Kenya-France Defense Deal Sparks Debate: Public Input Sought on Diplomatic Privileges for French Soldiers
By African Report files
Kenya is considering a new defense deal with France that could give French soldiers diplomatic-style privileges, sparking debate about national sovereignty and security cooperation.
The Defense Cooperation Agreement, tabled in Parliament in November, outlines rules for visiting forces, including logistical support and legal protections.
The agreement aims to boost collaboration on military training, joint exercises, and intelligence sharing. Kenyans have until December 31 to share their views on the pact, as lawmakers review it.
Critics argue the deal raises concerns about accountability and transparency, while supporters see it as a strategic move to strengthen bilateral relations and security ties. The government frames it as a milestone in Kenya-France cooperation, citing shared commitments to peace and stability.
US President, Donald Trump had announced what he called a “blockade” of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers, ratcheting up American pressure on the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America,” Trump wrote in a lengthy post on his social media platform. “It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us.”
It was not immediately clear what stolen oil and land Trump was referring to. However, under Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan government expropriated assets from some American oil companies after the country nationalized oil fields in 2007.
In the post, Trump announced “A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela” and demanded the return of oil and assets.
The Venezuelan government responded to Trump’s post, calling his declaration a “reckless and serious threat,” against the country that it says violates international law, free trade and freedom of navigation.
“The President of the United States intends to impose in an absolutely irrational manner, a supposed naval military blockade on Venezuela with the objective of stealing the wealth that belongs to our homeland,” the Venezuelan government said in a statement.
The U.S. currently has 11 warships in the Caribbean the most in decades — but even with a stepped-up presence, that would likely not be enough to put in place a blockade in the traditional sense, which involves sealing a country’s coastline completely.
Reuters reported last week the fleet of sanctioned ships helping move Venezuelan oil numbered about 30. According to Tanker Trackers, there are more than a dozen sanctioned tankers in Venezuelan waters at the moment.
Last week, the U.S. seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela that officials said was involved in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations and used to transport oil between the South American country and Iran. The oil tanker was headed to Cuba.
Separately, since September, the U.S. military has launched dozens of strikes on vessels allegedly carrying drugs — moves the Trump administration has said are about stopping the flow of drugs into the U.S.
Trump’s post Tuesday night came after White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was quoted in Vanity Fair as saying that Trump “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.”
In the post on Tuesday, Trump denounced Maduro’s government as a “Hostile Regime.”
While the U.S. has long considered Maduro the head of a corrupt dictatorial regime, Trump last month, in an unprecedented move, declared him the head of a foreign terrorist organization.
“The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping,” Trump wrote in the post on Tuesday.
“For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.”
This comes after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation for new travel bans on the two countries.
Supporters of both Senegal and the Ivory Coast may be prohibited from entering the United States during the 2026 World Cup.
This comes after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation for new travel bans on the two countries.
The two African nations were drawn into Group I and Group E, respectively, in the revamped 48-team competition earlier this month, but fans from those countries may be excluded from matches held on US soil.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration issued a partial travel ban on Senegalese and Ivorian nationals, suspending their entry into the country.
This follows the already imposed travel restrictions on people who hail from both Iran and Haiti – two countries that are also due to take part in the World Cup next summer.
The prohibition means neither immigrants nor non-immigrants from said countries can enter the US. This covers both the tourism, which would be needed to attend the tournament, and the business visitor categories.
The initial order, which came about in June, was at the time titled: ‘RESTRICTING THE ENTRY OF FOREIGN NATIONALS TO PROTECT THE UNITED STATES FROM FOREIGN TERRORISTS AND OTHER NATIONAL SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY THREATS’.
The ban is likely to affect only travelling supporters, with exemptions for the footballers, support staff, and family members.
The World Cup will be held in the US, Canada, and Mexico between the months of June and July.
Russian President, Vladimir Putin signaled on Wednesday that he is unwilling to compromise on his demands for Ukraine to cede territory, despite US President Donald Trump’s intensified push for a peace agreement.
Speaking in a combative address at the annual meeting of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Putin lashed out at Ukraine’s European allies and warned that Russia would take territory by force if diplomatic efforts fail. His remarks came as US and European leaders continue urgent diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war.
“We would prefer to eliminate the root causes of the conflict through diplomacy,” Putin said. “But if the opposing country and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive discussions, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands through military means.” He was referring to Ukrainian regions Moscow is demanding Kyiv surrender, a central sticking point in ongoing peace talks.
Territorial control and security guarantees for Ukraine remain the most contentious issues in negotiations, exposing sharp differences among Ukraine, the United States, Europe, and Russia.
Russia has illegally annexed parts of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region but has not fully conquered it. According to analysis by the Institute for the Study of War, at the current pace of advance, Russia would not seize the entire region until August 2027.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that Kyiv will not recognize the temporarily occupied areas of Donbas as Russian, either legally or in practice.
He also appeared to respond to Putin’s reference to “historical lands,” warning that such claims could threaten other European countries in the future. Zelensky called for strong protection against what he described as a dangerous pattern in Russian thinking.
Putin, in his lengthy speech, contrasted the positions of global powers involved in the conflict. While Trump has expressed optimism about the chances of reaching a peace deal, saying the sides are closer than ever, Ukraine’s European allies have remained more cautious, insisting on firm security guarantees for Kyiv.
Putin acknowledged ongoing dialogue with the United States but suggested that meaningful engagement with Europe on peace would be difficult under the continent’s current leadership. He added that cooperation may become possible in the future as political leadership in Europe changes.
The remarks came ahead of a major summit in Brussels, where European leaders are set to debate new funding options for Ukraine, including whether to use frozen Russian assets or rely on borrowing mechanisms.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the urgency of the moment, telling the European Parliament that supporting Ukraine’s defense is the most critical act of European security. She stressed that the coming days would be decisive in determining how Europe continues to finance Ukraine’s resistance against Russia.
Orlando Pirates Crowned Top Supplying Club For AFCON 2025 As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco approaches, a notable statistic has placed Orlando Pirates at the pinnacle of African club football. The South African giants are sending a remarkable contingent of nine players to the continental showdown, making them the single club with the strongest presence at the tournament.
This news, highlighted by football analyst Micky Jnr on X on December 17, 2025, showcases the incredible depth of talent currently at the Buccaneers. The list places the Soweto-based club ahead of continental heavyweights like Egypt’s Al Ahly, which will have eight players participating. The revelation has sparked widespread conversation and debate among fans across the continent about the strength of domestic leagues.
The Full List Of Top-Contributing Clubs The data, which has gone viral, provides a clear ranking of the clubs supplying the most talent to the tournament in Morocco. The original post by Micky Jnr presented the following detailed and numbered list:
Orlando Pirates (South Africa) – 9 players
Al Ahly (Egypt) – 8 players
Jwaneng Galaxy (Botswana) – 7 players
Simba SC (Tanzania) – 7 players
Azam FC (Tanzania) – 6 players
Zamalek (Egypt) – 5 players
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – 5 players
Gaborone United (Botswana) – 5 players
Pyramids FC (Egypt) – 4 players
Young Africans SC (Tanzania) – 4 players
UD Songo (Mozambique) – 4 players
Mochudi Centre Chiefs (Botswana) – 4 players
Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia) – 4 players
Power Dynamos (Zambia) – 4 players
ZESCO United (Zambia) – 4 players
Fan Reactions And Disputed Tallies The announcement ignited a flurry of responses on social media, with supporters of other clubs immediately questioning the figures. One user, Kenny, strongly contested the count for rivals Mamelodi Sundowns, stating:
“This information is wrong because Sundowns have at least 7 players. 5 at Bafana Bafana. 1 at Zimbabwe and 1 at Uganda.”
Further debate arose regarding clubs from other nations. User Mohammed Awad claimed Sudan’s Al-Hilal had a staggering ten players selected, listing names including Farid Ouedraogo and Salah Adel. Meanwhile, Jonathan Zorilla JnR provided a detailed list of eight players from Tanzania’s Simba SC. These contributions highlight the passionate scrutiny surrounding the tournament’s selection data.
A Triumph For Southern African Leagues The significance of Orlando Pirates’ lead extends beyond the club itself. In a follow-up post on December 17, 2025, Micky Jnr revealed that the South African Premier Division is the second-most represented domestic league at AFCON 2025, with 30 players called up. This places it just behind the Egyptian Premier League’s 31 players.
While the exact player counts for each club remain under discussion until official squad lists are confirmed, the initial data positions Orlando Pirates in a prominent spotlight. Their contribution is a point of immense pride for their supporters and a testament to the club’s recruitment and development strategy ahead of Africa’s premier football event.
New Details Emerge in Fatal Shooting of DJ Warras in Joburg CBD
New details have emerged on the fatal shooting of Warrick Robert Stock, popularly known as DJ Warras.
He was gunned down in broad daylight in the Johannesburg CBD on Tuesday.
The killing has sent shockwaves through the music and business communities.
Witness Describes Brazen Daylight Shooting According to a witness who arrived at the scene shortly after the attack, DJ Warras was found lying on the pavement in a pool of blood after being shot multiple times.
The witness said the victim sustained four gunshot wounds to the chest and one to the chin. Three spent cartridges, one live round and a 9mm firearm were reportedly found near the body.
The shooting took place near the corner of Von Wielligh Street, where DJ Warras had parked his silver VW Golf 6.
Attackers Open Fire as DJ Tries to Escape The witness revealed that DJ Warras was approached by three unidentified men, who opened fire on him shortly after he parked his vehicle.
He tried to run away and attempted to draw his firearm but unfortunately he did not manage to fire any shots.
No personal belongings were taken from the victim, suggesting that robbery may not have been the primary motive.
Links to Security Company Emerge It has also emerged that DJ Warras was involved with a security company operating in the Johannesburg CBD, reportedly linked to eviction operations in the area.
The connection has raised questions about whether the killing may be related to his business activities, though this has not yet been confirmed by authorities.
Meanwhile, sources confirmed to @eNCA that DJ Warras had secured five protection orders before his murder on Tuesday.
The protection orders were against occupants of the Zambezi Building in Joburg CBD, one of which was secured last week.
PRESIDENT HICHILEMA TO ASSENT TO CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT BILL NO. 7
President Hakainde Hichilema is set to assent to the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025 on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr Patrick Kangwa, announced that the Presidential Assent Ceremony will be held at 10:00 hours in the Kenneth Kaunda Wing of the Mulungushi International Conference Centre.
Mr Kangwa said the event will be broadcast live on television, radio and major social media platforms to allow members of the public to follow the proceedings.
The Constitution Amendment Bill was passed by the National Assembly on Monday with an overwhelming majority, paving the way for its formal enactment into law.
A WAKE-UP CALL ON THE VOTERS’ REGISTER AND THE ROAD TO 2026
By Ephraim Shakafuswa
This is a wake-up call.
The numerical work presented by Muhabi Lungu, titled “Numerical Trend Analysis Never Lie—ECZ’s Failed Target of 10.3 Million Voters’ Register – Request for an External Audit,” cannot be ignored, softened, or buried under public-relations language.
The figures are drawn directly from data published by the Electoral Commission of Zambia itself. They expose hard, uncomfortable facts: abnormal growth patterns, sharp and uneven provincial shifts, and a last-minute registration surge that defies Zambia’s historical, demographic, and electoral norms.
This is not political noise.
It is numerical evidence.
And the evidence is loud.
The Strategic Reality No One Can Dodge
This register has already altered the election before a single ballot is cast.
• The 2026 election will not be won using 2021 strategies. Any political actor still relying on old voter distributions is planning for a country that no longer exists on paper. • Urban-first, Lusaka-centric strategies are now structurally weaker. Visibility, media presence, and noise do not compensate for lost proportional weight.
Blunt Truth
A candidate who wins Southern and Western Provinces convincingly now enters Lusaka and the Copperbelt from a position of strength, not desperation.
That was not true in 2021.
It is true now — and ignoring it is electoral self-sabotage.
Winners and Losers — Whether We Like It or Not
As the register stands today, the structural winners are clear:
• Provinces and political interests aligned to Southern Province, now carrying increased national weight. • Western Province, whose new voter registration far outpaces historical norms. • Political forces with deep rural reach, traditional authority links, and ground-level organisation — where the new voters actually are.
And the losers are just as clear:
• Urban-heavy, Lusaka-dependent strategies built on outdated assumptions. • Provinces with stagnant or severely underperforming new registrations, including Muchinga, Northern, Luapula, and parts of Central
These are not opinions. They are the mechanical consequences of the published register.
The Bottom Line
At this stage, the ECZ register is no longer just a technical document. It is a political force multiplier.
Whether intentional or not:
• It reshaped provincial power. • It rewarded some blocs. • It diluted others.
Without an external audit, every serious political strategy must proceed on one hard assumption:
PRESIDENT HICHILEMA ELECTED INTERIM INCOMING SADC CHAIRPERSON
President Hakainde Hichilema has been elected Interim Incoming Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
SADC Interim Chairperson and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced President Hichilema’s election during the closing ceremony of the SADC Virtual Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government.
The virtual summit was convened to deliberate on the political situation in Madagascar.
President Ramaphosa stated that President Hichilema’s election is subject to confirmation. He further announced that SADC has resolved to deploy a Panel of Elders to Madagascar to engage all stakeholders and facilitate a smooth and peaceful transition to democratic elections.
Commending the unity of purpose among SADC Member States, President Ramaphosa welcomed the restoration of calm in Madagascar. He emphasized that SADC will remain engaged until an elected government is installed through a democratic process.
President Ramaphosa also urged Madagascar to consider undertaking a national dialogue process that would allow citizens in political exile to return and participate freely.
Reading the communiqué, SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi revealed that the Panel of Elders will be led by former Malawian President Joyce Banda.
MAKEBI COMMITS TO LEAD NATIONAL RECOVERY AFTER BILL 7 BETRAYAL
By Brian Matambo | Lusaka, Zambia
Presidential hopeful and senior Patriotic Front figure Makebi Zulu on Thursday condemned the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7, describing it as a betrayal of public trust, and pledged to lead a national recovery anchored in constitutionalism, youth empowerment, and institutional reform.
The press conference marked Makebi Zulu’s first public appearance since surviving a near-fatal road traffic accident last week alongside former DMMU National Coordinator Chanda Kabwe and former Minister of Mines Honourable Richard Musukwa. All three are currently recovering.
Makebi Zulu’s address came two days after the National Assembly passed Bill 7 at second reading on 15 December 2025, a development that triggered widespread public criticism after several opposition Members of Parliament, including members of the Patriotic Front, unexpectedly supported the bill.
Speaking before senior party officials, clergy, and members of the media, Makebi Zulu said the manner in which Bill 7 was advanced had severely undermined public confidence in Parliament and weakened democratic accountability.
“What unfolded in Parliament does not represent the collective conscience of our party or of the people of Zambia,” Makebi Zulu said. “It is instead the result of individual moral failure, where personal ambition triumphed over national duty.”
Makebi Zulu stressed that while the Patriotic Front has historically supported constitutional reform, it rejects any process driven by political expediency rather than popular consent. Makebi Zulu committed that, if elected, his administration would initiate a fresh, inclusive, and people-driven constitution-making process rooted in nationwide consultation.
Makebi Zulu criticised provisions associated with Bill 7 that extend parliamentary tenure and expand the number of constituencies, warning that these changes would significantly increase the cost of governance at a time of acute economic strain.
“We are increasing the number of Members of Parliament without a clear budgetary framework,” Makebi Zulu said. “This is happening while farmers remain unpaid, hospitals face medicine shortages, and essential agricultural inputs such as fertilizer are in short supply.”
According to Makebi Zulu, the bill prioritises political survival over development and further concentrates executive power at the expense of democratic checks and balances.
Addressing public anxiety over the 2026 general elections, Makebi Zulu dismissed claims that the constitutional amendments could delay the polls, stating that elections remain constitutionally scheduled for 13 August 2026.
“Zambians will vote in 2026, and they will vote for a new government,” Makebi Zulu said.
On governance, Makebi Zulu pledged to restore and safeguard the independence of state institutions, including the judiciary, Parliament, the Electoral Commission of Zambia, and the civil service. Makebi Zulu also committed to repealing what he termed repressive legislation, including the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, which Makebi Zulu said has been used to suppress free expression.
Turning to Zambia’s youth, Makebi Zulu said young people have borne the brunt of economic exclusion despite constituting the majority of the population and electorate.
Makebi Zulu pledged job creation through industrialisation, entrepreneurship support, and reforms to ensure that Zambia’s natural resources and energy supply benefit citizens first.
“Young people must not be mobilised during elections and abandoned thereafter,” Makebi Zulu said.
Makebi Zulu outlined broader economic priorities centred on agriculture, mining, tourism, and technology, alongside commitments to national food security and reducing the cost of living. Makebi Zulu added that Zambia’s foreign relations would be recalibrated to prioritise mutual respect and tangible benefits for citizens.
Responding to questions on party discipline, Makebi Zulu said Makebi Zulu supported firm action against Patriotic Front MPs who voted in favour of Bill 7 contrary to the party’s stated position, arguing that credibility could only be restored through accountability.
“If regaining the trust of the people requires difficult decisions, then so be it,” Makebi Zulu said.
Makebi Zulu also addressed perceptions of division within the Patriotic Front, describing competition among presidential aspirants as a normal democratic process. Makebi Zulu said the party would unite behind a single candidate once internal processes conclude.
Makebi Zulu closed the briefing by positioning his presidential bid as one grounded in service-oriented leadership, constitutional renewal, and national unity, stating that Zambia’s recovery would require leaders willing to work with citizens rather than rule over them.
BILL 7 VOTE HAS EXPOSED WEAK OPPOSITION – FR MAPULANGA
CARITAS Zambia Executive Director Fr Gabriel Mapulanga says it was disappointing to see how opposition MPs voted for Bill 7.
Fr Mapulanga notes that the opposition is currently fragmented and very weak, adding that it will not be easy for them to compete effectively in the 2026 elections.
Commenting on the National Assembly passing Bill No. 7 with all 135 present UPND, PF and Independent MPs voting in the affirmative, Fr Mapulanga said he did not expect the opposition MPs to vote the way they did.
“First of all, we are disappointed, for some of us who were saying that the process is not correct. We didn’t expect the opposition to vote in the way they voted. It was quite a disappointment. Of course, now it looks as if we have lost, but we have not lost. It looks like we have lost, but in the actual sense, it is not a loss because we have the other side to seriously think about this issue of the constitution, and we still maintain that the process was not correct. I think we have helped the government not to take people for granted next time when they do a similar exercise. We are very confident that they will be more careful than they have been this time. In a nutshell, it is a disappointment but not a loss as such, and I think we were on firm ground and we’ll continue saying what we have been saying and advocating for,” he said.
“[The] constitution-making process is a very delicate issue. It’s the thing that you pay the most attention to and you look at any small details so that the constitution can be accepted by everyone. First of all, that’s our take”.
Fr Mapulanga observed that looking at the current weak state of the opposition, it would not be easy for them to effectively compete in next year’s elections.
“The disappointment comes from the opposition in the way they voted. Of all the expectations the opposition may look at, from our point of view, we thought they may see the sense in what we were saying, but it didn’t work out like that. It shows the opposition is very fragmented. If the opposition can behave like this, you see the future for the opposition as we go on, it may not be easy for them even to compete effectively in the election because they are very fragmented. We also believe that the opposition is very important for any country and a strong opposition is what we want. And we want the opposition to be as strong as it can. As we move forward it may not be very easy for the opposition, but we call upon the people to be aware that every country which calls itself democratic needs a strong opposition,” said Fr Mapulanga.
“We need a strong opposition to challenge the government and anyone knows that, even the government knows that there is a need for a strong opposition and for them (government), of course, they feel good when the opposition is weak, but actually in the actual sense there is a need for a strong opposition. But the way things are, the opposition is very fragmented, very weak, and it will not be very easy for them as we approach the election year”.
The way Bill 7 was debated and passed shows maturity of Zambia’s democracy – Mweetwa
CHIEF government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has hailed the passage of National Assembly Bill 7 of 2025, describing it a clear sign of Zambia’s vibrant and functioning democracy.
Mweetwa said the debates and deliberations on this Bill reflect the strength and maturity of democracy, especially that it is the people who stand to gain the most.
“The way the bill was debated and passed shows the maturity of our democracy. There are no winners or losers because democracy itself has prevailed and the people of Zambia are the ultimate beneficiaries,” he stated.
He acknowledged the critical role of civil society, noting organisations like the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) and the church have provided invaluable insights.
“Their voices, submissions, and advocacy form an essential pillar of our democratic system. Government encourages these institutions and organisations not to relent in providing the necessary checks and balances,” he said.
“It must be stated that constructive criticism, oversight, and civic engagement strengthen our democracy and help ensure that government remains accountable to the people.”
Mweetwa further highlighted the benefits of women and youths, saying the process recognises all the aspirations of young people and women for inclusion, representation and a stronger democratic framework.
He urged Zambians to maintain peace as the bill moves to presidential assent.
“The peaceful conduct exhibited throughout the entire constitutional amendment process is commendable and must be sustained. Government remains committed to upholding democratic values, the rule of law, and inclusive governance for the benefit of all Zambians,” added Mweetwa.
I’m very annoyed with Christopher Shakafuswa and Can’t Wait to See Sunday Chanda off the Stage
If Zambia has ifipuba, this is the number one ichipuba. Sunday Chanda joined PF after Sata’s dead and we welcomed him from MMD. He immediately started declaring his love for Lungu and PF.
Lungu was quick to trust him. In 2015, Lungu trusted Sunday Chanda enough to even travel with him to USA.
I was home when I heard my phone ring. I asked who it was. He answer that he was Sunday Chanda.
I asked him how he got my number. His response was, “I got your number from Chanda Mfula.” Then he continued, “I just want to thank you for the good job you are doing and for embracing me into the party.” That time I was a fierce cadre and I was using my deactivated account – Chanda Chashi.
After a year or two, the UPND cadres in Southern Province killed Sunday Chanda’s young brother only because he was Bemba. Nothing else. It was all over the news.
We all cried together and condemned the senseless murder. This same Sunday Chanda was on record condemning tribalism by HH and his party which resulted into his brother’s murder.
Do you see how useless Bembas can be?
Today, Sunday Chanda is dining with a party which killed his own biological brother. He has forgotten about his brother’s painful death all because of money.
Earlier this year he even made a video saying HH will win next year because UPND is the only party that makes sense. How in the hell can a party that is covered in your own brother’s blood be the party that is making sense? This idiot wants to continue living a luxurious life at an expense of his brother’s soul. Up to now, HH has never condemned the murder of his brother.
This is why I say, ubupuba bwa ba Bemba na satana aladabwa.
I can’t wait to witness the end of idiots like Sunday Chanda. You can even see on his face that there is no brain inside that big head.
PF ARE JOKERS, THEY CAN’T REMOVE HAKAINDE SAYS SWEAT DRIPPING JAY JAY
By Henry MWENJENGA
One of the PF self exiled fugitives Emmanuel Jay Jay Banda has maintained that in its current state, PF can’t win and election.
Banda says PF is now full of jokers who are just dreaming about removing Hakainde Hichilema as President of Zambia.
He says currently PF can make him and others have heart attacks because of their lack of thinking.
Banda was speaking to Koswe from a room near the toilet which has no ventilation and was terribly hot such that sweat glands were dripping like saliva from someone who has seen something too sweet dangling around.- Koswe
POLICE STILL INVESTIGATING ATTACK ON PF SECRETARIAT
POLICE say investigations are still ongoing into the attack on the Patriotic Front Secretariat in Lusaka, which occurred one month ago, with no arrests made so far.
The incident happened on November 15, 2025, when suspected United Party for National Development cadres allegedly attacked the PF Secretariat, resulting in damaged property and injuries to several people.
Police Public Relations Officer Godfrey Chilabi says investigations are actively ongoing, with a few outstanding processes to be concluded before arrests can be made.
Following the attack, UPND Spokesperson and Minister of Information and Media Cornelius Mweetwa called on the Zambia Police Service to act swiftly in bringing those responsible to book.
Mweetwa emphasised that investigations should be conducted professionally and without any political interference, stressing the importance of upholding the rule of law.
Produce evidence to show PF MPs were bribed to vote for Bill 7 – Nkandu By Mubanga Mubanga Youth and Sports minister Elvis Nkandu says those alleging that PF members of parliament were bribed, should bring out evidence.
There are reports that some PF members of parliament were paid good sums of money to support the bill.
Speaking to Daily Revelation yesterday, following the passing of bill 7 via unanimous vote by the opposition and ruling party on Monday, Nkandu said https://dailyrevelationzambia.com/produce-evidence-to-show-pf-mps-were-bribed-to-vote-for-bill-7-nkandu/
GOVERNMENT ROLLS OUT REVISED CASH FOR WORK PROGRAMME, TARGETS OVER 1 MILLION BENEFICIARIES NATIONWIDE
Lusaka, December 17, 2025
The New Dawn Government has officially launched the Revised Cash for Work Programme, with a renewed commitment to inclusivity, transparency, and community-driven development across the country.
Officiating at the launch, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr. Gift Sialubalo, MP, said the revised programme represents a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to cushion vulnerable citizens while stimulating local economies.
Mr. Sialubalo explained that the Cash for Work Programme, first implemented between August 2024 and September 2025, was introduced in response to economic and climate-related shocks, complementing existing social protection initiatives such as the Social Cash Transfer Programme and the Public Welfare Assistance Scheme.
He announced that the revised programme has now been expanded from 87 districts to all districts nationwide, ensuring that every part of Zambia benefits.
This expansion signifies our firm belief that no one should be left behind. The programme is expected to benefit over 1 million people over a six-month period,” the Minister said.
The programme targets vulnerable Zambians aged between 18 and 59 years who are not currently benefiting from other social cash transfer schemes, with special focus on women and communities most affected by economic hardships.
Mr. Sialubalo highlighted key improvements in the revised programme, including enhanced targeting, supervision, payment systems, and grievance redress mechanisms. Beneficiary selection will be conducted by community structures and verified by district officials using a digital Cash for Work application integrated into the national Social Protection Information Management System to prevent duplication and ensure fairness.
To address payment challenges, especially in rural areas with limited network coverage, the programme will adopt alternative cash-based payment systems, while strengthening grievance redress channels to allow beneficiaries to report concerns transparently.
The Minister further noted that the scope of work under the programme has been improved by moving away from simple tasks such as sweeping, towards climate-adaptive and environmentally resilient public works that also promote skills development for beneficiaries.
He called on local authorities and implementing officers to fully embrace the revised programme and intensify community sensitisation to ensure eligible citizens benefit.
MAKEBI ZULU VOWS TO REPEAL OPPRESSIVE LAWS, DEFEND DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS
Prominent Constitutional Lawyer and Patriotic Front (PF) Presidential Aspirant Makebi Zulu has urged Zambians not to lose hope following the controversial passage of Bill No. 7 in Parliament.
At a media briefing in Lusaka, Wednesday, Mr Zulu said the setback can be reversed by electing a new President of Zambia next year who will prioritise repealing unjust and oppressive laws.
Zulu condemned the events around Bill No. 7 as a betrayal of public trust by representatives who chose personal ambition over national duty.
He stressed that the actions in Parliament do not reflect the conscience of his party or the wider Zambian people.
The aspiring 2026 presidential candidate vowed to champion a people-driven, inclusive, and transparent constitution-making process if elected President of Zambia next year.
He pledged that future constitutional reforms would emerge from towns, villages, and communities, rather than being imposed from corridors of power.
Zulu reiterated his commitment to defend the independence of the judiciary, legislature, Electoral Commission, and Civil Service from political interference.
He promised to repeal oppressive legislation, including the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, which he accused the government of weaponising against citizens.
He said freedom of expression and assembly are God-given rights that no government should suppress.
Zulu also promised to restore respect for the Church, civil society, family values, and the media as partners in nation-building.
He outlined plans to create jobs for young people through industrialisation, innovation, and a business-friendly environment free from corruption and favouritism.
The candidate vowed to prioritise Zambians by ensuring the nation’s natural resources and energy serve the people first, with no longer industries starved while others thrive at their expense.
He further pledged to rebuild international relations based on mutual respect and co-operation that improve ordinary lives.
Zulu called on Zambians to democratically rise from disappointment, reclaim the country, and build a just, prosperous, and united Zambia.
20 Years Ago, Abass Sesay Lost His Right Arm In The Civil War In Sierra Leone, Today He Is A Law Graduate
20 years ago, during the 11-year civil wãř in Sierra Leone, Abass Sesay lost his right arm when he was just 3 years old.
His right arm was amputated at the age of 3 during the civil ŵàř in Sierra Leone.
During that same period, Abass lost his father and grandmother.
His mother, who survived the wàř, continues to battle Bipolar Disorder and PTSD due to the trauma.
Just when you thought that’s just it, Abass was trafficked to Senegal when he was a kid, so he missed opportunities that were provided for Sierra Leonean war-affected children.
Abass had to wander around the streets of Freetown to beg in order to survive.
Despite these early traumas, he didn’t give up. Abass survived with the support of a Catholic priest who ran an orphanage, helping children in Sierra Leone navigate life after the war.
Against all odds; poverty, hunger, and losing his father and grandma, Abass didn’t give up on his dream to become educated.
He fought and fought until he conquered. Abass finally got the education he always wanted to get.
Today, he holds two degrees; a degree in Social Work and an LLB in Law from Fourah Bay College – University of Sierra Leone.
“I want to become a lawyer because my people, other war victims, need someone who truly understands their plight,” Abass said.
I share this story to inspire the many young people out there who think it’s over, and that they can’t do it. Remember, Abass lost his right arm at 3, his grandma, and father.
As a young African who faces unexplainable suffering and challenges, I am deeply inspired by Abass’s resilience and determination in the face of unimaginable adversity.
He has shown us all that with determination, focus, courage, and consistency in what we do, we can achieve our dreams and be the change we yearn for.
NBA Star, Dwight Howard wife filed for divorce just 6-Months into their marriage. She will share his $140million networth.
Amber wrote in the docs “The marriage is irretrievably broken,” adding, “there are no prospects for reconciliation.”
Amber asked that all marital assets and property be “equitably divided” by the courts. She also requested alimony.
Dwight Howard owns: Real Estate A Manson in Georgia Enforcement deal from ( Adidas , peak, Gatorade, McDonald’s) worth over $100 million Networth of $140 million
She’s will receive about $70 million and half of other properties
DANGEROUS DIPLOMATIC MOVE: DETAINING U.S. OFFICIALS RISKS SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES — SOUTH AFRICA IS NOT JUST ANY OTHER AFRICAN STATE.
The brief detention of two United States government employees by South African authorities has sparked serious concern, with analysts warning that arresting or detaining American officials is a highly risky diplomatic move with potential long-term consequences.
The two U.S. officials were in South Africa on official assignment linked to an immigration initiative dating back to the Trump administration, which explored pathways for Afrikaners to be admitted to the United States. During their stay, they were temporarily held by local authorities for questioning before being released without charge.
Diplomatic experts stress that the United States is not an ordinary foreign partner, and South Africa is not just any other African country that can afford strained relations with Washington. The U.S. is one of South Africa’s most important trade partners, a key investor, and a major source of development aid, security cooperation, and diplomatic influence on the global stage.
Detaining American officials — even briefly — can be interpreted as hostile or confrontational, potentially triggering diplomatic retaliation. This could include visa restrictions, reduced cooperation, economic pressure, or a cooling of strategic relations. History shows that the U.S. government reacts strongly when its officials are interfered with abroad, especially when no clear legal violations are involved.
The incident also highlights the sensitivity around Afrikaner relocation discussions. While the topic is deeply controversial inside South Africa, foreign governments engaging with it adds another layer of political tension. Handling such matters without clear diplomatic coordination risks unnecessary international fallout
Although the officials were eventually released and the immediate crisis was defused, the episode serves as a warning. South Africa’s global standing depends on stable diplomacy, respect for international norms, and careful handling of foreign missions. Actions perceived as intimidation or overreach could damage investor confidence, trade relationships, and the country’s already fragile economy.
In a world of shifting alliances and economic pressure, South Africa cannot afford avoidable diplomatic confrontations — especially with one of the world’s most powerful nations.-SAV
DR Congo has issued a fiery response to Nigeria’s petition to FIFA over alleged ineligible players, dismissing the move as a “back-door attempt” to qualify for the World Cup.
In a strongly worded statement, Congolese officials said football should be decided on the pitch, not in courtrooms, adding:
“If you can’t win on the pitch, don’t try to win from the back door. The World Cup is for dignity, not lawyer tricks. Bring it.”
The response escalates tensions between the two African giants as FIFA reviews Nigeria’s complaint, a decision that could significantly impact the 2026 World Cup qualification race.
For now, DR Congo insists it has nothing to hide and is ready to defend its place—both legally and on the field.
China and Nigeria Set to Sign Zero-Tariff Agreement for Nigerian Exports To China
China and Nigeria are set to sign a zero-tariff agreement that will open Chinese markets to Nigerian exports, strengthening trade ties between the two countries.
The agreement aims to boost cooperation in manufacturing, trade, and investment.
As the United States-Africa relationship continues to go from bad to worse, China is offering zero-tariff access for African countries, supporting economic partnerships across the continent.
Nigeria’s exports to China are currently valued at approximately $2.03 billion, with crude oil and related products making up the bulk of shipments.
The zero-tariff agreement will provide Nigerian exporters with easier market access to China’s economy and in return increase Nigeria’s export earnings.
Top 10 richest countries in Africa in terms of natural resources:
1. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Cobalt, Copper, Diamonds, Gold, Tin, and Coltan – the DRC is considered the “geological scandal” due to its vast mineral resources, producing over 70% of the world’s cobalt.
2. Nigeria: Oil, Natural Gas, Coal, Limestone, Tin, and Iron Ore – Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa and has significant natural gas reserves.
3. South Africa: Gold, Platinum, Diamonds, Coal, Iron Ore, and Uranium – South Africa is the world’s largest producer of platinum and gold.
4. Angola: Oil, Diamonds, Natural Gas, Iron Ore, Phosphates, and Copper – Angola is one of Africa’s top oil exporters and has significant diamond reserves.
5. Algeria: Oil, Natural Gas, Iron Ore, Phosphates, and Zinc – Algeria has vast oil and gas reserves and is a major exporter of natural gas to Europe.
6. Ghana: Gold, Oil, Diamonds, Bauxite, and Manganese – Ghana is one of Africa’s top gold producers and has significant oil reserves.
7. Libya: Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Gypsum – Libya has the largest proven oil reserves in Africa..
8. Zambia: Copper, Cobalt, Gold, and Emeralds – Zambia is a major copper producer and has significant cobalt reserves..
9. Mozambique: Natural Gas, Coal, Titanium, Graphite, Tantalum, and Aluminium – Mozambique has significant natural gas reserves and is a major coal exporter.
10. Tanzania: Gold, Diamonds, Natural Gas, and Nickel – Tanzania is one of Africa’s largest gold producers and has significant natural gas reserves.
Elon Musk Becomes First Person Worth $677 Billion Ever
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has made history as the first person ever estimated to be worth over $677 billion, according to Forbes.
The milestone follows a sharp rise in SpaceX’s valuation after a recent secondary share sale.
Musk’s wealth surge is driven largely by SpaceX’s strong growth, with the company reportedly exploring a future IPO that could value it at up to $1.5 trillion.
Its satellite internet unit, Starlink, has also expanded rapidly, doubling global internet traffic in 2025 and growing its user base and partnerships worldwide.
At the same time, Tesla’s stock remains strong, buoyed by optimism around AI, autonomous driving and new product innovations.
Musk’s ascent past $677 billion underscores the growing influence of his technology and space ventures, and how close he may be to becoming the world’s first trillionaire.
US ACCUSED OF USING ILLEGAL WORKERS AT CENTRE PROCESSING REFUGEE CLAIMS IN SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA has accused the US of using Kenyan nationals who did not have work permits at a facility processing applications by white South Africans for refugee status.
Seven Kenyans were arrested after intelligence reports revealed that people “had recently entered South Africa on tourist visas and had illegally taken up work” at the centre, said a statement from South Africa’s department of home affairs.
The BBC has approached the US State Department for comment.
While the US is trying to reduce overall levels of migration, it says that members of South Africa’s white Afrikaner community can get asylum because they face persecution – a claim South Africa’s government strongly rejects.
The US has reduced its yearly intake of refugees from around the world from 125,000 to 7,500, but says it will prioritise Afrikaners, who are mostly descendants of Dutch and French settlers.
This is one of the issues that have caused a sharp deterioration in relations between South Africa and the Trump administration.
South Africa says the Kenyan nationals arrested in Tuesday’s raid will now be deported and will be banned from entering the country for five years.
They had previously been denied work visas but were found “engaging in work despite only being in possession of tourist visas, in clear violation of their conditions of entry into the country”, the statement said.
South Africa also expressed concern that foreign officials appeared to have coordinated with undocumented workers and said it had reached out to the US and Kenya to resolve the matter.
The home affairs department said the raid showcased the commitment that South Africa shared “with the United States to combating illegal immigration and visa abuse in all its forms”.
No US officials were arrested and the operation was not at a diplomatic site, it said.
While the State Department is yet to respond to the BBC’s request for comment, in a statement issued to US publications, Tommy Pigott, principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department, said the department was “seeking immediate clarification from the South African government” on the issue and expected “full cooperation and accountability”.
“Interfering in our refugee operations in unacceptable,” US publication The Hill quoted Pigott saying.
The processing of applications by white South Africans is being done by RSC Africa, according to the US embassy in South Africa. RSC Africa is a Kenyan-based refugee support centre operated by Church World Service (CWS).
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Afrikaners are being subjected to a “genocide” in South Africa, even though there is no evidence that white farmers are more likely to be the victims of crime than their black counterparts.
He offered Afrikaners refugee status earlier this year after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a law allowing the government to seize land without compensation in rare instances.
A first group of about 50 people flew to the US on a chartered plane it is not clear how many others have moved, or are in the process of applying.
Because of the legacy of the racist apartheid system, the majority of privately owned farmland in South Africa is owned by the white community and South Africa’s government is under pressure to provide more land to black farmers. However, it stresses that no land has yet been seized under the new law.
South Africa has repeatedly tried to mend fences with the Trump administration, most famously when Ramaphosa led a high-level delegation to the White House earlier this year.
However, this backfired when Trump ambushed him with images, videos and news reports allegedly showing that the government was persecuting white people.
One video featured firebrand South African opposition figure Julius Malema singing: “Shoot the Boer [Afrikaner], Shoot the farmer”.
However, a South African court has ruled that this song, which Malema often chants at his political rallies, is not hate speech.
Last month, the US boycotted the G20 summit in South Africa and has said it would not invite South African officials to its meetings since it took over leadership of the grouping of the world’s biggest economies.
WHO REALLY HIJACKS BUILDINGS? THE CRIMINAL GANGS BEHIND INNER-CITY TAKEOVERS — AND HOW SPEAKING OUT MAY HAVE COST DJ WARRAS HIS LIFE
South Africa’s inner cities are being strangled by a dangerous criminal economy that few want to confront honestly: the organised hijacking of buildings by ruthless syndicates. These are not homeless people or desperate migrants acting alone — they are well-structured gangs that identify abandoned or weakly managed buildings, forcibly remove caretakers or tenants, change locks, install armed “security,” and then turn the properties into illegal cash machines.
Once a building is captured, the syndicate runs it like a shadow business. Rooms are subdivided, basic services are illegally reconnected, and desperate people — many of them foreign nationals with no legal protection — are charged rent in cash. There are no leases, no rights, no safety. When fires break out, when crime explodes, when sanitation collapses, it is the tenants who are blamed, arrested, and deported, while the real criminals disappear into the shadows.
This is where scapegoating begins. Instead of targeting the masterminds — the men who collect rent, bribe officials, intimidate residents, and launder money — public anger is redirected at foreigners living in these buildings. The gangs thrive on this confusion. It keeps law enforcement chasing the wrong people while the syndicates continue operating freely.
DJ Warras was one of the few voices who openly spoke against this criminal system. He called out illegal building hijackings, drug networks, and the exploitation of vulnerable residents. He named the problem for what it was: organised crime hiding behind chaos. In doing so, he crossed powerful interests that profit from silence and fear.
His killing has raised uncomfortable questions. Was he silenced because he refused to look away? Because he threatened to expose how these gangs operate, who protects them, and how much money flows through hijacked buildings every month?
If South Africa is serious about fixing its cities, it must stop punishing the victims and start dismantling the syndicates. That means following the money, arresting the enforcers and kingpins, investigating corrupt officials, and protecting whistleblowers who speak the truth.
DJ Warras’ death should not be reduced to rumours or forgotten headlines. It should be a wake-up call: the real enemy is organised crime — not the poor, not migrants, not communities forced to survive in hijacked buildings.
Until that truth is faced, the violence will continue, and more voices will be silenced.
🇿🇲 VIEWPOINT | Bill 7 Aftershock: The Cost of Underrating Hichilema
What is unfolding after the passage of Bill 7 is not merely opposition anger. It is political miscalculation laid bare. Right now, there is flood of political statements, threats, false hope and PF-inhouse accusations.
For weeks, opposition voices spoke with certainty. They said Bill 7 would not pass. They said the courts would stop it. They said Catholic bishops had spoken and therefore the matter was settled. They said MPs would not dare defy the “people.” They said Hakainde Hichilema was isolated, weakened, on the back foot. Every one of those assumptions collapsed in one sitting of Parliament.
This collapse reveals a deeper problem. The opposition continues to underrate Hichilema as a political force. Not a president. A political animal.
Hichilema is not a leader who stumbled into State House. He is a man shaped by fifteen years of opposition defeats, arrests, propaganda, internal betrayal, regional isolation and prolonged exclusion from state power. This experience hardened him. It taught him patience, timing and how to operate under hostility. When resistance peaks, he does not retreat. He shows up. This instinct has not left him in power.
The opposition misread this moment because they substituted social media noise for political reality. They believed trending hashtags equalled public consent. They mistook elite outrage for mass resistance. They assumed that because Oasis Forum, sections of the clergy and legal voices opposed Bill 7, Parliament would fold. Instead, Parliament voted. Overwhelmingly.
The silence that followed is telling. Catholic priests who spoke loudly have gone quiet. Oasis Forum has retreated into court processes that no longer shape events. LAZ is internally divided. The moral certainty that once framed opposition messaging has evaporated, replaced by accusations, betrayal narratives and panic statements.
The deeper failure is strategic. The opposition still believes regime change happens through pressure, declarations and moral outrage. Hichilema knows it happens through numbers, structures and timing. While they rushed to microphones and courts, he counted MPs. While they prayed and issued statements, he secured outcomes. That is not arrogance. It is experience.
False hope is now being sold to supporters. That next year the law will be reversed. That Hichilema is leaving. That betrayal explains everything. It does not. What explains this moment is fragmentation. PF has no consolidated leadership. Multiple figures speak with equal authority. Alliances are announced weekly without ground structures. Presidential ambitions multiply while voter organisation shrinks. That is not a movement. It is a crowd.
What is missing is painfully obvious. One leader. One message. One machine. One credible economic alternative. Without that, the opposition is not competing with a government. It is competing with itself.
Hichilema understands something they still refuse to accept. Power does not fear noise. It fears organisation. And right now, the opposition has none that can withstand pressure.
As Parliament edges toward dissolution in May, expect movement. MPs read power correctly. Defections are likely. Quiet repositioning is already underway. The same MPs accused today will calculate tomorrow. That is politics, not morality.
The tragedy for the opposition is not Bill 7. It is the continued refusal to study the man they are facing. They underrate him as cautious. He is deliberate. They frame him as cornered. He is comfortable under siege. They speak of courage. He has lived it for fifteen years.
Unless the opposition learns that reality fast, next year will not be a contest of ideas. It will be a rout explained away by excuses, betrayal stories and missed lessons.
History is not kind to movements that confuse noise for numbers. And Hakainde Hichilema has already beaten louder opponents with less power than he holds today.
PF Copperbelt Chair Stardy Mwale Congratulates UPND and PF MPs for Bill 7 Support
Stardy Mwale, the Patriotic Front (PF) Copperbelt Provincial Chairman, has commended Members of Parliament for successfully passing Bill 7 and congratulated the UPND government for guiding the bill through Parliament, labeling its passage as a significant achievement.
However, he expressed concerns about ongoing internal conflicts within the former ruling party and criticized Matero MP Miles Sampa and former NDC President Chishimba Kambwili for their recent actions.
In a voice note shared with the PF Central Committee WhatsApp group, Mwale emphasized that former members who resigned from the party should not be allowed to reclaim positions in the Central Committee, stating that loyal party members who never left should take precedence.
THE ELIGIBILITY CASE AND THE PASSAGE OF BILL7 – HOW THE TWO CAN HELP RESOLVE THE BURIAL IMPASSE OF ECL
The court with the correct jurisdiction and the highest in the land had heard and declared ECL eligible to stand in 2026.
It was, like they say, an open-and-shut case or was it?
The Constitutional Court was asked to vacate its earlier decision and it did! ECL was no longer eligible to contest the 2026 elections.
What does this have to do with his burial? You may ask.
The Zambian government has argued precedence to claim the state’s right to bury the late and former President.
Just ask the court to vacate its earlier decision.
Coming to Bill 7, the constitutional court ruled the process as null and void.
What did government do? It set up the Mushabati Committee and conducted public consultations thus meeting the legal requirements for amending the constitution.
Similarly, if government is as serious about burying ECL as it has been on declaring him ineligible and passing Bill 7, it would simply call (even a special sitting of) parliament and pass a law on how sitting and former Presidents may be buried.
The best law should be one that offers two options or a hybrid one: bury according to the will of the deceased or according to the law or a combination of both to be worked out mutually between the state and the family.
There’s no man-made problem that can take as long as the burial impasse of ECL has taken where there’s a will.
A REPUBLIC IN RETREAT: A NATIONAL WARNING FROM THE NEW HERITAGE PARTY
17 December 2025
Issued by: Office of the President, New Heritage Party President: Chishala Kateka
Fellow Zambians,
We issue this statement not as a routine political communiqué, but as a solemn and urgent appeal to the conscience of the nation. Zambia stands at a perilous crossroads. Under the watch of President Hakainde Hichilema and the United Party for National Development (UPND), the country is being dragged—deliberately and systematically—towards a constitutional and democratic crisis of historic proportions.
The passage of Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 of 2025 has laid bare the extent to which this administration is willing to manipulate the very foundations of our Republic to entrench its power. What is unfolding is not reform but is regression. It is not governance but it is the architecture of autocracy.
THE DELIMITATION REPORT: A CONSTITUTIONAL BLACKOUT
At the heart of this crisis lies the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s (ECZ) revised Delimitation Report compiled in 2019, revised thereafter, and now buried in the vaults of the Executive. During its appearance before the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights and Gender Matters, the ECZ confirmed that the report had been submitted to either Cabinet Office or State House. This was further corroborated by the Minister of Information and Media, Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa, who publicly stated that the ECZ had fulfilled its mandate and that the report now rests with the Executive.
And yet, to this day, the report remains unpublished. The people of Zambia are being asked to accept sweeping constitutional changes without access to the very data that justifies them. This is not transparency, it is concealment. It is not democracy but it is in fact deception.
The ECZ’s original proposal recommended the creation of approximately ninety-four new constituencies. This was later revised to fifty-five, reportedly due to fiscal constraints. However, no official explanation or methodology for this revision has been made public. The absence of a published report, coupled with the lack of clarity on the criteria used to reduce the number of proposed constituencies, raises serious questions about the integrity of the process.
THE NUMBERS THAT DON’T ADD UP
Even more troubling is the numerical sleight of hand that has accompanied this process. The Parliamentary Committee’s own guidance and public statements during the deliberations on Bill No. 7 indicated that the number of elected constituencies would be increased to 211.
Yet, the final version of the Bill, as passed, reflects an increase to 229 elected Members of Parliament, excluding nominated and ex officio members. This is 18 new constituencies additional to the number notified indicated in Bill 7. This discrepancy is not a clerical error. It is a constitutional breach. It is inconceivable that such a significant change to the structure of the National Assembly would be enacted without a corresponding public disclosure of the data and rationale underpinning it.
A PATTERN OF EXECUTIVE OVERREACH
This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a broader pattern of executive overreach and institutional erosion. Under President Hichilema’s watch, we have witnessed:
• The suppression of dissenting voices and opposition mobilisation; • The weaponisation of state institutions against critics; • The erosion of parliamentary independence; • The refusal to publish critical governance documents; • And now, the manipulation of constitutional amendments to tilt the electoral playing field in favour of the ruling party.
As Professor Muna Ndulo has rightly stated, “Constitutions must be self-executing in their core provisions.” The late Professor Michelo Hansungule warned that “a constitution that defers its soul to statute is a constitution that invites its own erosion.” John Sangwa SC has consistently argued that “the Constitution must be a bulwark against arbitrary power, not a conduit for it.” And Professor Cephas Lumina has reminded us that “representation without demographic rationality is a constitutional fiction.” These are not mere academic abstractions, they are warnings that speak directly to our current crisis.
A FORMAL DEMAND TO THE EXECUTIVE
Accordingly, I, Chishala Kateka, President of the New Heritage Party, formally demand the following:
1. That the Cabinet Office immediately publishes the revised Delimitation Report submitted by the ECZ, including:
• The full list of newly created constituencies; • The criteria and methodology employed in revising the initial proposal of ninety-four new constituencies to fifty-five; • A summary of stakeholder submissions and the rationale for the final adjustments.
2. That Cabinet Office issues a formal clarification on:
• The current status of the report; • The reasons for its continued non-publication; • The legal basis, if any, for withholding a document that directly informs the composition of the National Assembly under the amended Article 68; • The justification for the increase to 229 elected constituencies, as opposed to the 211 figure publicly cited during Parliamentary deliberations.
The Constitution of Zambia, under Article 8, affirms the national values and principles of good governance, transparency, and accountability. Article 173(1)(a) obliges all public officers to be accountable to the public in the performance of their duties. As Secretary to the Cabinet and a constitutional office holder, you are bound by the Oath of Office to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and to discharge your functions in accordance with its provisions.
A BOLD APPEAL TO THE NATION
To every Zambian, regardless of age, ethnicity, profession, or location, whether in the diaspora or here at home – this is your moment. The Constitution belongs to you. The Republic belongs to you and the future of this nation depends on your vigilance.
We must not be passive witnesses to the dismantling of our democracy. We must speak, organise, and resist. If we allow these undemocratic tendencies to take root unchallenged, we will soon find ourselves living not in a democracy, but in a dictatorship dressed in democratic clothing.
The uneven political field being engineered by the UPND will render the 2026 electoral process a farce. It will not reflect the will of the people, but the will of those who have captured the institutions meant to serve us all.
Let us rise, not in violence, but in vigilance. Let us organise, not in chaos, but in courage. Let us speak, not in whispers, but with one voice.
Zambia is not the property of any party or President. It belongs to the Zambian people.
Let us defend it—boldly, lawfully, and without fear.
No Whip, No Authority: How PF’s Leadership Vacuum Allowed Bill 7 to Pass
Bill 7 did not pass because of Brian Mundubile. It passed because the Patriotic Front currently lacks a single leader with real authority to discipline MPs.
In Parliament, Mundubile has no power to issue a three-line whip. He is not the Leader of the Opposition and therefore cannot command MPs on how to vote. On paper, Miles Sampa holds that title, but in practice, he has no control over PF MPs; the authority exists only in name.
Operational power within PF parliamentary affairs has shifted, with influence now aligned elsewhere. When MPs voted for Bill 7, they were not following Mundubile; they were responding to pressure, inducement, fear, and survival instincts in a leaderless opposition.
Bill 7 passed because PF lacks a functioning command structure, not because Mundubile directed votes or sanctioned betrayal. Blaming him is convenient, but misplaced.
The real problem is clear: an opposition without leadership cannot enforce discipline. Until PF resolves this crisis, MPs will continue voting as individuals, and laws like Bill 7 will keep passing.
ANALYSIS ON EMV LIVE AT 20;00HRS; Bill 7 and those that supported it. I have officially reported the cases of bribery and intimidation perpetrated by President Hakainde Hichilema against Members of Parliament from Independents and the Opposition.
Bill 7 garnered support from the opposition. We now have credible information on how it was done.
1. They were acts of bribes ($150,000.00) per Opposition MP 2. Intimidation and threats of arrests. 3. Principled positions. 4. Usual rogue MPs these caetgories;
1. Rogue MPs- President Hakainde Hichilema has installed expelled Mafinga MP, Robert Chabinga as PF President. 2. Chabinga’s Chief Whip, Anthony Mumba-Kantanshi 3. Chadiza MP- Jonathan Daka 4. Davison Mungandu Those PF MPs collaborating with UPND 1. Banda Ackleo -Vubwi 2. Banda Allen Chinwemwe 3. Andrew Lubusha-Chipangali 4. Mwale Simon- Nchelenge 5. Mungandu Davison-Chama South 6. Sunday Chanda-Kanchibiya 7. Daka Elias- Msanzala 8. Sibingile Mwamba- Kasama
Supported Bill 7 for receieving gifts only; 1. Banda Allen – Chimwemwe 2. Chewe Kabwe T- Lubanseshi 3. Chibombwe Leevan- Bahati 4. Chibuye Christopher -Mkushi North 5. Kalimi Robert -Malole 6. Katambo Michael J.Z -Masaiti 7. Lungu Mwaiwanu L- Kapoche 8. Mpundu Cliff- Chembe 9. Mulenga S Kampamba-Kalulushi 10. Mushanga Sydney- Bwacha 11. Musonda Elias-Chimbamilonga 12. Mwanza Dr. Aaron- Kaumbwe 13. Marjorie Nakaponda-Isoka 14. Masauso K. Tembo-Sinda
INDEPNDENTS +Gifts
1. Emmanuel Banda- Muchinga 2. Joel Chibuye- Roan 3. Gystave Chonde- Milenge 4. George Kandafula- Serenje 5. Moses Moyo-Luangeni and Second Deputy Speaker 6. Warren Mwambazi-Bwana Mkubwa 7. Misheck Nyambose-Chasefu 8. Menyani Zulu- Nyimba
VOTED TO ANNOY PF LEADERSHIP AND GIFTS 1. Christooher Shakafuswa
VOTED BECAUSE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS 1. Christopher Kangombe
Facilitators; State House Special Assistants for Politics-Levy Ngoma, Deputy Government Chief Whip, Likando Mufalali
Lunte Member of Parliament Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya writes:::
MURDERERS OF DEMOCRACY in National Assembly Bill No. 7 of 2025.
——————-
Those who voted in favour of Bill 7 executed the murder of democracy in Zambia.
Those who drafted Bill 7 schemed the murder of democracy in Zambia.
Those who executed and those who schemed the murder of democracy in Zambia acted against citizens of Zambia of now and of the future.
The citizens of Zambia of now will hold you accountable, they will respond to you as you deserve on the judgement day. Remember only few months remain.
Citizens of the future will reflect upon you with the contempt your actions deserve. Your spirits will hoover in anguish of having destroyed a country once so good.
Posterity will be unbiased.
How can you create a precedence of ignoring court judgements? What do you think the direction of this country should look like after you have created this precedent?
Why should fear replace peace under your watch? What would it profit a man to gain the whole mineral wealth and destroy the country?
Those who voted for Bill 7 are worse than those who crafted it.
I say so because those who voted for it had a court judgement to refer to. They had the LAZ position to refer to. They had the OASIS forum and the Church to refer to, but yet they decided to vote in favour of the Bill condemned by all these credible overseers.
In contrast those who crafted Bill 7 only had their selfish ambitions, their self importance, their self deluding and their bounded view of the state of the nation to refer to. All these are severely finite view points which are more excusable than those above.
You are murderers of democracy – the ghosts of democracy will haunt you to its restoration.
NAKACHINDA’S TRIBAL REMARKS LAND HIM 6 MONTHS IN PRISON
The Lusaka Magistrate’s Court has sentenced faction Patriotic Front secretary general Raphael Nakacinda to six months imprisonment with hard labour for uttering tribal remarks which had potential to fuel ethnic division.
Lusaka magistrate Idah Phiri noted that his sentiments had potential to incite violence.
Mr Nakacinda will serve the six months jail term concurrently, or side by side, with the 18 months jail term he is serving for defamation of the President.
For the case he has been jailed for today, the politician was charged with expressing or showing hatred, ridicule or contempt for persons because of race, tribe, place of origin or colour.
ECONOMIST Dr Lubinda Haabazoka says the increase of power supply to 10 hours will have a positive impact on businesses as the festive season approaches.
Commenting on the recent indication by government that power supply had been increased to 10 hours daily, Dr Haabazoka said the move would ease the burden on industries that thrive during the holidays.
He added that government should use the rainy season to store water in the dams.
“To increase power to 10 hours, especially that this is the rainy season, has a positive impact on businesses as we go into the festive season. I know most industries are closing down for the festive season, but there are those industries that provide services for example, bakeries, companies that produce beverages, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and other associated products that are normally consumed during the festive season.
These might need power, and to ease the burden on those, I think this is a very nice move. We would like to advise ZESCO not to deplete the little water that is being filtered in the dams. Try to see how they can keep water in the dams for the dry season,” said Dr Haabazoka.
“South Africa, which is a major consumer of electricity, has officially commenced its festive season, so the usage of power has drastically dropped. We might see how we can import that through the Southern African Power Pool and other neighbouring countries that also go on break.
The power that has been left unused because industries have gone on industrial break can be provided to households and businesses here in Zambia, I think that’s the priority. We need to really fill up the dams as if we are filling them for the first time, since we had depleted water from there. To replenish water in our dams so that water can be useful in the dry season”.
TI-Z URGES GOVERNMENT TO DRAW LESSONS FROM PASSAGE OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BILL NO. 7
…..maintains that the process through which the Bill was introduced into Parliament lacked sufficient consensus and meaningful engagement with citizens
Lusaka…. Tuesday December 16, 2025 (SMART EAGLES)
Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) has urged the government to draw lessons from the passage of Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 7 and ensure that future constitutional reforms are grounded in genuine and broad-based public consultation.
In a statement issued to Smart Eagles, TI-Z Acting Executive Director Raymond Mutale said the organisation maintained its earlier position that the process through which the Bill was introduced into Parliament lacked sufficient consensus and meaningful engagement with citizens.
“Now that the Bill awaits assent by the President, we can only urge government to pick lessons from this and ensure that future constitutional amendments are anchored on constitutional principles, among them genuine and broad-based consultation and consensus,” Mr Mutale said.
He acknowledged that the Bill’s passage, following a two-thirds majority vote in the National Assembly, represented a lawful conclusion of the parliamentary process as provided for under Zambia’s constitutional and legislative framework.
Mr Mutale, however, emphasised the central role of Parliament in Zambia’s democratic governance, noting that Members of Parliament are constitutionally mandated to debate, scrutinise and vote on legislation freely, without intimidation or undue influence.
“Members of Parliament are fully entitled to support or oppose any Bill placed before the House, and such differences of opinion must be respected as an essential feature of representative democracy,” he said, warning that attempts to delegitimise MPs based on how they voted risk undermining public confidence in democratic institutions.
At the same time, Mr Mutale stressed that sovereignty ultimately rests with the people of Zambia, adding that constitutional reform must reflect the will and consent of citizens.
“Constitutional reform, by its nature, must reflect the will, interests and consent of citizens, who are the true owners of the Constitution and the Republic,” he said.
TI-Z also expressed concern over reports and a video circulating on social media allegedly showing the Speaker of the National Assembly engaging in celebratory conduct following the passage of the Bill.
“While Parliamentarians may celebrate the outcome of issues being debated, the Speaker should not be seen to participate in such celebrations,” Mr Mutale said, noting that the Office of the Speaker carries a unique responsibility to uphold impartiality, fairness and neutrality.
He said public confidence in democratic institutions depends not only on lawful procedures but also on the conduct and restraint of those entrusted with high constitutional offices.
Mr Mutale called on Parliament, political parties, civil society and the Executive to ensure that the post-passage phase of the Bill is characterised by openness, respect for differing views and a renewed commitment to democratic accountability.
“Transparency International Zambia remains committed to promoting integrity, accountability and citizen-centred governance, and will continue to engage constructively on issues of constitutional reform in the public interest,” he said.
MY OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE PARTY DECISION IN THE CHAWAMA BY-ELECTION.
Fellow party members, supporters, well-wishers and the good people of Chawama,
I am compelled to address you today with clarity, sincerity and a deep sense of responsibility to our great party, the United Party for National Development (UPND) and to our collective mission of serving the people.
Following the party’s decision to field Mr. Morgan Muunda as the UPND candidate for the Chawama By-Election, I have noted the concern, confusion, and emotional reactions among some of my supporters and sympathizers. It is therefore important that I clear the air and speak directly and honestly.
First and foremost, I was not disqualified by the party nor was I rejected. The decision taken was a strategic and lawful measure aimed at protecting the party and its candidate from a possible disqualification by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
The facts are simple and straightforward: The voters’ register being used for this by-election is the 2021 register, a decision which was just announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). My current voters’ card although valid and legally issued in December last year, is aligned to the 2026 general electoral cycle. Upon discovering this technical irregularity, the responsible and principled decision was made in order to safeguard the party from unnecessary complications.
This was not exclusion. It was discipline and loyalty to the rule of law. And this was certainly not betrayal.
UPND is bigger than any individual ambition, including my own. I remain a loyal, committed and disciplined member of this party and I fully respect the decision taken by the party leadership in the best interest of our collective victory.
Accordingly, I wish to bring to your attention that I unreservedly endorsed my colleague and cousin Morgan Muunda as the duly adopted UPND candidate for the Chawama By-Election. He is our candidate and from today onwards, there must be no room for intra-party divisions, bitterness or distractions.
I therefore strongly urge all my supporters, campaign team and well-wishers to rally fully behind Mr. Muunda. The time for internal contestation is over. The task before us now is to secure victory for UPND on 15th January 2026 and to defend the vision of our party and the leadership of His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema.
LET ME BE VERY CLEAR I will not tolerate insults, negative commentary or attacks directed at our candidate Mr Muunda or the party leadership in my name. Such actions undermine party unity and do not represent my values or my position.
In demonstration of my commitment, I have offered my campaign machinery, logistics and structures to our candidate and I will personally be on the ground in Chawama campaigning alongside my team to ensure we carry the day.
To those who stood with me, believed in me and invested their time, resources and trust, I thank you deeply. Your support has not been in vain. Politics is a journey, not a moment, for now the priority is the party, the people and the presidency.
As I conclude my statement allow me to thank His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema and the entire UPND leadership for adopting me, it remains the single most honor and rare privilege of my life.
Let us move forward together in unity, discipline, and purpose.
God bless Chawama. God bless UPND. God bless the Republic of Zambia.
Timothy Kantenga UPND Member & Servant of the Party
