REPORT: BRICS launched a new currency called ‘the Unit,’ which is backed 40% by gold and 60% BRICS national currencies, equally weighted between the Brazilian real, Chinese yuan, Indian rupee, Russian ruble, and South African rand.
The world’s leading emerging markets are searching for a way to ditch the dollar, and the BRICS ‘Unit’ is the first working prototype for a gold-referenced trade currency.
While not yet official policy, its existence is a direct step toward dedollarization and a significant bullish signal for long-term gold demand. The value of the Unit is designed to fluctuate daily in line with movements in the component currencies against gold.
By December 4, market fluctuations had adjusted the value of the reserve basket to 98.23 grams of gold, effectively bringing the Unit’s value to 0.9823 grams of gold per Unit.
Source: Economic Strategies of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger launch $895m regional investment bank
The military-led governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have launched a regional investment bank capitalised at 500 billion CFA francs ($895 million) to finance infrastructure, energy and agricultural projects.
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger established a regional investment bank with 500 billion CFA francs in capital.
The bank aims to fund infrastructure, energy, and agricultural projects using resources from these nations.
Finance ministers highlight the initiative as crucial for economic development and strategic financing.
Approximately 5% of tax revenues from each country will support the bank, reducing dependency on foreign donors.
Actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle Singer were found dead with apparent stab wounds in their Los Angeles home Sunday, according to reports.
The couple was found dead at their home in the 200 block of South Chadbourne Avenue in Brentwood. He was 78, and she was 68.
Los Angeles Police Department authorities were investigating the deaths as a homicide, Variety reported.
“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time,” Reiner’s family said in a statement.
JOHN CENA RETIRES FROM WWE, CELEBRATED BY FAMOUS PALS LIKE TOM BRADY AND JELLY ROLL
JOHN Cena officially retired from professional wrestling last weekend, with the occasion celebrated by the likes of Tom Brady and Jelly Roll.
The 48-year-old star said goodbye to ring after his final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event, facing off against fellow WWE star Gunther.
Cena is the most decorated wrestler in WWE history, so it only makes sense that the GOAT himself Tom Brady send a message.
“Congratulations on an incredible career. You’ve impacted the lives of so many people inside the ring and outside the ring. Good luck in your last match. I hope you fare better in yours than I did in mine,” Brady said in a message played before the competition.
Jelly Roll shared a similar message referencing Cena’s record-breaking 17th WWE World Championship at WrestleMania 41, saying, “John Cena, the legendary, never seen 17. Man, thank you for all these years. Thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for being the role model that we all needed. You deserve this, brother. Congratulations, happy retirement.”
Speaking in the lead up to his retirement match, Cena told “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” that he is serious about never wrestling again.
“It’s weird, there’s a lot of skepticism out there because this has never been done before. I wanted to give people so much lead time – is being able to perform for two decades, people allowing me into their living rooms week after week, 52 weeks a year, no reruns, you do feel a connection with people. I wanted to give people a heads up so people could process whatever closure they wanted for the 13th,” he said.
However, he has confirmed plans to stay involved with the WWE beyond his final match.
Speaking to Tom Rinaldi in an interview for WWE’s YouTube channel, Cena said, “I will be an ambassador to WWE. I’m already signed on for another five years. I was like, ‘Please, as long as you can do it. I would like to be in this family as an employee, as a contributing part for as long as I can.’ “
And Cena is excited to see what the future holds in his new role for the company which launched his career in 2002.
“It’s not my time to perform anymore. I have a bunch of strengths and gifts that I can pass on,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the second mountain of being an ambassador. Maybe ambassadorship comes with letting more people know to watch this, which was my goal in the first place.”
He added, “And maybe mentorship to talent I wouldn’t spend time with where I can sit and be like, ‘Who are you really? How can I get the rapping moment on the bus? I want that guy or girl on TV.’ I’m looking forward to that stuff.”
In 2020, Ulysses Woodard, an African American pastor from Mobile, Alabama, shocked his church community when he shot his wife, Prophetess Alisha Woodard, outside a church after a heated argument. He then shot himself and died, while his wife survived. Alisha Woodard had just preached at True Cornerstone Church in Mobile when her estranged husband, Ulysses, showed up and asked to speak with her. Both were leaders at another church, but had been living apart for about two weeks, according to the Christian Post.
Pastor Derek Scott Gandy, who witnessed the incident, said Ulysses approached him calmly that night and politely asked to talk to Alisha. Gandy agreed and later saw them talking outside. When the conversation became tense, he offered to drive Alisha home but decided not to interfere in what seemed like a private matter.
Moments later, Alisha screamed and ran toward Gandy’s car. Ulysses grabbed her and shot her in the chest before fleeing the scene. Police later found him back at the church parking lot. As officers approached his vehicle, Ulysses shot himself. His car then crashed into the church building.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. Alisha was taken to the hospital and survived.
Church members say she’s a devoted woman of faith and they’re thankful she’s alive. Gandy, a close friend of Ulysses, said he was stunned by the incident.
“I didn’t see this coming… I didn’t see this coming. He wasn’t a monster, at least not that I’ve ever seen,” he said.
The 2020 shooting left the church community shaken, especially since children witnessed the event. They had been considering moving to a new church location to heal from the tragedy.
RAMAPHOSA SUCCESSION SHOCKER! SIX ANC HEAVYWEIGHTS GEAR UP FOR 2027 POWER BATTLE
A quiet but fierce succession storm is brewing inside the ANC as six senior party heavyweights begin manoeuvring to take over from President Cyril Ramaphosa ahead of the explosive 2027 leadership race.
Sources deep inside Luthuli House say the corridors of power are buzzing with whispered campaigns and behind the scenes alliances.
Among the names doing the rounds are Ronald Lamola, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Thoko Didiza, and Paul Mashatile all seen as key contenders as factions regroup for the next showdown.
According to insiders, the real battle may come down to Deputy President Paul Mashatile and ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, who are fast emerging as frontrunners. But in a dramatic twist, President Ramaphosa is said to be quietly throwing his weight behind Thoko Didiza, a move that could upend the balance of power and split the party’s top structures.
With four years to go, the fight for the ANC’s future has already begun and it’s set to be brutal.
GIVEN LUBINDA WELCOMES PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT BY CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI & MILES SAMPA.
PF faction leader Given Lubinda has thanked Chishmba Kambwili his MCC and Miles Sampa for their endorsement as sole presidential candidate in next year’s general elections.
This afternoon ex-convict Chishmba Kambwili and Miles Sampa interpreted the PF constitution at a media briefing that when a party president dies or resigns, the vice president automatically becomes the party president, cementing that as things stand, Given Lubinda is the party president and there is no need to go for party convention as there is no vacancy at party president level.
In cancelling the faction party convention, Kambwili stated that PF had a convention in 2021 saying that in 2025 there cannot be a convention again, especially that he as the party founder has endorsed Lubinda as a sole presidential candidate.
Vox populi, vox Dei — the voice of the people is the voice of God. Yet, according to Archbishop Dr. Alick Banda of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka, it would appear that his voice, rather than that of the people, should be taken as the voice of God.
In his recent statement on the ongoing constitutional reform process, the Archbishop deliberately overlooks a fundamental reality of Zambia’s governance system: that the legitimate representatives of the people are Members of Parliament. By constitutional design, Parliament embodies the will of the people and speaks on their behalf. To dismiss this reality is to dismiss the very democratic framework under which the country operates.
Contrary to the alarmist claims being advanced, there is nothing in Bill 7 that places Zambia in jeopardy. On the contrary, the proposed amendments seek to strengthen governance, improve the constitutional order, and advance the country’s democratic evolution. Far from heralding catastrophe, the Bill is intended to move Zambia forward.
Increasingly, many Zambians are coming to the conclusion that Archbishop Dr. Banda has taken the constitutional reform process as a personal contest. This appears to explain his persistent and solitary inclination to issue dire warnings and messages of impending doom. His apparent hope is that such exaggerated alarm will conjure visions of Armageddon and compel citizens to reject a Bill whose substantive weaknesses he has conspicuously failed to demonstrate.
For this reason, Zambians should treat Archbishop Dr. Banda’s pronouncements with caution. Through his conduct, he has projected himself as an opponent of progress, seemingly driven more by animosity towards President Hakainde Hichilema and the New Dawn Government than by an objective assessment of the national interest. In this regard, the Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi would do well to discern the divisive implications of these interventions and to safeguard the Catholic Church’s long-standing, non-partisan posture.
The Catholic Church in Zambia must not be allowed to fracture under the influence of a few individuals pursuing narrow interests while presenting themselves as champions of social justice. The Church’s mission transcends partisan battles and political vendettas.
Ultimately, the Catholic Church in Zambia is far greater than any single cleric, including Archbishop Dr. Alick Banda. It should not be reduced to a bargaining chip in struggles that lie outside its spiritual mandate and pastoral mission.
About the Author
Fr. Frank Bwalya is a Catholic priest who previously served as President of the Association of Local Clergy in the Diocese of Ndola, now the Archdiocese of Ndola. During his tenure, Archbishop Alick Banda was a member of the association as a priest.
Bill 7 will amplify every Zambian’s voice – Peter Chanda
NEW Congress Party (NCP) leader Peter Chanda has endorsed constitutional amendment of Bill 7, describing it as an opportunity to make Zambia’s political system more inclusive.
Chanda highlighted that smaller political parties and underrepresented groups often struggle to influence decision making under the current system.
He stated that the Bill is designed to ensure designed to ensure that election results reflect the choices of all voters, not just the dominant parties.
Chanda was speaking when he addressed journalists in Lusaka today.
“This legislation is about making sure everyone’s voice is heard, no vote should be wasted or overlooked. Proportional representation will create a level playing field. It allows all citizens, regardless of background or party affiliation to feel that their vote counts,” Chanda said.
He said it is prudent if Members of Parliament approach the Bill with an open mind and the urgency it deserves.
Chanda challenged MPs to also back provisions that improve fairness and inclusivity.
He urged ordinary Zambians to follow the reform process closely, pointing out that a Constitution shaped by the people is the cornerstone of a strong democracy.
“When citizens have a real say in governance, trust in leadership grows, and our democracy becomes stronger,” he said.
Chanda further emphasised the broader impact of the Bill, saying it could transform how Zambians engage with politics and create a more accountable and representative government.
LUBINDA IS PF PRESIDENT – CK , BUT MWAMBA DISAGREES
OUTSPOKEN opposition Patriotc Front (PF) founding member, Chishimba Kambwili, has stirred the party waters by declaring Given Lubinda as the assumed substantive PF President following the demise of Edgar Chagwa Lungu in June this year.
Speaking during a Press briefing in Lusaka this evening, Kambwili wondered why Mr. Lubinda was being tolerant against to other party members who were allegedly undermining his authority as Party President, appealing to him to crack the whip and fire belligerent members.
He claims that according to the Party Constitution, when a substantive Party President dies or resigns as the case was with Mr. Edgar Lungu, the Acting President assumes authority.
Kambwili has urged Lubinda to ensure that he fully exercises his powers and crack the whip against any misbehaving member of the Party.
Meanwhile the former Roan Member of Parliament has single handedly cautioned Kanchibiya Member of Parliament Sunday Chanda against siding with the ruling Party UPND on the controversial Bill 7 as it comes for second reading on Monday. Kambwili said it is shocking that the Kanchibiya MP has all the sudden abandoned the ideology of PF a Party he said accommodated him when he was alleged vulnerable.
Chanda was not available for comment by press time to confirm whether or not he would vote with UPND on Bill 7 in the National Assembly.
However, PF Spokesperson domiciled in the USA, Emmanuel Mwamba has disagreed with Mr. Kambwili saying Mr. Lubinda remains in the Acting capacity.
Mwamba said Mr. Kambwili was offside on grounds that the debate on how one assumes office as party President was already settled under provisions of the PF Constitution in 2014.
THE FAILURE TO REACH AGREEMENT ON BILL 7 IS NOT ABOUT CONTENT OR PROCESS – NEVERS MUMBA
The failure to reach some form of agreement on Bill 7 has very little to do with its content or the process surrounding it.
The truth is that there are deep seated trust issues between the government and the opposition. These issues have developed over time and have been shaped by various events and experiences under both the current and previous administrations. What we are witnessing is a classic case of political rivalry taking precedence over national dialogue and ultimately preventing national consensus at all costs.
To illustrate this point, even if the government were to announce that a major earthquake was imminent and that residents of a particular district needed to be evacuated, I am certain the opposition would neither believe nor support such an announcement. Instead, they would argue that the government was attempting to seize land under false pretenses.
This same dynamic plays out across many national issues where we fail to resolve what should be relatively simple differences in opinion.
At this stage, there is nothing either side can say to convince the other on the issue of Bill 7. We can debate the content and the process for another ten years and I still do not see us reaching agreement.
As a mature democracy, we must reach a point where we respectfully agree to disagree and allow the legislature to make the final determination.
GOVERNMENT DISMISSES SOCIAL MEDIA LIST ON CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT BILL No.7
Chief Government Spokesperson and Information Minister Cornelius Mweetwa has urged the public to dismiss a list circulating on social media alleging that 22 Members of Parliament will vote in favour of Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka, Mr. Mweetwa described the list as political propaganda, emphasizing that Members of Parliament have the constitutional right to vote freely on the bill.
He explained that Bill No. 7 has attracted diverse views following a wide consultation process and reassured citizens that the legislation will not be forced upon them.
Mr. Mweetwa further highlighted that the proposed amendments are designed to enhance representation of women, young people, and persons living with disabilities in Parliament, strengthening inclusivity in Zambia’s democratic framework.
POLICE WARN OVER PLANNED DISRUPTIONS AT PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS TOMORROW
Zambia Police Service has received intelligence indicating that some individuals intend to disrupt proceedings at the Parliament Buildings and surrounding areas tomorrow, Monday, 15 December 2025.
Police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi indicated that there are also signs some Members of Parliament and other individuals are being targeted for harassment.
He affirmed that the police are charged with the responsibility to maintain law and order, protect life and property, and perform other functions as stipulated under Article 193(2) of the Constitution of Zambia.
Chilabi noted that the Zambia Police Service has implemented operational security measures across all identified areas to uphold public order.
He warned would-be perpetrators that the police would not tolerate any acts of lawlessness.
Chilabi emphasised that anyone found engaging in unlawful activities will be dealt with firmly, in accordance with the law.
He advised members of the public who wish to express concerns or grievances to do so through legally established and lawful procedures.
POLICE RELEASE KASONDE MWENDA AFTER BILL 7 PROTEST Opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) President Kasonde Mwenda has been released from Police custody after being detained for staging a protest against the controversial Bill 7 being advanced by the Government.
Mr. Kasonde was detained last Friday together with party Spokesperson Suzyo Mbale and Trustee Ednah Ngoma after protesting against Bill 7 at Parliament.
The trior was released from Police custody on Sunday afternoon after being charged with conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
”We are out. We were detained at Lusaka Central Police. We paid admission of guilty after being charged for conduct likely to cause breach of peace. We were arrested despite the same Police granting us a permit to protest,” Mr. Kasonde told Radio Icengelo News by phone on Sunday evening.
He vowed to continue opposing Bill 7 which was recently taken back to Parliament by the Government.
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, Mr Kasonde said:”Thank you all that stood with us during our 3 days incarceration at Lusaka Central Police Station by this shameless Ruthless UPND regime and hypocritical leader who lies with a straight face that he respects the law when infact not.”
”On Friday, we had the permit but the same police he sent to arrest us are the same ones who gave us the permit. We did no wrong. We won’t give up. We forgive but won’t forget. Zambia remains a democracy and our rights will be respected at all cost. Evil bill 7 must fall.WhereverWherever we want to go our feet will take us,” Mr. Mwenda wrote.
“Explosive Claims Shake South Africa: Allegations Emerge of Apartheid-Era Plot to Use HIV Against Black People”
A disturbing and highly controversial story is trending after new allegations surfaced claiming that elements within the apartheid government may have explored using HIV/AIDS as a weapon against Black South Africans.
The claims are reportedly contained in a recently published book that revisits South Africa’s dark apartheid history, including secret military and chemical warfare programmes. According to the allegations, rogue scientists and security operatives linked to the apartheid state allegedly discussed or investigated ways to weaponise disease, including HIV, as part of broader efforts to suppress the Black majority.
It is important to note: 🔴 These claims are allegations, not yet confirmed by courts, official inquiries, or newly released state archives. 🔴 No scientific body has proven that HIV was created or deliberately released to target Black people.
🔴 However, apartheid South Africa did run secret biological and chemical warfare projects, such as the notorious Project Coast, which targeted Black activists and neighbouring states — a fact confirmed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
The story has reignited deep anger, pain, and mistrust, especially because: • Black South Africans were systematically denied quality healthcare under apartheid • HIV later devastated Black communities disproportionately • Government HIV denialism in the early 2000s cost hundreds of thousands of lives
Many South Africans are now calling for: 👉 Full access to classified apartheid-era records 👉 Independent investigations into biological warfare allegations 👉 Honest public discussion about historical medical abuse 👉 Accountability where crimes against humanity are proven
Experts warn that while these allegations must be investigated seriously, spreading unverified claims without evidence can also fuel fear, stigma, and misinformation, especially around HIV testing and treatment.
The truth matters. If crimes were committed, South Africans deserve answers. If claims are exaggerated or false, the public deserves clarity — not silence.
This story reminds us that apartheid’s legacy is not just political or economic — it is also psychological, medical, and generational.
🗣️ What do you think? Should government open all apartheid-era files and allow independent investigators to examine these claims?
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office has confirmed that the explosive interim report of the Madlanga Commission will remain under wraps when it is delivered on 17 December, sparking fresh outrage and claims of a high-level cover-up.
The decision comes amid mounting allegations that organised crime has deeply penetrated South Africa’s political, policing and judicial institutions. Sources close to the commission say the interim findings point to the alleged capture of key state structures by powerful criminal networks.
At the centre of the storm is suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who is accused of disbanding the elite PKTT unit in a move allegedly designed to block the arrest of so-called “Big Five Cartel” kingpins, including Katiso Molefe and controversial businessman Cat Matlala.
Critics argue that keeping the report secret undermines transparency and public trust, especially given the seriousness of the claims. With the country gripped by rising crime and political tension, pressure is mounting on the Presidency to explain why South Africans are being denied access to findings that could shake the foundations of the state.
🔥🇿🇲 EVENING WIRE | Bill 7 Showdown Looms as Political Temperature Hits Boiling Point
Lusaka enters the night bracing for a decisive Monday as Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 heads for its Second Reading in Parliament, with political actors across the spectrum hardening positions and mobilising narratives in what is shaping up to be one of the most charged constitutional moments since 2016.
On the government side, confidence is unmistakable. Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has declared that Bill 7 is not in danger, insisting the proposed amendments will “usher in a new constitutional framework” that expands inclusion for women, youth and underrepresented groups.
“We are not going to lose this Bill,” Mweetwa said, dismissing opposition resistance as politically motivated noise rather than substantive constitutional objection. The government’s arithmetic is formidable.
UPND controls 87 elected MPs and 10 nominated MPs, giving it 97 seats before counting allied independents. Parliamentary sources indicate that at least five to seven independent MPs are aligned with government, alongside a reported bloc of PF MPs estimated between 14 and 16 who are expected to break ranks.
In raw numbers, the pathway to the two-thirds threshold appears open.
Confidence has also emboldened voices outside the ruling party as well. National Congress Party leader Peter Chanda publicly endorsed Bill 7, arguing that proportional representation provisions would finally give smaller parties and marginalised voters a stake in national decision-making.
“No vote should be wasted or overlooked,” Chanda said, framing the Bill as a corrective to a system long dominated by major parties.
The Human Rights Commission has also entered the fray, describing Bill 7 as “progressive” and a potential “game-changer” if implemented fairly, particularly through the proposed hybrid electoral system combining First-Past-The-Post and Mixed Member Proportional Representation.
Opposition resistance, however, has shifted from contesting clauses to contesting legitimacy. Patriotic Front heavyweights Brian Mundubile and Stephen Kapyongo have condemned the process as illegal, arguing that Parliament is defying court pronouncements. Mundubile announced that PF MPs will boycott Monday’s Second Reading, warning that participation could expose them to contempt proceedings.
“Proceeding with this Bill is open defiance of the rule of law,” Mundubile said, accusing President Hakainde Hichilema of using delimitation to manage internal UPND succession battles and weaken independent candidates.
PF-aligned platforms have circulated lists of MPs, urging citizens to pressure them ahead of the vote, further escalating tensions.
Outside Parliament, pressure campaigns have intensified. Citizens First leader Harry Kalaba issued a sweeping appeal to MPs to vote “with conscience,” casting the Bill as a generational decision rather than a partisan one.
The Socialist Party and other extra-parliamentary formations continue to mobilise against Bill 7, despite lacking representation in the House, amplifying street-level rhetoric and social media agitation as their primary leverage.
As the night unfolds, another political front is opening. The Patriotic Front is holding a press conference at the time of writing, with reports indicating fresh internal manoeuvres over leadership and convention plans.
Chishimba Kambwili has already declared that “Given Lubinda is President of the Patriotic Front” and suggested internal elections are unnecessary, a statement that underlines the depth of PF’s internal fracture. This story, PF insiders say, will demand fuller scrutiny in the coming days.
What is clear this evening is that Bill 7 has become more than a constitutional amendment. It is now a referendum on power, numbers, and political maturity.
With the House poised to sit tomorrow, Zambia stands on the edge of a defining parliamentary moment, one where arithmetic, not slogans, will ultimately decide the outcome.
Hon.Given Lubinda is PF President, No Need for Internal Elections-Chishimba Kambwili
“From today on, Hon. Given Lubinda is President of the Patriotic Front. He is not Acting President”-Chishimba Kambwili.
“When the President dies, the Vice President takes over”
“As far as the PF Constitution is concerned Hon. Given Lubinda is President and we don’t even need to hold PF elections. You are lucky and fortunate that he is subjecting himself to an election of a flag bearer.”
MPs Must Listen to the Voice of God and NOT Personal Interest-Lusaka Archdiocese
●”Constitution of Zambia belongs to the people of Zambia. But this time around the government has at its own behest solely initiated an illegal constitutional amendment process which is aimed at consolidating and perpetuating government rule.”
●”The decisions made in this moment will mark a huge structural shift in the nation’s political history and will echo through generations, shaping the destiny of Zambia in unprecedented ways and manner.
●We also pray for our Members of Parliament,that they may discern wisely, listen to the voice of God, and remember that they are servants of the people, and not of self- and personal interest
Dear beloved brothers and sisters in Christ and all citizens of good will.
Zambia stands at a watershed moment of history in its political trajectory.
In the third week of Advent of the year 2025 and in particular on Monday, December 15, 2025, our Members of Parliament will gather in a special sitting to deliberate on the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 7, a proposal that seeks to amend the Constitution of the Republic.
The Constitution of Zambia belongs to the people of Zambia. But this time around tho government has at its own behest solely initiated an illegal constitutional amendment process which is aimed at consolidating and perpetuating government rule.
The decisions made in this moment will mark a huge structural shift in the nation’s political nistory and will echo through generations, shaping the destiny of Zambia or unprecedented ways and manner.
We, therefore, call upon all the faithful and people of goodwill to urge their Members of Parliament, within their respective constituencies, to act with prudence and refrain from any actions that could place our nation in jeopardy.
We further ask the faithful and all people of good will to join us in prayer for our beloved country, Zambia, that the spirit of peace, unity, and justice may prevail. We also pray for our Members of Parliament,that they may discern wisely, listen to the voice of God, and remember that they are servants of the people, and not of self- and personal interest.
We pray that the deliberations of the members of parliament on this score may be guided by humility, integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility, knowing that posterity will judge the choices they make today.
In this regard we pray for the Holy Spirit to inspire our MPs to uphold the dignity of every Zambian, protect the vulnerable, and strengthen the bonds of our national family.
As the Archdiocese of Lusaka, we remind our leaders that true leadership is service, and service must always be rooted in love, justice, and truth.
May the Lord bless Zambia, guide her leaders, and grant wisdom to all who carry the weight of this sacred responsibility.
Canada joins US in warning travellers about safety risks in South Africa
Canada has issued a heightened travel advisory for South Africa, citing widespread violent crime, kidnapping risks, and increased danger in urban centres, on major roads, and near airports, particularly after dark.
The advisory warns Canadian travellers to exercise extreme caution, with incidents such as armed robberies, hijackings, express kidnappings, and assaults occurring frequently. Both locals and tourists are targeted, the advisory notes.
Road travel remains a major concern. Criminals have been known to stop motorists using tactics like scattering nails on highways or impersonating police officers, particularly along high‑risk routes outside major cities. Airport precincts are also considered unsafe, with reports of travellers being followed and robbed after leaving terminals.
Canadian authorities urge citizens to stick to well-known routes, travel during daylight hours, secure accommodation in safe areas, and keep valuables out of sight.
This warning echoes those from other international governments, including the United States and China.
While South Africa remains a popular destination for tourists, the Canadian advisory serves as a reminder that caution and preparation are essential for those travelling across the country.
BILL 7 IS FORWARD-LOOKING, WILL DEEPEN WOMEN AND YOUTH PARTICIPATION – MWEETWA
Lusaka — United Party for National Development (UPND) Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has described the proposed Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 as a transformative and forward-looking piece of legislation that will enhance the participation of women, youth, and other marginalized groups in national decision-making.
Addressing a press conference at the UPND Anderson Kambela Mazoka House in Lusaka today, Mr. Mweetwa said Parliament’s determination of Bill No. 7 tomorrow would mark a historic milestone, as it would for the first time pave the way for the majority of Zambians to meaningfully participate in governance.
Mr. Mweetwa expressed concern over what he termed the opposition’s persistent resistance to the Bill, accusing them of adopting a naysayer stance despite the progressive nature of the proposed amendments. He emphasized that the ongoing constitutional amendment process was not imposed by the UPND, but rather emerged from broad consensus among Members of Parliament.
He dismissed claims that the ruling party was relying on its numerical strength to push the Bill through Parliament, arguing instead that the Bill’s passage would be based on its merit.
“The proposed amendments will succeed because they are progressive and respond to the needs of the Zambian people,” Mr. Mweetwa said.
The UPND Spokesperson further criticized opponents of Bill No. 7 for failing to provide clear, objective arguments identifying specific clauses they consider problematic, describing such opposition as chauvinistic and politically motivated.
Mr. Mweetwa highlighted several provisions he said deserved national support, including constituency delimitation, the clear definition of a child, the introduction of proportional representation, the requirement for ministers to vacate office upon the dissolution of Parliament, and reforms allowing traditional leaders to elect their representatives to the House of Chiefs.
He also cited the proposed clarification on the hearing and determination of presidential petitions, as well as the increase in representation for persons with disabilities in Parliament, as reforms that should be embraced by all well-meaning Zambians.
Mr. Mweetwa stressed that the process of submitting views on Bill No. 7 remained open to all stakeholders, cautioning critics against opposing the Bill solely for political reasons.
He dismissed as “wishful thinking” allegations that the UPND had bribed 22 parliamentarians to support the Bill, stating that the authority to amend the Constitution rests within the privileges and immunities granted to lawmakers.
Mr. Mweetwa concluded by urging Members of Parliament to place the interests of the people first as they deliberate on the proposed constitutional amendment Bill, saying their decision would shape Zambia’s democratic future.
The world’s richest man, Elon Musk says he wants to end poverty in Africa with Starlink.
.
According to him, his satellite internet company, Starlink, is already making a real difference by bringing reliable internet to places that never had it before.
Musk said many schools and hospitals across the continent previously had no internet at all, or had access that was slow, unreliable, and too expensive.
But with Starlink, these institutions can now connect to the world more easily. He believes this kind of access to information, education, and communication can help people improve their lives faster than traditional aid efforts.
In his words, expanding internet access through Starlink could reduce poverty in Africa more than the combined work of many non-governmental organizations.
After thoroughly understanding the famous Bill No. 7, which UPND has rushed to give to the people of Zambia without proper explanation, I have found the issue very concerning.
As a Politician and Vice President of ULP with a good understanding of Constitutional law, the issue is simple and straightforward. The people of Zambia should understand that this Bill is a poison to the nation as it has been declared a Nulity by the Concourt the highest Court in the Land on Constitutional matters.
The Judgment from the Constitutional Court is clear and can not be debated in Parliament as it is illegal, the Attorney General has been engaging the Court to vacate this same Judgement. If it was acceptable before Dark ament why would the AG file to Vacate the Judgement? This Judgement as ruled by Concourt clearly shows that Bill No. 7 of 2025 is a nullity, meaning it does not exist in the eyes of the law.
By going against this court ruling, UPND would be showing that it does not respect the rule of law. The judgment is there in black and white and we stand with LAZ and OASIS Forum and other stakeholders as we Further request and appeal to MPs to ensure this Bill does not go through.
Issued by
Chisala Kasakula Vice President United Liberal Party. ULP a member of we’re One Zambia Alliance (WOZA)
The Great Polish Reverse Migration: A Story of Economic Transformation
The numbers tell a remarkable story: 25,000 Polish nationals returned home in the year ending June 2024, while only 7,000 arrived in the UK—a net outflow of 18,000 people. After two decades that saw over 800,000 Poles make Britain their home, the tide has turned dramatically. Many cite Poland’s booming economy, lower tax rates (with a top bracket of 32% compared to the UK’s 45%), and improved quality of life as reasons for their return.
What’s driving this shift? Is it purely economic, or are there deeper cultural and social factors at play? Could this trend signal a broader pattern of reverse migration as emerging economies continue to develop?
We’d love to hear your perspective: What do you think makes people choose to return to their home countries after years abroad? Have you experienced this decision yourself or know someone who has?
Opposition New Congress Party President Peter Chanda has backed Constitution Amendment Bill Number 7 of 2025, saying the proposed law will enhance proportional representation and strengthen Zambia’s democratic governance system.
Mr. Chanda said the Bill presents an opportunity to broaden political participation by ensuring that votes cast by citizens are more accurately reflected in the composition of Parliament and other representative bodies.
He told journalists that proportional representation will help address long-standing concerns of voter disenfranchisement, particularly for smaller political parties and marginalised groups whose voices are often excluded under the current electoral framework.
Mr. Chanda added that the proposed amendments will promote inclusivity and fairness in the electoral process, thereby deepening Zambia’s democracy.
He has since called on Members of Parliament to objectively scrutinise the Bill and support provisions that seek to modernise the country’s constitutional and electoral systems in the interest of all Zambians.
Mr. Chanda further urged citizens to engage constructively in the constitutional reform process, emphasising that a people-driven Constitution remains key to sustainable democratic development.
The wise from the religious, traditional, civic, and intellectual leadership of our country have spoken. They said everything or almost everything that needed to be said about Mr Hakainde Hichilema’s unyielding determination to amend the Constitution.
In politics, one must not be too stiff-necked, too harsh and unyielding.In politics, and in life in general, yielding is legitimate and essential in two cases: when the yielder is convinced that those who are striving to make him yield are in the right (in which case, honest political leaders frankly and openly admit their mistake), or when an irrational and harmful demand is yielded to in order to avert a greater evil.
Mr Hichilema has failed to learn to listen. When a leader stops listening, he stops leading. In politics, unyielding and arrogance don’t show strength; they actually signal a decline. Soon, Mr Hichilema will realise that ignoring people’s demands and criticism isn’t strategy — it’s self-sabotage. Listening and yielding to people’s legitimate demands and criticism is strength and wisdom, not a weakness.
Over reliance on power doesn’t just corrupt — it isolates. Good leadership depends on the courage to hear and yield to what’s uncomfortable. When decisions on very important national issues like the Constitution are made in isolation, failure is a matter of time.
Mweo wa muntu, waba mu kutwi – the life of a person is in the ear. One who is willing to listen avoids a lot of trouble.
Cula cintomfwa, apulikila mulemba mu kutwi – the frog who did not listen burst his ear drum. The unheeding person comes to grief.
Icikutilwe tacumfwa ndibu – an idiot does not hear the warning bell. A senseless person does not heed good advice.
Amano uli weka, tayashinguluka ulukobo – alone, your brain is not a sufficient source of knowledge. Even if you are intelligent, you can’t always know everything and still need other people’s knowledge or insights. It’s not too late to yield.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
Dear beloved brothers and sisters in Christ and all citizens of good will,
Zambia stands at a watershed moment of history in its political trajectory. In the third week of Advent of the year 2025 and in particular on Monday, December 15, 2025, our Members of Parliament will gather in a special sitting to deliberate on the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 7, a proposal that seeks to amend the Constitution of the Republic.
The Constitution of Zambia belongs to the people of Zambia. But this time around the government has at its own behest solely initiated an illegal constitutional amendment process which is aimed at consolidating and perpetuating government rule. The decisions made in this moment will mark a huge structural shift in the nation’s political history and will echo through generations, shaping the destiny of Zambia in unprecedented ways and manner.
We, therefore, call upon all the faithful and people of goodwill to urge their Members of Parliament, within their respective constituencies, to act with prudence and refrain from any actions that could place our nation in jeopardy. We further ask the faithful and people of good will to join in prayer for our beloved country, Zambia, that the spirit of peace, unity and justice may prevail.
We also pray for our Members of Parliament, that they may discern wisely, listen to the voice of God, and remember that they are servants of the people, and not of self- and personal interest. We pray that the deliberations of the members of parliament on this score may be guided by humility, integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility, knowing that posterity will judge the choices they make today. In this regard we pray for the Holy Spirit to inspire our MPs to uphold the dignity of every Zambian, protect the vulnerable, and strengthen the bonds of our national family.
As the Archdiocese of Lusaka, we remind our leaders that true leadership is service, and service must always be rooted in love, justice, and truth.
May the Lord bless Zambia, guide her leaders, and grant wisdom to all who carry the weight of this sacred responsibility.
Issued by: Archdiocese of Lusaka 13th December 2025
WE’LL AMEND SOME CLAUSES IN BILL 7 TO ADDRESS CONCERNS – GOVT
MINISTER of Justice Princess Kasune has submitted that government has taken note of stakeholders’ concerns on some clauses of Bill 7, including those on by-elections, and that amendments will be made at an appropriate time.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Justice Permanent Secretary Mwenya Bwalya says there is no obligation to make the ECZ delimitation report public.
Appearing before the Select Committee on Bill 7, chaired by Imanga Wamunyima, Friday evening, Kasune said government took note of the valuable contributions made by various stakeholders on the proposed amendment to keep by-elections, and necessary amendments would be taken at an appropriate time.
“My committee, my ministry, I should say, has taken note of the committee’s observations and stakeholder submissions on the National Assembly Bill Number 7 which we are all looking at. We would therefore like to address some of the issues that have been raised during your sittings as a committee. One, the proposed provision on by-elections will result in a political party imposing an individual on electorates and therefore undermining the people’s democratic right to choose their elected representative. Chair, I have to say that we, as a ministry on behalf of the Zambian government, the Executive, have taken note of the valuable contribution that has been made by the various stakeholders on the proposed amendment to keeping the by-elections. Because of this, we are saying we will be making necessary amendments in due course at the appropriate time. I should make sure I say that,” she said.
“Secondly, the issue concerning which has been raised around the dissolution of Parliament a day before the general elections, citing that members of Parliament will not have a level playing field with candidates who intend to contest for the seats, as well as others citing a failure of receiving nomination for those who are still holding seats in the National Assembly. This also, Chair and the committee, we have noted the concern that has been raised, and we are also saying this also, Chair, shall be revisited and we will revise the provision accordingly”.
Kasune added that concerns about the ambiguity of the words ‘Proportional Representation Ballot Paper’ in clause 3 of the amendment to article 47 would be addressed to make it simple to understand.
“The third issue, Chair, that I would want to also add is whether the words of ‘Proportional Representation Ballot Paper’ in clause 3 of the amendment to article 47 is ambiguous. This has been another concern, and I want to say to the committee the aim of the legislation is to make the law simple to understand. The proposed provisions speak to the process being prescribed, which will entail a separate ballot for proportional representation or a ballot that the Electoral Commission of Zambia would choose to use for the proportional representation. Notwithstanding that, again to the Committee, we have noted the concern, and we will be making necessary amendments at an appropriate time,” she said.
“Chair, it remains here now for me to say once again we remain indebted to this able parliamentary select committee and trust that the valuable submissions received by the committee will enrich the provision of the Constitution for the benefit of the people of Zambia. Based on the foregoing, therefore, I urge this committee to fully support the constitutional amendment of Bill No. 7 of 2025 so as to ensure that we have an electoral system that is inclusive and diverse and indeed that development reaches all parts of Zambia equally”.
Furthermore, the Justice Minister said government was of the view that the proposal to include MPs in councils had been misunderstood, adding that the question on conflict of interest could be refuted by the fact that councils are administratively led by council secretaries and not councillors.
“Another issue, Chair and the committee, a proposition to amend clause 16 of the Bill which proposes to amend Article 153 to include members of Parliament in the council is seen as against the spirit of separation of power and the principle of conflict of interest due to members of Parliament sitting on the Parliamentary Accounts Committee, for example, and indeed others. Here also is our response: this amendment, Chair and the committee, has been misunderstood. A member of Parliament is held responsible when development, and in particular the hallmark programme of the UPND under the new dawn government through the able leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema, which we know is CDF is not executed. The member of Parliament is the one held responsible,” argued Kasune
“This is because the member of Parliament provides oversight on how the projects are implemented. The question on conflict of interest can be refuted by the fact that the council is administratively led by the council secretaries, our CSs, as we most of us know from our constituencies, and not the councillors. Further, councillors merely provide policy direction in the council as elected representatives, whereas technocrats implement the decision. So with that, Chair and indeed the committee, we feel that that will not apply as it relates to conflict of interest. The other point on the same issue, the question that the provisions are against the spirit of separation of power, is refuted by the fact that the member of Parliament sitting in the council will not affect the decision of the Executive as a member of Parliament has a distinctive role in the National Assembly as prescribed by the Constitution”.
And Bwalya responded to a point of clarification by member Jonathan Daka on when the ECZ delimitation report would be made public, saying there was no obligation to make the report public.
“The concern has been noted with respect to the delimitation report as was indicated by the ECZ. The report was submitted to the Executive, and that was the basis of the numbers that we came up with. When you look at Article 58 it does not say a report shall be published in the gazette, it says the names and details of the boundaries are what will be published, and they will take effect after the next dissolution of Parliament. So there is no obligation that provides for a report [to be made public]. Once the amendments do go through, if this Honourable House is agreeing on the proposed number or any additional number, the requisite details will be published, which will definitely take effect after the dissolution of Parliament,” responded Bwalya.
PEOPLE’S PACT WARNS TONSE ALLIANCE MAY COLLAPSE OVER PF INFIGHTING
The People’s Pact has warned that opposition political parties under the Tonse Grand Alliance may withdraw from the coalition ahead of next year’s elections if the Patriotic Front (PF) fails to resolve its internal disputes.
Pact Chairperson Peter Sinkamba says the parties have exercised maximum patience, hoping the PF would stabilize and allow progress toward forming a unified alliance, which has not been the case.
In an interview with Phoenix News, Mr. Sinkamba says the TONSE Alliance intends to field a joint presidential candidate for the 2026 general elections, stressing that with only a few months remaining before the polls, there is an urgent need to finalize the process.
Mr. Sinkamba notes that the Pact is working within a strict timeframe to ensure all modalities are concluded in time for next year’s elections.
SHUT UP AND FOCUS ON WORKERS PLIGHT, PF MPS BLAST ZCTU
SHIWANG’ANDU PF MP Stephen Kampyongo has advised ZCTU president Blake Mulala to focus on discussing the plight of workers and not politics, stating that he is focusing on the wrong issues.
Meanwhile, Mpika PF MP Francis Kapyanga says it is disrespectful for Mulala to tell Members of Parliament that they should ensure Bill 7 is enacted because MPs only listen to their electorates, not union leaders.
And Kaputa UPND MP Elvis Nkandu says the support that Bill 7 has received from labour unions indicates that it is a Bill that is worth enacting into law.
On Thursday, Mulala urged Members of Parliament to ensure that Bill 7 was enacted into law, warning that workers would deal with them if they failed to do so.
In an interview, Friday, Kampyongo questioned why the labour unions were supporting Bill 7, arguing that it was only meant to benefit politicians.
“He shouldn’t misuse the trust workers have placed in him to represent them to politick. He’s straying into a wrong area, that’s not his area. Who is he to even talk to us honourable members? We know the people that have given us the work we are doing as their representatives, so let him shut up if he has got nothing to say about the plight of his workers. Right now, the unemployed doctors are downing tools, and that will pose a risk to people’s lives. That’s what Mulala should be talking about. What is in Bill 7 that is meant to uplift the welfare of workers, if I may ask him? That’s a shallow way of looking at things,” Kampyongo noted.
“Let him not come into the area he doesn’t belong. We have always advised him not to join politics. If he wants to join politics, let him hang up his labour position. He is the wrong chap to advise us. He’s just a corrupt representative, a morally corrupt representative of the workers, that’s all he is, because if he was a well-grounded union leader whose responsibility is to represent the workers, he should have been talking about how workers have been stressed with this load-shedding that they’ve been enduring, how they’ve had to adjust their budget to buy charcoal. Those are the things that should concern him. Are they able to earn a living from their labour? Those are the things he should be talking about”.
Kampyongo stressed that Mulala should focus on negotiating better salaries and conditions of service for the workers.
“How is he negotiating with the Emoluments Commission to ensure that the workers are not stressed? You have seen public servants such as teachers in different areas taking their lives because of failing to cope with hardships. Let him speak for the people that have trusted him to represent them, the labour, the workers, who are stressed in so many ways. He knows how difficult it is now for people, either in the public service or private service, to earn a living, to make ends meet, to put food on the table. He may be having three square meals because of the contributions of his members and the tokens he’s getting for being a praise singer, but people are stressed,” said Kampyongo.
“Look at the price of essential commodities and the cost of the food basket, staple food, mealie-meal, what’s the price? How is that commensurate to the people’s meagre salaries which have seen either non-adjustment or little adjustments which cannot match the inflation rate? Those are things that should preoccupy a labour leader, not politicking to praise those that are in authority. It’s the first time we are seeing this kind of labour and union politics, the very first time in this country, where unions would cluster themselves to go and just talk about politics. In whose interest? They’ve gotten it wrong. Actually, those are the fellows who need to be voted out by the workforce”.
Meanwhile, Kapyanga argued that Bill 7 did not serve the interests of workers, which raised questions as to why they were supporting the Bill.
“The current leadership of the labour movement in Zambia just represents their interest; they no longer represent the interests of the workers. Even when he was speaking, he was just speaking for himself and he has no locus standi to warn members of parliament. That was disrespectful. Members of parliament get instructions from their electorates on how they should proceed regarding a particular matter in the House. In this case, the issues of Bill 7. We’ve been consulting our electorates in our respective constituencies and according to them, they say they’ve not been consulted on Bill 7, and even when the government purported to be consulting, the submissions that they got from the people have not been incorporated in coming up with a new Bill,” said Kapyanga.
“Even the platform from which he was speaking, if there was any genuineness, he was going to speak from his office, flanked by workers themselves. But how can workers be interested in Bill 7, which does not serve their interests? The workers’ interests have not been served in Bill 7 because the Bill of Rights is not part of Bill 7. Two, this same labour movement has failed to fight for the rights of its own workers. Currently, workers get peanuts in terms of salaries, their conditions of service are pathetic. Under the economic hardships, workers are still getting peanuts, they cannot even afford to pay rent. What is he even talking about? He only talks loudly when he’s supporting the government. He was not representing the interests of the workers because Bill 7 has no Bill of Rights, the positions in Bill 7 are all for politicians”.
However, Nkandu noted that Bill 7 would help the country strengthen its democracy.
“This is a plus because we have so many workers in this country that have perused that particular Bill and for them, it is worth supporting, which is very encouraging. It means that government is to some extent being vindicated that what we have put on the table is something that will help develop this country, it’s something that will also help democracy grow in this country. I’m very excited that the workers have also put pressure on us as members of parliament to do the needful,” said Nkandu.
“It is important that we look at the bigger picture of what we intend to do as a country, and I believe that Bill 7 really contains something that will help democracy grow, that will also help this country develop, and how best decentralisation can also match with the matching resources, especially to us who are in rural areas. We need that development, we need that money. I believe that what the workers have said is something that needs to be appreciated because they do understand what is in there. If there was something that would hinder the progress of our democracy, that would hinder development, obviously they would have come out. I know they have perused that Bill and they are okay with that”.
GUEST ARTICLE: THE MATHEMATICS OF POWER: HOW BILL 7 RISKS MAKING US BAD ANCESTORS
by Dr Mwewa
Bill 7 is often sold as reform, but mathematics is stubborn. Numbers do not clap at rallies; they accumulate quietly and present the bill to our children with.
Each new Member of Parliament costs about K80,000 per month, or K960,000 per year. That is before sitting allowances, gratuity, fuel, security, and travel. Democracy is not cheap, but careless arithmetic is expensive.
Add five staff per MP. Even at a conservative K6,000 per staff member, that is K30,000 monthly, or K360,000 annually per MP. Representation multiplies bureaucracy before it multiplies service.
Office operations—rent, utilities, internet, fuel, stationery—rarely fall below K20,000 per month. That is another K240,000 per year per MP, just to keep the lights on and doors open.
Now add vehicles. At USD 80,000 per MP, one car alone exceeds USD 16 million if 200 MPs are considered. Converted, that is billions of kwacha driven before a single pothole is fixed.
Per MP, excluding cars and gratuity, the conservative annual bill easily crosses K1.5 million. Multiply that by expanded seats, then multiply again by five years. The sum stops being abstract and starts looking like a hospital wing that never got built.
Gratuity waits patiently at the end of the term, like a shadow debt. It does not forgive; it arrives in a lump sum, exactly when the Treasury is weakest and excuses are loudest.
Now place these numbers next to deferred loans, postponed repayments, and renegotiated obligations. Deferral is not forgiveness; it is inheritance. What we delay today, our children will service tomorrow.
African wisdom warns us: a bad ancestor is one who eats the seed and leaves the shell for the unborn. Bill 7 risks turning leadership into consumption and posterity into collateral.
Philosophy asks a harder question: are we governing for efficiency, or engineering comfort for those already seated? Mathematics answers without emotion—this comfort is financed by future restraint.
Theology reminds us that stewardship is judgment-sensitive. Scripture does not condemn power; it condemns waste, pride, and blindness to consequence. الحساب comes even when applause is loud.
History is cruel to leaders who confuse urgency with wisdom. Nations rarely collapse from rebellion; they suffocate under compounded decisions that looked small at inception.
If Bill 7 passes without fiscal honesty, Zambia may gain seats but lose moral standing. We will have spoken loudly today and forced tomorrow to whisper in debt.
One day, our children will audit us. They will not ask how clever our arguments were. They will ask why, knowing the numbers, we still chose to become bad ancestors.
MINISTERS MAY CONTINUE TO BE APPOINTED FROM WITHIN PARLIAMENT AS PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE DOESNT RECOMMEND IT
The Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to scrutinize the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill N.A.B. No. 7 of 2025 has compiled its final report.
Absent among its recommendations is the appointment of Ministers from outside Parliament.
However, it does acknowledge that some stakeholders did actually recommend it.
Note however that this Parliamentary Select Committee was restricted to Bill 7 which did not include the appointment of Ministers.
It was the stakeholders that appeared before it that “smuggled” in the issue.
The Mushabati technical Committee had a similar mandate which did not include the appointment of Ministers but stakeholders brought it in, anyway.
However, the Mushabati committee had also been mandated to examine other recommendations from previous constitutional review commissions and technical committees.
This is why the Mushabati committee, in its recommendations, included the appointment of Ministers outside parliament.
So, if Bill 7 had been deferred to seek further consultation, then the Parliamentary Select Committee should have reflected this submission contained in the Mushabati committee as it has been demanded in every previous constitutional review.
It would appear that the Select committee just picked up where it left off.
So, what was the point behind the appointment of the Mushabati committee, it’s report and its proposed Bill?
Was it window-dressing? Was it to merely to satisfy those that went to court demanding public consultation?
It appears as though somebody behind the scenes was saying, “these guys (the opposition and civil society) think they are clever by going to court. We ll just go through the motions but in the end do what we want”.
However, be as it may, MPs can’t be expected to recommend that Ministers are appointed outside parliament.
They see ministerial positions as a great honor and a promotion.
I bet they look forward to being appointed to Cabinet positions.
And yet, both positions are fulltime in their nature which results in one of them suffering.
If this proposal were to pass, may be we need a constituent assembly with the power to pass a constitution because parliament is equally a creature of the supreme law of the land.
By allowing MPs to pass amendments in which they have vested interests is no different from one asking one football team to set the rules of the game and select match officials!
A SOLEMN APPEAL TO CONSCIENCE IN DEFENSE OF OUR SACRED CONSTITUTION
My fellow Zambians, my beloved people of Nakonde Constituency,
I come before you today with a heart weighed down by solemn duty, but a spirit fortified by an unshakeable commitment to the rule of law. I speak to you as your representative, but more importantly, as a citizen who stood before God and swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia.
This Monday, 15th December 2025, a vote is scheduled in the National Assembly on the so-called Bill 7 Constitutional Amendment. I stand here to declare, with clarity and conviction, that I will not be in attendance. I will not lend my voice, my vote, or my presence to a process that has been declared FLAWED by the very guardians of our Constitution, the Constitutional Court.
This is not a matter of political convenience. This is a matter of foundational principle.
The Court has spoken. It has ruled that the process leading to this bill is tainted, irregular, and unconstitutional. To proceed with this vote is not an act of legislative duty, it is an act of defiance against the Judiciary and a direct assault on the delicate balance of power that protects our democracy. It is, in essence, an illegal gathering masquerading as parliamentary procedure.
The people of Nakonde did not send me to Lusaka to be a rubber stamp for illegality. They sent me to be their voice of reason, their pillar of integrity, and their defender of the covenant that binds us all as a nation, our Constitution. This document is not merely paper and ink, it is the embodiment of our collective aspirations, the protector of the weak against the strong, and the compass that guides our nation’s journey.
Constitutional amendment is the most solemn undertaking a nation can embark upon. It is the bedrock upon which every other law is built. It must be undertaken with exhaustive consultation, profound wisdom, and absolute fidelity to legal procedure. It must never be rushed to meet a political timetable. It must never be politicised to serve partisan interests. It must never be done in contempt of the Constitution’s own spirit and the implications for future generations.
To vote on Monday is to normalize a dangerous precedent that those in power can bend the supreme law of the land to their will, ignoring judicial oversight and due process. If we allow this today, what shall we stop tomorrow? Which chapter of our rights will be amended away in the next rushed, flawed process?
My absence from Parliament on Monday is not an act of cowardice or indifference. It is an act of protest and supreme patriotism. It is a powerful statement, etched in parliamentary record, that some of us still hold our oath of office sacred. I choose to stand with the Constitution, with the ruling of the Court, and with the people of Nakonde, who deserve a legacy of lawful governance.
I stand with the farmers of Nakonde, the marketeers, the teachers, and the youths, whose futures must be secured by a stable and just legal order, not one manipulated by the whims of the day.
Therefore, I appeal to my fellow Honourable Members, across the aisle, search your consciences. Heed the Court. Remember the oath you took. Let us not be remembered as the Parliament that killed constitutionalism for political expediency. Let us step back from this brink, return to the drawing board, and initiate a process that is transparent, inclusive, and above all, legal.
To the people of Zambia, I say, defend your Constitution. It belongs to you. Silence in the face of its violation is consent. Let your voices be heard.
And to my dear people of Nakonde, I say, Thank you for your unwavering support. You have chosen a path of principle, and I am humbled to walk it with you. We will not be part of this illegality. We will stand for what is right, even if we must stand alone.
God bless Nakonde Constituency. God bless the Judiciary. God bless the Republic of Zambia,and her sacred Constitution.
Hon. Lukas Simumba, MP for Nakonde Constituency A Patriot in Defence of the Rule of Law.
In Kenya Caleb Orr Signed the $2.5billion but in Zambia he Deferred and Gave a Mere Pledge
America Just Said the Quiet Part Out Loud in Zambia
By Savior Mwambwa.
Three days ago, I wrote in these pages that the scramble for Africa’s critical minerals continues in ernerst and that African governments faced a historic choice about whether to write their own rules or accept terms dictated by others. I did not expect the United States to prove my point quite so rapidly, or quite so brazenly.
On December 11th, the US government was scheduled to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Zambia releasing $1.5 billion in health funding, including money that keeps HIV treatment programmes running, clinics staffed, and people alive.
That signing did not happen. Instead, Caleb Orr, the State Department’s Assistant Secretary for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs, flew to Lusaka to meet President Hakainde Hichilema. The message he delivered was blunt: health funding is now contingent on “collaboration in the mining sector and clear business sector reforms.”
Let that sink in. A US official responsible for energy and business development, not health, now controls the timeline for humanitarian assistance. The signing has been postponed indefinitely while America waits for “clear progress in the coming months” on mining concessions.
Veterans of American global health diplomacy describe this as unprecedented. One called it “uncharted territory.” Another said it was “first of its kind in the world for the Department of State.” The public linkage of humanitarian aid to mineral extraction rights has never been stated so nakedly.
This is not, of course, how American officials would frame it. They would say they are pursuing integrated partnerships that advance mutual interests. They would note that America has always sought collateral benefits from its foreign assistance. They would point out that soft power has always served national interests.
All of this is true, and all of it misses the point. What happened in Lusaka this week is qualitatively different. The curtain has risen on a new era in which access to African resources is not merely a consideration in American foreign policy but the organising principle that supersedes all others, including saving lives.
Let us consider the timing. Zambia, like other countries negotiating these health agreements, received six months of “bridge funding” that expires on March 31st. The Memoranda of Understanding were supposed to be signed in time to plan implementation and ensure continuity of services. That timeline was already compressed. Now it has been blown up entirely, with no clear end date.
What happens to the nurses, the clinics, the supply chains for antiretroviral medicines if April arrives without an agreement? The State Department’s announcement offers no reassurance. It offers only the observation that terms remain to be finalised. I noted in my previous piece that Zambia had preserved more flexibility than the DRC by not signing a comprehensive strategic partnership with Washington. That observation now requires updating.
Zambia’s flexibility appears to have triggered American displeasure. The abrupt cancellation of the December 11th signing suggests that Lusaka may have pushed back on terms it found unacceptable. If so, the health funding delay is punishment, a warning to Zambia and every other African government about the consequences of resistance.
The juxtaposition with the DRC agreement signed last week is instructive. Kinshasa accepted extraordinary terms: a Strategic Asset Reserve granting US companies first right of offer on mineral concessions, ownership restrictions that will reduce non-aligned (Chinese) participation from 40 percent to 10 percent over twenty years, commitments to route half of copper exports through the US-backed Lobito Corridor. In exchange, DRC received promises of infrastructure financing and security cooperation.
Zambia, apparently, has not yet agreed to comparable terms. And so Zambia waits, while health programmes that keep people alive hang in the balance.
African policymakers must understand what this means for the broader negotiations now unfolding across the continent.
First, the compartmentalisation of American engagement is over. Health, security, trade, and mineral access are now explicitly bundled. Countries cannot negotiate on one track while protecting others. Everything is on the table, and everything is connected to everything else.
Second, the asymmetry of leverage has been made explicit. America controls funding streams that African governments cannot easily replace. Health programmes built over two decades with PEPFAR support have created dependencies that Washington is now prepared to weaponise. The threat is not subtle: cooperate on minerals or watch your health systems deteriorate.
Third, the timeline pressure is deliberate. Bridge funding that expires in March creates urgency that benefits the party making demands. African negotiators are being squeezed between the need to maintain services and the desire to secure acceptable terms. This is not partnership; it is coercion with a deadline.
What should African governments do?
The instinct to capitulate is understandable. Lives are at stake. Programmes that took years to build could collapse in months. The path of least resistance is to sign whatever Washington demands and hope for the best. But capitulation carries its own risks. Terms accepted under duress tend to be unfavourable. Concessions made to one party invite demands from others. And agreements that sacrifice long-term interests for short-term relief rarely serve nations well.
A better approach would recognise that Africa has leverage too, and that collective action multiplies it. The minerals America seeks are not available elsewhere at the scale required. The green transition depends on African cobalt, copper, lithium, and rare earths. Supply chains cannot be restructured overnight. Washington needs African cooperation as much as African governments need American funding.
Regional coordination is essential. If Zambia stands alone, it can be isolated and pressured. If Zambia coordinates with the DRC, Angola, and other mineral-producing nations, the dynamics shift.
The African Union should convene an emergency discussion on the terms being demanded across the continent. Common positions on ownership restrictions, fiscal terms, and conditionality would strengthen every country’s hand.
Alternative funding sources must be mobilised. The European Union, China, and multilateral institutions all have interests in maintaining African health systems and development partnerships. Diversifying funding reduces American leverage. This is not about choosing sides; it is about preserving options.
Transparency is a weapon. The State Department’s announcement was public because Washington wanted it to be. African governments should be equally transparent about the terms being demanded and the tradeoffs involved. Domestic publics, civil society organisations, and international observers can all influence negotiations when they understand what is at stake.
Finally, African governments must be prepared to accept short-term costs for long-term benefits. This is the hardest calculation. Programmes may suffer. Services may be disrupted. But agreements that mortgage national resources for a generation are not worth signing merely to avoid temporary difficulties.
Emily Bass, the author and global health advocate who first reported the Zambia developments, framed December 11th as “the moment the curtain fully rose on the Trump Administration’s 21st century scramble for Africa.” She is right. But the scramble’s outcome is not predetermined.
Previous scrambles for African resources occurred when African states were weak, divided, and unable to resist external demands. The current moment is different. African nations control resources the world desperately needs. African institutions, while imperfect, are stronger than they were a generation ago. African publics are watching, and African civil society is vocal.
The question is whether African leaders will recognise the moment and rise to it.
What happened in Zambia this week should concentrate minds across the continent. The rules have changed. Health aid is now hostage to mining deals. Humanitarian concern has been subordinated to resource extraction. The quiet part has been said out loud.
African governments can accept these terms, or they can organise to change them. There is no third option. The scramble is on, and the time for choosing is now.
UNITY SHINES AS UPND ASPIRING MPS GRACE CHAWAMA CHURCH CELEBRATION
Chawama Lusaka 14th December 2025
By Jack Makayi
Unity and togetherness were on full display in Chawama Constituency after two UPND aspiring members of Parliament jointly attended a church celebration at Busokololo Congregation of the United Church of Zambia (UCZ).
The two UPND aspirants, Mr. Nonde Sikasote and Mr. Morgan Muunda, were guests of honour at a special church service held to celebrate 26 years of dedicated service by Reverend Ndalama Chipulu Mumba, who has been described as a mother and pillar of the church and community.
Reverend Mumba was praised for her long-standing commitment to serving God and the people of Chawama, with congregants acknowledging her role in promoting unity, faith, and community development over the years.
Speaking during the celebration, Mr. Nonde Sikasote, an aspiring UPND Member of Parliament for Chawama, described Reverend Mumba as a woman who has united many congregants through her leadership and service He emphasized the importance of unity, stating that there is life after politics and encouraging leaders and citizens alike to always remember God in all matters.
Mr. Sikasote appreciated Reverend Mumba with a cash token of K12,000.
Meanwhile, Mr. Morgan Muunda, also an aspiring UPND Member of Parliament for Chawama, echoed calls for unity and collective development of the constituency. He commended the church for its role in transforming lives and guiding people toward God.
Mr. Muunda described Reverend Mumba not only as a church leader but also as a community leader who has been actively involved in the development of Chawama Constituency for the past 26 years. In recognition of her service, Mr. Muunda presented her with a house valued at K600,000, 10 hectares of land valued over k1,500,000, and an additional cash token of K8,000.
He highlighted the many contributions Reverend Mumba has made to the community, noting that her impact extends beyond the pulpit.
The event was marked by praises, songs, and joyful celebrations by church members as they honoured Reverend Mumba’s long service.
Congregants expressed gratitude and appreciation for the unity demonstrated by the two UPND aspirants, describing them as brothers who have shown maturity and togetherness despite aspiring for the same political position.
The celebration ended on a high note, reinforcing messages of faith, unity, and service to the community.
⬆️ BRIEFING | ECZ Clarifies Chawama Race as PF Boycotts Bill 7 Debate
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has clarified that the Constitution does not permit a person who causes a vacancy in the National Assembly to contest a subsequent by-election, as preparations intensify for the Chawama parliamentary poll scheduled for January 15, 2026.
In a statement issued on Sunday, ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro cited Article 72(4) of the Constitution, which disqualifies any individual who causes a vacancy under specified circumstances from contesting an election or holding public office during the life of that Parliament.
“The Commission wishes to advise that Article 72(4) of the Constitution of Zambia provides that a person who causes a vacancy in the National Assembly due to the reasons specified under clause (2)(a), (b), (c), (d), (g) and (h) shall not, during the term of that Parliament, be eligible to contest an election or hold public office,” Kasaro said.
Kasaro added that the Chawama by-election arose after the Speaker of the National Assembly declared the seat vacant on November 28, 2025, in line with Article 72(2)(c) of the Constitution. Nominations are set for Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at Chawama Primary School.
The ECZ also cautioned aspiring candidates against attempting to submit nomination papers electronically.
“There is no provision under Article 52 of the Constitution of Zambia for the electronic submission of nomination papers. All nomination papers must be submitted physically at the designated nomination centre on the prescribed nomination date and within the stipulated time,” Kasaro said.
Meanwhile, the Patriotic Front has escalated its confrontation with government over Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 of 2025, which comes up for Second Reading in the National Assembly on Monday.
Mporokoso Member of Parliament Brian Mundubile announced that PF lawmakers will not participate in the debate, arguing that doing so could expose them to contempt of court.
“I wish to state clearly that Patriotic Front Members of Parliament will not participate in the deliberations on Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 7 when it comes up for Second Reading in the National Assembly on Monday,” Mundubile said.
“Most PF lawmakers have resolved to stay away from this process because our participation could expose us to possible contempt of court. The UPND government has deliberately ignored a court judgment that declared Bill 7 a nullity. Proceeding with this Bill is open defiance of the rule of law,” he added.
Mundubile further accused the government of using the proposed constitutional amendments for partisan ends, particularly through constituency delimitation.
“This Bill is politically motivated. It is designed to advance the interests of the ruling party rather than serve the broader national interest,” he said.
He alleged that President Hakainde Hichilema was attempting to use delimitation to manage internal disputes within the UPND.
“The President is attempting to use constituency delimitation to settle internal scores within the UPND, particularly in their strongholds where younger members are seeking to dislodge non-working older MPs,” Mundubile said.
“You cannot use the Constitution to solve problems within your own party. The Constitution must never be manipulated to resolve internal party disputes,” he added, warning that the amendments would also make it harder for independent candidates to contest future elections.
The government has consistently rejected claims that Bill 7 is illegal or designed to entrench the ruling party, insisting that the process remains within parliamentary procedure as the Bill proceeds to its next legislative stage.
HRC WELCOMES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS BUT WARNS AGAINST LIMITING INDEPENDENTS CANDIDATES
The Human Rights Commission has expressed support for the proposed amendment to the Constitution of Zambia under Bill Number Seven of 2025, describing it as largely progressive and capable of strengthening inclusive democracy if implemented fairly.
Speaking in a statement, Human Rights Commission Spokesperson Mweelwa Muleya says the Commission’s position takes into account submissions made by the majority of stakeholders who appeared before the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to scrutinise the Bill.
Mr. Muleya explains that the Commission presented its views to the Select Committee, where it raised some concerns but largely supported the Bill, noting that it has the potential to enhance inclusive and diverse representative democracy and national development.
Mr. Muleya has particularly welcomed the proposed amendment to Article 47 of the Constitution, which seeks to introduce a hybrid electoral system combining the First-Past-The-Post system and Proportional Representation
He says the proposed Mixed-Member Proportional Representation system is a major step forward that will promote inclusivity and address historical imbalances in political participation and representation in the National Assembly.
Mr. Muleya notes that the proposed electoral system provides reasonable accommodation for underrepresented groups such as women, youths, persons with disabilities, and minority political parties.
However, Mr. Muleya has raised concern over the proposed amendment that seeks to disqualify individuals who belonged to a political party within two months prior to nomination from contesting elections as independent candidates.
He describes the proposal as undemocratic and a violation of the rights of both candidates and the electorate, adding that the freedom to contest elections either as an independent candidate or under a political party should remain protected under the right to freedom of association.
Mr. Muleya further says retaining the current arrangement on independent candidates would compel political parties to respect the will of their members and the broader electorate when adopting candidates.
Overall, Mr. Muleya says the proposed constitutional amendments seek to implement long-standing recommendations from citizens gathered through various commissions and committees, and if enacted, could deepen Zambia’s democracy, promote equitable representation, and improve service delivery.
ZAMBIA TO BECOME SELF-RELIANT IN HEALTH SECTOR BY END OF 5-YEAR US FUNDING-HEALTH MINISTER
Health Minister Dr. Elijah Muchima says Zambia is poised to become self-reliant in health financing once the current five-year programme, under which the United States government is providing $1.5 billion to the country’s health sector, comes to an end.
Speaking to Phoenix News, Dr. Muchima says the health sector, under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema, has the capacity to remain sustainable through increased domestic financing, unlike in the past when it largely depended on donor support.
The minister has expressed confidence that if the current leadership and policy direction are sustained, Zambia will be able to stand on its own after the next five years without undue concern over donor funding, citing measures being implemented to strengthen and improve the health system countrywide.
Dr. Muchima adds that government is prioritizing efficient resource mobilisation, accountability, and infrastructure development to ensure improved service delivery, noting that investments in human resources, medical supplies, and health facilities will play a critical role in achieving long-term sustainability.
MARRIED MEN DRAG EACH OTHER TO COURT OVER SIDE CHICK
14th December 2025
THE Chelstone Local Court has heard how two married men clashed over a woman at their workplace after one of them claimed the woman was his girlfriend.
This is a matter in which Moses Chirwa, 35, of Chelstone, sued Luckson Kasapu, 36, of Mtendere East, seeking compensation for insults, including insults directed at his parents.
When the matter came up before the Chelstone Local Court, Chirwa told Magistrate Charity Milambo that Luckson insulted his parents during a confrontation at their shared workplace on November 22. “I’m 35 years old.
I stay in Chelstone and work as a security guard. I know Luckson through work; he is my neighbour at my workplace. The companies we work for are neighbours, the premises…
ZAMBIAN socialite Hope Chileshe alias Ivanka Bianca has dropped a bombshell, admitting that her explosive allegations against singer Robert Banda, better known as Roberto were completely made up.
What once dominated as a scandalous story is now a jaw dropping revelation.
In 2023, Ivanka shook the internet when she claimed that Roberto had forced her to terminate multiple pregnancies during their alleged relationship.
She even suggested that one of the pregnancies involved twins and that she had been abandoned to face the situation alone.
This however sparked outrage online, making fans reject and condemn Ivanka, while social media was flooded with debates about the singer’s alleged role in the drama.
The claims dominated conversations for months, keeping the scandal alive long after it first surfaced.
Now, over two years later, Ivanka, who is now married and a mother, publicly confessed that the allegations were false during her TikTok live session.
“Everything I said about Roberto forcing me to abort seven pregnancies… it was all lies. Before this baby I currently have, I had never been pregnant. The baby I lost in December last year was my first,” she revealed.
Reflecting on her actions, she admitted the extent of her deception.
https://youtu.be/HMt-ZGv545s?si=FRUaoP2kGItMog8c
“I misled people and hurt someone who didn’t deserve it. I’ll show you how crooked us women can be. Roberto was just another victim of my lies,” she admitted.
“I and others had obtained urine from pregnant women to produce positive pregnancy test results,” she said.
Roberto had largely stayed silent when the allegations surfaced, though he subtly addressed the matter in his 2024 album ‘Born to Win,’ hinting at the controversy without naming Ivanka directly.
Ivanka’s confession has reignited discussions online, with many fans expressing shock at her admission and the dramatic turnaround in a story that once dominated headlines.
