Locked and Frozen in space: The sad Tale of Zambia’s sixth President Edgar Lungu’s 69th Birthday

“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

Amb. Anthony Mukwita reflects-

12th Nov. 25

He turns 69 on 11th November, having been born of Padule Saili Lungu and Tasila Jere years ago. Think of that.

But unlike any other birthday of any departed Zambian head of state, this one is uniquely tragic because Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the sixth President of Zambia, lies frozen, entombed in a sub-zero Alaskan-grade mortuary fridge in Pretoria, stretching 7 feet long to accommodate his six-foot frame.

No cake. No song. No curried chicken. No awkward, loveable Lungu dance moves and easy laughs. Just ice. Cold. Sorrow, alone.

No family no grandchildren and friends.

Madame Esther Nyawa Lungu, widow of the sixth President, may shed a tear if she has any left after half a year of mourning since her husband breathed his last in Pretoria on June 5, 2025.

His wish was to be buried in Johannesburg according to the spouse, but the Zambian government, in a move both ironic and sardonically poetic, obtained a court order the night before the burial to halt it.

A man once entrusted with the nation’s soul was denied his final wish by the very state he once led in the name of honour.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4

“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

From Chimwemwe, a dusty mining township where poverty and wealth share fences, Edgar Lungu rose like a quiet tide.

Six months before President Michael Chilufya Sata’s death, Edgar Lungu was nowhere in the succession race. But fate, like a mischievous playwright, cast him as king.

WAS PRESIDENT SATA SENDING A MESSAGE THAT HE SOUGHT

LUNGU TO SUCCEED HIM?

President Sata, in what now feels like prophecy, piled Lungu with ministerial responsibilities—Justice, Defence, Home Affairs—like a man preparing his heir. And when Sata passed, Lungu emerged from the shadows, not with a roar, but with a whisper.

When his colleagues fought him, he withdrew, citing the wisdom of King Solomon. Two women claimed one baby. Solomon said, “Split the child.” One woman agreed.

The other cried, “Let her have him.” Solomon declared her the true mother. Lungu, like the second woman, chose peace over power. And Zambia chose him.

“Il est parti trop tôt, mais son esprit reste parmi nous.”
(He left too soon, but his spirit remains among us.)
“La douleur est profonde, mais l’amour est éternel.”
(The pain is deep, but love is eternal.)
“Que la paix soit son manteau éternel.”
(May peace be his eternal cloak.)

President Lungu governed with a gospel playlist and a hand that often felt like a prayer. He built bridges, airports, and ports, not just of concrete, but of diplomacy.

He was a grassroots man, a Chimwemwe son, who wore his suits like armor—navy blue, charcoal grey, and one rebellious tie that whispered, “I’m still Edgar.” Very immaculate.
His legacy includes the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport expansion, the Kazungula Bridge, and a diplomatic footprint that reached Beijing, Washington, and Brussels.

He was not loud, but he was legal. Not flashy, but he was fashionable. His stroll was presidential, his naps strategic, his silence eloquent.

And yet, beneath the soft-spoken demeanor lay a spine of steel. “I may speak with a small voice,” he once said, “but I carry a huge stick. I can fall on you like a tonne of bricks if you fall out of line.”
It was the kind of warning that made even seasoned politicians sit straighter in their chairs.

But he was also kind. When pressed to fire underperforming officials, he refused. “The problem with you Zambians,” he said, “is you love bloodletting. Everyone deserves a second chance. If I fire these guys, who will feed their children? Do you ever think of that?” He added, “Even in soccer, the referee first wags his finger and shows a yellow card before the red.”

Now, his restless spirit flutters between Lusaka and Pretoria. Zambia mourns. Mrs. Lungu weeps. And the nation wonders: could Makebi Zulu, the family consigliere, and Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa meet and freeze this burial dispute once and for all?

This should have been a moment to unite Zambia in love and memory, not in legal fandango and diplomatic frost.

Across the world, echoes of similar sagas ring. In Africa, the burial of Malawi’s President Bingu wa Mutharika sparked controversy over location and rites.

HAS THIS HAPPENED ANYWHERE ELSE?

In Europe, Napoleon Bonaparte’s remains were moved from Saint Helena to Paris decades after his death. In America, the body of James Polk was relocated twice before resting in Tennessee.

“Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
“Love never fails.” — 1 Corinthians 13:8

Imagine this:

You are sealed in a 7-foot steel coffin, the kind used for long-haul preservation under sub-zero Siberian temperatures. The walls are not just close, they press in like frozen fists.

There’s no room to stretch, no space to shift. Your body, once warm with gospel rhythms and presidential strolls, is now stiff, locked in a posture of eternal stillness.

The air? There is none. Just the hum of refrigeration coils and the whisper of frost forming on your eyelashes. Your skin, once kissed by Lusaka sun, is now kissed by ice.

The cold is not just physical, it’s emotional. It gnaws at memory, erases warmth, and replaces legacy with silence.
Almost months pass.

Time freezes. You do not sleep. You do not dream. You simply exist in a limbo of frostbite and forgotten wishes. Even in death, the soul stirs.

It wants out. It wants air. It wants closure. But the lid is sealed, the court order signed, and the burial paused like a song stuck on a broken cassette.

You try to scream, but your voice is a vapour. You try to move, but your limbs are locked in rigor mortis. You try to pray, but even the angels seem to shiver.

This is not rest. This is not peace. This is punishment.

The coffin is a capsule of discomfort, a tomb of bureaucratic indecision. It is the kind of fate you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy, not even the ones who fought you in politics, not even the ones who mocked your slow walk or your gospel cabinet meetings.

It is claustrophobia without breath. It is solitude without silence. It is the cruel irony of being remembered but not released, no freedom.

And somewhere, in the stillness, your spirit whispers:
“Let me go. Let me rest. Let me be buried, not stored.”

So today, as Zambia marks what would have been Edgar Lungu’s 69th birthday, we do not sing. We do not dance. We do not stew chickens. We don’t eat cake. We simply whisper into the cold: “Merci, Ba Edgar. Repose en paix.”

Once asked by a journalist in 2021 as he sought re-election how he would describe himself beyond his usual “am an ordinary man who became President,”, Lungu a literature buff used George Orwell’s classic Animal Farm book.

President Lungu said, “Boxer, the tireless and loyal cart-horse in Animal Farm, epitomizesd the working-class spirit through his unwavering dedication and immense strength. Known for his mottos “I will work harder”.

He said, “I seek to work harder for Zambia without asking for a reward and “Napoleon is not always right.”

“Boxer labours relentlessly for the success of the farm, even as he is exploited by the ruling pigs. His tragic fate, being sold to the knackers when he is no longer useful, in my humble view, this underscores the betrayal of the proletariat in totalitarian regimes.” — Edgar Lungu.

The sixth President is survived by a wife, children, grandchildren and a mourning nation seeking closure—but none is in sight.
Happy 69th birthday, Baba Lungu. Long live.

Amb. Anthony Mukwita is the author of Against All Odds, the only official biography of the sixth President of Zambia H.E Edgar Lungu, available at Bookworld and Amazon.

 SPOTLIGHT | ADC Shapa Wakung’uma: Promoted After Holding Line When Chingola Collapsed

The Chingola incident has triggered the biggest behind-the-scenes shake-up in Zambia’s presidential security since 2015. While the public debate focused on political actors, those within security circles have been dissecting one thing: how the protective ring around President Hakainde Hichilema fractured, and how one man, Shapa Wakung’uma, stepped up when it mattered most.

In the avalanche of stone-throwing, crowd surges, and total perimeter breakdown, the President’s ADC was visibly operating at the correct protection tempo as footages show. Those trained in close-protection work immediately recognised his alertness, his stance, and his body positioning. While others looked disoriented even distracted, Shapa was scanning, screening, and blocking at the same time. That is what saved the situation from spiralling into a lethal breach.

His promotion to Commissioner of Police – Special Duties is not political theatre. It is a technical correction. The State is signalling that presidential protection will now be run by officers who understand high-risk crowd behaviour, tactical evacuation, and perimeter management in volatile zones. Chingola exposed the consequences of over-confidence, complacency, and poor ground intelligence. Shapa embodied the opposite.

His résumé explains why.

Before becoming ADC, Shapa served as:

– National Sports Coordinator (Zambia Police)
– Officer Commanding, Sesheke District
– UNMIL Police Trainer & Advisor in Liberia
– Drill & Weapons Instructor, Lilayi
– OIC Sports Department
– FAZ Disciplinary Committee member
– Zambia Judo Association President
– Commonwealth Judo Committee member

His international medals, from Canada to Northern Ireland and Mauritius, speak to discipline, precision, and controlled aggression, the exact attributes needed in protective detail. His 4th Dan black belt, combined with a Master’s Degree in Defence and Security (UNZA) and a Law Degree, makes him one of the few Zambian officers blending academic, martial, and field-command experience.

Many PF cadres remember Sesheke: when violence erupted in 2019, Shapa was the officer who restored control in minutes. Those who tried him learned the limits of human speed.

But Chingola was a different test. It was not simply a crowd that turned rowdy. It was a mix of infiltrated elements, emotional market sympathisers, miners who feel politically orphaned, and opportunists who exploited the President’s proximity. In those conditions, reaction time is measured in milliseconds. Any lapse becomes catastrophic.

Security experts flagged four failures in Chingola:

1. Poor advance reconnaissance. The route and holding area were not adequately assessed for infiltration points.

2. Weak perimeter discipline. The buffer zone collapsed instantly because it was manned by officers unfamiliar with crowd-surge patterns.

3. Inadequate flank protection. Stones came from predictable angles, but screens were late.

4. Complacency in the inner ring. One officer went viral for picking his nose while the President was under threat, a symbol of what went wrong.

Shapa was the outlier. His situational awareness was at 100 percent. He anticipated movement, redirected the President fast, and executed what professionals call “controlled lateral extraction,” moving the principal out without triggering further panic.

It is no surprise that within hours of national outrage, the intelligence community and the police command began making quiet adjustments. Promotions, redeployments, disciplinary assessments, and audits of the Presidential Security Unit (PSU) followed.

Many changes are taking place including Police Spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, moving to Western Province as Commissioner. Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister, Jack Mwiimbu has camped in Chingola, overseeing operations personally.

Over 27 suspects have been picked up, including one linked to the ruling party, confirming that investigations are not political but operational.

Shapa’s elevation is therefore more than a reward. It is a message:

“Presidential protection is now a serious, elite discipline. Only professionals will remain.”

In the coming weeks, expect more reforms in:

– crowd-screening protocols
– intelligence-fusion systems
– advance-team deployments
– rapid-extraction drills
– joint operations between police, intelligence, and military units

Chingola was a warning shot. Zambia cannot afford another.

For now, one thing is clear: when everyone froze, Shapa Wakung’uma did not. And that is why he now holds a rank that reflects the weight of what he carried in those critical seconds.

© The People’s Brief | Ollus R. Ndomu

⬆️ CHINGOLA STONING| 27 Arrested as Police Moves to Isolate Ringleaders

Zambia’s security crackdown in Chingola has entered a decisive phase. Home Affairs Minister Jack Mwiimbu has announced the arrest of twenty-seven suspects linked to Saturday’s violent attack on President Hakainde Hichilema at Chiwempala Market.

Speaking at Chingola Central Police Station after inspecting the scene, Mwiimbu said investigators have secured “clear leads” that point directly to the organisers of the riot and the arson that followed.

Among the suspects are individuals who stole materials from the presidential holding tent moments before it was set ablaze.

The minister said law enforcement is now pursuing the people who mobilised the crowd, instructed the disruptions and triggered the confrontation that forced the Head of State to be evacuated. Police intelligence teams are tracking communications, movements and social media activity linked to the event.

During the tour, market chairperson Christopher Chiwasha delivered a direct apology to President Hichilema, saying traders were “deeply ashamed” that violence erupted while the President was on the ground to console them after the market fire.

He pledged cooperation with government and promised that Chiwempala Market would not become a stage for similar scenes.

The arrests signal a shift from public outrage to enforcement. Saturday’s incident has been treated as a national security breach, and Mwiimbu’s presence in Chingola underlines the seriousness with which the state views the attack on the presidency.

More arrests are expected as investigators move to isolate the planners behind an event that has shaken national confidence and sharpened concerns about political violence ahead of 2026.

© The People’s Brief | Ollus R. Ndomu

MAKEBI ZULU CALLS FOR RULE OF LAW AND ENERGY REFORM

By Brian Matambo – Lusaka, Zambia

Hon. Makebi Zulu, who yesterday filed his nomination papers to contest the Patriotic Front presidency at the party secretariat, made his first radio appearance on Hot FM’s Hot Seat this morning after featuring the previous evening on Emmanuel Mwamba Verified. The interview was his first major engagement since declaring his candidacy, and it gave listeners a deeper sense of his political outlook and vision for Zambia. Speaking with composure, he focused on two major issues that dominated the conversation: the rule of law and the energy crisis.

Hon. Makebi Zulu began by addressing the Chingola incident in which President Hakainde Hichilema’s motorcade was attacked with stones. He condemned the violence, calling it unfortunate and unacceptable. “The issue of throwing stones at the president should not be tolerated anywhere,” he said. “I wouldn’t wish it even on my worst enemy.”

However, he noted that such incidents reflected deeper social and economic frustrations among citizens. He argued that many people were being silenced through excessive restrictions, such as cyber security laws, leaving them with no proper outlet to air their grievances. “When you bottle people up, they have no other way of expressing themselves,” he said. He explained that the people of Chingola were reacting to economic difficulties, particularly those affecting livelihoods on the Copperbelt.

Hon. Makebi Zulu said the government’s response to the violence revealed how much Zambia’s peace depended on personalities rather than institutions. He warned against the idea that cadres behave properly only because of a leader’s personal instruction. “It is not a favour that they are not doing that. It is law that they should not do that,” he said. “We are dependent on the whims and caprices of men, and not the rule of law.”

He emphasised that the rule of law must apply equally to everyone regardless of political affiliation. “There should not be one law for those in government and another for those outside it,” he said. Hon. Makebi Zulu said Zambia needed to restore confidence in institutions and ensure that decisions were guided by principle, not political convenience.

From there, the conversation turned to the energy crisis, which he described as one of the biggest failures of the current government. Hon. Makebi Zulu listed a number of power generation projects that were planned or started under the Patriotic Front but later abandoned. “We had the Lusiwasi Dam, the Katete Wind Power Project, the Chongwe Nuclear Power Plant, the Kapombo Hydro Plant, the Luapula Power Project, and the Shiwa Hydro Power upgrade,” he said. “These projects were meant to serve different provinces, and if they had been implemented correctly, we would not be experiencing this crisis.”

He said the PF government had focused on ensuring every province had its own source of power, and that abandoning those projects had worsened the shortage. “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” he said. “There was nothing to fix. The projects were already working for the good of the country.”

Hon. Makebi Zulu accused the government of allowing politically connected companies to buy electricity cheaply from ZESCO and resell it across borders at a profit. “Why should ZESCO not be the one to export power and benefit from it?” he asked. He argued that this practice deprived the utility of income and left ordinary Zambians facing higher costs and longer hours of load shedding. “Now we have twenty-one hours of load shedding,” he said. “What do you call that?”

He rejected the explanation that the crisis was due to drought, saying the current government had failed to plan for such challenges. “We had droughts even during the Patriotic Front, but we never reached this point,” he said. “The PF had already started addressing the effects of climate change through the nuclear project, which was not dependent on rainfall.”

Hon. Makebi Zulu connected the energy shortage to the rising cost of living, explaining that power outages had increased operational costs for businesses and ordinary citizens. “Those that run butcheries, salons, and welding shops are forced to buy fuel to keep their businesses running, and fuel is expensive,” he said. “When they do that, the prices of their goods and services go up, and that pushes the cost of living even higher.”

Throughout the interview, Hon. Makebi Zulu’s tone was steady, drawing on detail and practical examples. He avoided personal attacks, instead focusing on systems, governance, and solutions. He concluded with a reminder of the late President Edgar Lungu’s message of hope. “There is hope for this country,” he said. “There is hope that we can improve our judiciary, our civil service, and our economy. There is hope that we can get back on track toward development if only we can unite and do what we ought to do.”

His first radio appearance after filing his presidential papers revealed a candidate intent on linking Zambia’s political problems to structural failures rather than personalities. In the face of national frustration, Hon. Makebi Zulu’s call was clear: restore the rule of law, revive energy projects, and rebuild the systems that make the country work.

 BREAKING | ECZ Extends Voter Registration by 15 Days as Turnout Surges Nationwide

Lusaka – The Electoral Commission of Zambia has extended the national voter registration exercise by fifteen days, responding to a sharp surge in last-minute turnout across the country.

ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis announced the extension at a media briefing in Lusaka, saying the decision is intended “to afford as many people as possible the opportunity to register” ahead of next year’s general elections.

The extension follows scenes of heavy queues in Lusaka and other major urban areas, where hundreds of residents lined up at polling stations today in a final push to obtain voter certificates.

A ZNBC check found long lines stretching outside several centres as citizens sought to beat what was expected to be the final deadline.

The registration exercise, which began on 11 October 2025, has recorded a late surge after weeks of moderate participation. The additional fifteen days will now determine whether the Commission can meet national expectations for broader voter inclusion ahead of the 2026 polls.

More updates to follow.

© The People’s Brief | Tracey Shumba

PRESIDENT HICHILEMA BIDS FAREWELL TO ISRAELI COUNTERPART AFTER HISTORIC STATE VISIT

Lusaka… Tuesday November 11, 2025 – President Hakainde Hichilema has bid farewell to His Excellency Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel, following what he described as a fruitful and memorable two-day reciprocal State Visit to Zambia.

In a statement issued after the visit, President Hichilema said it had been a great honour for the country to host President Herzog and his delegation.

He expressed gratitude for the warm words of goodwill and blessing that the Israeli leader extended to the people of Zambia.

The Head of State noted that the visit marked a significant milestone in strengthening the longstanding ties between Zambia and Israel – a relationship, he said, rooted in shared faith, mutual respect, and a common vision for peace and prosperity.

President Hichilema further stated that Zambia looked forward to enhanced collaboration with Israel in key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, health, education, mining, and science and technology, among others.

Meanwhile, the President expressed optimism that the goodwill generated during the visit would yield lasting prosperity for both nations, while invoking blessings upon the Republic of Zambia and the State of Israel.

 EDITORIAL | Makebi’s Coffin Politics & The Lungu Obsession

Makebi Zulu has entered the PF presidential race with a message anchored on one man: Edgar Chagwa Lungu. His filing at the PF Secretariat was not just administrative. It was choreography. He arrived in black. He invoked Lungu’s name. He linked his candidacy to a “dignified burial.” He tied his political future to a dead man’s legacy.

At the centre of his speech was a single line: “I am here as a candidate, hoping to participate in this race, not for selfish ambitions, but for purposes of uniting the party… We lost our president, President Edgar Lungu and as a party, we desire that he be given a dignified burial.”

The question is simple. What exactly is the Lungu vision that Makebi wants to “actualise”? What part of that legacy forms a credible foundation for a presidential bid in 2026? Zambia voted Lungu out with a margin of more than one million votes in 2021. That vote was not accidental.

It was a clear rejection of economic mismanagement, cadre rule, corruption, intimidation, and institutional decay that defined his final years in power. If this is the legacy Makebi wants to restore, what makes him believe the country is prepared to embrace it again?

His message resonates strongly with the 1.8 million who voted for Lungu in 2021. PF’s core base hears the emotional cue. They see a loyal legal defender. They see a son protecting the memory of their father figure. Makebi knows this. His symbolism is designed to consolidate cadres, old PF elites, and the Lungu family circle. It works internally. He is building a loyal bloc inside a fractured party, and he is using grief as political adhesive.

The challenge comes when this message leaves the PF tent. Does the Lungu narrative appeal to UPND supporters who feel frustrated with the government’s performance? The answer is no. Their frustration is economic, not sentimental. Their grievances are about fuel, food prices, power shortages and broken promises. They are not nostalgic for a governance system that produced debt distress, violent cadres, national division, and a collapsing currency. They have nothing to return to in the Lungu era.

What about undecided voters? Again, the appeal is thin. Makebi is offering memory politics, not policy. He is promising to “continue what Lungu died believing in,” but he has not defined what that means in economic terms, social terms or governance terms. What is the Lungu doctrine? What did he leave unfinished that the country wants resumed? Voters choose the future, not funerals. They want a plan, not a pledge to complete the past.

The biggest strategic limitation is regional. The Lungu brand is toxic in four critical blocs armed with active voting patterns: Southern, Western, North Western and Central provinces. These regions rejected Lungu in three consecutive cycles. Makebi tying himself to the same name will not shift that arithmetic. It narrows the ticket to PF’s nostalgic strongholds and limits national reach. A candidate who campaigns on Lungu’s shoulders will inherit Lungu’s ceiling.

There is also the fundamental political contradiction. If the Lungu vision was rejected in 2021, what makes it attractive in 2026? If PF claims Zambia is suffering today, how does it argue for the revival of the system that helped produce the collapse? Makebi’s messaging asks voters to remember Lungu with affection. But the electorate remembers power cuts, debt distress, cadre intimidation, corruption cases, and a presidency that lost public trust.

Makebi has every right to honour his mentor. Loyalty is a political currency in PF. But loyalty is not a national manifesto. Zambia does not elect presidents to bury former leaders. It elects presidents to fix the future.

Until Makebi defines a value proposition beyond sentiment and funeral politics, his message will energise cadres but fail the national test. His challenge is not winning PF.

His challenge is convincing Zambia that Lungu’s unfinished business is the future they want. Only a clear programme can answer that. Not emotion. Not nostalgia. And not the politics of the coffin.

For your opinion articles, write to us on editor.peoplesbrief@gmail.com and we will review your opinion.

© The People’s Brief | Editor-in-Chief

“Slander Is a Tool for Fools” — Makebi Zulu

Lusaka | November 10, 2025

Patriotic Front (PF) Presidential aspirant, Hon. Makebi Zulu, has clarified his decision to participate in the ongoing party presidential race despite the unsettled matter surrounding the burial of the late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, describing his participation as both an act of loyalty and honour to the fallen leader’s vision for Zambia.

Speaking this evening when he featured on EMLive, Hon. Zulu has addressed concerns from within and outside the party suggesting that his involvement in political activities during this period was inappropriate.

He clarified that the ongoing disagreement over the burial of President Lungu was not a political stunt, but rather a matter of principle and broken trust between the family and the government.

“The question of the burial of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is an issue for all of us,” Hon. Zulu stated.

“In speaking for and on behalf of the family, I communicate the desires of the family the desires of the late President as a person that is properly principled ought ordinarily to do.”

He emphasized that the matter had been mischaracterized by detractors:

“It is not a comfortable matter to discuss, but it has been moved and made to seem as though the idea of the burial is a political move. Obviously, that is being drawn by the detractors.”

“No one is talking about how the family is not the one that went to court, how the issues that surround this matter are issues of trust the trust that has been broken down between the family and the government, not by reason of the actions of the family, but by reason of the actions of the government.”

He stressed that any genuine reconciliation must begin with rebuilding confidence.

“Unless and until trust is built, which is what is being worked on to build trust between the family and the government, it would be very difficult and unprincipled to give in to demands that you know will not eventually be followed.”

Hon. Zulu further argued that respecting the wishes of the deceased and his family is a moral duty that transcends politics:

“Any person with their soul or with any iota of morality should be able to respect those particular wishes and not replace the wishes of the deceased or indeed the wishes of the family with their own. To do so is what would be manipulative.”

“Within the party, I’ve had discussions from those who are supporting my colleagues to say, no, you can’t participate because there is this burial that is pending.
And I’m thinking, okay, but everyone else is participating and we haven’t buried. They form part of the ECL family. They form part of the patriotic family. So, what is good for the goose is certainly good for the gander.”

He stated that his political engagement was in fact an act of honour to President Lungu’s legacy, not defiance.

“We are not participating in the political process for purposes of disrespecting ECL. We are participating in this political process for purposes of honouring ECL, considering what he died for. He died so that we may restore democracy. He died so that we may restore the rule of law. He died so that we may restore the respect for institutions of governance. He died so that we may restore the issues of human rights.

He questioned the logic of restricting citizens’ voices or progress in the name of mourning:

Hon. Zulu concluded his remarks with a philosophical reflection passed down from his late father:

“My father once told me this. He says slander is a tool for fools. That is to say, where a person loses an argument, they’ll resort to slander. They’ll resort to insults. And they’ll not be addressing an issue for what it is.”

In a light moment, he acknowledged the ridicule he has received for his outspokenness, remarking:

“I’ve been nicknamed Malukula, International Malukula.”

MAKEBI ZULU’S POLITICAL CALCULUS: DID HE EXPLOIT THE ECL BURIAL IMPASSE FOR PERSONAL AMBITION?

The lingering burial impasse of the late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has stirred not only public emotion but also serious political speculation. At the heart of the controversy stands prominent lawyer and politician Makebi Zulu, who has been the spokesperson and legal representative of the Lungu family throughout this sensitive period. But as events unfold, questions are now being asked: was Makebi Zulu truly representing the family’s interests, or was he strategically positioning himself for political gain?

Insiders and observers alike have begun to question whether Zulu’s deep involvement in the burial negotiations was motivated by loyalty or ambition. Did he, under the guise of being the family’s trusted lawyer, manipulate the situation to advance his presidential aspirations within the Patriotic Front (PF)?

There are growing sentiments that Zulu may have taken advantage of the grieving widow, former First Lady Esther Lungu, and her children by influencing the pace and tone of discussions around the burial. The argument is that he may have used his influence to create a political narrative that paints him as a defender of the Lungu legacy — a narrative that conveniently aligns with his current ambitions to lead the PF and potentially contest the 2026 presidential election.

Now, the bigger question is: can Zambians trust Makebi Zulu with State authority and power? Can a man accused of turning a solemn national issue into a political launchpad be the moral compass of a party once led by the late Edgar Lungu himself?

Political analysts argue that the late ECL must be “turning in the freezer,” watching those he once trusted turn his legacy into a battleground for personal gain. The PF, once a formidable political force, now appears fractured — with figures like Given Lubinda, Brian Mundubile, Mutotwe Kafwaya, Willah Mudolo, Emmanuel Mwamba, Grayford Monde, and Chitalu Chilufya all entangled in succession disputes and strategic maneuvering.

Had these individuals declared their ambitions before ECL’s death, the situation might have been different. The PF could have focused on rebuilding its structures and reconnecting with the grassroots rather than being consumed by internal wrangles and confusion. Instead, Makebi Zulu, leveraging his closeness to the former President, seems to have seen an opportunity — a political vacuum ripe for exploitation.

Currently, Zulu is banking on public sympathy surrounding the delayed burial of ECL to gain traction among voters who may not fully grasp the political games at play. However, Zambia’s political landscape has evolved. The era of sympathy votes and emotional slogans is fading fast. Citizens are now more focused on pragmatic leadership — individuals who can tackle unemployment, economic hardship, corruption, and inequality.

As 2026 approaches, the stage is set for one of Zambia’s most intriguing elections in recent history. Will Makebi Zulu’s calculated political strategy pay off, or will it backfire as voters see through what some describe as opportunism disguised as loyalty?

Only time will tell — but one thing is certain: the late Edgar Lungu’s legacy and burial saga will continue to cast a long shadow over Zambia’s political scene, especially for those who seek to wear his crown.

By Chitalu Kasonde

Ilelanga News. November 11, 2025.

“WE MAY CONSIDER DEPLOYING OUR OWN SECURITY TO SOME FUNCTIONS TO PROTECT HH” — MWALITETA SAYS POLICE FAILED IN CHINGOLA

By: Thomas Afroman Mwale

UPND Lusaka Province Chairperson Obvious Mwaliteta has warned that the ruling party may consider deploying its own security personnel to certain public functions to enhance the protection of President Hakainde Hichilema, following an attempted stoning incident in Chiwempala Township in  Chingola district.

Speaking at a media briefing, Mr. Mwaliteta called on senior police officers in Chingola District to resign on moral grounds, accusing the police of failing to adequately protect the Head of State during the attack, which he described as politically motivated.

Mr. Mwaliteta questioned the police response, saying officers appeared reactive rather than proactive during the incident.

He further alleged that the burning of Chiwempala Market was part of a well-calculated plan connected to the attempted attack on President Hichilema.

The Former Lusaka Province Minister recalled that some officials at ZESCO resigned during the Patriotic Front (PF) administration after a power outage affected former President Edgar Lungu at Heroes Stadium arguing that, similarly, police leadership in Chingola should take responsibility and step down, citing a lapse in presidential security.

Mr. Mwaliteta also questioned why police had arrested only five individuals, despite the gravity of the offence, insisting that the authorities should charge those involved with treason rather than arson.
#SunFmTvNews

⬆️ PF CONVENTION | Two-horse Race: Makebi vs Mundubile

The Patriotic Front’s convention is narrowing into a clean two-man contest. If voting happened today, the final ballot would read Makebi Zulu versus Brian Mundubile. These are the only aspirants with money, machinery, elite backing and visible political capital. Every other candidate is decorative, useful for theatre but irrelevant to the final tally.

PF is being forced to choose between two distinct identities. Mundubile represents the institutional spine. Makebi represents the emotional base. The convention will determine which version survives the post-Lungu era.

Mundubile: The Structure Candidate

Brian Mundubile enters the race with the advantage that decides conventions: structure. The endorsement by twenty-nine MPs was more than symbolism. It signalled where seasoned organisers, district teams and the Luapula–Muchinga bloc have settled. These are the same networks that carried PF through its strongest electoral years. Their influence may be diminished, but it remains disciplined enough to swing a convention.

His political persona is measured and procedural. Party insiders describe him as the “safe hands” candidate. He offers continuity without chaos and leadership without factional theatrics. For a party bruised by years of internal fractures, this profile resonates with delegates who prioritise survival over spectacle.

Makebi: The Money and Emotion Candidate

Makebi Zulu’s surge is driven by money, nostalgia and emotion. His filing-in ceremony at the green secretariat was a calculated show of power. Crowds, regalia, songs, buses and old PF elites returning from political hibernation. That mobilisation did not appear from thin air. It carried the scent of Lungu-era financiers who have re-entered the party through the back door.

He also enjoys soft endorsement from Archbishop Alick Banda, a cleric with deep roots in the PF political machine. That backing strengthens him in Eastern Province where Catholic structures still amplify political influence. Makebi has positioned himself as custodian of the Lungu legacy. His line, “We will give President Lungu a dignified burial,” was a coded promise to the PF family that he will restore the old order.

He speaks the language cadres understand. That makes him electrifying within PF but limiting outside it. Many of the voters who rejected Lungu in 2021 did so partly because of cadre violence and patronage politics. Makebi is leaning into that very model.

The Rest: Bridesmaids in a Ceremony Already Decided

The remaining aspirants add no weight to the race. Given Lubinda is a placeholder acting president with no constituency. Willah Mudolo has a polished accent but no provincial footprint. Chishimba Kambwili is battling illness, a damaged public image and a tribal record that makes him unelectable in key voting blocs. Emmanuel Mwamba remains an online candidate afraid of returning home to test his supposed popularity. The others orbit these figures with no money, no machinery, no endorsement and no emotional constituency.

Their presence creates the illusion of choice, but they do not feature in delegate arithmetic. They cannot marshal buses, provincial teams or a credible digital presence. Their votes will be swallowed by either the structure candidate or the money candidate.

Binary Election

PF is choosing between two futures:

Mundubile brings structure, sobriety, institutional loyalty and geographic depth. The unpopular option for cadres but the credible option for mature delegates.

Makebi commands emotion, money, nostalgia and Lungu family blessing. The popular option for cadres but a risky option for a national ticket.

One candidate dominates internal numbers.
The other dominates noise, imagery and momentum.

Final Word

PF must now decide what it wants to become. A restructured political institution capable of contesting 2026, or a resurrected version of its old self rebuilt around sentiment and nostalgia. In a convention shaped by scarcity and factional wounds, only two men have a path to victory. The rest will watch from the gallery.

© The People’s Brief | Political Desk

GIVEN LUBINDA SAYS NAKACINDA WAS JAILED UNDER A LAW THAT NO LONGER EXISTS

By: Thomas Afroman Mwale

The Lusaka High Court has denied bail pending appeal to Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Raphael Nakacinda, who is serving an 18-month prison sentence for defaming President Hakainde Hichilema.

Mr Nakacinda was convicted after alleging that the Head of State had summoned judges to his residence to influence judicial decisions.

reacting to the ruling, Acting PF Leader Given Lubinda expressed disappointment, stating that the party had hoped Nakacinda would be granted bail.

Mr Lubinda, who previously served as Minister of Justice, argued that the law under which Nakacinda was convicted had been repealed and no longer exists in Zambia’s statutes.

he affirmed that the PF would continue pursuing bail, maintaining that the conviction is based on a defunct legal provision.
#SunFmTvNews

MWALITETA DEMANDS TREASON CHARGES AFTER ATTACK ON PRESIDENT HICHILEMA IN CHINGOLA

Lusaka, November 10, 2025

Lusaka Province UPND Chairperson, Obvious Mwaliteta, has condemned the violent attack on President Hakainde Hichilema’s motorcade in Chingola, calling it a deliberate and politically motivated assassination attempt.

He demanded the arrest and prosecution of all suspects, including treason charges, describing the assault as “a coordinated act by political opponents desperate to undermine the President’s leadership.”

Mwaliteta noted this is the second attempted attack in Chingola, referencing a similar incident during the 2021 campaign period. He further called for accountability within security wings, citing a serious lapse in presidential protection.

He criticized reports of individuals celebrating the attack, calling the behaviour “criminal and unpatriotic,” and urged police to investigate all those involved.

The President was in Chingola to offer support to victims of the recent Chiwempala Market fire, including a K10 million empowerment package, a gesture Mwaliteta said was met with unjustifiable hostility.

He assured the nation that the UPND will not retaliate but will rely on law enforcement to conduct a full and professional investigation and bring all perpetrators and their sponsor to justice.

ODM

AN ATTEMPT TO HARM PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA SHOULD NEVER BE FORGIVEN – HON.
AMUTIKE

Stoning the President was more than evil,it was a treasonous act of political terrorism, a direct assault on our democracy and the very office that embodies our nation’s will.

Mongu Central MP Oliver Amutike has condemned the cowardly and unpatriotic thugs that stoned President Hakainde Hichilema in Chingola.

President Hakainde Hichilema is our life, our hope and our economic compass. He is the architect of our nation’s recovery, the one leader brave enough to clean up the filth and corruption left by previous failed regimes.

Why should you want to kill a man who increased CDF to K40 million?

This attack is not just on a man, but on the future of every Zambian citizen who benefits from his unprecedented developmental reforms.

What crime did President Hakainde Hichilema commit for creating a peaceful environment of law and order? His only “crime” in the eyes of these violent elements is success. I mean success in restoring our economy, our international standing and the rule of law they so blatantly disregard.

We will not allow him to be subjected to danger. Let this be a final warning to all who would threaten our peace: the full, unyielding force of the state will be unleashed upon you. We will defend our President and our democracy with every resource at our disposal.

The law must come down with its full force on some Copperbelt criminals.Their actions are a betrayal of the Zambian people and the constitutional order.

A severe punishment is necessary to uphold the rule of law and demonstrate that no one is above it. This is not about politics but it is about protecting the very fabric of our society.

Honorable Oliver Mumbuna Amutike -Mongu Central MP.

ENG KATOTOBWE JOINS PF PRESIDENTIAL RACE

….as he calls for honest political conversations

Lusaka… Tuesday November 11, 2025 (SMART EAGLES)

Construction Industry titan Eng. Chanda Katotobwe, Member of Parliament for Luapula Constituency, has officially submitted his application to contest the Patriotic Front (PF) presidency.

In an interview after submitting his credentials, the Luapula Strongman said the only way to uplift the welfare of the Zambian people especially from poverty which has continued to increase is by having an honest political conversation.

He says he has been a genuinely loyal and consistent member of the PF party despite the numerous  challenges the party continue to go through after losing power in 2021.

Eng. Katotobwe condemned the use of fraud statistical data to deceive the masses who remain in abject poverty of imaginary national development.

“What I bring to the table is an honest political conversation in developing practical solutions to create wealth for our people, uplift them out of poverty and launch a genuine national development crusade anchored on science and technology. I want to secure the future of this country by developing various clusters of youths to participate at all levels as the youths are a major conveyor belt in the continuity of the life cycle of any nation,” he stated.

He further said he will build on the visions of both former late Republican Presidents Michael Chilufya Sata and Edgar Chagwa Lungu as expulsed in the PF manifesto being a pro-poor party.

He lamented the unfortunate circumstances which has culminated in the non burial of the late Sixth Republican President Dr. Lungu.

“May the spirit and soul of our late President Edgar Chagwa Lungu rest in eternal power and continue fighting for the wellbeing of our Zambian people,” he concluded.

Eng Katotobwe was accompanied by his elder sister Exhildah Katotobwe when he went to file in his nominations.