The CIA has assessed that Ukraine was not targeting a residence used by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a recent drone attack in northern Russia, according to US officials, contradicting a claim Putin made to US President Donald Trump during a phone call on Monday.
Sources said CIA Director John Ratcliffe briefed Trump on the assessment on Wednesday. The briefing undercut Russia’s public allegation that Ukraine attempted to strike Putin’s residence, a claim the Russian leader personally relayed to Trump.
Following the call, Trump told reporters he was troubled by the allegation, saying, “I don’t like it. It’s not good,” and describing himself as “very angry” after hearing Putin’s account. While acknowledging it was “possible” the claim was false, Trump initially said he was inclined to believe Putin.
However, officials said Ratcliffe later informed Trump that US intelligence agencies did not believe the claim was true. On Wednesday, Trump appeared to adopt a more skeptical tone, sharing on Truth Social a New York Post editorial titled, “Putin ‘attack’ bluster shows Russia is the one standing in the way of peace.”
The editorial argued that Russia had provided no evidence to support its claim and noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had strongly denied any such attack. It described the allegation as likely fabricated and criticised Moscow’s insistence that the public should accept its version of events without proof.
The disputed claim comes amid intense diplomatic efforts led by Trump and his envoys to end the war in Ukraine. Putin raised the allegation shortly after Trump met Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago, a meeting that reportedly left Trump optimistic about prospects for peace talks.
Some European officials believe the claim was intended to derail ongoing peace efforts without directly provoking criticism from Trump. Others have also expressed skepticism. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, described the allegation as a “deliberate distraction.”
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed that 91 drones were launched from northern Ukraine toward Putin’s residence near Valdai in the Novgorod region. According to the ministry, more than half were intercepted hundreds of kilometers away, while the rest were brought down over Novgorod between 3 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. local time on Monday.
The ministry did not explain how it determined the drones were headed for Valdai but released a map it said showed their flight paths and interception points.
Zohran Mamdani has officially assumed office as the mayor of New York City, marking a historic moment in the city’s political history.
According to The Sunday Guardian, Mamdani was sworn in just after midnight on January 1, 2026, during a symbolic ceremony held at the old City Hall subway station. He became the first Muslim, the first mayor of South Asian heritage, and one of the youngest mayors to lead America’s largest city.
In a first for New York City, Mamdani took his oath of office with his hand placed on the holy Quran, underscoring the city’s multicultural identity and growing diversity in political leadership.
The swearing-in ceremony has been widely described as a significant milestone in American urban politics, reflecting a shift toward broader representation in one of the world’s most influential cities.
Mamdani’s inauguration officially signals the beginning of a new administration as he takes charge of New York City at a time of major social, economic, and political transitions.
Ebo Noah has finally arrested by Ghanaian police for misleading people
Self‑styled prophet Evans Eshun popularly known as Ebo Noah has been arrested after his end‑of‑the‑world prediction sparked public panic.
Eshun claimed the world would end on Christmas Day 2025 in a massive flood, building eight “arks” and insisting only those inside would survive.
Police say he was detained by the Inspector General’s Special Cyber Vetting Team as part of efforts to curb cyber‑related activities ahead of New Year’s Eve religious services.
His prophecy drew global attention and fuelled fear and intense reactions online.
Don’t come with cadres on Monday, DEC boss warns Alick Banda
THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has warned Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda against carrying his legion of followers with him as the cleric appears at its offices on Monday morning.
Yesterday, the commission gave the Archbishop a surprise festive ‘gift,’ ordering him to appear at its headquarters.
Addressing journalists in Lusaka this afternoon, DEC director general Nason Banda confirmed that his namesake had been indeed summoned by the commission.
Banda stated that the summon is in connection with a Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Hilux that was gifted to the Archbishop years ago.
The commission’s boss stated that the summon was nothing political and the law enforcement officers were only interested in hearing the archbishop’s side of the story.
He bemoaned the circulation of call outs on social, explaining that a summon was a private document that needed to be shown to a suspect’s lawyers only.
“When there is a case, there are procedures that we follow. These procedures have nothing to do with the status of the target. The rule of law says nobody is above the law. This particular case has been running for some time. We ceased motor vehicles and some people have been convicted because government property was taken away from government and appropriated to individuals.”
“Nothing political, we just want him to give us his side of the story. We are not politicians, we are law enforcement officers, we operate at our own time, in our own space because we have laws that govern our activities. It’s that simple. There is no politics involved,” explained Banda.
He further dismissed social media allegations that government was fighting the Catholic Church, emphasising that nobody was above the law.
“I’m a very devoted Catholic myself, and I was even chairman for my parish and my wife was also a chairperson. I’m from the Lusaka archdiocese myself, his Grace Alick Banda is my Archbishop. No we are not fighting the Catholic Church,” he said.
He expressed shock that when some individuals are given summons, they flood them all over social media, stating that call outs are private documents which should not be shared with the public.
“Posting your summon on social media won’t stop us from asking you questions. No one is above the law.
“As his grace comes on Monday, let him come nicely quietly alone. Don’t bring people that are irrelevant to the case. It was not me who mentioned his name. He was mentioned in court not me. We want him to help us with investigations because he has been mentioned, he’s a Zambian like us, he needs to explain,” said Banda.https://kalemba.news/politics/dont-come-with-cadres-on-monday-dec-boss-warns-alick-banda/
THE HILUX VS THE BILLIONS: IS THE DEC CHASING SHADOWS WHILE THE HOUSE BURNS?
The Drug Enforcement Commission’s (DEC) decision to summon Archbishop Alick Banda on the eve of an election cycle has been presented in some quarters as evidence that Zambia’s law enforcement agencies are finally embracing “procedural accountability.” Yet to many ordinary citizens struggling under the weight of a collapsing economy, the move appears less like a principled stand for justice and more like a carefully timed distraction.
At the centre of the investigation is a Toyota Hilux, allegedly gifted to the Archbishop during the previous administration. In isolation, the matter is not trivial. The law must apply equally to all, regardless of clerical collar or political standing. However, context matters. And in the context of Zambia’s current economic hemorrhage, the optics are deeply troubling.
Zambia is not suffering from petty corruption; it is bleeding from grand, systemic leakages. The 2024 Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) Trends Report paints a grim picture: an estimated US$3.5 billion, approximately K81 billion, was lost to illicit financial flows in a single year. These losses stem from tax evasion, illegal mining, trade mis-invoicing, and complex corporate schemes that quietly drain the national treasury.
To place this figure in perspective, US$3.5 billion is nearly 42 per cent of the 2025 national budget. It is money that could have stocked hospitals, stabilised the kwacha, rehabilitated roads, and restored public confidence in governance. Against this backdrop, the State’s intense focus on a single vehicle feels painfully disproportionate.
Where are the summons for the directors of multinational firms flagged in FIC reports? Where are the visible investigations into the networks facilitating illegal mineral exports and capital flight? These questions remain unanswered.
The New Dawn administration swept into office on a promise of transparency and zero tolerance for corruption. Yet the years 2024 and 2025 have been punctuated by scandals that strike at the core of human survival.
The ZAMMSA scandal, involving 61 containers of medical supplies, culminated in the withdrawal of US$50 million in U.S. health aid. While a handful of junior and middle-level officials were arrested, the public has yet to see accountability commensurate with the scale of the failure, one that left clinics without essential medicines.
More troubling still was the collapse of trust in the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). In mid-2024, the ACC board was dissolved following allegations by Commissioner O’Brien Kaaba that the institution had been “captured” to shield senior officials. When the hunters are accused of being compromised by the hunted, public faith in anti-corruption efforts inevitably erodes.
It is within this climate that the summoning of a prominent cleric—who has been an outspoken moral critic of governance failures—has been received with scepticism.
As Zambia edges closer to 2026, the political stakes are unmistakably high. Opposition parties, particularly the Patriotic Front (PF), are financially weakened. Meanwhile, the Catholic Church remains one of the few institutions with both moral authority and nationwide infrastructure capable of shaping public opinion.
By shifting the national conversation from “US$3.5 billion lost under the current watch” to “Archbishop questioned over PF-linked assets,” the State effectively rewrites the headlines. This is not merely a legal manoeuvre; it is a narrative one.
The DEC insists its mandate is prevention, not persecution. But prevention must be proportional to harm. Preventing the irregular disposal of a handful of vehicles from a previous era does little to stem the category-five hurricane currently battering the economy.
The critical question confronting the DEC is simple: why does the spotlight so often find those who speak truth to power, while the architects of grand corruption remain in the shadows?
Accountability is noble. Selective accountability is not. When enforcement appears uneven, it risks becoming a tool of intimidation rather than justice.
The questioning of Archbishop Banda may yield hours of interrogation and days of social-media debate. But it will not restock empty hospital shelves. It will not recover billions siphoned through illicit networks. And it will not convince a sceptical public that the fight against corruption is being waged where it truly matters.
Zambians are not blind. They can distinguish between symbolic gestures and systemic reform. If the 5th of January is to be remembered as a day of justice rather than political theatre, the State must demonstrate the same urgency in summoning the architects of the US$3.5 billion illicit flows as it does in summoning a priest over a used truck.
Anything less is not a war on corruption. It is a struggle for political survival, waged at the expense of public trust.
The Struggle Continues
Sensio Banda Former Member of Parliament Kasenengwa Constituency Eastern Province
🇿🇲 BRIEFING | DEC Justifies Archbishop Summon as Opposition Cries Foul, Public Opinion Split
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has defended its decision to summon Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda, insisting the move is a routine investigative step with no political or religious motive, even as opposition figures accuse the State of intimidation and public reaction remains sharply divided.
DEC Director General Nason Banda confirmed that the Archbishop was summoned in connection with investigations into motor vehicles belonging to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) that were allegedly illegally disposed of and later found in his possession.
He said the call-out was issued under the Anti-Money Laundering Act and was meant to allow the named individual to explain matters appearing in official records.
“This is a professional and private process,” Mr Banda said. “It has nothing to do with politics or the Catholic Church. We summoned a name that appears in our records, not an office. Many cases are resolved once explanations are given.”
Mr Banda added that the vehicles are currently in DEC custody and can be physically verified, stressing that the summons “was not even supposed to be on social media.”
He said the Archbishop is expected to appear quietly on Monday, 5 January 2026, to assist investigations so the matter can be concluded. The summons has, however, triggered strong political reactions.
Socialist Party leader Fred M’membe described the move as “political persecution,” calling on Catholics and “all people of conscience” to accompany Archbishop Banda to the DEC offices in solidarity.
“This is not law enforcement. This is a calculated political attack meant to silence a critic ahead of the 2026 elections,” Dr M’membe said.
Patriotic Front presidential aspirant Brian Mundubile has echoed similar concerns, accusing the government of attempting to intimidate priests who have been critical of the administration.
Online, public sentiment remains divided. Some commentators argue that the Archbishop, like any other citizen, must account for assets linked to ongoing investigations.
Others view the timing and profile of the summons as sensitive, given the Catholic Church’s long-standing role as a vocal moral authority in national affairs.
At this stage, the DEC has emphasised that the summons does not amount to a charge or a finding of guilt, but forms part of ongoing inquiries.
The outcome is likely to shape both legal and political debate in the early weeks of an election year.
After careful reflection, I wish to confirm that I have rescinded my earlier decision: A response to John Sangwa
1 January 2026
Dear John,
I am deeply grateful to you for your open letter of 18 December 2025 and for the generosity of spirit with which you addressed my decision to step away from providing public political commentary on matters of governance in Zambia. I am profoundly humbled that a citizen of your standing would publicly implore me to reconsider my decision. Your appeal, together with the pleas of many other Zambians who have reached out to me both publicly and privately, has weighed heavily on my conscience.
I read your letter with great care and emotion. I was particularly struck by your observation that my voice has been “a clarion call, reminding us that democracy is a sacred covenant that must be defended at all costs.” I was equally moved by your reminder that “your insistence on truth does not dissipate into emptiness; it creates a living discourse that others recognise and into which they are inspired to lend their voices.” Such words, coming from you, are both encouraging and sobering.
Like you, I remain deeply disappointed by the passage of Bill 7, whose adverse consequences will no doubt be felt soon and for many years to come. Its impact will be borne not only by ordinary Zambians, but also by those Members of Parliament who betrayed their oath to defend the Constitution and supported the Bill under questionable circumstances, as well as by intellectuals who chose, and continue to choose, silence in the face of grave threats to our constitutional and democratic order. I feel a particularly deep sense of sadness for the intellectuals who once stood with me when the previous government violated basic constitutional norms yet now choose silence as those same errors are repeated with even greater consequences. History will be an unforgiving judge of these choices.
It is also true, as you so candidly acknowledge, that I have paid a heavy personal price for my views. This has included abuse, the loss of friendships, betrayal, and even threats to my life. These are not abstract costs. They are real, personal, and at times deeply unsettling. My decision to step back was born of extreme disappointment, not indifference. Following the passage of Bill 7, I found myself despondent, as many Zambian patriots did, that such a manifestly unconstitutional amendment could be passed by the National Assembly even after the process leading to its development had been declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court.
However, I have reflected deeply on that decision and on the many earnest requests urging me to reconsider, including your own powerful entreaty. I have come to the conclusion that withdrawing my voice at this moment would be a dereliction of responsibility. Our country faces profound governance challenges that can only be addressed if we collectively and courageously confront the truth and direct our concerns to those we have entrusted with the management of our public affairs.
As a professional historian, I am privileged to understand some of these challenges. With that privilege comes a moral and ethical duty not only to share that understanding with fellow citizens, but also to speak truth to power when the occasion demands. I do not, for a moment, regret the time and effort I have devoted over the years to contributing to public discourse in an attempt to make Zambia a better place. I firmly believe that we all win when we create a Zambia that works for the many, not the few.
It is my sincere hope that the government will, at some point, choose to engage meaningfully with what I and many others have to offer in discussions aimed at building a more inclusive and fair society and a just, democratic, and constitutional order for all who live in or belong to our country. After all, this is what the government promised and what the President committed to do when he took his oath of office in August 2021. Silencing or ignoring dissenting voices has never strengthened a nation; engaging them honestly often does.
After careful reflection, I wish to confirm that I have rescinded my earlier decision. I will continue to offer public comment on issues of national significance, mindful of the risks, but strengthened by the knowledge that I am not alone. As you so rightly noted, “you are not a solitary voice crying out each day; many others are joining you in the struggle for a free, just, and democratic Zambia.” Discharging this civic duty sometimes puts some of us in harm’s way. However, we cannot run away from this responsibility, no matter how dangerous this undertaking may be. If anything, carrying out this role is more important than usual as we approach elections this year. It is likely that this year will be more difficult than the one before. It may even break or save Zambia.
Thank you once again for your courage, your solidarity, and your faith in the power of principled engagement. I am sincerely grateful. As you and many other people do, I believe deeply in Zambia and in all the communities that fashion its fabric. Zambia is the centre of my being; its well-being or integrity outweighs the interests of any individual or institution within it. And if all I can do is to speak, it is for Zambia that I will speak, whatever the personal cost.
As civic-minded citizens who care deeply about our country, we have a duty to refuse to assume the sterile attitude of a spectator when it comes to matters of governance. We should not be afraid. In fact, fear and ignorance are the tools that both trainee and established dictators rely upon to survive. If we succumb to fear and allow ignorance to be the guiding darkness in our lives, then we are doomed, for a very long time. Can we cast away our fear and equip ourselves with the weapon of knowledge necessary to win our freedom? We must.
Biblically, the welfare of gospel ministers is a responsibility of church members.
God set aside the tribe of the Levites to serve as Priests.
To ensure their welfare, He decreed that part of the offerings that came into the sanctuary would be for their upkeep (Numbers 18: 21-24).
Fastforward to our time, full time gospel ministers are paid a salary that comes from the offerings church members bring.
But in addition to this, church members are encouraged to appreciate their gospel ministers by giving them gifts in whatever form they see fit.
This is in keeping with Biblical teachings that expect believers to look after the welfare of their ministers.
But the Zambian law doesn’t recognize this Biblical practice and yet it’s a Christian nation!
The declaration of Zambia was done without bringing its laws in line with some Biblical practices.
We have a day of national prayer because prayer is a Biblical practice.
We have even declared December 29 as a holiday in memory of the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation.
And yet some aspects of the Bible, like the obligation to take care of our gospel ministers, we shall not obey!
This is why some of us remained opposed to this declaration because it is not only contradictory, it’s hypocritical.
Gospel ministers, like the churches they serve, are not biblically obliged to ask their congregants the source of the gifts and offerings they are bringing into the house of God.
I expect the criminal justice system of a country that was declared a Christian nation to align with Biblical principals such as the welfare of gospel ministers.
This will mean having a law that specifically states that a church or its gospel minister shall not be a subject of criminal investigations in respect of property gifted to them in the course of their duties.
This is not too much to ask because church offerings are already tax exempt.
As long as the Zambian government doesn’t do this, law enforcement agencies will summon and subsequently prosecute gospel ministers who happen to be found in possession of stolen property.
It’s even possible that some churches shall one day forfeit their buildings to the state should it be established that they were built out of proceeds of crime!
..instead of pursuing those that gifted, he is pursuing those that received…
Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba wrote;
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has summoned Lusaka Archbishop, Dr. Alick Banda over a donated Toyota Hilux
The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has a long-standing policy of donating forfeited, seized vehicles and assorted goods to public institutions and charitable organizations.
These donations have been given to the DMMU, FIC, National Parole Board, UTH and Churches including the SDA, and the Catholic Church.
Recently President Hakainde Hichilema has recently been on a donating spree to the Church with notable and large finacial gifts given to;
1. Libala SDA Church (Lusaka)-K1.8 million. 2. Southern Zambia Union Conference (SZUC) Dorcas Rally (Rusangu)-K1.9 million, 10 cows/heifers, feeding, and 200 bags of mealie. 3. Choma Central SDA Church- K200,000.
Many have questioned the intention and source of funding for these large donations.
“They Are Way Off” – Burna Boy Laughs Off $22 Million Net Worth Estimate
Grammy-winning superstar Burna Boy has brushed off online estimates regarding his wealth, specifically Google search results claiming his net worth sits at $22 million.
The Interview
During a recent interview, the “African Giant” couldn’t help but laugh when presented with the figure. He clarified that the estimate is inaccurate, implying that his actual financial standing is significantly higher. However, he noted that he is quite comfortable with the public underestimating his wealth.
He stated:
”I prefer them saying that, that’s cool. I like that one. They are way off. Its truly a blessing to be in a situation to take change my family’s life and take care of expenses for other people“
Evidence of Wealth
The singer’s dismissal of the $22 million figure aligns with his recent spending habits in 2025. Reports highlight that he has made massive luxury acquisitions this year, including becoming the first African to own the 2025 Lamborghini Revuelto, valued at over ₦1.5 billion ($600,000). His total car collection is reportedly valued at nearly ₦19 billion ($13 million), featuring rare models like a McLaren Senna Carbon Fibre Edition and a Ferrari Purosangue.
Recent Concert Drama
The interview comes amidst a separate controversy where the singer faced backlash for ejecting a fan from his “No Sign of Weakness” tour at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Burna Boy had stopped his performance to call out a fan in the front row who was sleeping, stating that seeing such a sight “pisses him off.”
“America is the Most Dangerous” – Rapper DDG Slams Western Propaganda on Nigeria
American hip-hop artist Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr., known professionally as DDG, has dismissed Western media depictions of Nigeria as “fake” and misleading.
Safety Comparison
Currently enjoying a holiday in Lagos, the rapper argued that contrary to the scary narratives often pushed by Western outlets, Nigeria is significantly safer than his home country. He specifically highlighted the difference in gun culture and organized crime, urging foreigners to visit and judge for themselves.
He stated:
“I honestly think America is the most dangerous country. I don’t think Nigeria is as dangerous as America – nowhere near.
“No doubt, there is insecurity in Nigeria. But gun violence and gangsterism is not common in Nigeria as in America. So, if anybody is thinking about coming to Nigeria, pull up.”
Debunking Food Myths
DDG also addressed the health warnings he received prior to his trip. He revealed that he was cautioned that Nigerian food was unhealthy and was advised to boil water before drinking. However, he debunked these claims, noting that he found the local cuisine particularly Jollof rice to be very healthy.
“Heavy-Hearted” – Anthony Joshua Discharged from Hospital Following Fatal Crash
Former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has been officially discharged from the hospital and declared clinically fit to continue his recovery at home.
A Somber Recovery
A joint statement released by Gbenga Omotoso, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, and Kayode Akinmade, the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor, confirmed his discharge on Wednesday. However, the joy of his survival is overshadowed by grief, with the statement noting that the boxing star is currently “heavy-hearted and full of emotions” over the tragic loss of his two close friends.
Identities of the Deceased
The statement identified the victims of the crash as Lateef Ayodele and Cina Gami. Before retiring to recuperate, Joshua and his mother visited a funeral home in Lagos to pay their final respects as the bodies were being prepared for repatriation.
The statement read:
“The governments of Lagos and Ogun states, once again, commiserate with the families of the two young men – Lateef Ayodele and Cina Gami – who tragically and unfortunately lost their lives in the road accident involving Anthony Joshua on the 29th Dec 2025.
“We pray that the Almighty grant the repose of their souls whilst granting their families and loved ones the fortitude to bear this very sad and painful loss.
“Anthony and his mother were at the funeral home in Lagos this afternoon to pay their final respects to his two departed friends as they were being prepared for repatriation scheduled for later this evening.
“Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu deeply appreciate the public concern and show of love and affection over this very sad and unfortunate incident.”
The officials also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support and commended the medical team at Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, for their care.
FRSC Blames Speed and Wrongful Overtaking
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has shed more light on the cause of the accident, which occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Speaking on Channels Television, the FRSC Ogun State Public Relations Officer, Afolabi Oyewole, attributed the crash to human error, specifically excessive speed and a dangerous overtaking maneuver.
Oyewole explained:
“We do speak about overspeeding and wrongful overtaking. Human factors will come into play every time there is a crash.
“What happened was that the driver who was involved in that ghastly accident involving Anthony Joshua was on a very high speed. He wrongfully overtook and hit a stationed vehicle that was parked at the extreme shoulder of the road.”
He further noted that the nature of the impact made it nearly impossible for the passengers on the right side to survive.
“There was no way he could have saved every other person in that vehicle, but fortunately enough, the side that had impact on the vehicle was the right-hand side that he wrongfully overtook and hit the truck,”
Rescue Details
It was also confirmed that following the crash, Joshua and the driver were immediately rescued from the scene by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) attached to his security detail and rushed to the hospital.
MAINA SOKO MEDICAL CENTER CONDUCTING 8 BRAIN SURGERIES MONTHLY
By Chamuka Shalubala/Raphael Mulenga
Maina Soko Medical Center says it is now conducting about eight brain surgeries every month, showcasing its increased capacity in specialist care.
Hospital Commandant Brigadier General Dr. Levy Muchemwa gave the update when Zambia Army Commander Lieutenant General Geoffrey Zyeele, visited the hospital to give hampers to new year-born babies and other patients at the health facility.
Dr. Muchemwa disclosed that in 2025, the hospital carried out over 700 surgical procedures and currently has 64 patients, with numbers almost evenly shared between service members and civilians.
He highlighted that despite manpower challenges, the hospital continues to operate normally, with an establishment review underway to strengthen staffing and improve service delivery in 2026.
And Lieutenant General Zyeele has assured that the military-run medical health center will continue to offer quality health medical care and services.
Meanwhile, Kitwe District has recorded a total of 11 new year babies, comprising six girls and five boys.
Speaking when she presented baby hampers to six health facilities across the district this morning, Kitwe Mayor Mpasa Mwaya represented by her Deputy, Alex Mwango has expressed satisfaction with the number of babies born, and wished them good health and a bright future.
BOMBSHELL WAR VET VOWS: “MNANGAGWA MUST GO, 2030 PLOT WILL DIE!”
War veterans’ leader and Vice President Chiwenga ally Blessed “Cde Bombshell” Geza has launched a blistering end-of-year broadside, declaring that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s days are numbered and that the much-talked-about 2030 Project is “dead before birth”.
In a fiery message to Zimbabweans at home and abroad, Geza said 2025 had been a year of suffering, truth-telling and political awakening, as corruption deepened and ordinary citizens were pushed to the brink. He accused Mnangagwa and what he called Zvigananda elite looters masquerading as leaders of hijacking the liberation movement to protect stolen wealth and evade accountability.
Geza insisted his stance is driven by duty, not ambition, warning that constitutional manipulation and third-term ambitions threaten the nation’s soul. He revealed he was forced into hiding for speaking out, as war veterans and citizens were arrested for demanding their rights.
But defiant to the end, Cde Bombshell vowed that 2026 would be a turning point, declaring: “Power that fears the end has already failed. Zimbabwe will rise again.”
ZELENSKY: PEACE DEAL TO END THE WAR IS “90% READY”
In his New Year’s address, Zelensky dropped a bombshell: a potential peace agreement to end Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine is “90 percent ready.”
He confirmed he would only sign a “strong agreement” that preserves his country’s sovereignty, but let’s be honest, that missing 10% probably includes the stuff no one wants to budge on: occupied territory, security guarantees, Crimea, and how to deal with war crimes.
Zelensky framed it as progress, but also admitted it’s the hardest part left.
After nearly two years of brutal war, global economic shocks, and staggering human loss, even 90% of a deal is a glimpse at something that’s felt impossible: an endgame.
A next meeting between Zelenskyy and international leaders is scheduled for January 6 in France.
Zelensky:
“Have our arguments been heard? We very much hope so.
Have they agreed with us? Not fully. Not yet.
That is precisely why, for now, we speak of 90 percent, not the full 100 percent, readiness of a peace agreement
What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes.
At any cost? No. We want the end of the war, not the end of Ukraine.”
Hichilema will win elections with over 80 percent votes – Sturdy Mwale
FORMER Copperbelt PF provincial chairman Sturdy Mwale says he does not regret leaving the PF because it is full of confusion.
Mwale has since stated that President Hakainde Hichilema will win this year’s general election with more than 80 percent of the votes.
“Looking at them now, the opposition will lose the general election. The ruling government will carry the day. There is total coordination in the UPND. There is no opposition and President Hichilema will get 85 percent of votes,” Mwale told ZNBC.
He said he will soon announce his next political zzzmove after wide consultations from family, friends and supporters countrywide.
Mwale who was also Defence permanent secretary in the previous administration stated that he does not regret leaving the PF as it is full of juniors trying to give orders to senior members of the party.
“I recently left PF and of course, I don’t regret leaving the PF. In the next few days, I will make my political stance known. There is too much confusion in the opposition. It made me leave the opposition, the infighting in PF is too much, the administration is bad and real, and there is lack of direction.”
“We even have SGs who are very junior, who don’t even know political lineage and making decisions for us senior members, who have been in the party for over 24 years,” explained Mwale. .
After January 12, PF will go to convention under whatever umbrella – Lubinda
PF FACTION president Given Lubinda says the former ruling party will proceed to hold its convention immediately after January 12, 2026, once two legal matters standing in the way are dealt with.
Speaking during a press briefing yesterday, Lubinda said the Patriotic Front is currently tied down by two court matters but made it clear that these will not stop the party from going to the convention.
He explained that the two legal issues are scheduled to be attended to on January 9 and January 12, 2026, after which the PF will have no excuse to delay the long-awaited convention.
“After the matters are attended to on 9th and 12th of January 2026, the party will have to go to the convention under whatever umbrella it shall choose,” he stated.
Lubinda warned party members and the public not to doubt the PF’s resolve, insisting that the convention will take place very soon after January 12.
“Make no mistake, very, very soon after 12th January 2026, members of the movement that was created by Michael Chinufya Sata and left to us by Edgar Chagwa Lungu shall hold the convention to elect its third president and its central committee,” Lubinda said.
He stressed that the convention is not optional but a constitutional requirement that must be fulfilled to give the party legitimate leadership going into the 2026 General Election.
Lubinda said the PF belongs to its members and not to court processes or individuals trying to delay internal democracy for their own benefit.
The PF has been rocked by internal divisions and leadership disputes since losing power in 2021, with multiple factions claiming legitimacy.
PF’s legally recognised president Robert Chabinga obtained a court injunction restraining the Lubinda-led faction from holding a convention, arguing that only the legally recognised office bearers have the authority to convene such a meeting.
The matter has since been dragged through the courts, with hearings scheduled for January 9 and January 12, dates which Lubinda said will clear the way for the convention.
Archbishop Alick Banda was summoned yesterday to appear before the Anti-money Laundering Investigations Unit at the former Ministry of Justice building on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 10:00 hours without fail.
This attempt by Mr Hakainde Hichilema to discredit, criminalise, and humiliate him is not new. It has been a political survival strategy of his from the very beginning of his government. It is intensified now to ensure that Archbishop Banda is removed long before this year’s August 13 general elections.
The attacks on Archbishop Banda using the Drug Enforcement Commission, which is today under his direct supervision and command, show the crassness of Mr Hichilema’s politics.
But it shouldn’t be forgotten that the Catholic Church has been under continual attack ever since the time of Jesus. Does anyone believe that it will suddenly end?
As Mr Hichilema increasingly becomes politically insecure, we can expect that he will increase his attacks on the leadership of the Catholic Church, especially on Archbishop Banda.
The Catholic Church has stood athwart the world, as it has since the time of Jesus. Catholicism is not about worldly power (even though it has involved itself in worldly matters), but its primary mission is personal salvation. Catholic history is filled with martyrs who stood for the church who died at the hands of governments and men like Mr Hichilema.
Catholics should fully expect that under Mr Hichilema’s persecution will increase. To believe otherwise is to ignore his attitude towards the Catholic leadership, especially Archbishop Banda, over the last 4 years of his government.
Again, in difficult times like these, it is important to turn to the homily of Pope Francis on this score: “Bishops must remember, particularly when under attack, that their role is to pray, be humble in knowing God chose them, and remain close to the people. In fact, a bishop does not seek refuge from the powerful, the elite, no.
It will be the elite who criticize the bishop, while the people show love toward their bishop and confirm him in his vocation. In these times, it seems like the devil, the great accuser, has been let loose, and he’s got it in for the bishops. The great accuser seeks to reveal sins, which people can see, in order to scandalize the people of God.
The great accuser roams the world seeking how to blame. The strength of the bishop against the great accuser is prayer — his own and Jesus’, the humility to feel chosen and staying close to the people of God without heading toward an aristocratic life.”
Let’s all pray for our Archbishop and accompany him to DEC on Monday.
Fred M’membe President of the Socialist Party and 2026 presidential candidate of the People’s Pact
MAKEBI ZULU CONDEMNS SUMMONING OF ARCHBISHOP BANDA
Renowned Constitutional Lawyer and Patriotic Front PF Presidential Aspirant Makebi Zulu has strongly condemned the decision by the UPND government to summon Archbishop Alick Banda under the guise of anti–money laundering investigations.
Zulu described the action as not only unwarranted but deeply alarming, stating it reflects a deliberate attempt to intimidate a respected religious leader who has consistently spoken truth to power.
“The Catholic Church has long stood as a moral compass for our nation, guiding society through principles of integrity, justice, and compassion,” he stated.
Zulu emphasised that Archbishop Banda has been a courageous and consistent voice for accountability.
“Fearlessly highlighting corruption, injustice, and poor governance,” he added.
He stressed that targeting him now is an attack on the very moral ideals and democratic values he embodies.
He observed that the incident is yet another example of selective justice.
Zulu pointed out that while ministers and ruling party officials facing allegations are shielded and their identities concealed, the government has chosen to publicly malign a man of faith.
“Such hypocrisy is not only shameful but also exposes the erosion of the democratic principles the UPND once pledged to defend. We remind those in power that authority is never permanent. Manipulating state institutions to settle political scores is a reckless and divisive path. One that breeds instability and fuels public distrust,” he remarked.
Zulu noted that the Zambian people are vigilant as they witness the growing double standards and the culture of fear that is taking root. .
“As we move toward the 2026 elections, this act will remain etched in public memory as a symbol of how far this government has drifted from its promises,” he stated.
He, therefore, urged opposition parties, civil society, and all well-meaning citizens to unite in safeguarding our democracy and defending our fundamental freedoms.
“To the UPND leadership, you were elected to serve, not to persecute, to govern with humility, not to suppress dissent. The people are watching. God is watching and history will judge,” he said.
Award winning Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono denounces summoning of Archbishop Banda
He writes:
The Drug Enforcement Commission of Zambia has summoned Archbishop Alick Banda of the Archdiocese of Lusaka to appear before its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit.
The letter, dated 31 December 2025 and issued by the Republic of Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission, instructs Alick Banda to report to DEC offices in Lusaka on 5 January 2026 at 10:00 hours.
The summons is issued under Section 26(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act No. 14 of 2001 and is signed by the Head of the AMLIU on behalf of the Director General.
The Catholic Church in Zambia has historically been a powerful moral and political voice, often speaking critically about governance, corruption, and economic hardship. Archbishop Banda himself has been an outspoken cleric on national issues, which makes the summons particularly sensitive in a country where church and state relations carry significant political weight.
At this stage, the notice is a requirement to appear for questioning and does not amount to a charge or a finding of guilt.
However, its issuance signals that investigators believe there are matters requiring formal explanation under Zambia’s anti-money laundering framework.
The situation is likely to attract close public attention, given the Church’s influence and the broader climate of enforcement actions under the current anti-corruption drive.
GIVEN LUBINDA SAYS PF NOT INTIMIDATED BY GOVT’S MINGALATO’ THREAT
Patriotic Front acting president Given Lubinda has dismissed the ruling party’s perceived threats of ‘Mingalato’ against the opposition, saying the party is not scared of any form of political intimidation ahead of this year’s general elections.
In an interview with Phoenix News, Mr. Lubinda has urged government to focus on addressing the everyday needs of Zambians, such as food security and prompt payment of farmers for produce supplied to the state, rather than undermining the opposition.
He says citizens are the real opposition, and has advised government to prioritize their needs.
Mr. Lubinda has criticized government’s continued tactics aimed at undermining the opposition, saying such focus wastes public resources and energy that should be directed towards improving livelihoods.
He has assured that the PF will be more united, amidst reports of a new wave of ‘Mingalato’ being planned against the opposition should they unite.
FOREIGN RESERVES BUILT ON THE BACKS OF STARVING FARMERS ARE NOT AN ACHIEVEMENT
It is both tragic and morally indefensible that Mr Hakainde Hichilema’s government can publicly boast about holding a mere USD 5 billion in foreign reserves while thousands of Zambian farmers remain unpaid for maize they supplied to the state. This is not economic prudence. It is cruelty disguised as fiscal discipline.
A government that takes maize from farmers, sells part of it, benefits from the proceeds, and then withholds payment is not managing an economy. It is exploiting its own citizens. Who does that to the very people who feed the nation? What moral justification exists for celebrating reserves while farmers cannot pay for their farming inputs, service loans, or even prepare adequately for the next farming season?
Let us be clear. The money sitting in those so-called reserves does not belong to Mr Hichilema or the UPND government. It belongs to Zambian farmers. It is the sweat of rural households, the dignity of men and women who trusted the state in good faith. Any reserve built on unpaid obligations is not a reserve. It is stolen time, stolen labour, and stolen hope.
The consequences of this insensitivity will not be abstract. They will be real and devastating. Farmers who are not paid today will not plant tomorrow. Reduced planting this season means food shortages next year and the year after. It means higher mealie meal prices. It means hunger. It means instability. No amount of praise from Western embassies or international financial institutions will fill empty granaries.
Mr Hichilema appears more eager to impress the West than to protect the livelihoods of his own people. This obsession with external approval has produced a dangerous policy mindset where pleasing creditors and donors take precedence over paying farmers and safeguarding food security. The Zambia government does not exist to validate foreign economic theories. It exists to serve Zambians.
A government that claims to be pro-poor cannot build its macroeconomic narrative on the suffering of small-scale farmers. You cannot preach discipline to a farmer who has delivered maize, waited months without payment, and watched interest on loans accumulate. You cannot lecture a rural household about patience when children are sleeping hungry.
Mr Hichilema must urgently realign his priorities. Paying farmers is not charity. It is a contractual and moral obligation. It is also a strategic necessity for national food security. If the UPND government truly believes in economic justice, then it must immediately retrieve and redirect those funds to clear arrears owed to farmers.
Zambia will not be developed by press statements about reserves. It will be developed by honouring commitments, protecting producers, and placing the poor at the centre of economic policy. Anything less is betrayal.
History will not remember how loudly the UPND government boasted about reserves. It will remember whether farmers were paid, whether fields were planted, and whether children had food on the table. On that score, the current trajectory is alarming and unacceptable.
Fred M’membe Socialist Party president and People’s Pact presidential candidate
EMMANUEL MWAMBA SUGGESTS THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BATOKA GORGE POWER PLANT IS IN DISCRIMINATION OF DEVELOPING NORTHERN REGIONS OF ZAMBIA IN POWER PRODUCTION AND SUGGESTS CANCELLING PROJECT
By Shalala Oliver Sepiso
This morning Emmanuel Mwamba wrote a social media posting in which he suggested to “shelve the Batoka Hydro-Power Project” and “take the Project where there is assured water” suggesting the Northern Region of Zambia.
He further said construction of Batoka Gorge was an act of ‘insanity’. “… it is said that Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Emmanuel Mwamba’s criticism comes in the wake of revelations that the $5 billion Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme (BGHES) is back on track following a major funding commitment and a shift in the project’s development model.
On December 30, 2025, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) announced that Zambia and Zimbabwe had each committed $220 million ($440 million total) to the project. This allocation is officially integrated into the 2026 budget cycles of both nations to specifically fund the construction of the dam. Following the cancellation of previous contracts, a new bidding process is underway. Bids are expected by April 2025, with final selection of a new project developer targeted for late 2025 or early 2026. A resource mobilization committee has also been established to secure further funding for the 2,400 MW facility. In late 2023, UNESCO granted permission for the project to proceed despite environmental concerns regarding its proximity to Victoria Falls, a World Heritage site. To mitigate the impact on the gorge, the project will follow a “run-of-river” operating regime to minimize ecosystem disturbance.
In the new dispensation, the project has shifted to a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, exploring equity partnerships to enhance bankability rather than relying solely on traditional debt. Zambia cancelled the original 2019 contract with General Electric and PowerChina in 2024, citing a lack of transparency and irregular procurement. The current “reset” aims for a more transparent and legally sound tendering process.
Despite all these developments, Emmanuel Mwamba suggests that the project be shelved and development be taken to the north. His suggestion of shelving the project is not well thought and goes against logic, research, data and facts.
Firstly, while northern rivers like the Kalungwishi and Chambeshi have high, reliable water volumes, their development for large-scale (multi-gigawatt) hydropower is constrained by the region’s flat topography.
Large-scale hydropower requires a significant vertical drop (elevation head) and deep gorges to create high-pressure water flow. The Chambeshi River flows across a high-altitude plateau with a very gentle gradient (dropping only ~590m over 500km) before entering the flat Bangweulu Swamps. Constructing massive reservoirs in these flat landscapes would require flooding enormous areas of land to achieve even a modest “head,” leading to massive displacement and environmental damage.
Because they lack deep natural gorges, these rivers in the northern regions of Zambia are better suited for run-of-river projects or smaller micro-hydropower stations rather than massive storage dams.
Several planned projects in the northern regions, like on the Kalungwishi River, have been planned to utilize its natural waterfalls (like Kundabwika and Kabwelume) for run-of-river schemes totaling ~247 MW. This is way too little While significant, this is much smaller than the 1,000+ MW capacity of deep-gorge sites like Kariba or Kafue.
More importantly, Northern Zambia is far from the country’s primary industrial and mining centers in the Copperbelt, North-Western and even Lusaka. Building the necessary hundreds of kilometers of high-voltage transmission lines through difficult terrain to connect northern sites to the national grid is a multi-billion dollar hurdle.
So how does Emmanuel Mwamba propose to resolve these issues?
Does it make sense to shelf a 2,400MW plant and start construction of a 247MW plant which has no support infrastructure like transmission lines and all?
What he also misses, is that, since he says the Southern Region faces droughts, these new projects are simply trying to maximise usage of the same water in what is called cascaded generation.
Cascading is not failing. It is simply using the same water twice or three times to generate electricity and that’s efficiency.
For Zambia this will mean same water being used for generation at Vic Falls (108MW), Batoka (1200MW) and then Kariba North Bank (1080MW) i.e. 2388MW before we add the planned Gonye Falls (180MW). Remember the same water will also generate in Mozambique at Caborabasa.
Cascading is already happening on Kafue River. The same water is being used to generate power 3 times at Itezhi Tezhi (120MW), Kafue Gorge (990MW) and Kafue Gorge Lower (750MW) i.e. 1,860MW.
What Emmanuel Mwamba needs to understand, is that most power plants being constructed now (whether solar, coal or hydro), are being done near already existing power transmission infrastructure such as high voltage transmission lines and substations to avoid duplication of costs, overloading the systems and having bottlenecks and even transmission losses. And this was a decision taken by the colonial government, UNIP, MMD and even PF.
Mwamba should remind himself that these decisions made by the colonial government, UNIP, MMD and PF has resulted in almost all the power in Zambia produced in the Southern Region of Zambia and this is where the critical support infrastructure is: 1. Kariba North Bank 1080MW (Siavonga District) 2. Kafue Gorge Lower 750MW (Chikankata District) 3. Victoria Falls 108MW (Livingstone District) 4. Kafue Gorge 990MW (Chikankata District) 5. Maamba 300MW with another 400MW coming. (Sinazongwe District) 6. Itezhi Tezhi 120MW (Itezhi Tezhi District)
Even some of the major proposed major stations are there in the Southern region because if the reason of factors favouring the locations i.e.
1. Ever Great in Sinazongwe District (600MW) 2. Mulungwa African Coal Power Plant in Sinazongwe District (300MW) 3. Cooma Solar in Choma District (120MW) 4. Batoka in Kazungula District (2400MW)
To try and now make it sound like the UPND is doing it at the expense of the northern regions is not only mischievous but malicious and not nice to see.
🇿🇲 READER OPINION | PF’s Factional Cold War Becoming Civil War
What the Patriotic Front is experiencing today is not a sudden implosion. It is the violent surfacing of a conflict that has existed beneath the surface for more than a decade.
The PF has never been a unified political organism. It has always been a coalition of factions held together by power, patronage, and proximity to State House. While Michael Sata lived and later while Edgar Lungu controlled the instruments of the State, those factions were managed, silenced, or bribed into temporary coexistence. Out of power, the glue has dissolved.
The current hostility between Chishimba Kambwili and Brian Mundubile is therefore not personal. It is structural. It reflects unresolved ownership disputes about what PF is, who owns it, and who is entitled to lead it. At the heart of the crisis is a long-standing factional map.
First are the True Greens, largely associated with Chishimba Kambwili and early PF mobilisers. This group derives legitimacy from founding history. In their view, PF was built in markets, compounds, and streets long before defectors arrived. They see later entrants as tenants, not heirs.
Second are the Blood Greens, those linked to Michael Sata by family or close personal ties. Figures such as Miles Sampa and other relatives have historically viewed PF as an inheritance. This faction’s claim is emotional and symbolic rather than organisational, but it has consistently complicated leadership transitions.
Third are the Blue Greens, former MMD figures who crossed over during PF’s rise and consolidation. Brian Mundubile and others fall into this category. Despite holding senior portfolios and shaping policy, this faction has always faced suspicion from founding members, who see them as technocrats without revolutionary credentials.
Fourth are the “Wako ni Wako” Greens, politicians absorbed into PF during Edgar Lungu’s consolidation of Eastern Province, following his alliance with Rupiah Banda. Their loyalty has largely been transactional, tied to appointments rather than ideology.
Fifth are the Barotse Greens, a smaller but distinct bloc associated with Given Lubinda and former ULP structures. Their influence has been narrow and personality-driven, never fully institutionalised beyond Lubinda himself. Sixth are what critics label Useful Idiots, late entrants from other parties who joined PF for ministerial advantage or parliamentary survival. Their role has been numerical and symbolic rather than strategic, often to create ethnic balance or legislative votes.
Finally are the Independent Greens, MPs and figures with PF roots who lost party adoption in 2021 and now operate without firm allegiance, negotiating survival issue by issue.
This architecture explains why PF struggles to agree on a convention, a leader, or even a shared strategy. Each faction is fighting a different war. Some are fighting for history. Others for relevance. Others for survival.
The Kambwili–Mundubile clash must be read in this context. The hostility reflects deeper resistance to a Blue Green figure potentially capturing party leadership. That resistance is not new. It has merely become louder.
At the same time, factional suspicion does not exempt any aspirant from scrutiny. Calls for accountability around public contracts, governance records, or political conduct apply equally to all. Leadership in a post-State House PF cannot be based on factional immunity.
What has changed now is that there is no referee. No presidency to arbitrate. No money to pacify. No authority strong enough to silence dissent. The result is a civil war conducted through audios, press statements, accusations, and public threats.
For voters, the signal is damaging. The PF narrative is no longer about policy or alternative governance. It is about ownership battles and unresolved egos.
Unless these factions confront their history honestly and agree on rules that transcend personalities, the PF’s internal war will continue to consume whatever remains of its electoral capital.
What is playing out is not betrayal. It is exposure.
🔖 Credit: Analytical framework submitted by Richard Waga, Political Observer.
PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA WILL NOT GET LESS THAN 95% OF THE VOTES IN CHIKANKATA IN THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS – SABAO
January 1, 2026
Chikankata Member of Parliament Jaqueline Sabao has assured President Hakainde Hichilema of overwhelming electoral support in the upcoming General Elections, declaring that the Head of State will secure not less than ninety-five percent of the votes in the constituency.
Speaking after a meeting with UPND provincial, constituency and district party officials yesterday, Ms Sabao said the pledge was anchored on visible development delivered through inclusive government policies that have enabled citizens to benefit from the national cake.
The area Member of Parliament cited the Social Cash Transfer, Constituency Development Fund, Cash for Work and the Farmer Input Support Programme as key interventions that have directly improved livelihoods across Chikankata, adding that other government programmes were also being felt at community level.
Ms Sabao explained that the meeting reviewed development progress recorded between 2022 and 2025 and resolved to strengthen mobilisation ahead of the 2026 polls through unity, love and discipline within party structures.
She noted that provincial leaders emphasised the need for the President to return to office next year to consolidate gains already made and to sustain peace, economic recovery and people-centred governance.
The MP said residents of Chikankata remain united behind President Hichilema, whom she described as a national counselor preaching unity, tolerance and development-driven leadership.
Ms Sabao thanked the President for his leadership, wished him and his family God’s blessings, and called on citizens to maintain peace and solidarity as Zambia heads toward the polls.
The fall from grace of any country does not happen abruptly or even in a big way at once. It happens slowly, and often in ways that seem small, random, or unconnected. One victimised group. One compromised profession. One captured institution. One abused individual. One at a time. In the end, it is the silence, inaction, and indifference of many that makes all the difference.
There is quote that is attributed to the prominent German pastor Martin Niemöller that best illustrates this point:
“First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then, they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then, they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then, they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Niemöller is today rightly remembered as the pastor who defied Nazism. His words have enduring resonance and appeal in today’s world. What many do not know is that he started off as one of its greatest supporters and was therefore its enablers.
His quoted words reflect not just his later change of heart and breakup with the party and leadership he supported but also his guilt and responsibility. The lesson from his experience and the essence of his message is that it is never too late to change course, for the better.
I hope that many of us in Zambia today will have no need to wake up tomorrow and adapt his words to our situation:
First, they came for the Archbishop and a priest, and I did not speak out — because I was not an Archbishop or a priest.
Next, they came for a former president, and I did not speak out—because I was not a former president or his supporter.
Then, they came for the judges, and I did not speak out—because I was not a judge.
Then, they came for opposition leaders, members of parliament, and a civil rights campaigner, and I did not speak out—because I was not an opposition leader, MP, or a civil rights campaigner.
Then, they came for members of other ethnic groups and regions, and I did not speak out—because I did not come from those ethnic groups or regions.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me, because they had, by then, succeeded in co-opting several news media outlets, the church, civil society, the intellectuals, and other actors and institutions.
Were that to happen, then I pray that we too will soon experience or have a moment that will inspire a change of heart so that we can point to that specific experience or moment as our turning point.
Each one of us would then be able to say that it was at that point when I realised that I was complicit in our continued fall from grace, in nurturing the hate, the division, the intolerance, the injustice, the corruption, the constant violations of human rights, and the erosion of our democracy.
Each one of us would then be able to regret to ourselves that I chose to remain silent when I should have expressed outrage at the ill-treatment of others including those who drew public attention to these ills.
Each one of us would then be able to regret to ourselves that I remained quiet when I should have spoken out on behalf of others whose plight I ignored simply because I was not affected.
Each one of us would then be able to tell ourselves that it was at that point when I realised that I secure my rights by standing up for the rights of others, including those I neither like nor support.
That it was at that point when I realised both the cost and the danger of silence, inaction, and indifference.
For when all the bad things were happening or being done to others, I, without much thought, identified with the perpetrators, saw absolutely nothing wrong with their actions, and easily called the victims all sorts of names. Now I can see clearly that I was wrong all along.
Now I can see clearly that my silence, inaction and indifference have helped to create a country whose character I no longer recognise. Now I understand why there is no certainty about our future with regard to any of our known challenges. Now I understand why Zambia continues to fall apart, to drift into a deplorable, dangerous, and unacceptable situation.
It is because of the acute lack of empathy and awareness of people like me. It is because of my indifference to what is happening around me, to the plight of others. One victimised group. One compromised profession. One captured institution. One abused individual. One at a time.
Published on 18 October 2024: https://x.com/ssishuwa/status/1847182228385567032?s=20
We have chosen M’membe as our presidential candidate for 2026 – Sinkamba
GREEN Party president Peter Sinkamba through the newly formed People’s Pact has settled for Socialist Party leader Fred M’membe as its presidential candidate for the 2026 General Election.
Sinkamba said Zambians have for a long time been demanding that opposition political parties stop fighting among themselves and instead agree on one candidate who can provide clear leadership and direction ahead of the 2026 polls.
He said the People’s Pact has now realigned itself in order to respond to the wishes of the people.
“Our presidential candidate for the 2026 election is Dr Fred M’membe,” Sinkamba said.
“The people of Zambia have been demanding that we in the opposition identify candidates in a unified manner, and today we are happy that the People’s Pact has taken that decision.”
He admitted that the opposition has in the past failed to unite, a situation which he said created confusion among citizens.
Sinkamba reminded Zambians that during the 2010–2011 period, the opposition struggled to agree on one leader under arrangements such as the UPND–PF pact, which later collapsed due to disagreements.
“That failure caused a lot of anxiety in the country because people did not know who was leading the opposition,” he said.
Drawing lessons from that experience, Sinkamba said the People’s Pact is confident that history will not repeat itself in 2026.
“We are very, very sure as the People’s Pact that victory is certain in 2026,” he said.
NOW THAT BILL 7 IS LAW, THE BALLOT BECOMES THE BATTLEGROUND
With Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 now signed into law, constitutional lawyer John Sangwa says the national conversation must shift from stopping the bill to confronting its consequences through elections. He argues that presidential assent closes one chapter of the debate and opens another, one that is no longer legal but political in nature. Once a constitutional amendment becomes law, courts may interpret it, but repeal or alteration lies only with a future Parliament. That reality, Sangwa contends, leaves citizens with a single remaining lever: the vote.
The signing of Bill 7 has deepened frustration among critics who opposed both its content and the manner in which it was passed. For Sangwa, that frustration is understandable but dangerous if it turns into withdrawal. He warns that disengagement does not weaken a law already in force; it hardens it. Silence, apathy, and low turnout, he argues, are not acts of protest but acts of surrender that allow contested legislation to settle into permanence.
Sangwa frames the next phase as one of organisation rather than outrage. Opposition to Bill 7, he says, must now be expressed through voter registration, mobilisation, and clear electoral demands. Candidates seeking office should be pressed to state plainly whether they support retaining, amending, or repealing the law. Ambiguity, in his view, is no longer acceptable now that the amendment is operative.
He also places responsibility on civic institutions, including churches and civil society groups, to recalibrate their messaging. The task is no longer to stop a bill, but to explain how laws are undone in democratic systems. That requires patience, persistence, and participation, especially among younger voters whose political engagement will shape future Parliaments.
For Sangwa, Bill 7’s enactment does not mark the end of constitutional struggle but the beginning of a longer contest. Laws endure not only because they are passed, but because citizens stop contesting them. Whether Bill 7 remains in force, he argues, will ultimately be decided not in protest alone, but in polling stations.
DEC ‘gifts’ Archbishop Alick Banda surprise invite
In the spirit of festive season giving, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has given anti-government Lusaka Diocese Archbishop Alick Banda an unexpected surprise “gift” – a summon for the clergyman man to appear at its headquarters.
As the opposition clergyman appears at DEC on Monday morning, officers will be expecting him to deliver a homily on money laundering and perhaps answer a few of their questions over the same subject.
According to a summon published on a various social media platforms, Bishop Banda is wanted by the Anti Money Laundering Unit.
“NOTICE TO APPEAR BEFORE A D.E.C/ANTI MONEY LAUNDERING OFFICER (Section 26 (C) of Act No. 14 of 2001)
To: ARCH BISHOP ALICK BANDA.
TAKE NOTE that you are required to report to the Anti- Money Laundering Investigations Unit (AMLIL) of Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) offices situated at former Ministry of Justice Building…on Monday 5th January, 2026 at 10:00. hours without fail,” read the summons.
The summons occupied space for Christmas cards in the mail box serving as a stark reminder that the law does not sing carols in December but instead it knocks.
Down memory lane five years ago, a set of tyres had once rolled into the Archbishop’s compound, a white Hilux fondly known as Icipaso on the streets of the Copperbelt.
During a court case involving former ZRA director general Kingsley Chanda and Calitus Kaoma for abuse of authority of office in the manner they disposed of 22 vehicles belonging to ZRA without following guidelines and ended prejudicing government; evidence before the Economic and Financial Crimes Court was that Bishop Banda was a recipient of a free vehicle, from the Zambia Revenue Authority.
The vehicle is said to be among the 22 cars that were illegally disposed of by two senior-most officials, at the Revenue Authority.
The gift had arrived at the Bishop’s residence years ago, not with sirens, like the DEC had delivered its summons, but with smiles that signaled appreciation, like a bag of mealie-meal dropped by politicians at door steps in compounds during elections without a receipt.
The DEC letter did not accuse nor explain as the reasons for behind the summons has been preserved for a sermon with the cleric on Monday.https://kalemba.news/politics/dec-gifts-archbishop-alick-banda-surprise-invite/
STATEMENT | RULE OF LAW, FAITH, AND THE DANGERS OF GOVERNING THROUGH SUSPICION
By Kelvin Fube Bwalya
Zambia is a constitutional democracy, not a state governed by fear or suspicion. Law-enforcement institutions must act professionally, impartially, and without intimidation — especially when dealing with citizens who hold divergent views.
The reported summons of Alick Banda, Archbishop of Lusaka, by the Drug Enforcement Commission has understandably raised serious public concern.
Let us be clear and balanced: No citizen is above the law. But no government is above the Constitution.
It is deeply unfortunate that the United Party for National Development (UPND) government has increasingly governed the State through suspicion, using investigative processes in ways that disgrace, intimidate, or publicly embarrass citizens simply because they hold views that differ from those in power.
When law enforcement is perceived to be triggered by criticism or moral dissent, justice begins to look like punishment, and the State risks weaponising its institutions against its own people.
Zambia’s faith leaders have historically played a protected and respected role in national conscience, peace-building, and speaking truth to power. A democracy that places prophetic voices under suspicion while tolerating political excess erodes trust and unity.
Scripture reminds us:
“Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue.” (Deuteronomy 16:20) Justice must not only be done — it must be seen to be done, free from politics, fear, or retaliation.
We therefore call for:
an end to governing through suspicion, professionalism and restraint by State institutions, respect for freedom of conscience, religion, and expression, and equal application of the law to all citizens.
Zambia does not need intimidation to govern. Zambia needs confidence in its democracy, moral leadership, and institutions that unite rather than divide. Zambia Must Prosper.
Dear Vicar Foranes, All Priests and All the Faithful in the Archdiocese of Lusaka,
I ask that we all stay calm and await further ecclesiastical directives on how to respond to the wild bear that has strayed into the Vineyard of the Lord.
LAW, TRUTH, AND POLITICAL HONESTY IN A CHRISTIAN NATION
Tobbius Chilembo Hamunkoyo-LLB
Political Commentator, UPND media team member and Concerned Citizen.
As Zambians, we must reject political narratives that deliberately blur the line between faith and the rule of law. Mr. Kelvin Bwalya Fube (KBF), as President of Zambia Must Prosper, speaks eloquently about Christian values, but his recent commentary reflects a troubling pattern of political dishonesty, by presenting law enforcement and accountability as moral failure rather than constitutional duty.
The Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016 is unambiguous. Article 1(1) establishes Zambia as a sovereign Republic governed by the Constitution which is the supreme Law of the Land, not by religious rhetoric or political opinion. One must understand that declaring Zambia a Christian Nation does not suspend the Constitution, nor does it weaken state institutions. Any suggestion otherwise is not only misleading but constitutionally reckless.
Further, you may wish to be reminded that Article 8 of the Constitution sets out national values and principles, including morality, ethics, democracy, constitutionalism, good governance, integrity, transparency, and accountability. These values bind government and opposition leaders alike. Mr. Fube cannot selectively invoke morality while undermining accountability in our great nation. That is not principled politics, it is opportunism.
Justice in Zambia is not administered by political parties or pressure groups. Article 118(2) demands justice without discrimination, while Article 119 vests judicial authority exclusively in the courts. When KBF frames lawful investigations or prosecutions as persecution, he is not defending justice, he is politicising institutions for sympathy and relevance.
The Penal Code (Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia) defines criminal conduct, and the Criminal Procedure Code (Chapter 88 of the Laws of Zambia) provides lawful processes for investigation, arrest, prosecution, and trial. These laws exist to protect citizens and preserve order. To imply that enforcing them is unchristian is intellectually dishonest and historically false ba KBF, even biblical leaders, kings, and prophets faced punishment for wrongdoing.
Mr. Fube enjoys freedom of expression under Article 20, but that freedom does not grant immunity from truth or responsibility. Article 20 does not license distortion of facts, nor does it permit the public to be misled into believing that accountability equals oppression. A leader who knows the law but chooses to misrepresent it is not being courageous but being politically deceptive.
Zambia deserves honest politics. A Christian Nation is not defined by speeches, declarations, or selective outrage, but by respect for the Constitution, institutions, and the rule of law. KBF must decide whether he wants to be a statesman or a populist. As citizens, we must reject pretence and demand truth. No one is above the law, not government, not opposition, not activists. That truth is constitutional, biblical, and non-negotiable.
Disclaimer; The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely my personal views as a political commentator and concerned citizen of Zambia. They do not represent the position of any organisation, political party, institution, or entity.
The President Who Has Never Taken a Working Holiday in Mfuwe Touches Down in Choma Today
By Tobbius Chilembo Hamunkoyo-LLB
President Hakainde Hichilema today arrived in Choma District to begin his 10 days working holiday in Southern Province, once again highlighting a leadership style that places work and development above luxury.
Unlike previous presidents who often used Mfuwe or Chichele lodges for working holidays, President Hichilema consistently chooses Choma, where his time is spent inspecting and developing his farming business.
While, it is also true that President Hichilema has visited the The President Who Has Never Taken a Working Holiday in Mfuwe Touches Down in Choma Today and Luangwa Valley areas in the past, these visits have mainly been for official duties only. He has attended traditional and cultural events, such as the N’cwala Ceremony, and undertaken other government-related assignments. There is no record of him taking a working holiday in Mfuwe, reinforcing the view that his visits there are strictly official and not for leisure.
In Choma, the President’s working holiday centres on practical activity. He uses this period to monitor physical progress at his farms, assess development plans, and ensure that productivity remains a priority. This approach reflects his broader belief that agriculture and hard work are key drivers of national development and economic stability.
Upon his arrival, President Hichilema took time to interact with residents and supporters who gathered to welcome him. He encouraged Zambians to remain hopeful and patient, assuring them that the country is on the right path and that ongoing reforms will continue to produce positive results for the nation.
The President also expressed appreciation to Members of Parliament for passing the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025, which has since become law. He noted that the constitutional changes are meant to expand representation and strengthen inclusive democracy, ensuring that more voices are heard in national decision-making.
It is also believed that during the 10 days visit, President Hichilema is expected to meet traditional leaders, community members, and other stakeholders to discuss local priorities and government programmes. For many Zambians, this working holiday sends a clear message, leadership is about example, discipline, and service, and national progress is built through consistent work rather than comfort.
Mali, Burkina Faso slap ‘tit-for-tat’ travel ban on US citizens
MALI and Burkina Faso have hit back at Donald Trump with a tit-for-tat travel ban on American citizens by shutting their borders to US travellers after Trump placed the two West African states on a full entry ban.
The retaliatory move comes days after the Trump administration barred citizens from Mali and Burkina Faso from entering the US.
Announcing the decision in a statement, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Affairs minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré said the measure was anchored on the ‘principle of reciprocity.’
He said his country would not accept being singled out.
“Invoking the principle of reciprocity, Burkina Faso will immediately apply to US citizens the same entry conditions imposed on its citizens,” said the minister.
Mali, in its own statement, said the ban was guided by ‘mutual respect and sovereign equality,’ while expressing regret that the Trump administration made an impulsive decision without prior consultation.
Last month, Trump imposed full entry restrictions on citizens from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, alongside South Sudan, Syria, Palestine, Sierra Leone and Laos, effective today, January 1, 2026.
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Nigeria and 15 other countries were placed under a partial travel ban.
ZMP STATEMENT | FOUR YEARS OF INJUSTICE: A NATION MUST SPEAK
Fellow Zambians,
Democracy is not measured by elections alone — it is measured by how power is exercised between elections. Over the last four years, Zambia has witnessed a disturbing pattern of injustice, selective application of the law, and shrinking democratic space under the United Party for National Development (UPND) government led by Hakainde Hichilema.
Zambia Must Prosper speaks not from anger, but from facts, principle, and concern for the Republic.
1. Targeting of the Lungu Family The sustained public harassment, investigations, and restrictions surrounding the family of former President Edgar Lungu have raised serious concerns about political vendetta rather than impartial justice.
In a constitutional democracy, family members are not political combatants, and justice must never resemble punishment by association.
2. Arrests and Prosecution of Political Leaders Across the country, opposition leaders and political figures have faced frequent arrests, prolonged detention, and selective prosecution. When the law appears to pursue political identity more aggressively than criminal conduct, public confidence in justice collapses.
3. Cyber Laws Used to Silence Dissent Cyber and communication laws have increasingly been used to arrest, intimidate, and imprison citizens — bloggers, activists, journalists, and ordinary Zambians — for expressing opinions critical of those in power.
A democracy that fears criticism has already begun to fail.
Scripture warns:
“Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees.” (Isaiah 10:1)
4. Detention Under Abolished or Questionable Laws The continued detention and prosecution of political actors under laws that were repealed, declared obsolete, or widely criticised is a grave violation of legal certainty — a core principle of the rule of law.
No citizen should be imprisoned under a law that no longer exists. 5. Institutions Under Pressure When police, prosecutors, and regulatory bodies are perceived as extensions of political power, democracy suffers.
Institutions must serve the Constitution, not the ruling party.
ZMP POSITION
Zambia Must Prosper believes: justice must be blind and impartial, the law must protect all citizens equally, political power must never be used to settle scores, freedom of expression is not a privilege, but a right, and leadership must be guided by ethical restraint and fear of God.
Scripture reminds leaders:
“For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake His saints.” (Psalm 37:28) Zambia deserves better than fear-based governance.
Zambia deserves healing, accountability, and restoration of democratic norms. As we approach 2026, ZMP calls for a return to justice, a renewal of national values, and a government that serves — not persecutes — its people.
GOVERNMENT COMMENDS ZAMBEEF FOR REDUCING PRICES ON SELECT PRODUCTS
Lusaka, Zambia — December 31, 2025
By Wagon Media
The Government has commended ZAMBEEF Products PLC for reducing prices on selected products, describing the move as a positive step towards easing the cost of living and demonstrating the benefits of improved macroeconomic stability.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Hon. Chipoka Mulenga, acknowledged the company’s decision, noting that stable exchange rates, reduced inflation, and favourable commodity prices have created room for businesses to pass on economic gains to consumers. He said the development reflects the positive impact of collaboration between government and the private sector.
The announced price reductions, some of which take effect immediately while others begin on January 1, 2026, include a 10 percent reduction on Zamshu leather shoes, a 3 to 5 percent reduction on poultry and chicken feed effective January 1, 2026, and a 5 percent reduction on day-old chicks, also effective from January 1, 2026.
Hon. Mulenga urged other companies to emulate ZAMBEEF’s example by reviewing their pricing structures and passing on economic benefits to consumers. He reaffirmed Government’s commitment to supporting private sector growth, value addition initiatives, and the creation of a conducive business environment through investor incentives and Statutory Instrument No. 45 of 2025, which prioritises local procurement.
He added that the price reductions are a clear testament to Zambia’s improving macroeconomic fundamentals and renewed confidence in the country’s economic prospects.
ZAMBEEF Products PLC Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Faith Mukutu, said the company’s decision is aimed at sharing economic benefits with consumers while supporting market growth and cost optimisation. She highlighted ZAMBEEF’s continued engagement with Government and trade associations to drive sustainable socio-economic growth.
Ms. Mukutu further stated that the company is awaiting further policy clarity on Statutory Instrument No. 110 before reviewing prices of synthetic shoes. Meanwhile, Zambia Association of Manufacturers President, Mr. Muhammed Umar, welcomed ZAMBEEF’s move, describing it as evidence of progress within the manufacturing sector, supported by improved macroeconomic conditions such as stable fuel prices and a reliable power supply. He encouraged other manufacturers to reassess their cost structures and consider price adjustments that support consumer welfare while maintaining business sustainability.
In a similar vein, Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Mumba, noted that 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Zambia’s economy, marked by exchange rate stability, reduced inflation, and increased private sector investment, particularly in the energy sector.
Ministry of Information and Media – Zambia Hon. Chipoka Mulenga MP Ministry of Commerce,Trade and Industry Zambeef Products Plc
SAKALA SLAMS MULENGA AS ‘BITTER’ AFTER BIZARRE CATERPILLAR PRE-MATCH ALLEGATIONS.
[ By Henry Mumba | 31st December, 2025.]
Zambian international striker Fashion Sakala has launched a blistering counter attack against former Chipolopolo winger Clifford Mulenga, following claims that a plate of caterpillars ruled him out of the final group game for Zambia at the Ongoing 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
The war of words erupted after Mulenga took to social media to mock Sakala, who was reported sick by the FAZ Medical Team and deemed unfit to play the final group game against Morocco. Mulenga claimed the striker suffered a huge reaction after consuming “Finkubala” caterpillars for the first time, labelling his decision to eat the delicacy as a clownish move before the biggest game of the tournament.
Sakala dismissed the allegations as a fabrication rooted in personal malice, responding to Mulenga’s post in the comment section. The Al-Fayha forward suggested that Mulenga’s criticism was not based on footballing concerns, but was a direct result of being denied financial support.
“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, who grew up in rural Zambia, laughed off the idea that he was a stranger to local food, stating it was imaginary for people to believe. He further took aim at Mulenga’s own storied history of disciplinary issues, which famously included being sent home from the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
“I will not accept disrespect, especially from a former football player known for disciplinary issues and commitment to tearing people down.”
Sakala concluded his statement by urging the 2007 CAF Young Player of the Year to stay in his lane and stop misleading the public. He emphasized that, unlike his critic, he intends to support the next generation of Zambian players when his own time on the pitch ends.
ISRAEL BEGS AMERICA TO PUNISH SOUTH AFRICA WITH SANCTIONS IF PRETORIA DOESN’T WITHDRAW GENOCIDE CASE AT ICJ WHICH IS DOING MORE HARM TO TEL AVIV AS HEARINGS SET TO BEGIN THIS 2026.
Israel-In a move that has ignited global outrage and diplomatic tensions, Israel is reportedly pushing the United States to impose sanctions on South Africa unless the African nation withdraws its landmark genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. This pressure comes amid escalating scrutiny over Israel’s actions in Gaza, where South Africa’s legal challenge has accused the country of violating the Genocide Convention.
For ordinary South Africans who take pride in their nation’s stand for justice on the world stage, this threat feels like a direct attack on sovereignty and moral principles. As the case heads toward key hearings in 2026, the possibility of US sanctions looms large, potentially hitting South Africa’s economy hard at a time when recovery is crucial. This development not only tests alliances but also highlights the high stakes of holding powerful nations accountable. Drawing from the lobbying efforts, US legislative moves, South Africa’s defiant stance, the case’s background, and the broader implications for international law and diplomacy, we explore this unfolding drama, the human cost in Gaza, and what it means for global justice in a world where politics often trumps principles.
Israeli officials have been actively lobbying US lawmakers to pressure South Africa into dropping its genocide case at the ICJ, viewing the legal action as a direct threat to their interests. This behind-the-scenes effort aims to leverage America’s influence, with calls for sanctions or aid cuts if Pretoria does not back down. The lobbying intensified after South Africa’s case gained traction, with Israel describing it as a “profound distortion” of facts during early hearings.
This strategy ties into Israel’s broader response to the case, where they have argued that South Africa is distorting the truth and that any genocidal acts, if they occurred, were against Israel itself. By enlisting US support, Israel seeks to isolate South Africa diplomatically, using economic leverage to force a withdrawal. For Israel, the case represents not just a legal battle but a challenge to their narrative on the Gaza conflict, making high-level lobbying a key tool in their defence.
In response to Israel’s lobbying, US lawmakers have advanced bills that threaten sanctions on South Africa over its ICJ stance. One such measure, dubbed a “disgrace” by critics like Rep. Rashida Tlaib, calls for reviewing US-SA relations, potentially leading to aid cuts or trade restrictions if South Africa does not change course. This bill, advancing through the House, reflects growing pressure from pro-Israel groups in Congress to punish nations seen as opposing Israel’s actions.
The US has already taken steps, like revoking visas for South African officials linked to the case, showing a willingness to use diplomatic tools for leverage. These moves stem from concerns that South Africa’s case could set precedents for other nations, complicating US support for Israel. For South Africa, this threat could impact exports like wine or minerals to the US, hitting jobs and the economy hard.
Critics argue this interferes with international law, calling it a “disgrace” that undermines the ICJ’s role in addressing genocide claims. The bills highlight how powerful alliances can sway global justice, putting pressure on smaller nations like South Africa to back down.
South Africa’s Defiant Stance: ‘We Won’t Bow to Threats’ South Africa has stood firm against US pressure, vowing not to withdraw its ICJ case despite threats of sanctions. Officials have called the US moves a “disgrace,” arguing they undermine global justice and South Africa’s right to seek accountability for alleged genocide in Gaza. Pretoria has already faced repercussions, like visa revocations for former diplomats over the case, but remains committed, seeing it as a moral duty rooted in their anti-apartheid history.
The government insists the case is about upholding the Genocide Convention, not politics, and has received support from allies who view US threats as bullying. For South Africans, this defiance boosts national pride, showing the country’s willingness to stand for principles on the world stage. However, it risks economic fallout, with potential sanctions hitting trade and aid, affecting jobs in sectors like agriculture and mining.
This stance echoes South Africa’s foreign policy of supporting oppressed peoples, as seen in their calls for peace in other conflicts. By refusing to back down, they set an example for other nations, but at a cost that could test their resilience.
South Africa filed the case against Israel at the ICJ in December 2023, accusing them of genocide in Gaza under the 1948 Genocide Convention. The application sought emergency measures to halt Israel’s military actions, arguing they violated the convention by killing Palestinians, causing serious harm, and creating conditions that could destroy the group.
The ICJ issued provisional orders in January 2024, calling on Israel to prevent genocidal acts and ensure aid reaches Gaza, but stopped short of a full ceasefire. Further orders in March and May 2024 expanded this, urging Israel to halt operations in Rafah and allow investigations. In July 2024, the court ruled Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories unlawful, calling for an end to settlements.
Israel has denied the claims, calling South Africa’s case a “disgrace” and arguing it distorts facts. They say their actions target Hamas, not Palestinians, and have accused SA of siding with terrorists. The case has divided opinions, with some seeing it as a brave stand for justice, while others view it as politicized.
For South Africa, it ties to their history of fighting apartheid, seeing parallels in Gaza’s struggles. The ongoing case has drawn global attention, with countries like the US supporting Israel and others backing SA’s call for accountability.
For South Africa, it ties to their history of fighting apartheid, seeing parallels in Gaza’s struggles. The ongoing case has drawn global attention, with countries like the US supporting Israel and others backing SA’s call for accountability.
Human Cost in Gaza: The Stories Behind the Case South Africa’s case stems from the devastating impact of Israel’s operations in Gaza, where over 45,000 Palestinians have died since October 2023, with many more injured or displaced. The conflict has destroyed homes, schools, and hospitals, creating a humanitarian crisis with shortages of food, water, and medicine.
Stories from Gaza tell of unimaginable suffering children orphaned, families separated, and communities reduced to rubble. One account describes a mother losing her child in a bombing, her grief echoing the pain felt by thousands. These human tales fuel SA’s push for justice, arguing the scale of destruction meets the genocide definition.
Israel counters that their actions are self-defence against Hamas, but reports of civilian deaths and blocked aid have drawn international condemnation. The case seeks not just to label but to stop the harm, calling for ceasefires and accountability.
Implications for Global Diplomacy and Justice This pressure on South Africa highlights how powerful nations use economic tools to influence international law, raising questions about justice’s independence. If sanctions hit, SA’s economy could suffer, with losses in trade and aid affecting jobs and growth. But standing firm could boost SA’s global standing as a defender of human rights, inspiring other nations to speak up.
For the ICJ, the case tests its role in holding states accountable, with outcomes that could set precedents for future conflicts. In a divided world, it shows how alliances shape justice, with the US’s pro-Israel stance clashing with SA’s push for fairness.
For South Africans, this tests national resolve will we bow to threats or stand for principles? The answer could define our place in the world. In the end, this breaking development calls us to support justice, no matter the cost. Let SA’s courage inspire a world where truth prevails over power.
Claude Le Roy basically said leaving André Onana out is a good thing.
In short, he thinks Onana is just an average goalkeeper, not great, not special, and not close to legends like Bell or Thomas N’Kono. He also claims Onana causes problems and could affect the team negatively, especially if he’s not a starter.
Honestly, that talk is rubbish!!!
Onana played at the highest level in Europe, won big trophies, and reached a Champions League final. That doesn’t happen by luck. Calling him “not exceptional” is unfair and sounds like bitterness, not facts.
Yes, you can talk about form. That’s normal in football. But turning it into a character attack and pretending he’s ordinary is just wrong.
Moral of the story: football has changed, and judging modern players with old thinking will always lead to bad conclusions.
ZAMBIA ACCEPTS CHINESE CURRENCY FOR MINING TAXES – AN ECONOMIC STRATEGY
With China’s seeming insatiable appetite for foreign investment and trade running into billions, it’s unsurprising that its national currency must be adopted to settle transactions.
It ll certainly reduce transaction costs that normally come with converting the US dollar into yuan when Zambia is trading with China or settling foreign debt between the two countries.
Perhaps it might incentivise more Chinese investors who might see the cost of doing business going down because they don’t need to convert the yuan into the US dollar in order to invest in Zambia.
It’s not guaranteed but certainly a possibility. I mean, you need more than just accepting Chinese yuan in tax payments to attract Chinese investment.
But other than the potential economic benefits for Zambia, this decision unintentionally serves as a diplomatic response to the Trump Administration’s recent moves against Zambia such as the suspension of visas to Zambian travelers in what the country is calling a partial travel ban.
The decision to accept payment in yuan lessens dependence on the US dollar.
There’s a very good chance that several other countries may follow Zambia’s example thus further threatening to upset the US dominance in the global financial sector.
The US dominance in this space has helped prop up its global economic hegemony, a status it guards so jealously, it could go to war or threaten war to protect it.
Already, many other nations are slowly adopting the Chinese rival to SWIFT – CIPS.
This is the Cross-border Payment System which settles international payments in yuan.
The advantage is that transactions are settled in real-time – within seconds as opposed to the SWIFT system that takes days.
Transactions in the SWIFT system are largely dominated by the US dollar due to the US dominance in global trade.
But while all these moves are happening, the US dollar is not about to lose its dominance.
This is because the US buys a lot of stuff from a lot of countries. For most countries, the US remains their major trading partner.
This is why the imposition of tariffs by the Trump Administration has been such a huge thing for everyone.
So, strategic though the Zambian move might be, the US couldn’t care less but certainly would pay attention.
