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Celebrating Illegality Is How Democracies Die: The Case of Nelly Mutti and Bill 7- Thandiwe Ketiš Ngoma

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Celebrating Illegality Is How Democracies Die: The Case of Nelly Mutti and Bill 7- Thandiwe Ketiš Ngoma

Celebrating Illegality Is How Democracies Die: The Case of Nelly Mutti and Bill 7

By Thandiwe Ketiš Ngoma

I do not understand how anyone, least of all leaders entrusted with public power, can celebrate an illegality engineered by the president and enforced through state machinery. When abuse of power is applauded, democracy is not merely wounded; it is deliberately undermined.



The celebration by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti, after the passing of Bill 7 was not only inappropriate; it was dangerous. Watching the Speaker dance on the floor of Parliament, clad in her robe, while an illegal process was being completed symbolised the capture of an institution meant to defend the people.



What is expected of the Speaker of the National Assembly is unwavering neutrality, constitutional fidelity, and institutional dignity. The Speaker is not a partisan actor but the guardian of parliamentary integrity, tasked with protecting due process, ensuring fair debate, and shielding the House from executive overreach. In moments of constitutional controversy, the Speaker should project restraint, seriousness, and respect for the rule of law, not celebration. The authority of the office derives from impartiality, and when that impartiality is abandoned, the credibility of Parliament itself is placed at risk.



Let us be clear. The Constitutional Court had already found the initiation process of Bill 7 unconstitutional. That ruling should have brought the matter to an end. Instead, the executive chose to defy constitutional principles and force the same bill back into Parliament, using intimidation, loyalty, and state machinery to secure its passage.



To the Members of Parliament who voted for Bill 7, do not deceive yourselves. You did not exercise control. You helped build the machinery of oppression. Once built, that machinery does not need your consent. It will not ask for permission. It will be turned against democratic freedoms and, one day perhaps, against you.



An illegal process cannot give birth to a legal law. Bill 7 is poisonous.

Dictatorship does not arrive with tanks. It arrives with applause, celebration, and silence in the face of injustice.

LAZ AND OASIS FORUM CONDEMN PF INFIGHTS AND MISTRUST

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LAZ AND OASIS FORUM CONDEMN PF INFIGHTS AND MISTRUST

LAZ AND OASIS FORUM CONDEMN PF INFIGHTS AND MISTRUST

The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) and the Oasis Forum have condemned the ongoing hatred among PF members of parliament following the successful passing of Bill 7 in Parliament today.

Outgoing LAZ President Lungizani Zulu and Oasis Forum caretaker Beauty Phiri Katebe have expressed disappointment on how PF members are fighting each other on social media.

“We condemn in the strongest term the manner in which PF members are fighting each other in public. There’s no need to show mistrust among themselves. This is a wake up call for the PF and othe opposition parties,” says disappointed Zulu.

And Oasis Forum caretaker Beauty Phiri Katebe has called on the church to reconcile the opposition following the passing of Bill 7.

NKANA MP BINWELL MPUNDU DEFENDS STAND AGAINST BILL 7, CALLS FOR RENEWED DEMOCRATIC RESOLVE

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NKANA MP BINWELL MPUNDU DEFENDS STAND AGAINST BILL 7, CALLS FOR RENEWED DEMOCRATIC RESOLVE

NKANA MP BINWELL MPUNDU DEFENDS STAND AGAINST BILL 7, CALLS FOR RENEWED DEMOCRATIC RESOLVE



Nkana Member of Parliament and Movement for Good Governance leader Binwell Mpundu has defended his decision to vote against Bill 7, describing the outcome of the parliamentary vote as a moment of national clarity rather than defeat.



In a statement issued, Mpundu said crossing the floor to oppose the Bill was a matter of conscience, adding that the vote had revealed “who we are, what we stand for, and how far we are willing to go to defend the soul of our democracy.”



“One does not choose principle because it is easy or popular,” Mpundu said. “I was humbled to be among the few Members of Parliament who stood against Bill 7. This moment should not be counted as defeat, but as a time of clarity.”



Mpundu, who is among the younger MPs in Parliament, said expectations that the vote would break his spirit were misplaced. Instead, he said the experience had strengthened his resolve, despite what he described as bullying from ruling party MPs and mistreatment by the Speaker during proceedings.



“Standing almost alone on the floor of the House did not make me smaller,” he said. “It reminded me that every great turning point begins with a few people choosing principle over comfort, country over career, and the future over the next election.”



He argued that the passage of Bill 7 marked a dividing line between what he termed an “old way of doing politics” characterised by fear and silence, and a new path grounded in courage, accountability and genuine public service. According to Mpundu, the vote exposed contrasting motivations among lawmakers, with some choosing political or financial security, while others chose to defend the Constitution.

Addressing Zambia’s youth, Mpundu urged young people not to view the outcome as proof that powerful forces always prevail, but as a lesson in character and values.

“You were not just witnessing the passing of a bill,” he said. “You were witnessing a test of values. Some failed that test, but it is in such moments that the youth must decide to rise.”



Mpundu called for organisation, unity and active citizen participation, urging Zambians who feel angry or disillusioned to channel their frustration into civic engagement, community organising and issue-based advocacy.



He said the Movement for Good Governance (#ichabaice) was founded for challenging moments and would continue mobilising citizens who believe that power must answer to the people and that leadership must be grounded in integrity.



“The true measure of this moment will not be the number of MPs who voted for Bill 7,” Mpundu said, “but the number of citizens who decide, from today, to stand taller for what is right.”



He concluded by expressing optimism about Zambia’s democratic future, saying the vote had not closed the chapter on democracy but had instead “turned a page.”

“For God, for the country, and for generations yet to come,” Mpundu said, “we move forward.”

DO NOT NATIONALIZE GRIEF – LESSONS FROM THE US REGARDING THE BURIAL OF THEIR PRESIDENTS OR FORMER PRESIDENTS- Kellys Kaunda

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DO NOT NATIONALIZE GRIEF – LESSONS FROM THE US REGARDING THE BURIAL OF THEIR PRESIDENTS OR FORMER PRESIDENTS- Kellys Kaunda

By Kellys Kaunda

DO NOT NATIONALIZE GRIEF – LESSONS FROM THE US REGARDING THE BURIAL OF THEIR PRESIDENTS OR FORMER PRESIDENTS

US Presidents get to choose how they want to be mourned and buried.



They have the option of either a State or private funeral.

For instance, Richard Nixon was buried beside his wife, Patricia.

The ceremony was a simple private service at the Nixon Library and his birthplace in California.



At the beginning of each President’s term, the new President is asked to participate in planning his own funeral.

He gets to decide how he wants to be remembered.



In other words, of all the wishes of man on earth, there is one the world grants him unreservedly – the wish to be mourned as he sees fit irrespective of the office they held.

It’s understandable. While alive, man can be opposed or accused of anything.



They are alive to respond if they so desire. Not when they are dead.

It’s the law of morality that you cannot be contending with the dead.



While respecting the wishes of the dead, what about the grieving, the immediate family members, how should we deal with them?

Again, another lesson from the US, right from the White House, and the Oval Office in particular.



One article I read recently told of Obama walking into his office and finding his Vice President, Joe Biden alone looking at a family picture and crying.

Biden had just lost his son, Beau to brain cancer at age 46.



Sitting beside Biden for 20 minutes in silence,  finally Obama whispered to him, “You gave Beau the best life any son could ask for, and now you have to let yourself grieve like the father you are, not the Vice President everyone expects you to be”.



On the Stephen Colbert Show, Biden revealed further, “Barack told me to take all the time I needed, that the Vice Presidency could wait, that America could wait, because being Beau’s father was more important than being Vice President, and he meant it – he actually meant it”.



Grief is primarily a private matter. It’s only a national matter by extension and by the permission of immediate family members.



This is humanity, this is Ubuntu as seen through the eyes of every cultural grouping irrespective of race, gender, or nationality.

Lesson for Zambia? DO NOT NATIONALIZE GRIEF!

UPND COMMENDS MPS FOR PATRIOTIC SUPPORT OF BILL NO. 7

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UPND COMMENDS MPS FOR PATRIOTIC SUPPORT OF BILL NO. 7

UPND COMMENDS MPS FOR PATRIOTIC SUPPORT OF BILL NO. 7

The United Party for National Development (UPND) warmly congratulates UPND Members of Parliament, Independent MPs, Patriotic Front (PF) MPs, and other opposition MPs who demonstrated patriotism, courage, and political maturity by voting in support of Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 7.



By rising above partisan interests and choosing the national good over political convenience, you affirmed that the Constitution of Zambia belongs to all citizens and must evolve to reflect the country’s democratic aspirations and future needs.



Your collective support for Bill No. 7 underscores a shared commitment to progressive constitutional reforms that promote inclusivity for women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other marginalised groups, while strengthening governance, accountability, and constitutional clarity.



This historic vote will be remembered as a moment when leadership, unity of purpose, and statesmanship prevailed. It demonstrated that meaningful national progress is possible when leaders work together across political lines.



The UPND salutes all Members of Parliament who supported this transformative Bill and encourages continued cooperation in advancing reforms that will move Zambia forward.

Issued by:
Mark Simuuwe
UPND Media Director

Humbled to be the Minister of Justice for such a Time- Princess Kasune

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Humbled to be the Minister of Justice for such a Time- Princess Kasune

Princess Kasune writes

#HistoricalMoment ! I am humbled and glory to God, a big appreciation to the President of the Republic of Zambia, her Honor the Vice President , to the Speaker, all Deputies , the Acting Clerk and all staff at parliament, my fellow Honourable MPs, the A team at Ministry of Justice whom am super proud of and above all the people of Zambia.



      On this historic Day when history has been made as Bill 7 passed to amendment the Constitution with 131 votes at second reading and 135 votes at third reading.



       Never in my wildest dreams….. could l have seen this day. To God be all the honor and praise. To you Mr President Hakainde Hichilema thank you for entrusting me with such a huge responsibility for such a time as this. Humbled to be the Minister of Justice for such a Time.



     To my fellow Cabinet Ministers your love , passion and commitment to the Zambian people will be remembered for now and the generations yet to come! To all the Mps who supported the Bill you did it on behalf of the Zambian people. To all the media houses thank you for spreading the message.

I remaim indebted!

Princess Kasune

Minister of Justice

PENTAGON PREPARING BIGGEST MILITARY COMMAND OVERHAUL IN DECADES: CENTCOM, EUCOM, AFRICOM TO BE CONSOLIDATED UNDER NEW STRUCTURE

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PENTAGON PREPARING BIGGEST MILITARY COMMAND OVERHAUL IN DECADES: CENTCOM, EUCOM, AFRICOM TO BE CONSOLIDATED UNDER NEW STRUCTURE

PENTAGON PREPARING BIGGEST MILITARY COMMAND OVERHAUL IN DECADES: CENTCOM, EUCOM, AFRICOM TO BE CONSOLIDATED UNDER NEW STRUCTURE

Senior Pentagon officials are preparing sweeping changes to how the U.S. military is organized at its highest levels, consolidating 11 combatant commands down to 8.



Under the plan expected to be presented to Secretary Hegseth this week:

U.S. Central Command, European Command, and Africa Command would be downgraded and placed under a new “U.S. International Command.”



U.S. Southern Command and Northern Command would merge into “U.S. Americas Command” (Americom), reflecting the administration’s shift toward Western Hemisphere operations.



The remaining commands: Indo-Pacific, Cyber, Special Operations, Space, Strategic, and Transportation.

A senior defense official on the urgency:

“Time ain’t on our side, man.

The saying here is, ‘If not us, who, and if not now, when?'”



The plan aligns with Trump’s national security strategy declaring that “the days of the United States propping up the entire world order like Atlas are over.”

Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressed concern:



“The world isn’t getting any less complicated.

You want commands that have the capability of heading off problems before they become big problems.”



Congress has required the Pentagon to submit a detailed blueprint before any changes can take effect.

Source: Washington Post / @sentdefender

Chinese gaming billionaire with more than ‘100 US-born kids’ say he hopes they’ll marry Elon Musk’s children to create family dynasty

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Chinese gaming billionaire with more than ‘100 US-born kids’ say he hopes they’ll marry Elon Musk’s children to create family dynasty

A Chinese billionaire who allegedly fathered more than 100 US-born children through surrogacy agencies reportedly hopes the kids will one day marry Elon Musk’s children and create a sprawling family dynasty.

Xu Bo, the 48-year-old founder of online gaming company Duoyi, calls himself “China’s first father” and has been hell-bent on siring at least “50 high-quality sons,” according to social-media posts verified as his by the Wall Street Journal.

His company has posted on social media that Xu has produced more than 100 kids through US surrogacy, the outlet said.

The story has exploded on Chinese social media after Xu’s ex-girlfriend posted that he had fathered more than 300 children, 11 of which she said she raised for years.

“That number might even be undercounted, but it’s certainly not exaggerated,” said Tang Jing, Xu’s ex, in a post on Nov. 15, according to the India Times.

The pair is now engaged in a custody battle over two daughters they share, with Xu claiming his ex owes him millions of dollars in expenses that he paid for over the years.

In a video posted in 2022 by an account linked to Xu, footage shows a row of dozens of young boys in a mansion, the Journal said. As the camera pans, the boys leap up from their chairs and rush toward the cameraman yelling, “Daddy!” in Chinese.

“Imagine a bunch of babies rushing towards you—how does that feel?” reads the caption on the video, according to the outlet. “Take a look. Besides your loved one, what’s cuter than children?”

Xu’s quest to build a family dynasty was reportedly inspired by Musk, who has been rumored to offer friends and family sperm in an effort to build his bloodline, claims that the Tesla titan has denied.

On Weibo, Xu has posted fantasies of his offspring one day marrying Musk’s children, according to the Journal.

In the summer of 2023, a judge in California handled petitions from Xu to gain parental rights for four unborn children, as well as at least eight other children whom he paid for through surrogates. The judge immediately called a confidential hearing, and Xu appeared over video.

The billionaire told the judge he hoped to sire 20 or more U.S.-born children, boys specifically, because they are superior, to one day take over his business.

Many of his children have reportedly lived in a home in Irvine, Calif., and been raised by nannies.

Xu told the judge he hadn’t met them yet because work had been busy, but said he planned to bring them to China soon.

The judge rejected his petition for parental rights, leaving the unborn children in legal limbo and exposing an insane industry of surrogacy companies helping wealthy Chinese businessmen have American-born children, the Journal reported.

ECZ ASSURES PEACEFUL, FREE AND FAIR CHAWAMA BY-ELECTION

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ECZ ASSURES PEACEFUL, FREE AND FAIR CHAWAMA BY-ELECTION

ECZ ASSURES PEACEFUL, FREE AND FAIR CHAWAMA BY-ELECTION

THE Electoral Commission of Zambia has assured stakeholders of a peaceful, free, fair, and credible election in the forthcoming Chawama parliamentary by-election.



ECZ Lusaka District Electoral Officer Victor Kagoli says the commission has put in place robust measures to ensure the safety and security of polling stations, ballot papers, and electoral officers.

Mr. Kagoli added that electoral staff have undergone comprehensive training to guarantee professionalism, impartiality, and efficiency throughout the electoral process.



He further disclosed that ECZ is working closely with other stakeholders, including the Zambia Police Service, to ensure that voters can freely express their will without intimidation or disruption, and to maintain peace before, during, and after the election.



Meanwhile, Chawama by-election Returning Officer Lewis Lupando has announced that all preparations are in place for tomorrow’s nominations.

PN

34 APPEAR IN COURT OVER CHIWEMPALA RIOT, DAMAGE TO PROPERTY

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34 APPEAR IN COURT OVER CHIWEMPALA RIOT, DAMAGE TO PROPERTY

34 APPEAR IN COURT OVER CHIWEMPALA RIOT, DAMAGE TO PROPERTY

THIRTY-FOUR people, among them nine juveniles, have appeared before the Chingola Magistrate Court for mention in a case involving alleged riotous behaviour and damage to property in Chiwempala area.



The accused are alleged to have been involved in violent acts that occurred on November 8, 2025.

The nine juveniles are aged between 12 and 16 years old.



They are facing five counts, including riotous behaviour and damage to property contrary to Section 81 of the Penal Code of the Laws of Zambia, as well as theft, arson and other related offences.

The matter came before Resident Magistrate Maybin Kapaya.



During the proceedings, the defence applied for bail, submitting that some of the accused are juveniles and that others have fixed residential addresses, making them unlikely to abscond.

However, State Prosecutors opposed the application, arguing that the accused posed a flight risk, as police faced difficulties in apprehending them, with some arrested as far as Ndola District.



The State further told the court that the safety and security of the accused could only be guaranteed if they remained in custody.

Magistrate Kapaya adjourned the matter to December 17, 2025, while the accused remain in custody.



Meanwhile, on November 8, 2025, President Hakainde Hichilema visited Chiwempala Market following a fire that gutted the market on November 5, 2025, but his visit and address were interrupted after suspected jerabos stoned the stage.

Diamond TV

I had Emmanuel Mwamba Fired as PS in 2013, and I told him So-Wynter Kabimba

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I had Emmanuel Mwamba Fired as PS in 2013, and I told him So-Wynter Kabimba

I had Mwamba Fired as PS, and I told him So-Wynter Kabimba

Emmanuel Mwamba has decided to respond to what he terms as my ” baseless and immoral rantings” regarding my comments about ECL. He finds my comments unfair as ECL is not able to defend himself in death. And therefore Mwamba has decided to come to his defence.

How I wish Mwamba would do so by providing some factual evidence that whatever I’ve said about ECL isn’t true. Instead he alleges that what I say about ECL and his leadership is motivated by jealous because I didn’t become president and ECL did. What a way of drawing a conclusion from unsupportive facts. Between Mwamba and myself we have some shared truths. When I met him one day at court Mwamba told me he was under pressure from his colleagues in PF to respond to my comments/attacks against PF and its leadership.

This was before the demise of ECL whom he now says is defenceless. To try to convince his audience that I’ve been compromised Mwamba attributes to me remarks he alleges I’ve made in the past against HH. Mwamba says I’ve accused HH of self-praise tribalism and what he calls massive corruption. I challenge him to produce any piece of evidence he has to prove this. Mwamba goes further and says I became a turncoat when EF joined the UPND alliance in September 2024.
Now here are the facts:

1.EF is not a member of the UPND alliance and it has not signed any agreement to this effect.

2. About ECL. I’ve publicly and on many occasions said that I’d a meeting with ECL in April 2021 at Nkwazi House and Freedom Sikazwe found me there that evening.

3. During the said meeting one of the things I told him was that the systemic indiscipline in PF was taken by the general public to be a consequence of his perceived weak leadership as president of the party. I went further and cautioned him that this would cost him loss of votes in the imminent election . So what I’m saying today I said it to ECL in life and I remain with a clear conscience.

4. Is it being unfair to the dead to say what I’m saying now about the man? My honest opinion is NO. If Mwamba is right then no history book should contain any chapter on Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust. It’s William Shakespeare who says “The evil that men do lives after them and the good is interred with their bones”. ECL and his leadership style form part of our history and dead or alive we should be allowed to interrogate them even in the face of Mwamba acting as defence counsel. It’s not news to anyone to hear that ECL was a drunk. Maybe it is for Mwamba but certainly not the Zambian public.

5. Now here’s another fact. I know that Mwamba is still hurting over his dismissal as PS in 2013 an act in which I was instrumental with his full knowledge because I told him so. He understands my character well from that incident. I’d warned him to desist playing tribal politics in his position as a civil servant a piece of advice he didn’t heed.

6. Let me ask Mwamba to invite me on his podcast platform and challenge me on what I state here.

WORKS ON SERENJE MPIKA ROAD TO START IN APRIL 2026

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WORKS ON SERENJE MPIKA ROAD TO START IN APRIL 2026

WORKS ON SERENJE MPIKA ROAD TO START IN APRIL 2026

GOVERNMENT has announced that rehabilitation works on the Serenje–Mpika Road will commence in April 2026, at the end of the rainy season.



Minister of Infrastructure and Urban Development, Charles Milupi, says the project will be implemented through a grant under the Transport Corridors for Economic Resilience  programme, funded by the World Bank at a cost of $270 million.



Speaking in the National Assembly today, Mr. Milupi explained that the works will be carried out in two lots, lot One will involve the construction of a 105-kilometre stretch between Serenje and Likulu, while lot Two will cover 103 kilometres from Likulu to Chilonga area.


The Minister was responding to a question from Chitambo Member of Parliament Remember Mutale, who sought to know whether government is aware of the deplorable state of the Great North Road between Serenje and Lavushimanda districts, and what urgent measures are being taken to prevent loss of lives and property due to road accidents on the affected section.



Mr. Milupi acknowledged the poor condition of the road and said the Ministry is currently finalising procurement procedures, noting that World Bank-funded projects require adherence to strict processes.



“In the interim, government has intensified spot road inspections, pothole patching and road widening on the affected sections to improve safety as bidding documents are being finalised,” said Mr. Mulupi.

RCV

“Anyone would wish to have a son like my son. He’s a good boy” – Mother of Bondi Beach terrorist Naveed Akram

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“Anyone would wish to have a son like my son. He’s a good boy” – Mother of Bondi Beach terrorist Naveed Akram

The mother of a 24-year-old terrorist who carried out a terror attack during a Hanukkah event in Australia has said she didn’t believe her son could be involved in any violent or extremist activities, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Naveed Akram, an unemployed bricklayer, and his father, Sajid Akram, a fruiterer, opened fire on the crowd in Archer Park at Bondi Beach in Sydney, New Wales on Sunday, December 14, 2025, k!lling 16 people.

“Anyone would wish to have a son like my son … he’s a good boy,” Verena said on Monday morning as police surrounded the family home at Bonnyrigg.

Akram was looking for work after being laid off from his bricklaying job about two months ago when the company he worked for became insolvent.

“While he had many friends during his high school days at Cabramatta High School, he wasn’t particularly social,” Verena said.

She said he didn’t appear to spend a lot of time online. He loved fishing, scuba diving, swimming and exercising.

Akram appeared to be tagged in a 2022 social media post showing he had passed his Koran studies at Al-Murad Institute, which teaches Arabic and Koran studies in Heckenberg, also in western Sydney. The post has since been removed.

Akram’s mother is a stay-at-home parent, caring for her elderly mother nearby. Akram lived at the property with his parents and younger sister, 22, and brother, 20. The three-bedroom property was bought in 2024. The family previously lived in Cabramatta.

According to Australian media, father and son told their family they were on a fishing trip in Jervis Bay over the weekend.

But the pair, who had just returned from a trip to the Philippines, a known breeding ground for Islamic extremism, were actually holed up in a small, grey brick home in Campsie. The short-term rental lets out rooms to travellers by the night.

“He rings me up [on Sunday] and said, ‘Mum, I just went for a swim. I went scuba diving. We’re going … to eat now, and then this morning, and we’re going to stay home now because it’s very hot’,” Verena said.

CCTV footage obtained by this masthead and Nine News shows Sajid and then Naveed walking from 103 Brighton Avenue, Campsie, about 5.15pm on Sunday, shortly after that call.

The second figure, believed to be Naveed dressed in black, appears to adjust something in the rear of the car before getting into the driver’s seat of the silver hatchback.

The car pulls away and begins its 40-minute trip east.

Less than 90 minutes later, the first shots rang out at Bondi Beach.

Father and son opened fire into a crowd gathered to celebrate Hanukkah.

Their rampage left 16 dead and scores injured.

Sajid was shot and killed at the scene by police. Naveed was also shot and remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Naveed is showing signs he will survive his injuries, sources said.

The gunmen had visited the Philippines just weeks before their attack, multiple police sources confirmed on Monday.

The Australian Federal Police is expected to investigate where, and why, the men visited in November.

Police were already investigating links to Islamic State terror ideology after a black IS flag was found in their car in Bondi, along with improvised explosive devices.

The Islamic State of East Asia, a branch of the terror group, has been a proscribed terrorist group by the Australian government since 2017.

“While there are no known links between ISEA and Australia, there have previously been links between Australians and terrorist groups in the Philippines,” a briefing document reads.

Police recovered four weapons at the scene and on Monday afternoon seized two more from the rented room in Campsie. Officers came and went from the home all day, wearing ballistic vests until the weapons could be removed in large paper evidence bags.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Monday that Sajid “arrived in 1998 on a student visa, transferred in 2001 to a partner visa and after trips overseas has been on resident return visas, which occurred three times”. Naveed was born in Australia.

CHAMISA PLOTS 2026 COMEBACK WITH ‘PEOPLE POWER’ PARTY

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CHAMISA PLOTS 2026 COMEBACK WITH ‘PEOPLE POWER’ PARTY

CHAMISA PLOTS 2026 COMEBACK WITH ‘PEOPLE POWER’ PARTY

Firebrand opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has dropped a political bombshell, announcing plans to launch a new, bigger, citizen-driven political party in 2026. The bold move signals a dramatic return to frontline politics and a renewed challenge to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s grip on power.



Chamisa says the new formation will be built on “people power” and mass mobilisation, with a clear mission: to block what he describes as Mnangagwa’s unconstitutional push to extend his rule to 2030 through proposed constitutional amendments. Allies say Chamisa is preparing for nationwide civic action aimed at stopping the changes in their tracks.



The opposition leader  walked away from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), claiming the party had been hijacked by the state. He alleges that government-linked agents and political pawns, including Sengezo Tshabangu, Chalton Hwende and Jacob Mafume, were used to destabilise and capture the party from within.



With 2026 now firmly in his sights, Chamisa is betting that ordinary citizens will once again rally behind him.

Rob Reiner’s son Nick in custody after the Hollywood legend and wife were st@bbed to de@th

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Rob Reiner’s son Nick in custody after the Hollywood legend and wife were st@bbed to de@th

Rob Reiner and Michelle Reiner’s son Nick is reportedly in custody and has been booked for murd£r after the Hollywood director and his wife were found stabbed to de@th.

According to Mail Online, the couple had their throats slit after a heated argument with a relative, understood to be Nick, turned de@dly at their $13.5million LA mansion on Sunday afternoon.

Detectives are said to be treating the incident as a double homicide and have been questioning the Hollywood director’s 32-year-old son.

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) was called to Mr and Mrs Reiner’s home at about 3.30 pm on Sunday and found a man, 78, and a woman, 68, dead in the property.

The couple’s daughter Romy, who lives just across the street, is said to have made the shocking discovery when she visited their sprawling six-bedroom estate yesterday afternoon.

Romy told police that a family member ‘should be a suspect’ because they are ‘dangerous’, TMZ reports.

Nick has previously spoken about his struggles with drug addiction, which saw him first attend rehab around his 15th birthday and experience periods of homelessness.

‘I was homeless in Maine. I was homeless in New Jersey. I was homeless in Texas. I spent nights on the street. I spent weeks on the street. It was not fun,’ he told People in an interview in 2016.

Reiner made many of the best-known movies of the 1980s and 1990s, including Stand By Me and The Princess Bride in 1987, legal thriller A Few Good Men in 1992, and romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally in 1989.

Hugo Broos Apologises to South Africa Over Mbokazi Remarks — Clarifies Comments and Defends Himself

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Hugo Broos Apologises to South Africa Over Mbokazi Remarks — Clarifies Comments and Defends Himself

⚡ Hugo Broos Apologises to South Africa Over Mbokazi Remarks — Clarifies Comments and Defends Himself ⚽🇿🇦



Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has publicly apologised to South Africans following backlash over comments he made about defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi. His words, which sparked outrage on social media and accusations of racism and sexism, were misunderstood, Broos says, and he insists that he never intended to offend anyone.



In his statement, Broos said he regrets the way his comments were interpreted and apologises to the football community, the nation, and anyone who felt hurt. He stressed: “I am not racist or sexist, as some have claimed. My frustration was about football, not about race or gender.”



Broos explained that his criticism of Mbokazi came from concern over the young player’s discipline and professional behaviour. He highlighted that Mbokazi is immensely talented, still very young, and has great potential to succeed internationally — but that he lacks guidance and needs to focus on his career.


The coach noted that Mbokazi, being a rising star, attracts a lot of attention — both positive and negative. This fame, according to Broos, can sometimes distract players, and he emphasised the importance of staying disciplined and making good decisions on and off the field.


One moment that particularly concerned Broos was the red card Mbokazi received against Zimbabwe. He said that after seeing that incident, it became clear that something was not right and that the player needed mentoring to get back on the right path.



Broos also mentioned past issues, such as Mbokazi missing schedules or arriving late, which frustrated him as coach. He clarified that these were professional concerns, not personal attacks, and that he wants the player to realise his full potential.



Ending his statement, Broos urged South Africans and fans to focus on the player’s growth rather than misunderstandings over his comments. He said he remains committed to guiding the national team to success and helping young stars like Mbokazi thrive on the international stage

Trump blames tragic de@th of Hollywood legend Rob Reiner and wife on ‘TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME’

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Trump blames tragic de@th of Hollywood legend Rob Reiner and wife on ‘TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME’

U.S. President Donald Trump has reacted to the de@ths of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, with remarks that seemed aimed at advancing political arguments rather than acknowledging the gravity of the allegations.

According to Mail Online, the couple had their throats slit after a heated argument with a relative, understood to be their Nick, turned de@dly at their $13.5million LA mansion on Sunday afternoon.

President Trump blames tragic de@th of Hollywood legend Rob Reiner and wife on ?TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME?

Nick is reportedly in custody and has been booked for murd£r after the couple were found stabbed to de@th.

Trump took to social media on Monday morning, claiming that Reiner’s long-standing and highly public criticism of him was the true reason behind the couple’s de@ths.

The former president described the tragedy as a “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

‘Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME,’ the president wrote.

‘He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness.’

BOTSWANA PROBES YOUTH LURED TO FIGHT IN UKRAINE ON PROMISES OF QUICK PAY

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BOTSWANA PROBES YOUTH LURED TO FIGHT IN UKRAINE ON PROMISES OF QUICK PAY

BOTSWANA PROBES YOUTH LURED TO FIGHT IN UKRAINE ON PROMISES OF QUICK PAY

THE Botswana government is investigating two young men allegedly recruited to fight in Ukraine, as more Africans are said to be lured by misleading promises of military training and quick pay.



Authorities in Gaborone say they have opened an investigation into the case of two men, aged 19 and 20, who are believed to have been deceived into joining the Russia–Ukraine war.



According to the Ministry of International Relations, the pair thought they were signing up for short-term military training in Russia. Officials are now working with diplomats and law enforcement to confirm what happened and to bring the two back home.



The ministry is warning young people to be wary of what it calls “dubious and dangerous international recruitment schemes” and to check with embassies or consulates before accepting any offers that sound too good to be true. The UN is also urging African governments to stay alert and issue clear warnings to prevent more cases like this.



Similar cases are being reported across the continent, highlighting the risks for young Africans.

In the wider region, a Nigerian man, Kehinde Oluwagbemileke, who had joined the Russian army, was captured by the anti-Kremlin “Freedom for Russia” Legion during fighting in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region in July. Ukrainian officials say he had studied in Moscow before being lured with promises of quick money and safe service, but was later sent, poorly prepared, into what they describe as a “suicide assault” on the front line.



Earlier, a Senegalese national, Malick Diop, was captured on the Toretsk front in the Donetsk region under similar conditions. These incidents point to a growing number of young Africans on both sides of the conflict, many drawn in by misinformation and false promises.



The “Freedom for Russia” Legion, made up of Russian fighters opposed to the Kremlin, regularly urges foreign soldiers to lay down their arms or switch sides, accusing Moscow of showing little regard for the lives of its own troops.

Africanews

NETANYAHU DEFIES TRUMP-BROKERED CEASEFIRE – WHITE HOUSE FURIOUS OVER UNCOORDINATED STRIKE

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NETANYAHU DEFIES TRUMP-BROKERED CEASEFIRE – WHITE HOUSE FURIOUS OVER UNCOORDINATED STRIKE

NETANYAHU DEFIES TRUMP-BROKERED CEASEFIRE – WHITE HOUSE FURIOUS OVER UNCOORDINATED STRIKE

Tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv are boiling after Israel killed top Hamas commander Raed Saad without notifying the U.S., a move the White House calls a violation of the Trump-brokered ceasefire.



U.S. officials say a stern message was delivered to Netanyahu: “If you want to ruin your reputation, be our guest, but don’t drag President Trump’s name down with you.”



Behind closed doors, frustration is growing. Trump, Sec. Rubio, and envoys Witkoff and Kushner are reportedly fed up with what they see as Israeli inflexibility on Gaza, Syria, and the West Bank.



The White House accuses Netanyahu of undermining efforts to stabilize the region and expand the Abraham Accords, especially with Arab states now refusing to meet with him.



Trump told Netanyahu in a recent call that he needs to be “a better partner” if the peace process is to move forward.

The ceasefire’s second phase requires Israel to pull back troops from Gaza, a move Netanyahu is stalling on.



As one senior U.S. official put it: “We’re not asking Netanyahu to compromise Israel’s security. We’re asking him to stop taking steps that the Arab world sees as provocations.”



The risk ahead.

If this rift deepens, the consequences could be far-reaching:

– The Gaza ceasefire could collapse, dragging the region back into open war.



– The Abraham Accords could stall or even reverse, closing the door on potential normalization with Saudi Arabia and beyond.



– Trump’s legacy deal, his central foreign policy achievement, could unravel, just as the region seemed to be turning a corner.



The next meeting between Trump and Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago on September 29 may determine whether the Gaza deal survives, or collapses under the weight of mistrust.

Source: Axios
Media: SBS

RUSSIA SIGNALS OPENNESS TO UKRAINE JOINING EU – A NEW TURN IN THE WAR, OR A TACTICAL MOVE?

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RUSSIA SIGNALS OPENNESS TO UKRAINE JOINING EU – A NEW TURN IN THE WAR, OR A TACTICAL MOVE?

In a stunning shift that would’ve been unthinkable just a year ago, Russia has now indicated it is open to Ukraine joining the EU, as part of a U.S.-brokered peace deal to end the war.

According to U.S. officials, roughly 90% of the Trump administration’s peace framework is now agreed upon by the parties. What’s left are the thorniest issues: territorial concessions in eastern Donbas and the specifics of Western security guarantees for Kyiv.

If true, this is one of the most significant geopolitical developments in Europe since the war began in 2022, and perhaps since the post–Cold War order was first challenged in 2014.

So why does this matter?

Because for the first time, both Russia and Ukraine are engaging in structured, U.S.-led diplomacy that has the potential to reconfigure Europe’s security map, and reshape America’s role in it.

Russia’s signal on EU membership is not trivial. While Moscow still firmly opposes NATO expansion, acknowledging Ukraine’s potential entry into the EU, a major political, economic, and institutional alliance of the West, marks a possible recalibration of Kremlin red lines.

For Ukraine, this could be a form of strategic compromise: full NATO integration might be off the table for now, but economic and political anchoring in the West remains on the horizon, with American backing.

For the U.S., the stakes are just as high. The Trump administration has put its diplomatic capital behind this process, led by envoys Witkoff and Kushner, who have now met multiple times with Zelensky and other European leaders in Berlin. Trump himself has been directly briefed and is expected to dial into the next round of negotiations.

The emerging deal would reportedly be brought before the U.S. Senate for approval, signaling the White House wants institutional legitimacy, and bipartisan buy-in, for any long-term security guarantees it makes to Kyiv.

Geopolitically, this would be a watershed moment.

If Ukraine joins the EU under a peace deal, it would anchor a formerly post-Soviet state fully inside the Western economic and political sphere, something Moscow had spent decades trying to prevent.

At the same time, a durable ceasefire could begin to stabilize not just Ukraine, but Europe’s entire eastern flank, unlocking investment, rebuilding opportunities, and reconfiguring the continent’s defense posture.

Of course, questions remain.

Can Zelensky sell any territorial concessions at home? Will Russia genuinely respect Ukraine’s future sovereignty? And will the U.S., amid its own domestic divisions, maintain long-term commitment to enforcing the deal?

Still, this moment feels different.

For the first time in years, war fatigue, diplomatic momentum, and shifting political calculations may be converging. The next phase of talks, including a likely meeting in Miami this weekend, may show if this is a breakthrough… or just another pause in a grinding war.

Either way, the world is watching. And history may be quietly turning in Berlin.

Source: AP

SICHONE ANNOUNCES FASHION SAKALA AS NEW CHIPOLOPOLO CAPTAIN

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SICHONE ANNOUNCES FASHION SAKALA AS NEW CHIPOLOPOLO CAPTAIN

SICHONE ANNOUNCES FASHION SAKALA AS NEW CHIPOLOPOLO CAPTAIN

The Chipolopolo technical bench has announced changes at captaincy level which have seen Fashion Sakala as a new captain.



The new pecking order lists Lubambo Musonda as first assistant, Kings Kangwa as second assistant, Frankie Musonda as third assistant, and Benson Sakala as fourth assistant captain.


The adjustments were announced just before Monday’s training session at the Pinata Sports Arena in Murcia, Spain.

Head Coach Moses Sichone thanked Lubambo Musonda for steering the team during his time at the helm.



Sichone urged the players to support the changes and give Sakala the necessary backing as the team heads to AFCON.

“Lubambo is still one of the captains; we just thought it necessary to make a few changes at that level. I urge you all to support the new team leadership,” said Sichone.



And Musonda welcomed the changes and urged the players to accept them for the good of the team.

“As the coach has said, I urge you to support the new guy (Fashion Sakala), and the rest of the players announced. Take the instructions seriously and obey them, as they are messengers for the technical bench,” Musonda said.



And Sakala said he is accepting the responsibility of being captain with a lot of humility and respect.

Sakala thanked his predecessor Musonda for being a good leader and team mate.



“I’m honored to be considered for the role of captain of the Chipolopolo. This comes with a huge responsibility to not only the team itself but the nation at large. I thank God for this. Grateful to my coach and my team mates.” Said Sakala.

FAZ

Germany plans to end its partnership with China

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Germany plans to end its partnership with China

Germany plans to end its partnership with China, writes the Wall Street Journal.

For more than twenty years, the relationship between Germany and China was profitable: Germany supplied China with technology and equipment, while China used these resources to produce goods for the entire world. Now Germany needs China less, and German companies are increasingly facing faster, cheaper, and technologically advanced Chinese competitors.

For the first time, Germany buys more capital goods from China than it sells, and the trade deficit may reach a record 88 billion euros. Imports of auto components from China are increasing, while the share of German cars in the Chinese market has dropped from 50% to 33% in two years.

For this reason, in response, Germany is beginning to protect its own industry through tariffs, regulatory barriers, and other protectionist measures.

Is the EU Losing Georgia to Moscow’s Playbook?

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Is the EU Losing Georgia to Moscow’s Playbook?

Is the EU Losing Georgia to Moscow’s Playbook?

Georgia’s political crisis deepens as the country appears to be adopting Kremlin-style tactics that are putting its European future at risk. After decades of pursuing EU membership—supported by 81% of Georgians—the ruling Georgian Dream party has suspended accession talks and implemented controversial “foreign agents” legislation that mirrors Russian laws used to suppress dissent.

The EU has responded by freezing Georgia’s accession process, cutting €121 million in financial assistance, and imposing sanctions on key officials, while massive protests continue in Tbilisi.



This situation raises critical questions about post-Soviet states caught between Western integration and Russian influence. Georgia’s trajectory shows how democratic backsliding can occur without direct military intervention—just through legal frameworks and political pressure.



💭 What do you think drives countries to choose authoritarian models over democratic integration, even when their citizens overwhelmingly support EU membership? Is external pressure enough to reverse such trends, or does change have to come from within? 🤔

Source: RT

John Terry reveals he considered su!c!de from 25th floor of his Moscow hotel after Champions League final penalty miss

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Chelsea legend, John Terry has revealed he considered k!lling himself after his penalty miss in the 2008 Champions League final.

The former England defender slipped and hit the post with what could have been the decisive spot-kick against Manchester United, before the Red Devils eventually won the shoot-out at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

Now Terry, 45, admits he considered suicide from the 25th floor of the team’s hotel, before his team-mates led him away.

Speaking to Reece Mennie on his podcast, he said: ‘Looking back, I would have loved at that time to have spoken to someone because I remember after the game, we all went back to the hotel, and I was on the 25th floor in Moscow, and I’m just looking out the window, just going, “Why? Why?”

‘I’m not saying if I had that opportunity that you’d jump, but you know things go through your head at that particular time.

‘Then the boys came up, and they took me downstairs. It’s those moments that you have the “what if?” You just never know, do you.’

He added: ‘At the time, three or four days later, we went and met up with England so now we’re sitting across the dining table with the Man United players, which was the worst thing ever anyway!

‘But then we played America at Wembley and I ended up scoring, I scored a header from outside the box, and just after that I was like, “why couldn’t I just swap that moment for that?”

‘Still even now today, it goes over in my head. It has softened over the years for sure but I think when you’re playing and you’re churning out game after game, season after season, you compartmentalise it a little bit and put it right to the back.

‘But it’s now that I’m retired, I’ve not got that focus of playing every week or playing in front of the supporters and having that buzz, that it really gets me. I still wake up middle of the night and go oh yeah it did happen, and I don’t think that I’ll ever go.’

Four years later, Chelsea beat Bayern Munich on penalties, and Terry finally got to lift the trophy, although he didn’t play as he was suspended for the match after being sent off in the semi-finals against Barcelona.

MAKEBI ZULU CALLS  SPEAKER NELLY MUTTI IMMATURE , DISGRACEFUL AND UNPROFESSIONAL  FOR  DANCING AFTER BILL 7 PASSED

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MAKEBI ZULU CALLS  SPEAKER NELLY MUTTI IMMATURE , DISGRACEFUL AND UNPROFESSIONAL  FOR  DANCING AFTER BILL 7 PASSED

Makebi Zulu writes….

Fellow Citizens,

The passing of Bill No. 7, in open defiance of the clear pronouncements of the Constitutional Court, is a grave affront to constitutionalism and the rule of law in Zambia.

When Parliament proceeds as though the highest court in the land does not matter, it sends a chilling message that legal limits on power are optional, not binding.



Those who swore an oath to defend the Constitution have instead chosen political convenience over principle, power over prudence, and partisan instructions over their duty to the Republic. Where are the men and women of conscience who should have stood up to say no? Where are the representatives prepared to lose their seats rather than lose their integrity?



The disgraceful display of a dance by Madam Speaker in celebration of what is open defiance of the judiciary is nothing short of lawlessness, immaturity and a first in the commonwealth to show the leaning of a presiding officer. Quiet unprofessional.


The struggle for democracy and respect for the rule of law begins in earnest today. Citizens must now organise, speak out, and prepare to hold their leaders accountable in August 2026, when the people will have the opportunity to pass their own verdict at the ballot box. Stand up, be counted, and ensure that this abuse of constitutional order is met with a firm, peaceful, and democratic response.

MZ8

MATERO MP MILES SAMPA WANTED LIST OF MPS WHO VOTED FOR BILL 7

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MATERO MP MILES SAMPA WANTED LIST OF MPS WHO VOTED FOR BILL 7

MATERO MP MILES SAMPA WANTED A LIST OF MPS WHO VOTED FOR BILL 7

He shared……………………

Been at Parliament since adjournment waiting at the office door where the official list of Voted YES or NO is printed.

It’s 4 pm and apparently parliament only has one person with the password to the printout. I have now been told that he knocked off half day. lol.
What a joke of events.

Other than the usual known suspects who went public would vote YES; I can safely confirm some from the opposition that voted YES and personally left me in shock 

A. Eastern Province
1. Hon Elias Eriboma Daka (PF) Msanzala constituency
2. ⁠Hon Jaire Banda (NCP) Petauke Central Constituecy
3. ⁠Hon Dr Aaron Banda (PF) Kaumbwe Constituency
4. ⁠Hon Masauso Kazungula Tembo (PF) Sinda Constituency
5. ⁠Hon Maiwane (PF) Kapoche Constituency
6. ⁠Hon Peter Phiri (PF) Mkaika Constituency
7. ⁠Hon Acleo Lungu (PF) Vubwi Constituency
8. ⁠Hon Mutayachalo (PF) Chama North

(Most given FRA Maize transportation contracts & FRA outdated payments dues from before 2021. These ones are not true leaders but tuma selfish gonga MMD origin stingy businessmen made by ECL but they were the first to betray him upon losing power in 2021. Tuma sangwapo in PF)

B. Muchinga Constituency
1. Hon Sunday Chanda (PF) Kanchibiya Constituency
2. ⁠Hon Marjorie Nakaponda (PF) Isoka constituency

C. Northern Province
1. Hon Musonda Mpankata (PF), Lupososhi constituency. I am not shocked on him.
2. ⁠Hon Chewe Taulo (PF), Lubansenshi Constituency
3. ⁠Hon Sibongile Mwamba (PF), Kasama Central Constituency. This one is my sister cousin and shocked as been asking her entire week and kept pleading innocent to betraying the people.


4. ⁠Hon Robert Kalimi (PF), Malole Constituency
(I choose to keep quiet on him given his unfortunate car accident. Hon Remember Mutale had to help him log in to Vote YES because currently unable to do it on his own. )

D. Luapula Province
1. Hon Leevan Chibombwe (PF), Bahati Constituency (A ZESCO tenderprenuer businessman & not a leader).
2. ⁠Hon Dr Solomon Mwale (PF), Nchelenge Constituency.
3. ⁠Hon Paul Chaala (PF), Chipili Constituency
4. ⁠Hon Chonde Saka (Independent), Milenge Constituency. A stingy fake tenderprenuer of Boma contracts where he made millions from DMMU. Now has been aided with a mega millions dollar hydro power contract at the Mubotutu falls in his constituency. So the project being facilitated to him in exchange for YES Vote.

F. Lusaka Province
1. Hon Christopher Shakafuswa

F. Central Province
1. Hon Remember Mutale (PF), Chitambo Constituency (bes I keep keep quite in him)
2. ⁠Hon Chibuye (PF), Mkushi North Constituency

G. Copperbelt Province
1. Hon Anthony Mumba (PF), Kantanshi constituency
2. ⁠Hon Golden Mwila (PF), Mufulira Central constituency
3. Hon Allan Banda (PF), Chimwemwe Constituency
4. Hon Mike Katambo (PF), Masaiti constituency
5. Hon Chibuye (Independent), Roan Constituency

*Lesson here is that adoption process of candidates is very important. Never adopt businessmen who can trade people for cash or contracts. Some traded for their freedom from going to prison as they have criminal cases on ice last few years & now have bargained for Bill 7 Yes Vote*

PF 2021 adoption was a disaster. We have to be careful in next year adoption processes.

We seem to have lost the fight today; but make no mistake, we have not lost the War.)

Together We Can

Nelly Mutti Must Resign Immediately- Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

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Nelly Mutti Must Resign Immediately- Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba



Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba Wrote:

Nelly Mutti Must Resign Immediately

..the dangers of deploying UPND cadres to man democratic institutions was on full display as Cadre Nelly Mutti danced in celebrations forgeting her supposed sacred role of an impartial, objective presiding officer.



We have stated time and time again, that the hijack of democratic institutions by President Hakainde Hichilema, such as Parliament, Electoral Commission of Zambia, Judiciary and Law Enforcement Agencies, has significantly eroded the independence and autonomy of institutions and threatened Democracy itself.

This was on full display today when the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti could not hide her joy and danced in celebrations, on the floor of the House, in full Speaker’s Robe, as the manipulation of Parliament was completed through the passing of the illegal Bill 7.

WHAT WAS THAT SEEMING CELEBRATORY DANCE BY THE SPEAKER ALL ABOUT?- Kellys Kaunda

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WHAT WAS THAT SEEMING CELEBRATORY DANCE BY THE SPEAKER ALL ABOUT?- Kellys Kaunda

WHAT WAS THAT SEEMING CELEBRATORY DANCE BY THE SPEAKER ALL ABOUT?

By Kellys Kaunda

I am trying to wrap my head around the apparent celebratory gestures of the Speaker in the House today when Bill 7 came up for Second Reading or was that 3rd Reading?



Perhaps someone can make me understand the meaning thereof.

Was she celebrating the passage of the Bill or thanking the MPs for their participation?



I was trying to go through my mental files to see if I can recall a time in the history of the Zambian parliament when the Speaker demonstrated this “joy” at the passage of a Bill. I can’t find any.


I am raising this matter because the Speaker has always been regarded as a referee who plays a neutral role in the debates of the House.



He or she is not expected to make public their personal feelings or preferences regarding the issues over which they preside.

While I am not privy to the reasons for her seeming celebratory gestures, I am not in a position to draw a definite conclusion but to simply ask:



what did you see and what does it mean for the impartiality expected of the occupant of the position of Speaker of the National Assembly?

The greatest winners in this Bill 7 process are the people and our democracy- President Hakainde Hichilema

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The greatest winners in this Bill 7 process are the people and our democracy- President Hakainde Hichilema

President Hakainde Hichilema writes….

Fellow Zambians,

Bill 7 has been one of the most topical and consequential issues of our time, one that has tested the strength of our democracy and the unity of our nation.

Throughout this process, we all engaged in lobbying and robust debate; we agreed and, at times, disagreed. As is the nature of any democratic process, such engagement must ultimately lead to a resolution.



The greatest winners in this process are the people of Zambia and our democracy itself. The people have spoken through their duly elected representatives, and as a nation committed to democratic principles, we must respect both the outcome and the collective resolve it represents.



Now is the time to turn our full attention to national development. We must do so as one people; Government, the opposition, civil society, and citizens alike, moving forward together in one direction.

United by our shared destiny, let us reaffirm our commitment to One Zambia, One Nation, and work collectively for the progress and prosperity of our country.

Hakainde Hichilema,
President of the Republic of Zambia.

WYNTER KABIMBA RESPONDS TO AMB. EMMANUEL MWAMBA’S DISAGREEMENTS TO HIS EARLIER PRONOUNCEMENTS

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WYNTER KABIMBA RESPONDS TO AMB. EMMANUEL MWAMBA’S DISAGREEMENTS TO HIS EARLIER PRONOUNCEMENTS

WYNTER KABIMBA RESPONDS TO AMB. EMMANUEL MWAMBA’S DISAGREEMENTS TO HIS EARLIER PRONOUNCEMENTS

Emmanuel Mwamba has decided to respond to what he terms as my ” baseless and immoral rantings” regarding my comments about ECL.


He finds my comments unfair as ECL is not able to defend himself in death.  And therefore Mwamba has decided to come to his defence. How I wish Mwamba would do so by providing some factual evidence that whatever I’ve said about ECL isn’t true. Instead he alleges that what I say about ECL and his leadership is motivated by jealous because I didn’t become president and ECL did. What a way of drawing a conclusion from unsupportive facts.



Between Mwamba and myself we have some shared truths. When I met him one day at court Mwamba told me he was under pressure from his colleagues in PF to respond to my comments/attacks against PF and its leadership.  This was before the demise of ECL whom now he says is defenceless. 



To try to convince his audience that I’ve been compromised Mwamba attributes to me remarks he alleges I’ve made in the past against HH. Mwamba says I’ve accused HH of self-praise tribalism and what he calls massive corruption.  I challenge him to produce any piece of evidence he has to prove this. Mwamba goes further and says I became a turncoat when EF joined the UPND alliance in September 2024.


Now here are the facts:

1.EF is not a member of the UPND alliance and it has not signed any agreement to this effect.

2. About ECL. I’ve publicly and on many occasions said that I’d a meeting with ECL in April 2021 at Nkwazi House and Freedom Sikazwe found me there that evening.



3. During the said meeting one of the things I told him was that the systemic indiscipline in PF was taken by the general public to be a consequence of his perceived weak leadership as president of the party. I went further and cautioned him this would cost loss of votes in imminent election . So what I’m saying today I said it to ECL in life and I remain with a clear conscience.



4. Is it being unfair to the dead to say what I’m saying now about the man? My honest opinion is NO. If Mwamba is right then no history book should contain any chapter on Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust. It’s William Shakespeare who says “The evil that men do lives after them and the good is interred with their bones”. ECL and his leadership style form part of our history and dead or alive we should be allowed to interrogate them even in the face of Mwamba acting as defence counsel. It’s not news to anyone to hear that ECL was a drunk. Maybe it is for Mwamba but certainly not the Zambian public.



5. Now here’s another fact. I know that Mwamba is still hurting over his dismissal as PS in 2013 an act in which I was instrumental with his full knowledge because I told him so. He understands my character well from that incident. I’d warned him to desist playing tribal politics in his position as a civil servant a piece of advice he didn’t heed.



6. Let me ask Mwamba to invite me on his podcast platform and challenge me on what I state here.

“Trusted PF members of Parliament” who voted for Bill 7

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“Trusted PF members of Parliament” who voted for Bill 7

“Trusted PF members of Parliament” who voted for Bill 7

30 PF MPs who voted for Bill 7

1. BANDA,AckleoI. A. PF Vubwi
2. BANDA, Allen PF Chimwemwe
3. CHALA, Paul PF Chipili
4. CHANDA, Sunday C. PF Kanchibiya
5. CHEWE,Kabwe T. PF Lubansenshi
6. CHIBOMBWE, 7. Leevan PF Bahati
8. CHIBUYE, Christopher PF Mkushi North
9. Simon Banda PF Petauke

10. DAKA, Elias PF Msanzala
11. DAKA,Jonathan PF Chadiza

12. KALIMI,Amb. Robert K. PF Malole

13. KANG’OMBE, Christopher C. PF Kamfinsa

14. KATAMBO, Michael J. Z. PF Masaiti
15.LUBUSHA,AndrewZPF Chipangali
16. LUNGU, Mwaiwanu L. PF Kapoche

17. MPUNDU, Cliff M. PF Chembe

18. MULENGA,Ms KampambaS. PF Kalulushi
19. MUMBA, Anthony C. PF Kantanshi

20. MUNG’ANDU, Davison PF Chama South
21. MUSHANGA, Sydney PF Bwacha
22. MUSONDA, Elias M. PF Chimbamilonga
23. MUSONDA, Emmanuel M. PF Lupososhi


24. MUTALE, Remember PF Chitambo
25. MWALE, Dr Simon PF Nchelenge
26. MWANZA, Dr Aaron Kaumbwe
27. NAKAPONDA,
28. PHIRI, Peter PF Mkaika

29. SHAKAFUSWA, Christopher PF Mandevu

30. TEMBO, Masauso K. PF Sinda

List of  MPs who  Refused to Vote for Bill 7

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List of  MPs who  Refused to Vote for Bill 7

Amb Emmanuel Mwamba writes:

The Silver Lining; They Refused to Vote for Bill 7

The Heroes and Heroines of our mother Zambia who refused to vote for Bill 7

1. Hon Brian Mundubile – Mporokoso
2. ⁠Hon George Chisanga – Lukasha.
3. ⁠Hon Brenda Nyirenda – Lundazi
2. ⁠Hon Pavyuma Kalobo – Wusakile
3. ⁠Hon Kalalwe Mukosa – Chinsali Constituency


4. ⁠Hon Stephen Kapyongo- Shiwangandu
5. ⁠Hon Golden Mwila – Mufulira Central
6. ⁠Hon Anthony Kasandwe – Bangweulu
7. ⁠Hon Julien Nyemba- Chifunabuli


8. ⁠Hon Philimon Twasa – Kasenengwa
9. ⁠Hon Jean Chisenga – Mambilima
10. ⁠Hon Melesiana Phiri – Milanzi
11. ⁠Hon Yotam Mutayachalo – Chama North


12. ⁠Hon Emmanuel Tembo – Feira
13. ⁠ Hon Binwell Mpundu
14. ⁠Hon Jeff Mulebwa – Kafulafuta
15. ⁠Hon Francis Kapyanga- Mpika
16. ⁠Hon Given Katuta – Chiengi
17. ⁠Hon Kabaso Kampampi – Mwansabombwe


18. ⁠Hon Lukas Simumba – Nakonde
19. ⁠Hon Davies Chisopa – Mkushi South
20. Miles Sampa
21. Binwell Mpundu

UPND ADOPTS TIMOTHY KATENGA AS  CHAWAMA PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE

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UPND ADOPTS TIMOTHY KATENGA AS  CHAWAMA PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE

UPND ADOPTS TIMOTHY KATENGA AS  CHAWAMA PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE



The United Party for National Development (UPND) has officially adopted Timothy Katenga as its candidate for the upcoming Chawama parliamentary by-election, scheduled for January 15, 2026.



This decision comes after the seat was declared vacant by Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti, following the continued absence of former MP Tasila Lungu.

Concourt dismisses application for stay of Chawama seat vacancy

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Concourt dismisses application for stay of Chawama seat vacancy

Concourt dismisses application for stay of Chawama seat vacancy!

A full bench of the Constitutional Court has dismissed a renewed application seeking conservatory relief following the declaration of the Chawama parliamentary seat as vacant.

In the matter, constitutional lawyer Tresford Chali petitioned the court to stay the ruling by Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti, who declared the Chawama seat vacant after determining that the Member of Parliament had breached Article 72 of the Constitution of Zambia.

Mr. Chali argued that the Speaker erred in law when she declared the seat, which was previously held by Tasila Lungu, vacant.

However, on 4th December 2025, a single judge declined to grant the stay. The decision has now been upheld by a full bench comprising Judges Arnold Shilimi, Mathew Musunka, Judy Mulongoti, Mudford Mwendanga, and Kenneth Mulife.

The judges ruled that the matter will proceed to be heard on its merits, effectively dismissing the application for conservatory relief.

Following the declaration, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set 16th December 2025 as the nomination date, with the by-election scheduled for 15th January 2025.

Tasila Lungu has been absent from Parliament for over six months, a development linked to the prolonged standoff surrounding the burial of her father, Zambia’s Sixth Republican President, Edgar Lungu.

-Diamond TV

Trump Delays Zambia Health Agreement Until Mining Deal Is Agreed

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Trump Delays Zambia Health Agreement Until Mining Deal Is Agreed

The United States has paused a major health funding agreement with Zambia. The release of $1.5 billion will depend on progress in negotiations on mining cooperation.

According to Trump:

The United States is tired of playing Father Christmas to nations that have shown no reciprocal interest, so it’s strictly business from now on.

Emily Bass writes:

U.S. Delays Zambia Health Agreement as Signing Becomes Contingent on Mining Deal

The US Government has announced that USD$1.5 billion in aid for health will not be released until terms are set for “collaboration in the mining sector” and business sector reforms.1 Up until very recently, the US government planned to sign its Memorandum of Understanding on health funding on December 11th. In a move that surprised many close to the process, that date was abruptly scrapped. Instead, Caleb Orr, a Department of State official in charge of energy and business development traveled to Zambia, met with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, and announced that economic cooperation supersedes, and is a pre-requisite, for health funding.

On one level, this development is unsurprising. As this Stack is rather stuck on, all of the Memoranda of Understanding between the US and foreign countries for future health aid are transactional. All tie health funding to access to markets, data and specimens. In the post prior to this one, I covered how the Rwandan signing followed the signing of an economic accord that the Department of State lauded for unlocking economic potential for America.

But what’s just happened in Zambia is also unprecedented, according to veterans of America global health foreign aid who describe the naked, public bartering of mining concessions for humanitarian aid as “uncharted” and “first of its kind in the world for the Department of State.”

On Monday, the State Department announced that Caleb Orr2, current U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs and President Hichilema had “committed to a plan that aims to unlock a substantial grant package of U.S. support in exchange for collaboration in the mining sector and clear business sector reforms that will drive economic growth and commercial investment that benefit both the United States and Zambia.”

Orr, a lawyer who served as Senior Policy Advisor to Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his time in the US Senate, was following up on the matters that Rubio and President Hichilema discussed during a November 17 phone call3 that took place at almost the same time as the US Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy visit to the country by Brad Smith and Permanent Deputy Assistant Secretary Becky Bunnell. Clearly, that call didn’t finalize terms. Nor did Orr, who said, on Monday, “We look forward to finalizing terms based on clear progress in the coming months.”

That timeline is a red flag for Zambian health programs reliant on continued US support. Like all other countries involved in these negotiations, Zambia has received six months of “Bridge Funding,” covering a period that ends on March 31; the MoUs are a pre-requisite for launching a implementation planning phase that would ensure continuity of services supported by the new funds from April 1 onward. That was a compressed timeframe to begin with; now that the signing date is postponed, it’s going to be even more abbreviated.

It may seem excessive to devote a stack to this one development in a week that’s seen a flurry of signings and developments.4 After all, America has always sought concessions and collateral benefits from its foreign aid investments. US deployment of soft power has always been a means of pursuing national interests. The fact that Trump and his people have big plans for extraction, perhaps even plunder, in the region has been clear for the last few months as the State Department fanned out across countries to pursue these ostensibly-health focused agreements.

It’s also been fairly clear that America was getting more than is even captured in the text of the health-related MoUs, including mineral and ore rights and access. I know of at least one other instance in which signing happened on the basis of agreements related to natural resource sharing that are not included in the public text.

Still, Zambia surfaces the stakes in ways that warrant special recognition.

December 11th 2025—the day the Zambia-US health agreement was not signed as scheduled—marks the moment the curtain fully rose on the Trump Administration’s 21st century scramble for Africa.

Access to the region’s natural resources and markets is central to America’s geopolitical ambitions and strategy, and supercedes every other consideration that has historically motivated health foreign aid including winning hearts and minds, saving lives and shoring up global health security.

The State Department wants everyone to know this. Having clearly established that it feels no obligation to keep the public apprised of its plans, the Department’s public statement about the Zambia terms is a warning and an object lesson to anyone who thinks the way things were is the way they are going to be.

There are officials and policy makers in sub-Saharan African countries who remember when the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief funds in Uganda were ring fenced as essential humanitarian aid—even as the US pursued economic and travel-related sanctions related to the passage of the first Anti-Homosexuality Act. There are officials and policy makers who have lived through decades of continuous US funding that was primarily contingent on performance against stringent metrics and acceptance of the bilateral program structure and approach.

There are people who remember when American aid for global health was not a reward for compliance with a particular capitalist agenda, and when America had a significantly less aggressive and ambitious posture in relation to Africa’s natural resources and economic markets.

Goodbye to all that.

A US official in charge of energy and business interests now controls the timeline for the health agreement, and has let it be known that this timeline could extend past the end of available health funds. There is no way of knowing what triggered the cancellation, but given that came as a surprise, it could be that the Government of Zambia dug in its heels on some terms. Now, everyone knows what the consequences are, if that is indeed what happened.

Holding hands while the walls come tumbling down.

DEMOCRACY IS EXPENSIVE, BUT ISNT THERE A COST-EFFECTIVE WAY OF AMENDING OUR CONSTITUTION?

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DEMOCRACY IS EXPENSIVE, BUT ISNT THERE A COST-EFFECTIVE WAY OF AMENDING OUR CONSTITUTION?

BY Kellys Kaunda

DEMOCRACY IS EXPENSIVE, BUT ISNT THERE A COST-EFFECTIVE WAY OF AMENDING OUR CONSTITUTION?

One of the major reasons we as a country need to be conscious of our public expenditure is that many are the basic necessities we continue to grapple with.



For instance, we needed to ask ourselves a question: did we need to spend money on sending a technical team to go round the country engaging with the public as a way of amending the constitution?



Remember, this was hardly a few months after the Electoral Reform Technical Committee, ERTC, employed a similar methodology to gather public views regarding the electoral process.

In both the ERTC and the Mushabati committee reports, there is nothing substantially new that previous consultative processes never covered.



In fact, if it’s the issue of delimitation, it’s a constitutional requirement that doesn’t need public input!

We have had so many constitutional review exercises, our needs are already contained in the files stored somewhere in government offices.



In the near future, if need arises, just dust those files and lift what has not been addressed yet and take it to parliamentarians to do what they are paid to do.



We gave these men and women our mandate, we can’t suddenly turn around and see them as a danger to our country.

The inflammatory language of politicians and critics is obscuring our sense of objectivity as a people.



Inflammatory language is the currency of politics. But we need to keep our heads cool and steady as a people and avoid getting sucked into partisan politics.

We have a collective responsibility to spend our taxes wisely.



And certainly, this time around, we didn’t exercise responsibility when we pushed for a costly exercise as a way of amending our constitution, an exercise that just ended up reproducing what we already had on government files.

DELIMITATION BILL 7 TO BOOST EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY-MAMBWE

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DELIMITATION BILL 7 TO BOOST EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY-MAMBWE

DELIMITATION BILL 7 TO BOOST EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY-MAMBWE

Lusaka 15th December 2025

By Jack Makayi

The Ministry of Education has welcomed the passage of Bill 7, describing it as a critical governance reform that will significantly enhance education service delivery, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.



Permanent Secretary for Educational Services, Dr. Kelvin Mambwe said the delimitation of overly large constituencies will allow for more equitable and effective utilisation of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), with direct benefits for education infrastructure development.



Dr. Mambwe explained that smaller and more manageable constituencies will be better positioned to prioritise critical education needs, including the construction of additional classrooms, rehabilitation of existing school facilities, and the provision of teacher housing to improve staff retention in underserved areas.



“Delimitation will improve planning, implementation, and monitoring of CDF-supported projects, ensuring timely completion and greater impact on education outcomes, ” he said.



He noted that education infrastructure remains a key determinant of access, quality, and equity in learning, particularly in rural communities where long distances and inadequate facilities continue to affect learner participation and performance.



Dr. Mambwe further stated that the reform is aligned with President Hakainde Hichilema’s vision of decentralised and people-centred service delivery, where decision-making and resource allocation are brought closer to communities.



According to the Permanent Secretary, the redistribution of constituency boundaries will enable public investments in education infrastructure to respond more effectively to local needs, supporting sustainable development in the education sector.



“Delimitation is a practical and equitable governance measure that supports sustainable education development and ensures no learners are left behind, “Dr Mambwe said.



The enactment of Bill 7 comes as Zambia continues to implement wide-ranging education reforms aimed at improving inclusivity, infrastructure, and learning outcomes nationwide.

CIC PRESS TEAM

MISA MOURNS VETERAN BROADCASTER – KENNETH MADUMA

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MISA MOURNS VETERAN BROADCASTER – KENNETH MADUMA

MISA MOURNS VETERAN BROADCASTER – KENNETH MADUMA

LUSAKA 15TH DECEMBER 2025 – MISA Zambia joins the rest of the media fraternity in mourning the passing of Mr. Kenneth Maduma, a veteran broadcaster who served Zambia’s public media for many years.



Mr. Maduma began his career at the Zambia Broadcasting Service (ZBS), now known as the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC). He worked as a broadcaster and later advanced to Director of Programmes at ZNBC. In 2011, he was appointed Deputy Ambassador to Egypt by President Michael Sata; he retired after this diplomatic posting.



His work at ZNBC included news reading and programme direction.

He was known for his clear, iconic voice and sign-off, “One Zambia, One Nation,” which shaped national airwaves for decades, as well as for his unwavering professionalism.


MISA Zambia extends its condolences to the Maduma family and the media fraternity.

May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace

Issued by
MISA Zambia Chairperson
Mrs Lorraine Mwanza Chisanga

“TREAD CAREFULLY OVER BURKINA FASO”- PRESIDENT PUTIN WARNS NIGERIA

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“TREAD CAREFULLY OVER BURKINA FASO”- PRESIDENT PUTIN WARNS NIGERIA

WARNS NIGERIA: “TREAD CAREFULLY OVER BURKINA FASO”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly issued a stark warning to Nigeria amid escalating regional tensions, urging Abuja to proceed with extreme caution in its dealings with Burkina Faso.



According to sources, the Kremlin has made it clear that Burkina Faso now holds major strategic value for Moscow, following deepening military and political ties between the two nations. Any hostile move against Ouagadougou, insiders say, would not go unnoticed in Moscow.

Russia’s influence across the Sahel has grown rapidly, with Burkina Faso emerging as a key ally in a region increasingly turning away from Western powers. The message from the Kremlin is said to be blunt: Burkina Faso is no longer standing alone.

As tensions simmer, analysts warn that the situation could redraw power lines in West Africa, placing Nigeria in a delicate diplomatic position. With global eyes fixed on the Sahel, one misstep could have consequences far beyond the region.

Ghana Man Builds “Noah’s Arks” After Claiming Divine Flood Warning

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Ghana Man Builds “Noah’s Arks” After Claiming Divine Flood Warning

Ghana Man Builds “Noah’s Arks” After Claiming Divine Flood Warning

A man in Ghana 🇬🇭 has gone viral after claiming God warned him of a devastating flood expected in December 2025. Acting on what he describes as a divine message, he has hand-built eight wooden “Noah’s Arks” using traditional tools.



According to him, the instruction was to prepare vessels for families, animals, and anyone who believes. He says he has been working tirelessly, day and night, as curious neighbors look on—some in disbelief, others in quiet support.



While authorities and experts have not confirmed any such flood predictions, the story has sparked widespread debate online about faith, preparedness, and belief, with many praising his dedication and others urging caution.

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