas has largely been ideological rather than practical. There is no major trade relationship, no military alliance, and no strategic dependency. The solidarity expressed has been symbolic—rooted in anti-imperialist language rather than national interest.
Why the Ambassador’s Remarks Were Dangerous
Against this backdrop, the ambassador’s comments were not merely undiplomatic—they were destabilising.
South Africa:
Has no military capacity to confront or challenge the United States
Has no legal or treaty obligation to defend Venezuela
Faces severe domestic crises, including unemployment, energy instability, and poverty
For a senior diplomat to speak casually about military conflict suggested either a profound misunderstanding of South Africa’s position in the world—or a reckless willingness to sacrifice national interests for ideological posturing.
Even though the remarks were later retracted, international diplomacy does not operate on erasers. Words spoken by ambassadors signal intent, alignment, and credibility. Retractions do not erase the impression that South Africa’s foreign policy messaging has become incoherent and emotionally driven.
The Bigger Problem: A Foreign Policy Losing Its Bearings
The real issue exposed by this episode is not Venezuela, nor even the United States—it is South Africa’s increasingly erratic foreign policy posture.
Officially, South Africa claims to support:
Non-alignment
Peaceful resolution of conflicts
Respect for international law
In practice, however, its messaging often contradicts these principles. The ambassador’s remarks clashed directly with South Africa’s stated commitment to diplomacy and mediation, raising serious questions about internal oversight and strategic discipline within the Department of International Relations.
At a time of rising global instability, South Africa should be positioning itself as a credible, measured voice for de-escalation. Instead, episodes like this suggest a government struggling to separate historical ideology from present-day reality.
Conclusion
The U.S. military action against Venezuela is a reminder that global conflicts are not theoretical debates—they are deadly, complex, and fast-moving. In such a world, reckless rhetoric from diplomats is not harmless talk; it carries real consequences.
South Africa gains nothing from inserting itself—verbally or otherwise—into a confrontation between vastly unequal powers. What it risks, however, is significant: economic fallout, diplomatic isolation, and the erosion of its credibility as a responsible international actor.
The question South Africans must now ask is not whether the ambassador misspoke—but whether the government has fully grasped the danger of allowing ideology to override strategic judgment in a world where words can bring nations closer to war.
The Texas-based oil giant Chevron issued a statement Saturday vowing to work “constructively” with the Trump administration to support a “peaceful” transition of power following the U.S. attack on the South American nation and capturing of its president.
Chevron has maintained a presence in Venezuela for more than 100 years, and according to its statement, signaled a readiness to work in tandem with the Trump administration, which is set to run the government of Venezuela until a transition of power can be facilitated.
“With more than a century in Venezuela, we support a peaceful, lawful transition that promotes stability and economic recovery,” reads the statement from Chevron, the Houston Chronicle reported Saturday. “We’re prepared to work constructively with the U.S. Government during this period, leveraging our experience and presence to strengthen U.S. energy security.”
ALSO READ: Trump ignored this clear warning about reckless strikes and the disasters that follow
Chevron first established its presence in Venezuela in 1923 under the rulership of dictator Juan Vicente Gomez, who opened up Venezuela to foreign oil companies and subsequently secured strong support from the United States.
Chevron and other oil giants’ had largely unchallenged control over Venezuela’s oil reserves until the early 1940s after the government, under the leadership of Venezuelan President Eleazar Lopez Contreras, enacted the Hydrocarbons Law, which required oil companies to split their profits with the Venezuelan government.
Today, Venezuela has the single-largest proven oil reserves on earth, and a number of Republican figures, lawmakers, and even President Donald Trump himself have acknowledged that U.S. military threats against the country were motivated – at least in part – by its vast natural resources, and despite the Trump administration’s stated justification of combating drug trafficking.
The United States has enacted or sought to enact regime change countless times in South America over natural resources, perhaps most famously in 1973 when a U.S.-backed coup overthrew its democratically elected leader at the behest of American mining and communication companies that had been stripped of their control of Chile’s resources.
Following the unprecedented U.S. attack Saturday morning on Venezuela and subsequent capture of its president, President Donald Trump joked that he and other administration officials deserved the $50 million reward that his own Justice Department offered for information leading to the Venezuelan president’s arrest.
“He is a fugitive of American justice with a $50 million reward, which I guess we saved $50 million,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a press conference in Florida, speaking of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro.
‘Make sure,” Trump added, standing alongside Rubio. “Don’t let anybody claim it! Nobody deserves it but us!”
The attack was announced by Trump early Saturday morning, with videos quickly emerging on social media of large-scale strikes raining down on Venezuela’s capital city, Caracas. Maduro was subsequently captured and is currently being transported to New York where he’s expected to face trial on drug-trafficking charges.
The DOJ increased its reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture from $15 million to $25 million in January of 2025, and up to $50 million in July.
At that same press conference, held at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump made the stunning announcement that the United States would run Venezuela until a transfer of power could be facilitated, and said that he remained open to deploying American troops
Members of the US Congress on Saturday demanded emergency legislative action to prevent the Trump administration from taking further military action in Venezuela after the president threatened a “second wave” of attacks and said the US will control the South American country’s government indefinitely.
Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), said that “Congress should vote immediately on a War Powers Resolution to stop” President Donald Trump, whose administration has for months unlawfully bombed boats in international waters and threatened a direct military assault on Venezuela without lawmakers’ approval.
“Trump has no right to take us to war with Venezuela. This is reckless and illegal,” said Casar. “My entire life, politicians have been sending other people’s kids to die in reckless regime change wars. Enough. No new wars.”
Another prominent CPC member, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), said in response to the bombing of Venezuela and capture of its president that “these are the actions of a rogue state.”
“Trump’s illegal and unprovoked bombing of Venezuela and kidnapping of its president are grave violations of international law and the US Constitution,” Tlaib wrote on social media. “The American people do not want another regime change war abroad.”
Progressives weren’t alone in criticizing the administration’s unauthorized military action in Venezuela. Establishment Democrats, including Sen. Adam Schiff of California and others, also called for urgent congressional action in the face of Trump’s latest unlawful bombing campaign.
“Without congressional approval or the buy-in of the public, Trump risks plunging a hemisphere into chaos and has broken his promise to end wars instead of starting them,” Schiff said in a statement. “Congress must bring up a new War Powers Resolution and reassert its power to authorize force or to refuse to do so. We must speak for the American people who profoundly reject being dragged into new wars.”
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said he will force a Senate vote next week on a bipartisan War Powers Resolution to block additional US military action in Venezuela.
“Where will this go next?” Kaine asked in a statement. “Will the president deploy our troops to protect Iranian protesters? To enforce the fragile ceasefire in Gaza? To battle terrorists in Nigeria? To seize Greenland or the Panama Canal? To suppress Americans peacefully assembling to protest his policies? Trump has threatened to do all this and more and sees no need to seek legal authorization from people’s elected legislature before putting servicemembers at risk.”
“It is long past time for Congress to reassert its critical constitutional role in matters of war, peace, diplomacy, and trade,” Kaine added. “My bipartisan resolution stipulating that we should not be at war with Venezuela absent a clear congressional authorization will come up for a vote next week.”
The lawmakers’ push for legislative action came as Trump clearly indicated that his administration isn’t done intervening in Venezuela’s internal politics—and plans to exploit the country’s vast oil reserves.
During a press conference on Saturday, Trump said that the US “is going to run” Venezuela, signaling the possibility of a troop deployment.
“We’re not afraid of boots on the ground,” the president said in response to a reporter’s question, adding vaguely that his administration is “designating various people” to run the government.
Whether the GOP-controlled Congress acts to constrain the Trump administration will depend on support from Republicans, who have largely applauded the US attack on Venezuela and capture of Maduro. In separate statements, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) described the operation as “decisive” and justified.
Ahead of Saturday’s assault, the Republican-controlled Congress rejected War Powers Resolutions aimed at preventing Trump from launching a war on Venezuela without lawmakers’ approval.
One Republican lawmaker who had raised constitutional concerns about Saturday’s actions, Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, appeared to drop them after a phone call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
But Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) noted in a statement that both Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “looked every senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasn’t about regime change.”
“I didn’t trust them then, and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress,” said Kim. “Trump rejected our constitutionally required approval process for armed conflict because the administration knows the American people overwhelmingly reject risks pulling our nation into another war.”
A number of prominent MAGA voices came out against President Donald Trump Saturday over his administration’s unprecedented attack on Venezuela, including one MAGA lawmaker who argued the attack had left “most Americans enraged.”
“Americans’ disgust with our own government’s never-ending military aggression and support of foreign wars is justified because we are forced to pay for it and both parties, Republicans and Democrats, always keep the Washington military machine funded and going,” wrote Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA) in a social media post on X. “This is what many in MAGA thought they voted to end. Boy were we wrong.”
In conjunction with law enforcement, the U.S. military carried out an operation early Saturday morning to capture Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro – indicted in the United States on drug-trafficking charges – that included large-scale strikes on the nation’s capital, Caracas. Trump later announced that the United States would “run the country” until a transfer of power could be facilitated.
The news was not met well with many in the MAGA movement, including prominent podcaster and MAGA influencer Candace Owens, who suggested the Trump administration had carried out the attack “at the behest of globalist psychopaths.”
“Venezuela has been ‘liberated’ like Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq were ‘liberated,’ Owens wrote in a social media post on X. “The CIA has staged another hostile takeover of a country at the behest of globalist psychopaths. That’s it. That’s what is happening, always, everywhere.”
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), while certainly not a member of the MAGA movement, has rhetorically supported some of the ideology that has been championed by many prominent MAGA supporters, particularly the opposition to military interventionism. And by that metric, Khanna argued, Trump had “betrayed” his supporters in greenlighting the attack on Venezuela.
“Donald Trump betrayed his MAGA base today launching a war of choice to bring regime change in Venezuela,” Khanna wrote in a social media post on X.
“We keep voting against dumb wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, & Libya. But our Presidents bow to a foreign policy blob committed to militarism. They get us entangled in conflicts abroad, while ignoring the lack of good jobs and high costs for Americans at home.”
Internet users who criticised a preacher’s wife for her attire have finally got their response, and surprisingly, it is not from the victim.
The wife of Pastor Jamal Bryant, Dr. Karri Bryant, came under public backlash after she wore a flesh-toned black outfit to the annual UNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball on December 20, 2025, at the Signia by Hilton Atlanta.
The event was solely to raise funds for the United Negro College Fund, UNCF, to support the HBCUs and students.
As one of the biggest fundraising events in the USA, they raised $4 Million to support the students, but unfortunately, the media chose Dr Karri as their target for criticism because of her wear.
Dr Karri didn’t comment on the situation to not worsen it, but as a loving husband, Jamal stood up for his wife during his recent sermon at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia (metro Atlanta area).
The pastor said most people who do not appreciate their bodies are the ones speaking ill of his wife’s dress, even though they lack fashion sense.
He stated that the cloth was a flesh-toned wear, which means the inner of the beal attire was made just to match Karri’s complexion, so it was a translucent cloth as people want it to look like.
Pastor goes off on people for criticizing his wife’s 'transparent' dress at a church fundraiser:
"I bought the dress… when we walked in, I said, Shake It Fast"
Jamal stressed the positive outcome of the event they attended, which was the whopping amount of $4million, but people want to spread negativity.
According to Bryant, the public does not deserve his explanation, but he wants them to know he purchased and approved the dress for his wife.
Bryant ended by disclosing he wants his wife to always appeal to him so he will run home after his day, and so he will always ensure he looks great for him.
After Donald Trump announced that the U.S. had captured the leader of Venezuela, there was some speculation about whether JD Vance was on the same page as the president. A new report answers that question.
Trump made the disclosure early Saturday morning that there was a military strike on Venezuela.
Hours later, Bloomberg published an article called “Vance, Trump Met Covertly Ahead of Strikes to Keep Secrecy,” in which the outlet reports, “Vice President JD Vance was kept away from Mar-a-Lago this weekend due to concerns his presence would signal upcoming strikes against Venezuela,” citing “sources close to the vice president.”
Bloomberg further continued:
“Vance and President Donald Trump met on Friday covertly to discuss details of the U.S.’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as the White House plans to temporarily ‘run the country.’ They met at the president’s golf club in West Palm Beach, but Vance was not at Mar-a-Lago on Friday evening due to security concerns, according to a spokesperson for Vance, who spoke on the condition of background.”
The report stated, “Vice President Vance was deeply integrated in the process and planning of the Venezuela strikes and Maduro’s arrest. He joined several late night meetings via secure video conference with National Security principals leading up to the operation. The Vice President briefly met with President Trump at the Trump golf club in West Palm Beach during the day Friday to discuss the strikes. The Vice President was not at Mar-a-Lago on Friday night, as the National Security team was concerned a late-night motorcade movement by the Vice President while the operation was getting underway may tip off the Venezuelans. The Vice President joined by secure video conference throughout the night to monitor the operation. He returned to Cincinnati after the operation concluded. Due to increased security concerns, the Administration has aimed to limit the frequency and duration of the Vice President and President being co-located away from the White House.”
Bloomberg’s Mica Soellner added, “Vance kept away from Mar-a-Lago this weekend due to fear of tip off to Venezuelans.”
“The VP – noticeably absent at Mar a Lago presser today – met w/ Trump at his golf club in West Palm Beach on Friday and monitored Maduro capture via video conference,” she added on social media.
Political analyst Rachael Bade characterized it as Vance’s team “giving color about his involvement in Venezuela operation.”
“If anyone thinks he may be on a different page than Pres Trump, think again,” she wrote. “He joined via conference call so the motorcade didn’t tip anyone off…”
Donald Trump in December was given a medal as he was awarded the FIFA Peace Prize, which some have dubbed a “participation trophy” for the president who has long coveted the Nobel Peace Prize, but even the backup award he received is being called into question after the U.S. captured Venezuela’s leader.
Trump early on Saturday morning announced a successful plot for the U.S. to capture the foreign leader and his wife. The president later announced his intention to have the U.S. “run” the nation.
The apparent imperialistic tendency of the president didn’t go unnoticed, with many noting that it flies in the face of the FIFA award.
Popular podcaster Tony Martin said, “I’m seriously starting to question the credibility of the FIFA Peace Prize.”
Media host Zack Guzmán weighed in with, “FIFA awarded Trump their first ever peace prize exactly 29 days before he bombed Venezuela.”
The widely followed satire account TheRealThelmaJohnson replied to Fox News’ post on social media with, “I’m starting to think Donald Trump doesn’t take the FIFA Peace Prize seriously.”
I am not pretending to be an expert on Venezuela but it is uncomfortable to watch world leaders trying their best not to criticise President Trump for steamrollering years of political procedure & precedent in removing Maduro and now claiming the US will ‘run’ the country.
Former Republican joked, “Trump has been officially stripped of his FIFA Peace Prize,” and included an AI video of the medal being taken from Trump.
Sports journalist Leyla Hamed added, “FIFA, under Gianni Infantino, gave Trump its first-ever ‘Peace Award.'”
“Since then, Trump has bombed Nigeria, Somalia and Venezuela, and rolled out the red carpet for Netanyahu, the man responsible for the genocide in Palestine,” she added.
TV journalist Dan Walker said, “I am not pretending to be an expert on Venezuela but it is uncomfortable to watch world leaders trying their best not to criticise President Trump for steamrollering years of political procedure & precedent in removing Maduro and now claiming the US will ‘run’ the country.”
“FIFA might want to rethink the ‘peace prize’,” he added on Saturday.
A court in southern China has handed a suspended jail sentence to a woman who accidentally killed her daughter while performing what she believed was an “exorcism” ritual at home, authorities said.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the court in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, sentenced the woman, surnamed Li, to a 3-year jail term suspended for 4 years in July. Her elder daughter, who took part in the ritual, received the same sentence. The judgment was delivered in July on charges of negligent homicide.
Prosecutors said Li and her two daughters had become deeply influenced by superstitious ideas involving telepathy and possession. They were convinced that demons were attacking them and that their “souls were sold”. In December last year, the younger daughter, surnamed Xie, suddenly said she was possessed and asked her mother and sister to perform an exorcism on her.
During the ritual, the duo applied force to the young woman’s chest and poured water down her throat to induce vomiting. At one point, the younger daughter reportedly said the ritual was effective and urged them to continue. However, the next morning, other family members found her unresponsive with bleeding from the mouth and called the police. Medical workers pronounced her dead at the scene.
The court ruled that while the mother and sister had no intention to kill and believed they were helping, their actions directly caused the victim’s death, amounting to negligence. Their cooperation with authorities and remorse were taken into account in sentencing.
How did social media react? The case has triggered strong reactions on Chinese social media. “This is such a horrible and silly case,” one user wrote. Another said, “What kind of cult is this? Are we living in 2025?”
Others called for stronger science education and public awareness to counter superstitious beliefs. “Cult believers are usually stubborn. They think the demon was too strong rather than accept reality,” one commenter said.
Venezuelans across the world have taken to the streets to celebrate the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, who was flown out of the country and indicted in the United States on drug and weapons charges.
The development has sparked scenes of jubilation among Venezuelans at home and in the diaspora, many of whom say they were forced to flee the country due to years of violence, hyperinflation, gang activity, and shortages of food and medicine. More than eight million people have left Venezuela since 2014, leaving the nation with one of the largest displacement crises in the world, according to the United Nations.
Venezuela is also home to the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, a resource wealth that contrasts sharply with years of economic collapse, mass migration, and political crisis under Maduro’s rule.
Following news of Maduro’s capture, crowds gathered in cities across Latin America, the United States, and Europe, singing, dancing, and waving Venezuelan and US flags. Many said the moment symbolised the collapse of what they described as a dictatorship.
One celebrant in Chile said, “I’ve come to celebrate because the dictatorship has fallen, Maduro’s drug trafficking has fallen. We are free and happy that the dictatorship has fallen and that we will have a free country.”
Another Venezuelan in Doral, Florida, said, “Today, justice is being served for all the Venezuelans who were forced to leave our country. We are fighters, entrepreneurs, and good people, and we want to return home to rebuild Venezuela.”
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized during a US military operation carried out in the early hours of Saturday in Caracas. Explosions, low flying aircraft, and columns of smoke were reported across the capital as the operation unfolded.
Speaking shortly after announcing the raid, US President Donald Trump described it as a “brilliant operation,” crediting extensive planning and elite troops. Asked whether Congress had been consulted before authorising the strike, Trump said the issue would be discussed later.
US officials say Maduro has long been under indictment for drug trafficking, dating back to 2020, when he was accused of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States. Rewards for information leading to his arrest reportedly rose as high as $50 million in 2025. Washington alleges Maduro leads a drug trafficking network known as the Cartel de los Soles, which it has designated a foreign terrorist organisation.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro would soon “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil,” adding that multiple weapons charges accompany the drug counts.
Inside Venezuela, the reaction has been sharply divided. While many citizens celebrated, the country’s attorney general, Tarek William Saab, condemned the US operation, claiming civilians were killed or wounded and calling for peaceful protests. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded proof that Maduro and Flores were alive, raising concerns over their condition following the raid.
Internationally, the operation triggered shockwaves. Russia, a close ally of Venezuela, expressed concern and suggested the United States may have violated international law by forcibly removing a sitting head of state. A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson called for immediate clarification of the situation.
Maduro, who has ruled Venezuela since 2013 as leader of the United Socialist Party, has been widely criticised by opponents and international observers, who accuse him of authoritarian rule, election manipulation, and overseeing the economic collapse of the country. His capture marks one of the most dramatic geopolitical events involving Venezuela in decades and has reshaped the political mood among millions of Venezuelans worldwide.
Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, was reportedly captured by US forces shortly after holding talks with Chinese officials in Caracas, according to accounts circulating from Venezuelan sources.
The incident is said to have occurred on January 3, following a ground operation by the United States that led to Maduro being detained and transported out of the country. Reports claim the operation came hours after Maduro met with a special envoy linked to Xi Jinping, as discussions were held on strengthening cooperation against US pressure.
According to Venezuelan local media and posts shared on Maduro’s official channels, the meeting took place at the Miraflores Presidential Palace and involved senior Chinese diplomats, including officials from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and Foreign Minister Iván Gil were also present at the talks.
The discussions reportedly reaffirmed China’s support for Maduro’s government amid escalating tensions with Washington and reviewed hundreds of existing bilateral agreements. China remains Venezuela’s largest crude oil importer and has invested tens of billions of dollars in infrastructure projects in the country since 2007.
The operation was said to have been directed by Donald Trump from Mar a Lago, following his declaration of an intensified “war on drugs.” China and Russia were reported to have opposed the US action through the United Nations, warning of its implications for international stability.
Observers say the development could significantly affect US China relations, especially after both sides agreed to a temporary easing of tensions during talks held in Busan last year. Trump is also expected to visit China in April at the invitation of President Xi, adding further weight to concerns about the diplomatic fallout.
A political cartoon from nearly two decades ago seemingly predicted the US military operation against Venezuela. The cartoon has been going viral after the US strikes on the South American nation.
What happened in Venezuela? The United States attacked Venezuela and captured its long-serving President Nicolas Maduro on January 3, 2026. As part of a dramatic overnight operation that knocked out electricity in parts of Caracas, US Special Forces captured Maduro in or near one of his safe houses.
“We will run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” US President Donald Trump said. “We can’t take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela who doesn’t have the interests of Venezuelans in mind.”
Old cartoon goes viral According to US officials, the operation-, dubbed “Absolute Resolve”, had been planned and rehearsed for months. However, the US operation against Venezuela had seemingly been predicted not months but years ago.
Brazilian political cartoonist Carlos Latuff re-posted his 2007 cartoon in wake of the US strike against Venezuela. The cartoon, titled “Crimes in Progress”, features a sketch of Uncle Sam on the phone in the White House, with a list of countries that the US has invaded.
A box labelled “To Do” contains a list of four countries — Bolivia, Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran.
Latuff, 57, is a well known cartoonist whose work deals with anti-Western sentiment and opposition to US military intervention in foreign countries. His 2007 cartoon has been going viral this morning, having racked up over 30,000 views in a matter of hours.
Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro arrives in New York A plane carrying Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, landed in upstate New York on Saturday evening, multiple news outlets reported. (Also read: 150 planes, 30 minutes: How the US captured Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro in his ‘fortress’)
Video showed a plane arriving at Stewart International Airport about 60 miles (97 km) northwest of New York City, with several U.S. personnel in FBI and other apparel boarding the aircraft after it landed. TV news networks, including CNN, Fox News and MS Now, identified a person who disembarked from the plane as Maduro.
“From National Hero to Heartbreak: Nakamba Says He’s ‘Sliding Into Depression’ After Costly AFCON Error — Can Zimbabwe Forgive?”
Zimbabwean midfielder Marvelous Nakamba has opened up emotionally after the painful moment that changed the course of Zimbabwe’s AFCON campaign — admitting that he is struggling mentally and feels he has let the nation down.
Nakamba, who captained the Warriors, was involved in the incident that gifted South Africa a crucial penalty during the final AFCON group-stage match, a moment that proved decisive and crushed Zimbabwe’s hopes of progressing further in the tournament.
Speaking from the heart, Nakamba said the incident has deeply affected him, explaining that everything he does in football — whether at club level or international duty — is driven by one goal: making Zimbabweans proud. Instead, he now feels he has disappointed the very people he plays for.
He described himself as heartbroken, apologising to fans and the nation, and revealed that the backlash and guilt are taking a serious toll on his mental health. According to Nakamba, the weight of the mistake has left him “slowly sliding into depression.”
This is not just about football anymore. It is about the human cost of pressure, expectations, and national disappointment placed on players who already carry the hopes of millions on their shoulders.
Nakamba has been one of Zimbabwe’s most consistent and disciplined professionals abroad — a player who has always represented the country with pride. One mistake, however costly, has now turned into a personal battle far beyond the pitch.
❓ Should one moment define a player’s entire contribution to the nation? ❓ Are fans doing enough to support players when they break down emotionally? ❓ Where does accountability end and compassion begin?
As emotions continue to run high, many are now calling for support, understanding, and unity, reminding the nation that players are human too — and that mental health matters just as much as results.
WHY VENEZUELA MATTERS: TRUMP’S MOVE MAY HAVE SHAKEN CHINA’S GLOBAL STRATEGY
Trump’s action in Venezuela is not regional politics, it directly targets China’s most critical vulnerability: energy dependence.
China buys 60-90% of Venezuelan oil and 85-90% of Iranian crude, together accounting for roughly 30-35% of its total oil imports.
Another 35% of China’s oil comes from Middle Eastern suppliers vulnerable to U.S. pressure, giving Washington potential influence over up to 70% of China’s energy supply.
Under those conditions, Beijing’s ability to launch a high-risk operation against Taiwan becomes severely constrained.
This weakens China’s military planning in the Indo-Pacific and disrupts its long-term strategy to project power beyond Asia..
It also forces China to squeeze Russia harder on oil prices, increasing the economic strain on Moscow’s war effort.
The U.S. gains strategic breathing room globally, strengthening its ability to meet commitments in Europe and elsewhere.
Meanwhile, China suffers a major setback in Latin America, a loss of leverage abroad, and a blow to Xi’s image of control and inevitability.
A post-Maduro Venezuela could open access to years’ worth of information on corruption networks, covert financing, sanctions evasion, and foreign influence operations, not just regionally, but globally.
That intelligence windfall may reshape how power is understood, exercised, and constrained in the years ahead.
In short, Venezuela is not a side story.
It is a pressure point in a global system defined by energy, leverage, and timing.
If Trump’s move achieves even part of its strategic promise, historians may one day view it not as a regional intervention, but as a pivotal moment in the great power competition of the 21st century.
ARCHDIOCESE OF LUSAKA ORGANIZES SOLIDARITY MASS ON MONDAY IN SUPPORT OF SUMMONED ARCHBISHOP ALICK BANDA.
Memo
To: The Faithful, Clergy and Religious
From: Archdiocese of Lusaka – Vicar General’s Office
UFC: Archbishop of Lusaka
Status:Very Urgent
Date:Saturday 3rd January, 2026
Ref: ZCCB Press Statement of Solidarity with Archbishop Alick Banda and Mass of Solidarity on 5th January, 2026 at 08:00hrs
The above subject matter refers.
This serves to inform all the Faithful, Clergy, Religious and all Parish Priests in the Archdiocese of Lusaka that;
1. The ZCCB Statement of Solidarity with Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Alick Banda, and the Catholic Faithful in Zambia MUST be read by the Presiding Priest at All Masses during the Announcements on Sunday January 4th 2026, The Solemnity of the Epiphany of The LORD.
2. That you are all invited to a solidarity Mass on Monday 5th January, 2026 at the Cathedral of the Child of Jesus, Lusaka at 08:00hrs. After which, in compliance with the law of our republic, dutifully report to DEC Offices.
Accordingly, we shall be most obliged if this is complied with. And May the Light of Christ continue to illuminate our hearts, minds and the soul of our nation of the Republic of Zambia.
Devotedly yours in Christ,
Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Simpasa, SJ Vicar General – Archdiocese of Lusaka
12 PF COUNCILLORS ENDORSE HICHILEMA, BACK UPND MAYORAL CANDIDATE SIMPOSYA IN KASAMA
January 03, 2026
Kasama – Twelve Patriotic Front (PF) councillors from Kasama and Lukashya constituencies have endorsed President Hakainde Hichilema ahead of the 2026 General Elections, citing the government’s ongoing development agenda in the area.
The councillors announced their decision at a media briefing in Kasama, where they pledged to work with the government of the day in order to accelerate service delivery and development for local communities.
They said their endorsement was motivated by visible improvements in infrastructure and social programmes under the current administration.
The councillors further revealed that they have resolved to rally behind the UPND-adopted aspiring candidate, Bywell Simposya, for the Kasama mayoral position, saying unity and cooperation are key to unlocking the city’s full development potential.
Kaituule Peter Mubanga, the former immediate Deputy Mayor of Kasama and longtime PF Kapongolo Ward Councillor since 2016, said this is the first time he has witnessed development that truly serves the people.
He pledged to rally behind President Hakainde Hichilema in 2026 to ensure the continued development of his ward.
Welcoming the endorsement, UPND Vice Chairperson for Elections, Mr Likando Mufalali, described the move as a positive step towards inclusive governance. “This gesture shows that development transcends party lines,” Mr Mufalali said.
He added that the party would work closely with all stakeholders to ensure Kasama benefits fully from national development programmes.
Meanwhile, the UPND-adopted mayoral candidate thanked the PF councillors for their support and pledged to serve all residents without discrimination. “I will work with everyone for the good of Kasama,” he said.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Mr Chipoka Mulenga, also assured the councillors that their decision was justified, noting that government policies are focused on improving livelihoods.
The Kasama mayoral position fell vacant following the death of Mayor Theresa Kolala.
Saturday has closed with Zambia’s social media ecosystem on fire. Not over policy. Not over budgets. But over faith, power and suspicion.
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has now formally entered the fray, issuing a strongly worded statement declaring solidarity with Archbishop Alick Banda and framing his summons by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) as persecution and an attempt to silence the Church’s prophetic voice.
“This action is an attempt to suppress his voice as a Shepherd,” the Bishops said, adding that they now “recognize state-sponsored persecution” and calling it “an abuse of authority for the ruling party to utilize state machinery against an individual due to his stance on national governance.”
This is not neutral language. It is political language. And it marks a decisive escalation. Facts and framing matter.
Fact one: Archbishop Alick Banda has been summoned by the DEC’s Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit to appear on Monday, 5 January 2026. The summons is issued under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. It is not a charge. It is not a conviction.
Fact two: The DEC has publicly explained the basis of the summons. According to its Director General, Nason Banda, the matter relates to motor vehicles seized during investigations into irregularly disposed Zambia Revenue Authority assets, with Archbishop Banda’s name appearing in court records as a recipient. The vehicles are in DEC custody and verifiable.
“This has nothing to do with politics or the Catholic Church,” the DEC chief said. “We want him to give us his side of the story. Nobody is above the law.”
Fact three: This is not the first time Archbishop Banda has been linked, by investigators and courts, to questions surrounding irregularly disposed state assets. A ZRA-linked Toyota Hilux previously gifted to him was seized in 2023. His name later appeared in court proceedings involving former ZRA officials.
These facts exist independently of sermons, elections or church-state tensions.
The conflict is not really about a summons. It is about interpretation. The Catholic Bishops have chosen to interpret the summons as persecution. They say it is retaliation for criticism of government over cost of living, fuel prices, load shedding and farmers’ payments. But that framing raises hard questions Zambia cannot avoid.
If a cleric speaks forcefully on governance, does that place them beyond scrutiny under financial crime laws?
If a religious leader publicly mobilises citizens around elections, voter cards and regime accountability, does the state still have an obligation to treat them strictly as a private individual when their name appears in financial investigations?
And most critically: when does prophetic speech cross into overt political mobilisation? The ZCCB statement does not merely defend Archbishop Banda’s rights. It asserts motive. It declares intent. It accuses the ruling party of persecution without presenting evidence beyond timing and context.
This is a powerful claim. It demands an equally high burden of proof. There is also a dangerous conflation happening online and now, implicitly, in official church messaging. Archbishop Alick Banda is not the Catholic Church.
Globally, Catholic priests, bishops and even cardinals have been arrested, prosecuted and jailed for financial crimes, sexual abuse and corruption. The Vatican itself convicted Cardinal Angelo Becciu in 2023 for financial crimes. The Church did not collapse. Faith did not end. Accountability proceeded.
To suggest that questioning an Archbishop automatically equals “war on the Catholic Church” stretches logic and history. If a Pentecostal pastor, an SDA elder or a UCZ bishop were summoned over alleged financial irregularities, would Zambia declare persecution of Christianity as a whole? Or is Catholic institutional power now being positioned as untouchable?
There is also an electoral undertone that cannot be ignored. The ZCCB statement explicitly references the 2026 general elections. Clergy statements circulating online urge believers to “protect voters’ cards” and “defend democracy.”
Opposition leaders have openly called for Catholics to escort the Archbishop to the DEC in numbers.
This is political mobilisation.
Once religious leadership enters that terrain, the state will inevitably view actions through a political lens. Not because it hates faith, but because elections sharpen every institution’s sensitivity.
This does not justify abuse of power. But it does explain why neutrality collapses on both sides.
The DEC must remain clinical, lawful and restrained. No theatrics. No intimidation. No selective enforcement. Due process only. The Church, equally, must resist the temptation to sanctify an individual case into a civilisational battle. Moral authority is strongest when it is careful with facts and cautious with accusations.
Truth is not defended by slogans. Justice is not served by crowds. And accountability is not persecution simply because the person questioned wears a collar. If Archbishop Banda has nothing to hide, the law will clear him. If questions exist, they must be answered, not spiritualised.
This is the uncomfortable but necessary line in a constitutional democracy.
BISHOP BANDA WON’T APPEAR ALONE, WE’LL JOIN HIM AT DEC – M’MEMBE
SOCIALIST Party leader Dr Fred M’membe has vowed to walk with Archbishop Alick Banda when he appears for questioning at the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) this Monday.
On Thursday, DEC Director General Nason Banda urged Archbishop Banda to avoid bringing “unnecessary people” when he appears for questioning.
However, in a statement yesterday, Dr M’membe, who is a member of the Catholic Men’s League at St Peter’s Parish in Garden Compound, questioned why the Bishop should be expected to appear alone.
He noted that President Hakainde Hichilema was always accompanied by huge crowds whenever he was summoned by law enforcement agencies in the past.
“His Grace Archbishop Alick Banda will not walk alone to the Drug Enforcement Commission on Monday. We will accompany our Shepherd to Hakainde Hichilema’s Calvary and help him carry his cross. He will not carry Hichilema’s cross alone. If every time Hichilema was summoned to appear before law enforcement agencies, he was accompanied by huge numbers of UPND cadres, why shouldn’t His Grace be accompanied by his flock? It is said that what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. This means that rules, treatment, or benefits should apply equally to everyone, regardless of gender or individual differences,” Dr M’membe said.
“The phrase comes from an older version, ‘what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander,’ highlighting that if a certain treatment (like being served the same sauce) is acceptable for one, it must be for the other (male/female). Haven’t these people heard of ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you?’
The core ‘do unto others’ verse, also known as the Golden Rule, is found in Matthew 7:12: ‘So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets’. A similar teaching is in Luke 6:31: ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’. Both emphasise treating people with the same kindness and respect you desire for yourself, forming the basis of ethical conduct in Christianity”.
Dr M’membe said it was an insult for the Commission to refer to the Archbishop’s flock as “cadres” and called on all Catholics and Zambians of goodwill to turn out in large numbers.
“Matthew 7:12: ‘In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets’. Luke 6:31: ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’. This principle encourages empathy, kindness, and reciprocity, guiding believers to act in ways that benefit others as they would wish to be treated.
It is an insult for Drug Enforcement Commission Director General Nason Banda to refer to the Archbishop’s flock as ‘cadres.’ When did the faithful become cadres? We therefore make a clarion call to all Catholics and Zambians of goodwill, to turn out in huge numbers and accompany the Archbishop to the Drug Enforcement Commission. Come in your various Catholic lay groups, uniforms. Come rain, come sunshine we will be there,” said Dr M’membe.
Chawama is voting again. On January 15, residents of the densely populated Lusaka constituency return to the polls following the vacancy left by former MP Tasila Lungu. While the by-election is procedurally routine, its political meaning is not. It is unfolding as a test of expectation, credibility, and how far political language can stretch in a community shaped by deep poverty and long-standing neglect.
On the campaign trail, UPND candidate Morgan Muunda has dominated attention with a highly emotive style. His engagements are intimate and dramatic. At different moments he sits among residents, recounts his personal journey, becomes visibly emotional, and presents himself as the embodiment of possibility.
The message is simple and direct: Chawama can be transformed if it places its trust in him and the governing party.
“I am a big machine,” Muunda told supporters. “The one who built Apex University, isn’t it me? Believe me, I will change Chawama.”
He has pointed to the increase in Constituency Development Fund allocations to K40 million as a decisive tool for rapid development, assuring voters that with full backing from President Hakainde Hichilema, the constituency would become “the envy of the country.”
He has also spoken of employment opportunities for local youths in public institutions, framing his potential election as a gateway to jobs and visibility.
The reception to this message has been enthusiastic. In a constituency where unemployment is high, housing is fragile, drainage is poor, and flooding is recurrent, the language of immediacy resonates. Chawama’s politics is not abstract. It is lived daily in overcrowded homes, informal trading spaces, and disrupted livelihoods.
But the distance between campaign promise and institutional authority remains significant. Members of Parliament do not control recruitment into public broadcasters or the defence forces. CDF, while expanded and more decentralised than before, operates under guidelines that prioritise community infrastructure and social projects rather than individual employment guarantees.
These realities do not negate the appeal of Muunda’s message, but they place it within a narrower operational frame than the rallies suggest.
Beyond the theatre, the by-election is also taking place against a backdrop of policy shifts that have altered the ground in low-income constituencies. Free education has reduced household pressure. Expanded social cash transfers have provided limited but vital support to the poorest families. Increased CDF allocations have brought decision-making closer to communities that were previously peripheral to national development planning.
These changes are incremental, often invisible on campaign stages, but they shape daily life more consistently than slogans.
Chawama’s contest therefore becomes less about personality and more about expectations. Voters are weighing emotional connection against practical delivery, aspiration against institutional constraint. In a community long accustomed to being promised transformation, credibility carries its own weight.
As the January 15 poll approaches, the crowds, chants, and imagery will continue. The campaign language will remain expansive. But once the ballots are cast, the work of governance begins, measured not by the scale of promises but by the slow, unglamorous mechanics of delivery.
The Mines Pay Pittance, Nothing to Celebrate About
Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa
For Zambia, the problem is not and has never been the currency in which mining taxes are paid, so there is absolutely nothing to get excited about here. The real problem, one that cuts across successive governments since 2008 when the windfall tax was abolished, is the notoriously low public earnings from the mining sector resulting from the infectiveness of the Zambia Revenue Authority, low taxes, transfer pricing and poorly negotiated development agreements between mining companies and the government. Our very own patriot @joseph_kalimbwe has repeatedly made this important point, but the mining companies pay more attention to him (obviously for self-serving reasons) than the government!
One of the major downsides of the current extractive industry ownership structure is that it is made for corruption and for as long as the State does not have a decisive ownership stake in the strategic mining industry, (i.e. more than 50% as is the case in countries like Botswana, Norway, Sweden, China etc.), Zambians will also have limited means to public accountability for stolen resources. This is because a limited ownership structure (even with greater taxation) gives leverage for the majority shareholders to hide profits and obscure minority shareholders. In effect, accountability is increased where a publicly owned state enterprise exists.
So please reject the diversion on “Zambia to accept Chinese currency for mining taxes” (in fact, Zambia has been doing this since October 2025) and focus instead on the real issue: the paltry revenue collected from Zambia’s jewel and the lopsided ownership structure in the industry. Think of it this way: If Zambia gets 2 percent in mineral royalty rates from the mines, another 2 per cent import duty on copper concentrates and a 4 per cent export duty on precious metals, it does not matter whether this money is paid in dollars or yuan. It is still negligible.
The truth is that in real terms, Zambia gets far less from the mines today than it did in the early years of independence, particularly following the Mulungushi economic reforms of 1968 that increased the national stake in the sector. Zambian miners also get far less today in purchasing power parity and social benefits from the industry. The mining companies have devised various methods for ensuring that most of the value of the copper is collected by their shareholders and the company management, and very little goes to local workers or the Zambian government. There are various tricks for maintaining this system, such as giving kickbacks to government officials, employing foreign companies as contractors, using expensive expatriates for management positions (despite Zambia having had a School of Mines for over fifty years!), and by transfer pricing.
But perhaps the main method for expropriation of value is to keep local taxation low, both as profits tax and mineral royalty tax. The main strategy that mining companies deploy to maintain low taxes is to threaten government that they will reduce mining operations, or even move out of Zambia altogether if taxes are increased. These are credible threats for two main reasons. First, any pulling out, or even reduction of expansion programmes, will affect employment in Zambia and reduce tax revenue, thus the government may be ‘cutting its nose to spite its face’ if it tries to increase taxes.
Secondly, the threats are credible because the mining giants are truly global multinational corporations, and they can fairly easily move their operations in the direction of a country where production costs are cheaper, taxation rates are lower, and bribing of government officials is even easier (the Democratic of Republic Congo, for instance, would arguably fit all three of these criteria).
In other words, a large rich multinational is in a strong position to bully a weak African state such as Zambia, and has a large influence over government policies to support the mines by tax holidays, lower taxation rates, providing subsidies (such as cheap electricity), degrading the trade unions, overlooking environmental degradation, and so on.
That said, our consistent national problem since the days of Levy Mwanawasa and Ng’andu Magande is the tragic lack of an incorruptible, patriotic, visionary, courageous, and enlightened leadership. It is a scandal what is happening in Zambia’s mining industry. The collusion between mining companies and our political elites continues to produce shadowy deals that produce terrible policies and sustain a subject that is at the heart of the activism of @FMwenge: our extreme national poverty.
The truth is that the benefit of keeping minerals in the ground, or banking them for the future, far exceeds the economic, environmental and social costs of a bad deal. So if mining companies threaten to leave because of the proposed small tax increments, Zambia would do well to pave the road for them. It is time we looked to longer-term strategies rather than short-term expediency. Banking our resources until such a time that we are in strong negotiating position or there is broader scarcity for metals that would enable us set improved terms for ourselves is better than emptying our underground wealth to mostly benefit foreign commercial interests.
It is worth noting that the basic economic position is that, for almost a hundred years, mining companies in Zambia have been milking our riches and engendering poverty and destitution. Our feet walk on copper, yet we remain absolutely poor, thanks to inept leadership from a succession of corruptible political leaders who pawn off the country for a few trinkets at a time, accumulate through brazen theft of public resources and the massive sale of Zambian assets to so-called investors, and strut around with self-importance when they are nothing but the disposable playthings of even bigger global kleptocrats.
Our mineral wealth has been and continues to be taken from us, and when they have taken the whole lot, we shall remain with nothing and probably be the poorest country on Earth, with all our wealth transported to Geneva, Beijing, New Delhi, Ottawa, London and New York.
Evangelical Youth Alliance Executive Director MOSES LUNGU has urged PF Information and Publicity Chairperson EMMANUEL MWAMBA and other stakeholders to refrain from sensationalising the Drug Enforcement Commission –DEC- summons issued to Catholic Archbishop ALICK BANDA.
Reverend LUNGU warns that Zambia’s peace and stability should not be put at risk by careless or provocative statements.
He says exaggerating a lawful investigative procedure is misleading and irresponsible, as it distorts public understanding of due process, weakens confidence in investigative institutions, and diverts attention from facts to unfounded speculation.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka today, Reverend LUNGU said public figures must exercise restraint and accuracy when addressing sensitive matters that affect faith communities and the national interest.
He added that Archbishop BANDA should honour the investigators’ request, noting that compliance with lawful summons upholds the rule of law and allows issues to be addressed through established legal channels rather than in the court of public opinion.
Meanwhile, Reverend LUNGU cautioned church leaders against accepting gifts, advising them to carefully examine such gestures to avoid compromising their integrity or becoming entangled in corrupt practices.
He said church leaders must remain focused on their spiritual mission and resist personal gain.
President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration has initiated pragmatic economic shifts to stabilize Zambia’s fiscal situation. Key measures include permitting mining companies to remit tax obligations and service certain debts in Chinese Yuan (CNY), reflecting Zambia’s reliance on Chinese investments, especially in the copper mining sector, and the need to restructure significant external debt.
Accepting CNY for commercial transactions, especially in mining, provides several advantages. Zambia’s copper, the mainstay of its foreign exchange earnings, is predominantly sold to China. By enabling payments in CNY, the government mitigates currency conversion risks and transaction costs linked to USD transactions. Mining companies like Konkola Copper Mines benefit from streamlined tax compliance and reduced demand for US dollars, preserving hard currency for essential imports priced in USD or Euros.
Additionally, utilizing CNY is strategically aimed at fostering economic integration with China, potentially unlocking further investments or favorable loan conditions amid ongoing debt restructuring with China, Zambia’s largest bilateral creditor. Committing to repay part of the external debt in the lender’s currency signals a willingness to fulfill obligations while easing tensions in negotiations overseen by international bodies like the Paris Club and G20 Common Framework. This approach might stabilize repayment schedules by alleviating exchange rate risks associated with CNY purchases using converted USD earnings.
Despite these transactional merits, the policy necessitates careful management. Key risks include potential depreciation of the Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) and depletion of foreign exchange reserves if CNY is poorly managed. If the government accepts Yuan only to sell them for USD needed for imports or non-Chinese debt servicing, it merely shifts currency risks.
Therefore, establishing a transparent mechanism for utilizing or hedging CNY reserves is critical. The government must disclose the volume of CNY accepted and its intended uses while enhancing its capacity to trade CNY internationally, ideally through increased bilateral trade in ZMW or barter arrangements. Without effective management, accumulating Yuan may lead to hidden liabilities.
Long-term, Zambia must safeguard its economic sovereignty and avoid over-reliance on a single trading partner’s currency beyond transactional necessities. The decision should maintain transactional flexibility, ensuring it does not signify a structural shift from the US dollar as the principal international reserve currency for emerging markets, while pursuing broader strategies to diversify exports and reduce dependence on Chinese financial support.
A public war of words has erupted between Chipolopolo captain Fashion Sakala and former Zambia national team striker Clifford Mulenga, following controversial remarks linked to Zambia’s poor showing at the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The exchange began after Mulenga alleged that Sakala’s preparation before Zambia’s crucial match against Morocco was questionable, claiming the forward suffered a reaction after eating caterpillars.
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“Apparently he ate caterpillars and had a huge reaction. A delicacy he’s never ever had in his entire life. He chose to eat them before the biggest game of the tournament for his country,” Mulenga wrote in a social media post, which was accompanied by clown emojis.
Mulenga further criticised the technical bench, stating that the biggest downfall for Zambia national team coach, Moses Sichone and his technical bench, was their failure to read game proceedings and opponents’ strategy.
The comments triggered a response from Sakala, who defended himself and accusing Mulenga of acting out of personal resentment rather than football analysis.
Sakala went on to accuse Mulenga of harbouring bitterness after allegedly being denied financial assistance.
“I am not surprised by the allegations you continue to make against me. You came to me several times asking for financial help, and I assisted you to the best of my ability. When I later explained that I could no longer help financially, you became my worst enemy, angry, and from that moment you chose to portray me as a bad person and a bad player,” Sakala said.
Sakala insisted that Mulenga’s accusations had nothing to do with football.
“These accusations are not about football; they are driven by your personal anger and resentment toward me over money. Own your personal reasons for hating me and stop misleading the public,” Sakala said.
The Chipolopolo captain added that while he normally avoids public confrontations, he felt compelled to respond to Mulenga’s attacks.
“I will not accept disrespect, especially from a former football player known for disciplinary issues and commitment to tearing people down,” Sakala said.
“Just accept that you never used your time nicely and I shouldn’t be blamed for your own mistakes bro. My time will definitely pass and let the next generation enjoy, and I will be there to support them, not looking down on them because of jealousy and envy”.
Sakala demanded for mutual respect while urging Mulenga to stay in his lane.
“I’m not a perfect football player and remember I’m just a normal human being who wants to contribute to our country like any other Zambian. What belongs to other people belongs to them, and what belongs to me belongs to me without downgrading other people’s accomplishments in life. Stay in your lane man,” said Sakala.
Meanwhile, Mulenga dismissed Sakala’s claims, questioning the authenticity of the statement and denying ever receiving financial assistance from the Saudi Arabia based Chipolopolo striker.
“I refuse to believe that Fashion Sakala Jr wrote this statement. I will treat this as a misguided statement and an attempt to embarrass, humiliate, discredit and intimidate me,” Mulenga said.
He challenged Sakala to provide proof for his allegations.
“If we went to court today, Fashion Sakala Jr would never produce any records, bank statements or messages of him assisting me or refusing to assist me financially,” Mulenga said.
He maintained that his comments were purely football-related and vowed to continue his analysis.
“My match analysis will not end here. If people can’t take criticism for poor performances, then let them quit the game. Fashion Sakala Jnr, Happy New Year young bro. Hope you come back stronger and become a better footballer than I was. Jealousy is something I have never known,” Mulenga said.
He reiterated that Sakala was lying about the financial assistance he claimed to have provided to him.
“Please be honest because you are lying. Otherwise, hope you come back stronger from your terrible showing at AFCON 2025,” said Mulenga.
The public fallout between the two prominent figures in Zambian football has sparked widespread debate among fans, with opinions divided over criticism, professionalism and respect within the Zambian football family.
“They Stole His Phone” – Anthony Joshua’s Uncle Condemns Bystanders and Emergency Response
Adedamola Joshua, an uncle to the heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, has expressed the family’s deep distress following the tragic accident that claimed the lives of the boxer’s two friends. He criticized the behavior of onlookers at the scene, revealing that instead of offering help, some bystanders recorded videos and even stole from the victims.
The Family’s Shock
Adedamola revealed that the family did not initially learn of the crash through social media. Instead, the devastating news came via a phone call from a retired police officer, plunging the family into confusion and grief.
He recounted:
“Well, some of us are not really used to social media, so we didn’t get to hear of it on time. But around 1 pm, one of my church members, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, called to inform me of the accident and it was like I had never in my life heard that people were involved in an accident.
“How can Anthony Joshua be involved in an accident? It sounded so impossible, but it actually happened; it is unfortunate,”
A Visit Cut Short
The uncle clarified that Joshua’s trip was a routine family visit during the festive season, not a public appearance. He noted that the boxer had arrived in Nigeria only six hours prior to the crash and had chosen to prioritize visiting his family in Sagamu over meeting dignitaries.
He stated:
“It has really left us in shock because this is not the first, the second, or the third time he has been coming home, so what happened? Why now?
“He just arrived in the country six hours ago on that day, and was eager to see his family in Sagamu, only for things to go the way they went,”
“He could have decided to say that he wanted to spend some time with the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, or other influential Nigerians, but he said that he wanted to be with his family in Sagamu. It is really painful that such an incident happened,”
System Failure and Theft
Adedamola expressed anger at the poor emergency response, noting how distressing it was to see an injured Joshua walking across the road instead of being on a stretcher. He compared the situation to standards abroad, where air ambulances would have been deployed.
He also condemned the insensitive actions of the crowd, confirming that the boxer’s phone was stolen amidst the chaos.
He lamented:
“I want to condemn the lackadaisical attitude of our government towards anything emergency. To see Joshua crossing the median after the accident when he was supposed to be on a stretcher was distressing,”
“If it had been abroad, a helicopter would have arrived at the scene within five minutes for the evacuation of the victims of the accident.”
“It is not enough to have the officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps checking vehicle documents; let there be ambulances too, stationed along this road,”
“Some Nigerians act badly at accident scenes. When they are supposed to help, you will see them bringing out their phones to make videos and even steal from the victims. That is not right,”
President Donald Trump said Saturday the United States military could have killed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro during its overnight operation if necessary.
“It could have happened,” Trump told reporters at a news conference at his Florida estate. “He was trying to get into a safe place. You know, the safe place’s all steel, and he wasn’t able to make it to the door because our guys were so fast.”
Trump reiterated how the US military “went through the opposition so fast,” while also noting that “there was a lot of opposition.”
“People were wondering, do we get them by surprise? Sort of surprised, but they were waiting for something. It was a lot of opposition. There was a lot of gunfire,” he said.
Maduro is aboard the USS Iwo Jima ship, and Trump posted an image of him in US custody shortly before the news conference began.
President Donald Trump said Saturday that the US is “going to run” Venezuela indefinitely in the aftermath of the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” he said during a press conference from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. “We don’t want to be involved with having someone else get in, and we have the same situation that we had for the last long period of years. So we are going to run the country.”
Trump added that he determined the US should take charge of Venezuela to ensure that the eventual next leader has the “good of the Venezuelan people in mind. But he offered no timeline for how long such a transition of power was expected to take.
“We’re going to stay until such time as the proper transition can take place,” he said.
Trump also said he planned to authorize US oil companies to take over Venezuela’s energy infrastructure, asserting that the corporations would “spend billions of dollars” on the project.
“We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country,” he said.
President Donald Trump said Saturday that the lights in Caracas were shut off as the Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was captured overnight, praising those involved for executing the mission.
“No nation in the world could achieve what America achieved yesterday, or frankly, in just a short period of time, all Venezuelan military capacities were rendered powerless as the men and women of our military, working with us, law enforcement, successfully captured Maduro in the dead of night. It was dark, the lights of Caracas were largely turned off due to a certain expertise that we have,” Trump said in a news conference moments ago.
President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States was prepared to mount a second attack on Venezuela if need be — though he suggested it was no longer necessary after military personnel were able to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in an overnight raid.
“We were prepared to do a second wave if we needed to do so — we actually assumed that a second wave would be necessary, but now it’s probably not,” Trump said in remarks from Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday as he recounted the operation.
“The first wave, if you’d like to call it that, the first attack was so successful, we probably don’t have to do a second, but we’re prepared to do a second wave, a much bigger wave, actually,” he continued.
The president reiterated comments that the operation conducted in the early hours of Saturday morning, which saw elite US forces drag Maduro and his wife from their bedroom, was as “pinpoint” operation.
And he added that subsequent military operations in Venezuela were in the planning phase but that the administration “probably won’t have to do” them.
President Donald Trump on Saturday praised the US operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, calling it a success and emphasizing that no American service members were killed and no US military equipment was lost.
Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago club in South Florida, Trump described the operation as highly effective and said it involved extensive US military assets.
“If you would have seen what I saw last night, you would have been very impressed. I’m not sure that you’ll ever get to see it, but it was an incredible thing to see not a single American service member was killed and not a single piece of American equipment was lost,” he said.
“We had many helicopters, many planes, many, many people involved in that fight,” the president added.
President Donald Trump posted an image of US-captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima moments ago.
Maduro, in a gray Nike sweatsuit, clutches a water bottle.
Maduro’s eyes are covered with an blacked out covering and what looks like large headphones are over his ears. It is unclear if Maduro is near his wife Cilia Flores, given she is not pictured in the photograph.
This photo posted by US President Donald Trump to the social platform Truth Social appears to show Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima. From President Donald Trump/Truth Social
“Captured and Flown Out” – Trump Announces Arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro
United States President Donald Trump has announced that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been successfully captured following a major US operation.
The Announcement
Breaking the news via his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump revealed that the mission involved a “large-scale strike” coordinated with US law enforcement. He confirmed that the Venezuelan leader and his wife have already been transported out of the country.
He wrote:
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country.
“This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Background: The $50 Million Bounty
This dramatic development follows a recent escalation by the US government, which had just months ago doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million. The bounty was predicated on his alleged role in international drug trafficking.
It is worth noting that Maduro, along with several senior Venezuelan officials, was originally indicted by the United States in 2020 during Trump’s first administration.
12 PF COUNCILLORS ENDORSE HICHILEMA, BACK UPND MAYORAL CANDIDATE SIMPOSYA IN KASAMA
January 03, 2026
Kasama – Twelve Patriotic Front (PF) councillors from Kasama and Lukashya constituencies have endorsed President Hakainde Hichilema ahead of the 2026 General Elections, citing the government’s ongoing development agenda in the area.
The councillors announced their decision at a media briefing in Kasama, where they pledged to work with the government of the day in order to accelerate service delivery and development for local communities.
They said their endorsement was motivated by visible improvements in infrastructure and social programmes under the current administration.
The councillors further revealed that they have resolved to rally behind the UPND-adopted aspiring candidate, Bywell Simposya, for the Kasama mayoral position, saying unity and cooperation are key to unlocking the city’s full development potential.
Kaituule Peter Mubanga, the former immediate Deputy Mayor of Kasama and longtime PF Kapongolo Ward Councillor since 2016, said this is the first time he has witnessed development that truly serves the people.
He pledged to rally behind President Hakainde Hichilema in 2026 to ensure the continued development of his ward.
Welcoming the endorsement, UPND Vice Chairperson for Elections, Mr Likando Mufalali, described the move as a positive step towards inclusive governance. “This gesture shows that development transcends party lines,” Mr Mufalali said.
He added that the party would work closely with all stakeholders to ensure Kasama benefits fully from national development programmes.
Meanwhile, the UPND-adopted mayoral candidate thanked the PF councillors for their support and pledged to serve all residents without discrimination. “I will work with everyone for the good of Kasama,” he said.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Mr Chipoka Mulenga, also assured the councillors that their decision was justified, noting that government policies are focused on improving livelihoods.
The Kasama mayoral position fell vacant following the death of Mayor Theresa Kolala.
AG BONDI: MADURO AND HIS WIFE INDICTED IN NEW YORK, “AMERICAN JUSTICE” NEXT
AG Pam Bondi says Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York.
She frames the operation as a major move to bring them to trial in the U.S.
“Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York.
Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.
They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.
On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers.”
