ZAMBIA NOT READY TO TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC BUSES-MUKANGA
Former Minister of Energy, Yamfwa Mukanga, says Zambia is not ready to transition to electric buses due to the country’s ongoing energy deficit.
His remarks follow government plans to introduce electric buses as part of a shift away from diesel-powered public transport.
But speaking in an interview with RCV News in Lusaka today, Mr. Mukanga said that while the idea is commendable, government must first focus on addressing the energy crisis if the initiative is to be sustainable.
“It’s not possible for the country to transition to electric buses now, unless in future after adequate planning”, said Mr. Mukanga.
Mr. Mukanga stressed that this initiative is only possible if it were to be implemented only for short distances and maintain the diesel-powered public transport for long distances until the country is prepared and ready for full implementation.
He explained that long-distance public transport will require frequent recharging, which could cause delays for passengers, therefore, the need for government to effectively plan before the implementation.
Mr. Mukanga further questioned how the government plans to meet the increased electricity demand when the country is already struggling with power generation.
He further warned that rushing the initiative within a short period could result in financial losses, as inadequate power supply would make it difficult to charge the buses, thereby collapsing the economy.
CHIEF CHAMUKA URGES ZAMBIANS TO EMBRACE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES
CHIEF Chamuka of the Lenje people of Chisamba District in Central Province has called on Zambians to embrace constitutional changes, saying they are intended to enhance development.
Chief Chamuka said the enactment of the Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 of 2025 into law will accelerate development at the constituency level.
The traditional leader said in an interview that the delimitation of constituencies will enhance service delivery through the provision of essential social services to the people.
“I wish to commend President Hakainde Hichilema for the role he has played in the amendment of the Constitution which has provided for the delimitation of constituencies. I am urging Zambians to embrace the constitutional amendments,” he said.
He said the delimitation of constituencies will form an important part in the actualisation of the decentralization policy.
He said the traditional leadership will always support initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of citizens.
Chief Chamuka said some constituencies have remained undeveloped because of their vastness.
SKELETON CASE WIDOW SHOULD BE FOUND GUILTY – STATE
THE widow accused of causing the death of her husband, whose skeleton was found in the house, should be found guilty of manslaughter because she neglected to take him to the hospital, the State has said.
The State has urged Lusaka High Court Judge Anne Malata-Ononuju to convict Sylvia Mutaba of the offence because the prosecution proved the case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
Mutaba, 52, is accused of causing the death of her husband, George Kalaba, whose skeleton was found in the house a year after he earlier fell sick and died.
Mr Kalaba fell ill between August and October 2023, before he died in the house on November 21, 2023, with his wife admitting not having taken him to the hospital.
It was established that since 2023, friends and relatives were prevented from seeing Mr Kalaba, who was being prayed for at home.
In making final submissions pending delivery of judgment in February next year, the prosecution team submits that Ms Mutaba should be found guilty of the charge for omitting the duty of care to her husband.
“She omitted to discharge that duty through gross negligence; her omission caused the death of the deceased.
“We, therefore, pray that this honourable court finds the accused guilty of manslaughter contrary to section 199 of the Penal Code,” the State submits.
After being found with a case to answer, Mutaba, who has legal representation, denied the claims, maintaining innocence.
But the prosecution submits that evidence against her is overwhelming.
At trial, a juvenile witness, who was Ms Mutaba’s neighbour, had testified that Mr Kalaba was visibly unwell in 2023, and was later confined in the house.
Despite repeated visits by friends and relatives at her house, Ms Mutaba persistently refused them to enter and barred them from seeing Mr Kalaba.
The defence team is also scheduled to file final submissions.
SICHONE PRAISES CHIPOLOPOLO’S COMPOSURE AFTER CONCEDING FIRST AGAINST MALI
Chipolopolo Head Coach Moses Sichone says patience, belief, and trust in his players helped Zambia secure a draw against Mali.
Zambia came from behind to earn a hard-fought 1–1 draw against Mali in their 2025 AFCON opening match at the Mohammed V Stadium.
Speaking after the match, Sichone admitted that starting a tournament against a strong opponent is always difficult.
“It’s never easy to play the first game. Mali scored early because we gifted them the goal. My team struggled a bit, but I also have to praise the boys for keeping calm and ensuring we left the game at nil all at half time,” said Sichone.
Sichone also highlighted the importance of star forward Patson Daka, who scored Zambia’s equaliser in added time.
“I know the quality Patson brings, which is why I kept him on the pitch. I’m happy he scored today. Players like him and young talents like Sabobo Banda and David Simukonda showed character and promise. Young players are the way forward.”
The coach also came to the defence of his squad against criticism on social media.
“I want Facebook coaches to stop attacking our players and start showing them respect.”
Goalkeeper Willard Mwanza was another standout performer, making a vital penalty save.
“I was not moved by the referee’s decision to award Mali a penalty. I trusted myself completely. As the Malian came, I just looked at him and knew I was going to stop his kick.” Mwanza said.
Sichone also commented on Morocco’s 2–0 win over Comoros.
“Comoros may have lost, but they showed character. Against Zambia, they will come looking to score, so we expect an open game.”
COURT GRANTS BAIL TO CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW IN CHINGOLA TERRORISM CASE
Chingola | December 22, 2025 – In the latest development in the case of 34 individuals charged with terrorism in connection with the November 8, 2025 stone-throwing attack on President Hakainde Hichilema in Chingola, the Chingola Subordinate Court today granted bail to nine children in conflict with the law.
The nine children have each been granted bail of K10,000 on their own recognizance, secured by two sureties in the same amount. One surety must be a parent or legal guardian, and the other must be a person employed by a reputable organisation.
This means that after the children fulfil the bail conditions, they will be released without paying money to the court upfront, on the formal promise that they will attend all court hearings and comply with bail conditions. Each child is required to have two sureties in the same amount, one of whom must be a parent or legal guardian and the other surety must be employed by a reputable organisation.
The sureties are legally responsible for ensuring that the children attend court and adhere to all bail conditions. Should a child fail to appear in court or breach any condition, the sureties will be required to pay the K10,000 each. The 25 adult accused persons remain in lawful custody, as terrorism is a non-bailable offence under Zambian law.
The court granted bail to the children pursuant to Section 73(2) of the Children’s Code Act No. 12 of 2022, which allows courts to release children in conflict with the law on bail even in cases involving non-bailable offences. This reflects the principle that children require special treatment in the justice system, with emphasis on supervision and rehabilitation rather than prolonged pre-trial detention.
For context, the terrorism charges arise from violent disturbances during a public address by President Hichilema in Chiwempala, Chingola, when members of the crowd that had gathered to listen to the presidential address, threw stones at the podium and presidential motorcade. The unrest escalated into arson and widespread property damage.
All 34 accused, including nine children in conflict with the law, first appeared in court on December 15, 2025, facing the bailable offences of riotous demolition, arson, and theft. Bail was denied for the 25 adults, while the children were initially granted bail on December 17, 2025.
Shortly thereafter, the State amended the indictment to include terrorism, a non-bailable offence. The children’s lawyers subsequently applied for bail under Section 73(2) of the Children’s Code Act, and the Court today granted bail, exercising its statutory discretion.
The matter has been adjourned to January 2, 2026, for mention.
Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Resources is reportedly in advanced talks with international banks for a $500 million loan to refinance debt and fund operations at its Konkola Copper Mines in Zambia.
The financing, expected to be signed early next year, will help Vedanta reduce higher-cost debt and support expansion at one of its most strategic overseas assets. The loan is set to run for four years, with part of the funds earmarked for capital spending at Konkola and the rest for existing debt repayment.
Leading banks in the deal include Citigroup, Barclays, Mashreq, Standard Chartered, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. Vedanta has also leveraged income from its Indian operations to support the financing.
Over the past few years, Vedanta has trimmed gross debt by more than $4 billion, while its revenue reached $18.2 billion for the year ended March 2025.
The company plans to invest $1.5 billion to increase copper output at Konkola by 2031, cementing Zambia as a key pillar of its global operations.-Billiionaires.Africa
Exclusive: The U.S. has been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria.
according to flight tracking data and current and former U.S. officials, in a sign of increased security cooperation between the countries.
The U.S. contractor-operated aircraft used for the surveillance operations typically takes off from Ghana and flies over Nigeria before returning to Accra, the Ghanaian capital, the tracking data for December shows.
Flight tracking data shows the operator is Mississippi-based Tenax Aerospace, which provides special mission aircraft and works closely with the U.S. military, according to the company’s website. Tenax Aerospace did not respond to a request for comment.
SUICIDE INDABA NEEDED …It’s no longer personal but a national crisis – NGO
SUICIDE is no longer just a personal issue but a national crisis which requires an urgent national conference, Swala Pilu (Hold Your Heart), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to the fight against suicide, has said.
In an interview with The Mast, founder and chief executive officer Mary Kufanga said the nation needed a national stakeholders’ conference on the rising number of suicide cases.
The problem was affecting individuals, families and organisations.
“I think the nation does need a national indaba to address the root cause of suicide because suicide is not only a personal issue. It is a national public issue that needs serious attention from the public, economical experts and social experts and spiritual experts,” Kufanga said.
She said the national dialogue was key as it would provide a platform for co-ordination and open dialogue and the corrective responsibilities for all Zambians regardless of their social and political affiliation.
She said despite the Church making efforts to address the problem, more needed to be done.
“I think the Church has made efforts but it is not yet doing enough to open constantly and practically address suicide and mental health challenges. My appeal to the Church is to preach openly about suicide with or without judgment. Silence allows stigma to grow,” Kufanga said. She urged the Church to centre its preaching and emphasis on the fact that mental health was not lack of faith and that seeking help was not a sign of weakness.
“The Church should focus on the vulnerable youths, children, widows, unemployed and people facing addiction or domestic violence. They need support and mentorship within the Church,” Kufanga said.
She said people who committed suicide were people in deep distress who needed help and care and protection from everyone in society. Kufanga urged society to uplift one another in distress moments, which might lead one to attempt to take his or her life.
“So we as a society, we need to talk to those people. Let them express their views, their challenges that affect them. But what is killing us nowadays, you find that your relative is suffering we can’t even help our relative to stretch the hand that ‘no, let’s just leave him’,” she said.
Kufanga said Swala Pilu had embarked on a robust suicide community sensitisation programme under the theme ‘Stop! Suicide’.
DESPITE ADAMSON MUSHALA BEING KILLED IN HIS FIGHT FOR MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY, HIS FIRST BORN SON BERT LATER BECAME AN MP AND NORTH WESTERN PROVINCE MINISTER- Mushala never left guns for his children, he left them his fighting spirit and a strong name.
Bert Mushala, born on 16th January, 1960 who grew and became a banker; 14 years after his father’s death, despite being rejected on adoption by his party the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) in 1996, he went on to win as an Independent Member of Parliament for Mufumbwe constituency.
After proving his popularity to the party, in April, 2000; he resigned as an independent MP and rejoined MMD causing a by-election. Later in May, the same year; he contested the resulting by-election on the MMD ticket and won the seat-despite being shot at during campaigns.
In February, 2001 Hon Bert Mushala asked the government to honor his father, Adamson Bratson Mushala for championing multi-party democracy. This never happened, prolly because of the method his father had adopted in his fight for multi-party democracy
In the 2001, 27th December’s general elections; under the leadership of Levy P. Mwanawasa, Hon Bert Mushala stood on the MMD ticket and won the seat by 39.39% of the votes beating Chipolongo Patrick of UPND, Mulondwe Muzungu of UNIP and others. This was his third time winning the Mufumbwe parliamentary seat: his second term though.
Levy Patrick Mwanawasa and Michael Chilufya Sata were different.
Even if Hon Bert’s wish to have his father honored by the government never came to pass, in 2002; president Levy P. Mwanawasa appointed him as Provincial Minister for North Western Province.
Later, in 2012, President Michael Sata (of Patriotic Front) appointed Mr. Bert Mushala as North Western Province Permanent Secretary.
Hon. Bert Mushala wrote a book, an autobiography: BACK TO LIFE it’s on Amazon, where he mentions starting his political path at 8 years unknowingly, through his father Adamson Mushala.
Indeed, dreams don’t die. Maybe, your strategy may not lead to achieving your dreams today; but sometimes your children would come and live your dreams.
Kindly, check out my upcoming book; let’s make history together ❤🙏
In 1990, a low-ranking soldier, Lt. Mwamba Luchembe, and a handful of loyalists stormed ZNBC, declaring they had taken over the country and Kenneth Kaunda was no longer President.
Luchembe cited the riots that had occurred a few months earlier, which left 27 people killed and over 100 wounded, as reason for the takeover.
In 1973, Kaunda and UNIP had forced a constitutional amendment creating a one-party state, leading to corrupt and inefficient socialistic economic undertakings.
Between 1975 and 1990, Zambia’s economy declined by approximately 30%, sparking widespread discontent.
On January 20, 1980, 5,000 miners at Konkola mine in Chililabombwe went on strike, joined by postal workers, bank employees, and others in solidarity.
Zambia’s foreign debt ballooned from $108 million in 1975 to $7.5 billion in 1990, with the IMF and World Bank insisting on economic reforms.
By 1990, calls for Kaunda to leave office grew louder, setting the stage for Luchembe’s coup attempt on June 30.
Luchembe took control of a radio station and other sites in Lusaka, declaring the coup, met with immediate and positive reaction from civilians.
Crowds gathered, supporting the military, chanting “down with KK” and “Kaunda is dead”, with paramilitary groups joining celebrations.
Luchembe was arrested by loyalist soldiers; Kaunda then faced reality, leading to multiparty elections that eventually ousted him.
A heartwarming yet unusual proposal has taken social media by storm after a Mexican man proposed to both of his girlfriends during a live football match.
The unexpected moment unfolded inside a packed stadium and was broadcast live, leaving fans and viewers in shock as he knelt down holding two rings.
Both women appeared visibly surprised but delighted as they accepted, prompting loud cheers from the crowd.
The touching scene quickly went viral online, sparking widespread reactions across social platforms.
While some praised the man’s bold move, others responded with humour to the surprising double proposal.
The normalizing of forcing most women to dislike their natural bodies seems not to have worked out for most people, and one of them is Tonto Dikeh, a popular actress in Nigeria.
She announced that the Brazilian Butt Lift, which enhanced her backside to be huge, has been removed because it makes her uncomfortable.
Many influential people in the entertainment industry have enhanced their bodies to become more appealing, as they claim their natural bodies were not to their liking.
Others did it out of peer pressure, but they later regretted it in silence.
The actress shared photos of her new look and announced that she is ready to embrace her natural body, so she started by removing anything artificial from her body to start the journey.
Nollywood Actress, Tonto Dike shares her testimony of a changed life and overcoming Addictions. pic.twitter.com/vKvUdwf849
Tonto was recently seen in Church giving her life to Christ and also sharing testimonies about how her wayward lifestyle and disrespectful attitude ruined her marriage and relationships she had built.
After her testimony, most Nigerians are finding it hard to believe she is truly a changed person because this is not the first time the actress has turned a new leaf, and with those who have been following her story, this might not be the last.
Dikeh is one of the most beautiful actresses to grace the screens in Nigeria, but after years of being in the industry, a new wave of enhanced bodies was hovering around the industry, so she went ahead to enhance her backside to make it huge.
Some women go under the knife for flat tummies, big fronts, and huge behinds. This type of surgery puts their life in danger, but they do pay attention to that as long as it makes them look pleasing.
Most actresses who engage in this act are removing it as the complications worsen with time.
Trick Daddy recently sparked a lively discussion on social media with his unique perspective on identity and heritage, specifically around the topic of Black people identifying as African-American. The Love & Hip Hop alum shared in a video that, for him, the label “African-American” doesn’t resonate as much as a connection to U.S. soil. He explained that his roots feel grounded in America, rather than the “African” identity that many in the Black community embrace.
It’s worth noting that identity is deeply personal, and Trick Daddy’s stance isn’t a critique of others who may feel differently but rather a reflection of his own connection to his birthplace.In his words, “I’m trying to figure out how ‘Afro’ get in front of my motherf***ing race,” Trick Daddy declared as a proud Miami native. “I ain’t never been to Afro-ca. I have never been to Africa. Afro or Africa. Never been there. I’m not from Africa. I was born and raised in Goulds, Florida. I was born in Goulds, raised in Liberty City in the Pork-N-Beans projects. Ain’t never went to Africa, ain’t thinking about going there. And I heard it’s a beautiful place, yes. And I know it’s the motherland, yes. But not my mother, not her mother, and not her mother’s mother, that ain’t their land. Americans’ real true land is right here, on U.S. soils.”
Trick Daddy’s comments touch on a broader conversation about identity and what it means to be Black in America. For him, the connection to the African-American term doesn’t feel as personal, and he’s vocal about rooting his heritage in the United States.
Elsewhere in social media, Trick Daddy has also addressed other hot-button topics, one of which is his rumored attendance at Diddy’s infamous parties. Recently, he shut down those rumors in a fiery statement, threatening to slap anyone who brings up the “freak-off” gatherings, insisting he never attended them.
True to form, Trick Daddy continues to make waves with his bold opinions on everything from identity to female rappers. He recently voiced admiration for GloRilla and defended Sexyy Red, whom he felt deserved more recognition at recent award shows. In the case of Black identity, however, Trick Daddy’s stance feels more personal and thoughtful, reflecting a nuanced take on a complex topic.
Uganda has imposed immediate restrictions on the importation and customs clearance of Starlink satellite internet equipment and related communication devices, according to an internal memorandum issued by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
In a notice dated Dec. 19 and addressed to all customs staff, URA’s Customs and Clearance Directorate said any shipment of Starlink technology, communication gadgets or associated components must now be accompanied by a clearance or authorisation letter from the Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF).
“This communication serves to officially notify staff about the immediate restriction on the importation and customs clearance of Starlink technology gadgets, communication equipment and associated components,” the memorandum said, adding that the directive takes effect immediately.
The memo, signed by a senior customs official, did not provide reasons for the restriction, but the requirement for military authorisation underscores growing government scrutiny over satellite-based communications infrastructure, which operates largely outside traditional terrestrial telecom networks.
The move comes against the backdrop of earlier public support by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for engagement with Starlink, the low-Earth orbit satellite broadband service operated by SpaceX.
Museveni previously said he had held discussions with Starlink representatives on expanding affordable internet access across Uganda, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
“I had a productive meeting with Starlink representatives, Ben MacWilliams and Brandi Oliver, brought to me by Ambassador Adonia and Ambassador Popp. I appreciate their commitment to providing low-cost internet in hard-to-reach areas and establishing a presence in Uganda. They are welcome,” Museveni said at the time.
Starlink has attracted interest across Africa for its ability to deliver high-speed internet in areas poorly served by fibre and mobile networks.
According to international telecommunications estimates, about 40% of Africa’s population is now online, up from below 30% five years ago, though access remains uneven between urban and rural communities.
In Uganda, internet penetration is estimated at between 27% and 30% of the population, with high data costs and limited infrastructure constraining usage outside major towns. Satellite internet services have been viewed by policymakers and businesses as a potential solution for schools, health centres and enterprises in remote districts.
Starlink services are already operational or licensed in several African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, though regulatory and security frameworks differ widely across the continent.
Uganda’s telecommunications sector is regulated by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), which requires all internet service providers to obtain authorisation before offering services.
Starlink has not officially launched commercial operations in Uganda, but equipment has in recent years been imported by private users and resellers.
The restriction could temporarily slow adoption of satellite broadband solutions as government agencies align security, licensing and regulatory requirements, reflecting a broader regional trend toward tighter oversight of emerging communications technologies.
URA said customs officers are expected to strictly enforce the new guidance, signalling heightened coordination between revenue authorities and security agencies on technology imports.
Elon Musk met Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the crown prince of Dubai, on Sunday. The meeting took place at the Dubai royal’s majlis in Nad Al Sheba, where the two discussed latest developments in technology, space exploration and AI.
Sheikh Hamdan shared several photographs from the meeting on social media. In one of them, the Dubai royal and the world’s richest man appear to be sitting in a private jet. In another, the two are accompanied by their children. The picture seems to suggest that Musk was accompanied by his five-year-old son, X Æ A-Xii, during his visit to the UAE.
The last picture in the carousel shows Sheikh Hamdan driving a car with Musk in the passenger seat.
Elon Musk meets Dubai crown prince “I thoroughly enjoyed a wide-ranging discussion with Elon Musk on space, technology, and humanity. Excited to see what the future holds,” the crown prince of Dubai said in his Instagram post.
On X, he continued: “During the meeting, we emphasised our pride in the partnerships that bring together the UAE with global economic leaders and changemakers, based on our belief that collaboration is the true engine of progress, and that the next stage requires an integrated partnership between the public and private sectors”.
Elon Musk thanks host Elon Musk responded to Sheikh Hamdan’s post on X. He thanked the royal for his hospitality.
“Thank you for hosting me your great country!” wrote the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.
After his meeting with the crown prince of Dubai, Musk also flew to Abu Dhabi to meet President Sheikh Mohamed.
Barely a day after his dismissal from the Uganda Prisons Service, former prisons officer Lawrence Ampe has announced that he will join the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, on the campaign trail.
Bobi Wine, who has been campaigning in the Teso sub-region since Tuesday, is scheduled to hold rallies in Ngora District on Saturday before proceeding to Bukedea District.
Ampe confirmed on Friday that he will be in Ngora to actively campaign for the opposition leader.
“Tomorrow (Saturday), I will be in Ngora to officially campaign for Kyagulanyi’s presidential bid and urge my friends in the Etesot community to vote wisely, choosing leaders who prioritize our region’s development and Uganda’s progress,” Ampe posted on X.
“As a concerned citizen, I’m excited to rally support for a candidate who embodies the values of integrity, justice, and people-centered governance. Let’s unite for a brighter future,” he added.
Ampe was dismissed from the Uganda Prisons Service after publicly expressing support for Bobi Wine and criticizing senior government officials over alleged corruption, human rights abuses, and mistreatment of lower-ranking prison officers.
Following his dismissal, Ampe described his removal from service as part of what he termed a broader struggle for “national liberation,” urging Ugandans to remain committed to political change even at personal cost.
However, the former officer has also raised fears over his personal safety, warning that he could be abducted by security operatives under the guise of a lawful arrest.
“I want to state that any lawful arrest related to my acts of liberation won’t distress me. However, I’m aware that they might abduct me under the guise of arrest, as they’ve done before,” Ampe wrote in a social media post on Saturday morning.
Despite these concerns, Ampe struck a defiant tone, insisting that intimidation would not silence him.
“Let it be known that such actions won’t deter me from fighting for what’s right. I’m prepared for whatever comes next. My resolve remains unbroken,” he added.
Under Ugandan law, serving members of the armed and uniformed forces are prohibited from engaging in partisan political activity. Security personnel are required to remain politically neutral while in service.
Ampe’s dismissal and subsequent political activism have renewed debate over alleged double standards in the enforcement of these regulations. Critics argue that while opposition-leaning officers face sanctions, several members of the security forces have publicly campaigned for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and President Yoweri Museveni without facing disciplinary action.
Bobi Wine is expected to continue his Teso sub-region campaign with rallies in Ngora and Bukedea districts on Saturday.
A wife spotted her husband with another woman at an event, and her next move has really shocked the whole internet.
As most men can’t be together with only one woman, the husband decided to go on a date with another woman, and unfortunately for him, his wife got a hint about this move.
Upon her arrival, the wife saw her man dancing with another woman who looked unfamiliar, so in an attempt to save her home, the woman broke a bottle and chased the “home-wrecker” away from the event.
In most cases, the woman would’ve dragged her husband home, but this woman did something funny, and it shocked all the attendees.
This woman forced her husband to dance with her even though he looked frustrated and terrified because his wife was still holding the broken glass, but he had no option.
The Video has circulated on the internet, stirring numerous reactions, with the majority of her supporters being women, while some men support the husband for choosing peace of mind.
Men who have experience in relationship claims that the violent behaviour of the wife is a point enough to make the man look outside because no man would like to be in the same house with a monster.
The women are also calling the man out for having an external affair instead of solving his differences with his wife, or better, break up and move on, because this action is not pleasing.
UGANDA – Drama unfolded in Eldoret when a father stormed his daughter’s wedding ceremony and abruptly left with her, bringing the event to an unexpected halt.
The incident reportedly occurred after music was played during the ceremony, which the father objected to on religious and cultural grounds.
Witnesses said the wedding had been proceeding normally until the music prompted the father to intervene.
He had allegedly warned his daughter earlier not to include music, saying it was against their traditions.
When his wishes were ignored, he entered the venue and escorted her away in front of shocked guests. Attempts by some attendees to calm the situation were unsuccessful, as the father remained firm in his stance.
The ceremony ended prematurely, leaving many guests confused and unsettled.
The incident has since sparked debate, with some defending the father’s commitment to tradition while others argue the bride’s personal choices should have been respected.
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki on Friday warned that the ruling African National Congress is in serious difficulty as the country faces worsening social and economic challenges, saying there is no clear solution in sight.
Mbeki was speaking at the funeral of veteran anti-apartheid activist and senior ANC member Titus Mafolo in Johannesburg. Mafolo, 69, died last week after a brief illness.
“Titus has left us too early, because the ANC is in serious problems. South Africa is in serious problems,” Mbeki told mourners. “I don’t know where South Africa will be tomorrow.”
Mafolo was a respected ANC leader, businessman and a close political adviser to Mbeki during his presidency. Since his death, tributes have described him as a principled figure who played an important role in shaping post-apartheid South Africa.
Mbeki questioned the country’s direction amid rising crime, unemployment and economic strain. “Where are we going? How are we going to solve all of these problems?” he said.
After more than three decades in power, the ANC is under increasing pressure from voters over corruption, failing public institutions, high unemployment and a weak economy. Public anger has been reflected in frequent service delivery protests, declining voter turnout and electoral losses for the party.
Mbeki said South Africa was poorer without Mafolo’s leadership at a time of deep systemic challenges. He urged political leaders and public officials to honor Mafolo’s legacy through ethical leadership and a renewed commitment to rebuilding the country.
President Museveni has called on Ugandans to make informed choices during elections, warning that leadership decisions determine whether a country remains stable or slides into instability.
The President made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing a mammoth crowd at a campaign rally held at Ssaza Grounds in Kiboga District, where he cautioned voters against trivialising politics and treating elections as a form of entertainment.
“Elections are not football,” Museveni said, stressing that voting is a serious national responsibility that shapes the country’s future.
He urged citizens to understand candidates, policies, voting requirements and the system of governance before making decisions at the ballot.
Drawing lessons from Uganda’s history, Museveni recalled the 1962 elections, arguing that poor political choices made at the time led to loss of life and prolonged instability.
He said informed decision-making was essential to safeguard peace and national cohesion.
The President asked residents of Kiboga to support him and other National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearers in the forthcoming elections, saying this would protect and consolidate the party’s achievements over the past four decades.
He highlighted four of the NRM’s seven key contributions to Uganda—peace, development, wealth creation and job creation—saying these had transformed districts such as Kiboga from insecurity to stability and growth.
Museveni described peace as the foundation of all progress, noting that Kiboga has enjoyed uninterrupted stability for more than 40 years.
He attributed this to the NRM’s rejection of sectarian politics based on religion, tribe, gender or age, as well as government interventions such as immunisation programmes and inclusive leadership.
On development, the President pointed to investments in infrastructure including roads, electricity, telecommunications and railways. He cited the Hoima–Kiboga road as a key project and pledged further upgrades to roads linking Kiboga to neighbouring districts.
Museveni added that the anticipated start of oil production next year would provide additional resources to fast-track delayed infrastructure projects.
Addressing wealth creation, Museveni emphasised household income as the backbone of national prosperity, urging families to focus on income-generating activities, particularly agriculture and small enterprises. He reiterated the NRM’s four-acre model for diversified agricultural production.
On job creation, the President said employment opportunities would continue to come from individual enterprise in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and information and communications technology.
He added that government skilling centres were equipping young people with practical skills such as welding, baking and other trades.
NRM First National Vice Chairperson, Alhajji Moses Kigongo, called on party leaders and supporters in Kiboga to mobilise peacefully and engage voters respectfully throughout the election period.
The Second National Vice Chairperson (Female) and Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon. Anita Annet Among, thanked the President for tarmacking the Hoima–Kiboga road, saying it had eased transport and boosted trade.
She also appealed for the establishment of a coffee processing factory in Kiboga to promote value addition and improve farmers’ incomes.
NRM Vice Chairperson for the Central Region, Hon. Haruna Kasolo, assured residents that the NRM government had delivered on its commitments and would continue to do more if re-elected.
Kiboga District NRM Chairperson, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, thanked the President for restoring peace and strengthening security through the establishment of police stations in areas previously affected by criminal activity.
She also commended the rehabilitation and ongoing upgrade of the Hoima–Kampala Road and praised wealth creation programmes such as the Parish Development Model and Emyooga, saying many households in Kiboga had benefited.
A-Chinese national, Kong Ling Chong, has been arrested for allegedly stealing 67 copper sheets valued at K460,000 from Huan Yu Industry Limited, a company based in Chambishi, Kitwe.
According to Copperbelt Police Commissioner, Yuyi Mwala, the theft occurred on December 21, 2025, between 05:00 and 06:00 hours.
The company’s manager, Wang Zhen Min, reported the incident to Chambishi Police Station after discovering that Chong had left the premises with a Fortuner motor vehicle.
“The security guard informed me that M/Kong Ling Chong went out of the company premises using a Fortuner Motor Vehicle registration number 5872,” Commissioner Mwala quoted the manager as saying.
Police tracked the vehicle’s GPS to a house in Kankoyo, Chambishi, where they recovered the stolen copper sheets. Chong was later apprehended at the company premises.
“Upon being interviewed, he said that he wanted to raise money so that he can go back to China,” Commissioner Mwala said.
The police have opened a docket, and investigations are ongoing.
Former Brazil international and long-time Barcelona defender, Dani Alves, has completed the acquisition of Portuguese club Sporting Clube de São João de Ver.
Alves, now 42, is also considering signing a six-month contract to play for the outfit, according to ESPN.
Sporting Clube de São João de Ver, based in the Aveiro District of central Portugal, has a modest history within Portuguese football.
Earlier this year, Alves had a rape conviction overturned on appeal by a Spanish court.
That court ruled that there was “insufficient evidence” to rule out Alves’ presumption of innocence.
Alves has not played since January 2023, when he was arrested in Barcelona after being accused of sexually abusing a woman.
He was kept in jail from Jan. 20, 2023, to March 2024 until he was released after paying €1 million (then $1.2m) for bail while awaiting his appeal.
Since his release from prison, Alves has been working behind the scenes in football, especially in Europe, as an agent, but always with the idea of returning to the pitch and eventually getting his coaching certificate.
He has been training at home and believes he only needs 30 days to regain match fitness and be available for his new team.
Alves last played on January 8, 2023, in Liga MX, when he represented Pumas, who terminated his contract following his arrest.
Sources said HE has the support of a group of Brazilian investors to finalize the purchase of Sporting Clube de São João de Ver, a club based in the Aveiro region.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army on Friday dismissed claims that Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and allied forces had withdrawn from the southeastern city of Uvira, saying the announcement was a “media stunt” that does not reflect realities on the ground.
In a statement dated December 20, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) said it had learned “through the press” of an alleged pullback by the AFC/M23 coalition and the Rwandan Defence Forces, but insisted the move was neither real nor effective.
The army accused Kigali and its allies of seeking to mislead both domestic and international opinion and to undermine mediation efforts led by the United States and Qatar, at a time when international pressure on Rwanda is intensifying.
“This supposed withdrawal does not correspond at all to the facts on the ground and demonstrates Rwanda’s bad faith in respecting its commitments under the Washington peace agreement,” the statement said.
According to FARDC, human rights groups, civil society organisations and local residents continue to report the visible and sustained presence of M23/AFC fighters and Rwandan troops in Uvira and surrounding areas. The army said rebel forces remain deployed in several neighbourhoods, occupying strategic positions and controlling key road axes.
It added that in central Uvira, Rwandan soldiers have been seen in police uniforms, civilian clothing and standard military attire, while others were reportedly spotted at the Kalundu port and near the Burundi border on the Congolese side.
The army further accused the group of maintaining roadblocks and checkpoints that restrict the free movement of people and goods, and said there has been no handover of positions to Congolese regular forces or local security services.
FARDC also alleged a pattern of abuses against civilians, including intimidation, extortion, arbitrary arrests and acts of torture, citing testimonies from residents of Uvira and nearby communities.
The statement said armed patrols and suspicious troop movements continue at night in and around the city, confirming what it described as the persistence of rebel presence. It added that while a small contingent of fighters was filmed leaving part of the city, other elements redeployed to the Middle and High Plateaus of Uvira, with some moving towards Fizi territory to link up with allied armed groups.
Clashes have continued in recent days, the army said, including fighting at Kasekezi, about 35 kilometres south of Uvira on the Baraka road, involving FARDC and the Rwandan army.
The Congolese military also cited comments by M23 spokesperson Willy Ngoma in a viral video, in which he reportedly said the group would “never” leave Uvira, arguing that it could not withdraw while fighting was ongoing beyond the city.
FARDC urged U.S. and Qatari mediators, as well as the international community, not to be “deceived by false declarations,” accusing Rwanda and its allies of routinely using delay tactics and misinformation while continuing hostilities in violation of the Washington agreements and U.N. Security Council Resolution 2773.
The army said it remains committed to restoring state authority and protecting civilians in Uvira and its environs, and called on residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to authorities and intelligence services.
Rwanda has previously denied supporting the M23 rebels, despite repeated accusations by the Congolese government and findings by United Nations experts.
Bruce Willis’ family has announced plans to donate his brain to scientific research after his passing, aiming to advance understanding of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the condition that forced him to retire from acting.
His wife, Emma Heming-Willis, described the decision as emotionally challenging but crucial for helping others with similar conditions. The brain donation will allow scientists to study the physical effects of FTD, potentially leading to better treatments and a cure .
Bruce Willis is battling frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a rare and aggressive neurological condition that affects personality, behavior, language, and motor skills. FTD is the second most common type of dementia in people under 65, after Alzheimer’s disease.
Willis was initially diagnosed with aphasia in 2022, which progressed to FTD in 2023. His wife, Emma Heming Willis, has been sharing updates on his condition, highlighting the challenges of living with FTD.
His family hopes the donation will raise awareness and contribute to medical breakthroughs .
CHIPO CHIBALAMUNA CROWNED MISS INTERCONTINENTAL ZAMBIA – TO REPRESENT THE COUNTRY GLOBALLY .
Chipo Chibalamuna has been crowned new Miss Intercontinental Zambia. Hailing from the Copperbelt, Ms Chipo began her journey with Miss Mental Health Zambia, a program dedicated to advocating for mental health and creating safe spaces for communities to thrive. She is not only a queen of beauty, but also a symbol of resilience and determination.
Having faced challenges that prevented her from accessing formal education early in life, Ms Chipo has turned her experiences into a passionate mission: to advocate for mental health, support those facing similar struggles, and inspire communities across Zambia and beyond.
In January ,29, 2026, In Egypt, Ms Chipo will represent Zambia on the international stage at the Miss Intercontinental pageant. She embodies purpose, compassion, and a commitment to making a positive impact. Her journey is a powerful reminder that challenges can be turned into inspiration for many.
She is now also an Ambassador for the Mumba Childrens Charity, a program dedicated to supporting children .
As she prepares to showcase her talent, culture, and advocacy to the world, we calls upon sponsors, well-wishers, and every citizen to support Ms Chipo in this exciting journey. Together, we can help her shine brightly on the global stage.
THE $117 TRILLION WORLD ECONOMY – AND WHY THE U.S. STILL EATS EVERYONE’S LUNCH
The global economy now clocks in at $117 trillion, and the imbalance is doing pushups.
The U.S. alone sits at $30.6 trillion – bigger than China, Germany, and Japan combined. That’s not a typo.
Real GDP growth is running around 2%, which sounds boring until you realize it’s been boringly consistent for 25 years.
Result: nearly 70% real growth since the late ’90s.
China? Still massive, but slowing.
Europe? Stagnation with better manners.
The real motion is elsewhere.
India is the headline act: 6.6% growth, $4.1 trillion GDP, and on track to overtake Japan. Not someday. Soon. Demographics plus momentum is a dangerous combo.
Then there’s Ireland, the statistical chaos agent. 9.1% projected growth, driven by export front-loading and multinational accounting gravity. Useful data point — not a model.
Now the warning label.
Germany’s economy has contracted, again. Growth this year: 0.2%. Manufacturing decline since 2018. Italy averaging 0.4% growth over 25 years. France at 1.2%. Europe didn’t collapse – it just slowly stopped accelerating.
Big picture:
America dominates scale, India dominates trajectory…
Europe dominates excuses.
What happens next? Capital follows growth, not nostalgia.
And the map of economic power keeps drifting – eastward in population, southward in growth, but still anchored, for now, in the U.S. dollar system.
A senior Russian military official was killed on Monday after an explosive device detonated beneath his car in southern Moscow, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee.
The committee said Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Russian General Staff’s Operational Training Department, died from injuries sustained in the blast. Investigators stated that the explosive device had been planted under the vehicle and was detonated on Yasenevaya Street in Moscow.
A criminal case has been opened, and investigations are ongoing. Authorities said they are considering multiple theories surrounding the attack, including possible involvement by Ukrainian intelligence services.
Ukrainian officials have not commented on the allegation.
TRUMP: NEW BATTLESHIPS “100 TIMES MORE POWERFUL” THAN WWII IOWA-CLASS, “THERE’S NEVER BEEN ANYTHING LIKE THESE SHIPS”
“I have approved a plan for the Navy to begin construction of two brand-new, very large, largest we’ve ever built battleships.
You used to build the Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Alabama, many others.
These are bigger.
They’ll be 100 times the force, the power.
There’s never been anything like these ships.
These have been under design consideration for a long time. It started with me in my first term because I said, why aren’t we doing battleships like we used to?
They’re longer by a little bit, bigger ships, but they hold much more.
TRUMP RECLAIMS STRATEGIC CONTROL IN LATIN AMERICA – IRAN & CHINA WARNED: “NOT YOUR BACKYARD”
The U.S. seizure of two Venezuelan oil tankers, and the pursuit of a third, isn’t just a maritime incident. It’s a clear geopolitical signal: Washington is no longer willing to tolerate what it sees as lawlessness in its own hemisphere. And with Trump personally engaging with Defense and Navy leadership over the operation, the stakes just escalated.
Officially, the ships are accused of being part of a “ghost fleet” used to smuggle oil that funds criminal networks linked to Nicolás Maduro’s regime. One of the vessels reportedly has ties to Iran, a red flag that brings in broader concerns about hostile actors expanding their influence in Latin America.
Why now?
Because the political map in the region is shifting. From Argentina’s recent turn to the right to growing dissatisfaction with entrenched leftist regimes, there’s a sense that U.S. influence is resurging, and Washington sees an opportunity to break the last strongholds of 21st-century socialism. Cutting off Maduro’s ability to move oil covertly is part of that pressure campaign.
But it’s not just about Venezuela.
This move signals that the U.S. is reclaiming strategic authority in the Americas, economically, militarily, and diplomatically. It also sends a message to external players like Iran and China: this hemisphere is no longer open for quiet power projection.
For the United States, it’s about enforcing sanctions, defending maritime law, and securing its own backyard. But for the region, this could mark the beginning of a much bigger realignment, One where U.S. power, long dormant or hesitant in Latin America, reasserts itself with confidence.
Maduro is calling it piracy. The U.S. calls it enforcement. The reality is more complex, and far more consequential.
This is about oil. It’s about sovereignty. And it’s about a fight for control over the future of an entire continent.
Turkey was helping Iran during the Iran-Israel war – Yasar Guler, Defense Minister of Turkey
“During the Iran-Israel war, PKK were moving weapons and personnel to PJAK [Kurdish separatist group in Iran]. PJAK believed the Iranian government would collapse and were acting on this expectation.
During the war, we were in constant contact with the Iranian authorities, providing them intelligence and details of PJAK operations in Iran.”
ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro says a conducive political environment for 2026 elections will result if political parties adhere to the Electoral Code of Conduct.
Kasaro, however says that it is impossible to rig elections because measures are in place to guarantee transparency and credibility in the process.
In an interview, Sunday, Kasaro urged political parties to respect the campaign time table and adhere to the Electoral Code of Conduct ahead of the 2026 general elections.
“As you have stated rigging elections is not possible in Zambia due to the various measures put in place to ensure that the electoral process is transparent and credible. The Commission has put in place various measures to ensure a conducive political environment. For example, development of a campaign time table is one such measure, but you will agree with me that for there to be a conducive political environment there is need for collaboration by all the electoral stakeholders,” he said.
“If political parties can respect the campaign time table and adhere to the Electoral Code of conduct then there will be a conducive environment for elections. The Commission is committed to ensure a conducive political environment ahead of the 2026 general election and will engage political parties at every stage of the election road map to ensure that we all move at the same pace.
We will also endeavour to enforce the provisions of the Electoral Code of Conduct to ensure that we have a peaceful and conducive political environment. The point is that, a conducive environment is not the work of the Commission alone. All stakeholders including political parties and the police should play their part in accordance with the Electoral Code of Conduct”.
Kasaro said the Commission will soon announce its position on whether fresh delimitation will follow since Bill 7 was signed into law.
“The Commission will communicate its position on this matter soon,” said Kasaro.
In all honesty, late president Edgar Chagwa Lungu and Hon. Given Lubinda are the ones who awakened the sleeping monster, Hon. Miles Sampa aka Mbappe. In doing so, they indirectly created another monster, Hon. Robert Chabinga aka Chabz International.
If anyone is looking for who to blame for the challenges in the PF, the finger should be pointed squarely at ECL and Lubinda. Chabz is simply playing the game that was set up for him and right now he is just enjoying scoring goals.
What we are witnessing is not just the rise of an opportunist by the name of Chabz International. It is the slow death of internal political discipline. Parties do not collapse when outsiders attack them. They collapse when they lose the ability to manage ambition, popularity, and succession from within.
PF’s deeper problem is the culture of self sabotage. Every time a figure emerges who connects with the grassroots, the first reaction is not reflection but suspicion. Instead of asking why the membership is responding, labels are quickly applied. Desperate. UPND project. MMD guy. Sellout.
Look at Hon. Brian Mundubile. Whether one likes him or not, it is obvious that he is one of the most popular figures in the party today. Yet instead of that popularity being studied and harnessed, it is treated as a threat. That tells you everything you need to know about the current mindset.
A party that fears its own popular figures will never defeat an opponent. A party that constantly suspects infiltration instead of listening to its base will keep creating space for opportunists. And in that space, people like Chabinga will continue to thrive.
This is not a Chabinga problem. It is a leadership failure problem.
Monsters are rarely born in politics. They are created. And once created, they do exactly what monsters do. They survive, they adapt, and they thrive in the chaos left behind.
Right now, the PF is not being destroyed by its enemies. It is defeating itself by not accepting the “obvious” successor and lead all opposition parties to work together!.. Otherwise as things stand we might just be wasting taxpayers money in printing ballot papers for 2026 as UPND will carry the day with ease. ♂️
Simon Mulenga Mwila – Aspiring Mayor of Lusaka. (DBA – Candidate, MBA, LLM, LLB, Legal Practitioner, Commissioner for Oaths, Notary Public)
VIEWPOINT| KALABA vs Hichilema: Rhetoric, Record and Risk of Overreach
Harry Kalaba’s appearance on KBN TV was not an interview, but a political indictment. In a sweeping and confrontational performance, the Citizens First leader declared President Hakainde Hichilema the “worst” leader Zambia has ever had, accused his government of extreme corruption, and repeatedly framed himself as the inevitable next president. The language was blunt, emotional, and absolute.
The substance, however, deserves careful separation from the sound.
Kalaba’s central claim is that the UPND government has “performed very badly” across the board and is more divisive and corrupt than all its predecessors. This is a serious charge. But corruption rankings and public data complicate this statement. Since 2021, Zambia has improved its standing on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, moving upward compared to the late PF years.
This does not mean corruption has disappeared, nor does it validate selective prosecutions, but it directly contradicts the claim that corruption has worsened in measurable terms.
On load shedding, Kalaba promised that he would “stop it immediately” if elected, arguing that UPND’s failure stems from bad deals and poor management. What he did not acknowledge is that Zambia’s current energy crisis is rooted in a prolonged regional drought that sharply reduced hydroelectric output, a reality acknowledged by ZESCO, SADC energy bodies, and independent analysts. Promising instant resolution without addressing climate variability, generation mix timelines, or financing risks repeating the very political over-promising Kalaba accuses the President of.
His critique of Constituency Development Fund usage touches a real policy debate. CDF was expanded dramatically under UPND, from K1.6 million to K28.3 million per constituency, with K40 million projected. Kalaba argues that using CDF for ambulances or police vehicles distorts devolution. This criticism is not without merit. However, the counter-fact is that CDF remains legally governed by local councils, and many of these procurements were approved at constituency level, not imposed from State House. The problem here is implementation quality, not the existence of CDF itself.
Kalaba’s promise to “fast-track” employment of teachers, doctors, and nurses also needs grounding. The UPND government has recruited over 50,000 teachers and health workers since 2021, the largest single recruitment drive in Zambia’s recent history. Bureaucracy remains, but the record does not support the claim of inaction.
A fair critique would focus on deployment delays and wage pressures, not denial of recruitment altogether.
Where Kalaba’s interview crossed from critique into political overreach was tone. Repeatedly calling the President a “liar” and declaring senior constitutional office holders “fired in August” may energise a base, but it weakens the credibility of the argument. Voters have historically punished leaders who confuse certainty with inevitability.
Power is not transferred by declaration.
His comparisons with former presidents also relied heavily on selective memory. Kaunda, Chiluba, Mwanawasa, Banda, Sata, and Lungu each governed under vastly different economic and global conditions. Some excelled in specific sectors. All struggled elsewhere. Declaring one administration uniquely disastrous without acknowledging debt restructuring progress, international re-engagement, and macroeconomic stabilisation reduces history to a slogan.
Kalaba’s defence of Edgar Lungu as “mistreated beyond words” further complicates his positioning. Even he concedes that the PF era had “fundamental mistakes” and corruption. This tension reflects a broader opposition problem: criticising the present while rehabilitating the immediate past without resolving its contradictions.
What Kalaba did achieve was clarity of posture. He is running as a hard opposition figure, uninterested in moderation. This strategy can mobilise frustration, but it also raises the bar for proof. In Zambian politics, anger travels fast. Credibility travels slower, but lasts longer.
The 2026 election will not be decided by who speaks harshest. It will be decided by who convinces voters that their promises are anchored in reality, not prophecy.
Kalaba has energy, confidence, and presence. Whether he has the organisational depth, fiscal detail, and electoral reach to match his rhetoric remains the unanswered question.
For now, his KBN TV appearance stands as a reminder of a core rule of politics: criticism is strongest when it survives fact-checking.
Bill 7 Was Stillborn: Why Zambians Must Reject the New Amendments to the Constitution
By Thandiwe Ketiš Ngoma
I am fully in support of the Oasis Forum, which has maintained its principled and unwavering position that the newly assented Constitution Bill No. 7 remains unconstitutional, as it was conceived and processed through procedures that violated constitutional requirements. The Forum has correctly pointed out that the process disregarded binding Constitutional Court guidance and failed the test of meaningful public participation. This position is not driven by politics or emotion but by fidelity to constitutionalism, the rule of law, and democratic governance.
History teaches us that unjust laws do not collapse on their own. They are dismantled when people refuse to normalize them, refuse to be silenced by fear, and refuse to surrender their rights for the comfort of obedience. South Africa’s apartheid system stands as one of the clearest and most instructive examples of this truth.
Apartheid: How It Came Into Being and Why It Was Rejected
Apartheid did not arise accidentally. It was deliberately institutionalized in 1948 when South Africa’s National Party came into power and formalized racial segregation into law. Through statutes such as the Population Registration Act, the Group Areas Act, the Pass Laws, and the Bantu Education Act, Black South Africans were stripped of political rights, forcibly removed from their land, denied quality education, restricted in movement, and reduced to cheap labor in their own country.
Crucially, apartheid was legal. It was passed by Parliament, enforced by courts, and protected by state machinery. Yet its legality never translated into legitimacy. It violated human dignity, equality, justice, and freedom, which are the very foundations of a just society. Black South Africans rejected apartheid because it dehumanized them, excluded them from governance, and entrenched inequality as state policy.
They resisted relentlessly through protests, boycotts, strikes, international advocacy, and civil disobedience. They were told to obey the law. They were told to be patient. They were told change would come in time. But they understood a timeless truth: injustice legalized is still injustice. Eventually, the world was forced to admit what the oppressed had always known. Apartheid was wrong, illegal in spirit, and unsustainable. It collapsed because the people refused to accept it.
Bill 7 and Zambia’s Constitutional Crossroads
Today, Zambia finds itself at a constitutional crossroads.
Constitution Bill No. 7 has been assented to law by President Hakainde Hichilema despite widespread public opposition and serious concerns about the constitutionality of its process. This is not a trivial disagreement. At the heart of this matter lies a fundamental democratic principle: the Constitution belongs to the people, not the government of the day.
Zambians have rejected Bill 7 for substantive and legitimate reasons. First, the process itself was constitutionally flawed, failing to comply with Constitutional Court guidance and falling short of the requirement for meaningful public participation. Second, the expansion of Parliament and the increase in the number of Members of Parliament without transparent and credible delimitation raise fears of entrenching executive dominance rather than strengthening representation and accountability. Third, the increased nomination powers and the sequencing of implementation create fertile ground for abuse, patronage, and political control rather than democratic balance.
These are not abstract legal debates. They go to the heart of democratic governance, checks and balances, and the people’s sovereign authority. Zambians must not be hoodwinked into accepting a law whose birth process was unconstitutional. The principle is simple and timeless.
An illegal process cannot give birth to a legal outcome.
No amount of presidential assent can cleanse a process that violated constitutional safeguards, ignored public consensus, or sidelined due procedure. Just as apartheid’s legality did not make it just, Bill 7’s assent does not make it legitimate in the eyes of constitutional democracy. South Africans were told to be patient. They were told to obey the law. They were told change would come in time. But time alone never dismantles injustice. People do.
Likewise, Zambians are now being encouraged to move on and accept Bill 7 as settled law. But constitutional violations are not erased by silence, and democracy is not preserved by submission. If citizens surrender their right to question unconstitutional processes today, they weaken their ability to resist greater abuses tomorrow.
Rejecting Bill 7 does not mean rejecting peace. It does not mean rejecting leadership. It means rejecting the normalization of unconstitutional governance. It means standing firm on the rule of law, transparency, accountability, and popular sovereignty.
The Tragedy of Legal Justification
Perhaps the most heartbreaking dimension of this moment is the role some members of the legal profession are choosing to play. Some lawyers are busy crafting justifications, urging the public to accept Bill 7 on the grounds that the law has been passed and must therefore be respected. They remind citizens that, as lawyers, they swore to uphold and protect the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia and that the rule of law does not bend to emotions, political alignment, or popular sentiment. They argue that laws must be obeyed even when outcomes do not align with personal preferences.
But this is precisely where the tragedy lies.
The oath to uphold the Constitution is not an oath to defend every outcome, no matter how it is achieved. It is an oath to defend constitutionalism itself, the process, the safeguards, and the supremacy of the Constitution over expediency. When lawyers defend a law whose process is constitutionally questionable by demanding obedience instead of scrutiny, they reduce the rule of law to mere compliance. That is not fidelity to the Constitution. It is a betrayal of its spirit.
How heartless and painful it is to watch those entrusted as guardians of the Constitution choose technical convenience over moral and constitutional courage. Lawyers should be the first to ask hard questions, not the first to silence them. Their duty is not to political comfort or institutional loyalty but to the Constitution and the people from whom it derives its authority.
A Call to Constitutional Courage
True patriotism is not blind loyalty to authority. It is loyalty to the Constitution and to future generations.
South Africans rejected apartheid not because it was easy but because it was necessary. Zambians too must rise to the responsibility of defending constitutionalism, not with violence, not with hatred, but with courage, clarity, and collective resolve.
Let history record that when the Constitution was threatened, the people did not stay silent. Because laws that are forced on the people, against the people’s will, and through unconstitutional means, no matter how powerfully signed, will always remain illegitimate in the court of history.
CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT BILL No. 7 HAILED AS MILESTONE IN ZAMBIA’S DEMOCRACY
Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has described the enactment of the Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 as a major milestone in Zambia’s democratic development.
Speaking during ZNBC’s Sunday Interview, Mr. Mweetwa said President Hakainde Hichilema has directed all Members of Parliament, regardless of political affiliation, to return to their constituencies and explain the constitutional amendments clause by clause to citizens.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mweetwa dismissed reports of the expulsion of Patriotic Front Members of Parliament who supported Bill No. 7, describing the move as illegal and politically motivated. He stressed that no by-elections will arise from the alleged expulsions.
He further explained that under Article 76 of the Constitution and the Parliamentary Privileges and Immunities Act, Members of Parliament are protected from external interference regarding how they debate and vote in the National Assembly.
HEARTBREAK: Kapala bids farewell to wife he proposed to on a bus 41 years ago
THERE was a heavy, almost suffocating silence inside Miracle Life Church in Lusaka’s Roma residential area as Fisheries and Livestock minister Peter Kapala came face to face with the remains of his wife of 41 years, Charity.
Forty one years ago, Kapala happily proposed to the love of his life on a bus and today, he said goodbye in tears.
“Mayo, mayo! (Mother, mother)!”cried one of their daughters as the casket was opened, reducing mourners to tears.
Watching his children crumble at the sight of their mother lying lifeless, Kapala appeared overcome.
He breathed heavily, struggling to steady himself, before lowering his head as tears streamed down his face.
At one point, the grieving husband was unable to walk with his legs giving way under the weight of the moment.
Kapala initially resisted looking into the casket, turning away as if unable to accept the finality of death.
But when he finally stepped forward, his grief erupted and cried so uncontrollably that church officials asked members of the media to stop filming and leave the church to allow the family privacy during their most harrowing moment.
The funeral service drew hundreds of mourners, including President Hakainde Hichilema and First Lady Mutinta, who joined Cabinet ministers, senior government officials and UPND leaders to pay their last respects.
Several Patriotic Front (PF) Members of Parliament were also present.
A deeply personal tribute, delivered on Kapala’s behalf by Small and Medium Enterprise Development minister Elias Mubanga, revealed the tender beginnings of a love story that started far from the corridors of power.
“On 5th May 1984, when you were 22 years old, full of life, hope and love, I proposed to you on a bus journey to Livingstone, and you said yes,” the tribute read. “We have lived together for over 40 years.”
The couple went on to raise three children and welcomed one grandchild.
United by faith, they later founded the Kapala Foundation, through which they supported communities and helped the vulnerable.
“You were steadfast in your trust in God. You ran your race with grace, and you will forever live in our hearts,” said Kapala.
Leading the service, Pastor Moffat Chembe drew lessons from Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 and 2 Peter 3:9 urging mourners to reflect on the importance of faith and the hope of eternal life beyond death.
The Trump administration is recalling dozens of ambassadors from posts around the world.
48 envoys were removed from positions in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Central and South America.
This follows an initial mass firing of appointees of former President Joe Biden in the early months of President Trump’s second term.
“This is a standard process in any administration,” a senior State Department official told The Post Monday, Dec. 22.
“An ambassador is a personal representative of the president, and it is the president’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda.”
The latest recalls, first reported by Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin, would leave the US without envoys in key global hotspots — including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia and South Sudan in Africa; Armenia, Lithuania, North Macedonia and Slovakia in Europe; as well as Yemen in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the administration has yet to nominate permanent ambassadors to key allies and partners, including Australia, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea.
