ADULTERY HAS BECOME A CULTURE, LAMENTS Rev Walter Mwambazi.
He writes ✍️ On Repeat Sin (Bad Behavior/Habits) 🔊 👉🏾 First time—mistake 👉🏾 Second time—decision 👉🏾 Third time onward—culture
We must be honest: what we’re witnessing today in many circles is not just isolated moral failure – it’s the formation of culture. A culture of adultery. A culture of compromise. A culture of excuse-making. And once sin becomes culture, it seeks legitimacy. It demands tolerance. It even dares to call itself “normal.” 🤨
But Scripture is not silent. 📖 “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” — Hebrews 13:4
📖 “You shall not commit adultery.” — Exodus 20:14 📖 “Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor adulterers… will inherit the kingdom of God.” — 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Adultery is not just a private failure – it’s a public fracture. It breaks covenant. It erodes trust. It destabilizes families. And when normalized, it poisons the moral fabric of communities.
Let’s be clear: polygamy is not a license for adultery. Yes, polygamy existed in ancient times, but it was often accompanied by strife, jealousy, and divine correction. Consider Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon – each bore the consequences of divided affections and household conflict. The New Covenant calls us higher:
📖 “Each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.” — 1 Corinthians 7:2 📖 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” — Ephesians 5:25
This is not about legalism—it’s about integrity. It’s about honoring the sacred covenant of marriage. It’s about resisting the cultural drift that excuses betrayal as “just human nature.”
🛑 Let’s stop dressing up sin with cultural language. 🛑 Let’s stop using historical exceptions to justify present rebellion. 🛑 Let’s stop calling compromise “grace” when it’s really just permissiveness.
Instead, let’s rebuild a culture of faithfulness, repentance, and honor. Let’s teach our sons and daughters that covenant matters. Let’s model marriages that reflect the love of Christ – not the lusts of the flesh.
Because when sin becomes culture, only truth can break the cycle. And truth, when spoken in love, still sets people free. 🔥
Issa Tchiroma Bakary Calls on Cameroon’s Security Forces to “Stand with the People”
In a powerful national address titled “Appeal to the Responsibility of Our Defense and Security Forces,” presidential candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary has urged members of Cameroon’s army and police to act with conscience and uphold their duty to protect the people amid rising post-election tensions.
Speaking days after the October 12, 2025 presidential election, Tchiroma claimed that widespread frustration and alleged electoral fraud have pushed Cameroonians “to the wall.” He warned that the reported manipulation of results could “plunge the nation into despair and uncertainty.”
Addressing the military directly, he said: “You are not the instruments of a man or a regime. You serve one master — the sovereign people.” He called on them to refuse “unjust orders” and not to “turn their weapons against their own brothers, sisters, parents, or children.”
Tchiroma emphasized that soldiers’ allegiance lies with the Constitution, not political figures, urging them to “stand on the side of truth, justice, and peace.” He added, “The moment has come to prove that Cameroon’s army is republican, dignified, and patriotic.”
The appeal comes as protests and reports of irregularities continue to emerge following the vote, with citizens demanding transparency and the “truth of the ballot box.”
NO NEUTRALITY IN THE STRUGGLE, TRAORÉ URGES AFRICANS TO CHOOSE THE SIDE OF LIBERATION
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – In a meeting held at the Kosyam Palace in Ouagadougou this morning, President Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso addressed delegates and youth leaders from various countries, emphasizing the need for African unity, ideological clarity, and the strengthening of revolutionary consciousness across the continent.
According to Dr. Fred M’membe, President of the Socialist Party of Zambia, who was among those present, President Traoré began by expressing gratitude to participants who had traveled from near and far to share ideas and guide the youth in building a lasting foundation for the ongoing revolution.
President Traoré stated that the struggle facing Africa today is divided into two clear camps – that of the oppressors and that of the oppressed – and that neutrality has no place in such a fight.
He argued that anyone claiming to be neutral was either failing to think critically or, consciously or not, supporting the enemy’s cause.
The Burkinabè leader underscored that the greatest achievement of Africa’s current emancipation efforts lies in the development of a genuine African consciousness.
He thanked those who dedicate themselves daily to educating and enlightening the public, warning that the enemy continuously seeks to demoralize and misinform Africans through fake news and propaganda.
Victory, he noted, would depend not only on military and political strength but also on mental resilience – built through well-informed and well-educated citizens who understand their history and the global stakes of the present struggle.
President Traoré also recounted, according to Dr. M’membe, a conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
President Maduro commended him for maintaining direct communication with the African people, recalling how the late Comandante Hugo Chávez used to address Venezuelans daily to counter misinformation.
Chávez, he said, once explained that such consistency was necessary because “the enemy never stops spreading lies.”
In another example of resilience and innovation, President Traoré shared the story of a young Burkinabè woman who had previously attempted to produce medical cotton but faced ridicule and the closure of her factory.
With government support, her initiative was recently revived, and the factory was inaugurated earlier that morning.
The President also spoke about the revival of the Institute of Black Peoples, originally founded by the late President Thomas Sankara.
He stated that the institute should once again serve as a platform for awakening African consciousness and for providing training – both in person and online – to as many Africans as possible.
Meanwhile, President Traoré thanked the delegates for their commitment and wishing them safe travels back to their respective countries.
Shocking US Document Claims Hit Ordered On VP Chiwenga A leaked United States intelligence document alleges a sinister plot to assassinate Zimbabwe’s Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga. The secret file claims that a Belarusian-linked assassin, codenamed BEDROCK, was contracted to kill him. The shocking claims surface at a time when Zanu PF is engulfed in fierce internal battles over President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s succession.
A Classified File And A Codenamed Assassin According to NewsDay on 17 October 2025, the assassination allegations come from a document marked Top Secret and URGENT. It is believed to have originated from the United States government.
The intelligence brief refers to Chiwenga by his liberation-war name, Dominic Chinenge. It describes him as:
“An astute Zimbabwean national and general . . . shadow head of the military and designated with Tier 5 credentials within the presidency.”
The report warns that his growing influence had “placed him in the centre of an aggressive ploy to assassinate him”.
Details in the file claim:
“BEDROCK, in the past three months, has been tasked with surveillance of active locality, surfing of the UAE [United Arab Emirates] and China platforms, communications and currently stands for command to activate active measures within plausible proximity.”
Internal Wars And A Treason Charge The timing of the leaked allegations is significant. On 17 September 2025, Chiwenga submitted a dossier to President Mnangagwa demanding the arrest of several of his allies. These included businessmen Kadukwashe Tagwirei, Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya, Dilesh Nguwaya and Wicknell Chivayo. The Vice President accused them of siphoning billions of US dollars from the state.
Days later, the pushback was fierce. Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, also the Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs, went public, accusing Chiwenga of treason. The charge underscored just how bitter the succession struggle inside Zanu PF has become.
Payments And International Awareness The report goes further, alleging that US$100 000 (about R1.8 million) was wired to a Jersey NatWest account. The money allegedly moved through an offshore trust instrument, AFTRADE DMCC Offshore Trust, which has links to Belarus. The payment was said to bankroll the operational phase of the assassination attempt.
In another disturbing revelation, the file claims:
“DNA and urine samples of ‘Chinenge’ have been collected and analysed to dilute possible counter-measures by Chinenge.”
The final pages assert that the Five Eyes alliance — comprising the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand — is fully aware of the operation. It notes that BEDROCK had previous deployments in Iraq and Equatorial Guinea. A specific file reference is given: ZANUPF372921/08224CGNC.
So far, neither the United States, Zimbabwe, nor Belarus has commented publicly on the document. NewsDay reports that it remains classified under the US National Security Act of 2021.
South Africa’s Sports Minister Writes To FIFA On Bafana Bafana Debacle South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has penned a forceful letter to FIFA and SAFA over the Bafana Bafana points deduction fiasco. He demands answers, accountability, and concedes embarrassment for the nation’s reputation.
McKenzie’s letter: an apology, an investigation, and demands In his formal statement, McKenzie acknowledged the decision by FIFA and expressed deep regret. He wrote:
“As the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, I have taken note of the recent decision by FIFA to deduct three points from Bafana Bafana in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and fine SAFA 10,000 Swiss Francs (about R215,000). This development is deeply regrettable and has brought embarrassment to our nation and the game of football.”
He went on to affirm a public commitment to transparency and accountability:
“The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) will lead a thorough investigation into the incompetence that led to this sanction. We are committed to uncovering the root causes of this failure and ensuring accountability. A comprehensive report will be compiled and shared with the public to provide clarity on this matter and prevent future occurrences.”
This letter to FIFA and SAFA mirrored what he also stated publicly:
“We acknowledge that this situation has brought South Africa into disrepute, and we must take full responsibility for addressing it.”
What the blunder was — and its fallout The deduction centred on a match on 21 March 2025, in Polokwane, between South Africa and Lesotho. Bafana Bafana won 2–0 on the day. But Teboho Mokoena had accumulated two yellow cards and was therefore supposed to serve a suspension; he was nonetheless fielded. FIFA ruled this a breach of Article 19 of the Disciplinary Code and forfeited the match, awarding Lesotho a 3–0 victory.
South Africa lost three points and saw its qualification standing shaken. SAFA lodged an appeal to overturn the ruling.
Despite this drama, Bafana Bafana closed out their campaign strongly, beating Rwanda 3–0 in Mbombela to clinch top spot in their group.
McKenzie doubles down: “No matter is closed” While SAFA President Danny Jordaan has publicly declared the issue closed, McKenzie has pushed back. In a post on X, he said:
“We can’t leave this matter unattended. What have we learned from this?” “We are a country with rules, and Brand SA was hurt tremendously by this blunder. No matter is closed – it’s opening now.”
He also insisted:
“Whoever is responsible must face the full might of the law.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to oversight with these words:
“What I am saying is that under my ministry this matter will not be swept under the carpet.”
A leaked classified document purportedly originating from the United States government has alleged that an assassin was hired to track and kill Zimbabwe’s Vice President Constantino Chiwenga amid intensifying factional tensions within the ruling Zanu-PF party.
According to Newsday, the report, marked “Top Secret” and stamped “Urgent”, identifies a Belarusian-linked “contract asset” codenamed BEDROCK, allegedly tasked with assassinating Chiwenga – referred to in the document by his liberation war name, Dominic Chinenge.
According to the intelligence brief, BEDROCK was assigned to carry out surveillance on Chiwenga’s movements and communications across the United Arab Emirates and China, reportedly preparing to “activate active measures within plausible proximity.”
The leaked file describes Chiwenga as “an astute Zimbabwean national and general, shadow head of the military and designated with Tier 5 credentials within the presidency,” adding that his growing influence had “placed him at the centre of an aggressive ploy to assassinate him.”
The report further alleges that a payment of US$100,000 was wired to a Jersey NatWest account through an offshore trust instrument facilitated via AFTRADE DMCC Offshore Trust, a company linked to Belarus. The funds were reportedly intended to finance the operational phase of the assassination plot.
Intelligence sources cited in the document claim that “DNA and urine samples of ‘Chinenge’ have been collected and analysed to dilute possible counter-measures,” suggesting extensive surveillance and biological tracking of the Vice President.
The document also notes that “FVEY and Washington are fully aware of BEDROCK”, linking the operative to a Belarusian military unit with prior deployments in Iraq and Equatorial Guinea. “FVEY” refers to the Five Eyes intelligence alliance comprising the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The alleged plot emerges at a time of deepening political infighting within Zanu-PF, driven by a fierce succession struggle between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy.
In mid-September, Chiwenga reportedly presented a dossier to Mnangagwa accusing several of the president’s allies – including businessmen Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya, Delish Nguwaya, and Wicknell Chivayo – of siphoning billions from state coffers.
Mnangagwa’s response, delivered through Justice Minister and Zanu-PF legal affairs secretary Ziyambi Ziyambi, accused Chiwenga of treason, further inflaming tensions at the top of the ruling party.
While the authenticity of the leaked document could not be independently verified, its circulation has intensified speculation about the extent of the rift within Zimbabwe’s leadership and the alleged involvement of foreign entities.
Neither the U.S. government, Zimbabwean authorities, nor Belarusian officials have issued any public comment regarding the purported intelligence report, which remains classified under the U.S. National Security Act of 2021.
Mnangagwa’s strategy against his vanquished deputy, VP Chiwenga, appears to follow a well-rehearsed script, one borrowed from the Cyril Ramaphosa vs Jacob Zuma political playbook. In the end, money talks.
Despite Jacob Zuma’s immense popularity in KwaZulu-Natal and his strong liberation credentials, Ramaphosa outmanoeuvred him with calculated precision – the “Chigananda style” of politics. He even stashed large sums of money at his farm and used his financial muscle to bankroll an entire ANC Congress, ultimately turning the tables on Jacob Zuma whose dancing and singing couldn’t save him.
Chiwenga himself has made costly strategic errors. He now finds himself politically exposed, without a strong, visible team to rally behind him. He is increasingly resembling the ill-fated Simba Makoni; isolated, under-supported, and politically vulnerable. Even those who support him will be afraid to be close to him or else they lose them big cars or get into mysterious road accidents.
What he needed was a credible and vocal team to articulate his vision, not lightweight allies like Geza. Being Anti-Corruption alone is not enough at this scale. Unfortunately, Geza is now being cast in the same light as the discredited, USAID-linked NGO protest groups, further weakening Chiwenga’s position both internally and externally.
Even Trump and republicans are not kin on supporting Democrats-like political figures. China is closely monitoring to see who has its best economic interests.
At its core (this ZANU PF Infighting), there are no substantive ideological differences between the two camps – only personality clashes, tinged with subtle tribal undertones. With the full weight of state resources behind him, Mnangagwa has effectively executed his own “Cyril Ramaphosa moment,” decisively outmanoeuvring his long-time ally.
Now, both Mnangagwa and Chiwenga are in precarious positions — political sitting ducks. Any wrong move from either side could spiral into a full-blown career disaster.
The rest of the fist-waving mobs sees Mnangagwa as their only last hope for maintaining a prolonged grip on power. They believe Chiwenga lacks the sophistication and statecraft required to manage the complexities of governance and Houdini escape from the opposition threat during elections.
Mnangagwa, having long served as the backbone of Mugabe’s state machinery, is viewed as the last pillar of “stability” within the system. Now, as he edges toward his twilight years, the mobs clings to him out of fear and desperation – determined to keep him in power until his deathbed, because, quite simply, they have no one else.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has announced that the country’s foreign currency reserves are expected to surpass the US$1 billion mark by the end of 2025, a key milestone in the central bank’s plan to strengthen the ZiG as the dominant local currency.
Speaking at the 11th Annual CEO Africa Roundtable Conference in Victoria Falls, Acting Governor Dr Jesimen Chipika highlighted the central bank’s aggressive accumulation of reserves, which have grown from US$276 million in April 2024 to over US$900 million as of September 2025. At this level, foreign currency reserves cover the ZiG reserve money more than four times, providing the RBZ with significant leverage to stabilise exchange rates.
“With sufficient reserves, the RBZ has enough firepower to intervene in the foreign exchange market to smooth volatile conditions and ensure sustained stability,” Dr Chipika said. She emphasized that building a strong reserve base is essential for instilling confidence in the ZiG and supporting the gradual transition to a mono-currency system.
On the inflation outlook, the Acting Governor projected a significant decline from the current annual ZiG inflation rate of 82.7 percent, largely driven by a one-off price spike in October 2024. She said annual inflation is expected to fall to between 20 and 30 percent by year-end 2025, with a further reduction to single digits in the short term. This trajectory aligns with government targets of achieving double-digit inflation by the end of the year.
Dr Chipika underscored that the eventual transition to a ZiG-dominated economy will be market-led and conditional on achieving macroeconomic stability, including sufficient foreign currency reserves to cover three to six months of imports and maintaining low and stable inflation within the 3–7 percent range.
“Creating a solid foundation for the ZiG through fiscal prudence, reserve accumulation, and inflation control remains our top priority,” she said, highlighting the central bank’s commitment to steering the economy toward lasting stability.
The announcement signals a significant boost to investor and public confidence, demonstrating Zimbabwe’s ongoing efforts to stabilise the financial system and reinforce the local currency amidst broader economic reforms.
“Every Serving Minister of Madagascar, Including Myself, Shall Not Hold an International Passport of Another Nation or Possess Dual Citizenship”
-Madagascar President Colonel Michael Randrianirina declares!
“One of the challenges plaguing Africa is that many leaders hold citizenship in another country they consider home.
They often show little concern for the nation they govern, knowing they can flee to that country for better healthcare or opportunities if conditions worsen.
My former leader would fly to France at the end of each month to enjoy luxuries like burgers, while Madagascar’s citizens struggled to survive.
GROUNDBREAKING OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING PLANT AT LUSAKA SOUTH MULTI-FACILITY ECONOMIC ZONE
17th October, 2025
The Government of the Republic of Zambia today held a groundbreaking ceremony for the establishment of a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing plant at the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone.
President Hakainde Hichilema was represented by the Honourable Minister of Youth, Sports and Arts, Mr. Elvis Nkandu, MP.
The facility, a joint venture between the Government through the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) and Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited of India, marks a major milestone in Zambia’s pursuit of health sovereignty, economic diversification, and industrial transformation.
In a statement delivered on behalf of the President, Hon. Nkandu noted that when the UPND government took office in 2021, medicine availability in public health facilities stood below 40%. Through decisive reforms in procurement, governance, and supply chain management, availability has now surpassed 80% as of 2025. He added that the consistent increase in the national allocation for medicines and medical supplies, from K1.2 billion in 2021 to K4.9 billion in 2025, reflects the Government’s steadfast commitment to ensuring that every Zambian has access to safe, affordable, and reliable healthcare.
The pharmaceutical manufacturing plant will enable Zambia to locally produce over 750 types of medicines and medical supplies, reducing dependence on imports and positioning the country as a regional hub for pharmaceutical innovation and excellence.
Beyond improving access to essential medicines, this project will create significant employment opportunities for young people, beginning with construction works and extending into technical, engineering, research, and production roles once manufacturing commences.
President Hichilema commended Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited and the Government of India for their partnership, reaffirming Zambia’s readiness to provide a stable, transparent, and investor-friendly environment. He further called on all stakeholders, government agencies, regulators, industry players, and the private sector, to support local manufacturing and uphold the highest standards of quality and accountability as Zambia moves towards becoming a producer and exporter of medicines for the nation and the region.
Issued by: Georgia Mutale Chimombo Principle Public Relations Officer / Spokesperson Ministry of Health
SADC LEADERS PLEDGE URGENT ACTION TO END MADAGASCAR’S POLITICAL CRISIS AND RESTORE STABILITY
Southern African leaders have pledged to take urgent steps to help resolve Madagascar’s political crisis and restore stability in the country.
This follows rising political and social tensions in the country.
During a virtual Extraordinary Summit chaired by President Arthur Peter Mutharika in his capacity as Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics reaffirmed its commitment to supporting peace and democratic governance in Madagascar, urging all political actors to pursue dialogue and avoid violence.
In a statement the bloc approved the immediate deployment of a technical fact-finding mission to Madagascar by 22 October to assess the situation and report back by the end of the month.
SADC also called for the protection of vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and the elderly, and directed its Secretariat to coordinate efforts with the African Union, United Nations, and Indian Ocean Commission.
Here Is How Much Bafana Bafana Will Get for Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup
South African football players and the technical team of Bafana Bafana are set to receive a massive R5 million bonus following their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Bafana Bafana to Receive R5 Million Bonus After World Cup Qualification Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie made the announcement in the team’s dressing room after Bafana Bafana’s emphatic 3–0 victory over Rwanda, which secured their top spot in Group A, SABC Sport reveals.
“What you’ve done today deserves recognition. I’m going to give something, but it must be shared amongst all of you. We are going to make you happy because you have made the country happy,” said McKenzie.
Bafana Bafana’s qualification marks their first return to the World Cup in 16 years, having last appeared in 2010 when South Africa hosted the tournament. Their last qualification before that was in 2002.
“They Played With Heart” — McKenzie Praises Players and Coach McKenzie applauded the players for proving critics wrong after the team’s earlier draw with Zimbabwe and the three-point deduction had left many doubting their chances.
“They were doubting and laughing, but our boys played with heart. I want to thank the South African public for standing behind Bafana Bafana. They left everything on the field. Nigeria didn’t help us; we played our football, and we won,” he said.
The minister also reserved special praise for head coach Hugo Broos, who will return to the World Cup 40 years after his last appearance at the 1986 edition with Belgium.
“Before Hugo Broos became the coach, Bafana Bafana were the laughing stock, but this coach turned things around. I’m the happiest minister in the whole world right now,” McKenzie added.
PSL Clubs to Benefit From FIFA’s $355 Million Club Programme In a separate development, Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs are set to benefit from FIFA’s expanded Club Benefits Programme, which will, for the first time, reward teams that release players for World Cup qualifiers — not just the final tournament.
FIFA has allocated $355 million (around R6.4 billion) for distribution to clubs globally whose players feature in the 2026 qualifiers and finals.
The fund, which is nearly 70% higher than in the previous World Cup cycle, follows a renewed memorandum of understanding between FIFA and the European Club Association (ECA).
Previously, only clubs with players at the finals received compensation, but the new model ensures teams benefit earlier in the qualification stages.
Hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg is embracing inclusivity in children’s media after previously expressing discomfort with LGBTQ+ representation. He is now teaming up with GLAAD for Spirit Day, a national event dedicated to supporting LGBTQ youth, and opened up to The Voice contestant Jeremy Beloate about why he now believes in showing diverse families in his animated kids’ show, Doggyland.
In the chat, Snoop said he wants children to grow up understanding that “all families are special in their own unique ways” and that “love has no bounds.” That message is also at the heart of a new Doggyland song he created with Jeremy called “Love Is Love.”
Snoop, known for hits like “Young, Wild & Free,” shared how the song is meant to “build a bridge of understanding” for children. He added, “It’s a beautiful thing that kids can have parents of all walks of life and be shown love — whether it’s two fathers, two mothers, or anything else. Love is the key.”
According to TMZ, this comes after Snoop drew criticism in 2022 when he admitted he was caught off guard seeing a same-sex couple kiss while watching Lightyear with his grandkids, saying at the time he wasn’t prepared to answer their questions.
Now, the rap icon has had a clear change of heart — and is ready to help kids learn that love comes in many forms.
A Nigerian man has gone viral after a video showed him dancing energetically at his wedding, where he married two women on the same day.
Dressed in matching pink traditional attire, the groom and his two brides celebrated their union in grand style.
The groom stole the show with his lively dance moves, drawing cheers from the guests. The unique wedding has sparked widespread reactions online due to its polygamous nature.
Legendary American rapper, Eminem has sparked dating rumors with his longtime stylist, Katrina Malota.
According to TMZ, the “Lose Yourself” rapper and the Michigan-based makeup artist’s relationship turned romantic, though it’s unclear how long they’ve been involved.
For years, Malota has worked alongside Eminem, 52, on the set of his music videos and other projects.
According to the beauty guru’s website, she has also worked with Snoop Dog, Robin Thicke, and 50 Cent.
When she’s not traveling with the “Real Slim Shady” crooner, she’s based at a salon in Birmingham, Mich.
Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, was married and divorced twice to his ex-wife, Kim Scott, in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The 15-time Grammy winner and Scott started dating as teenagers and welcomed their now 29-year-old daughter, Hailie Jade, in 1995 before getting married in 1999. The duo, however, quickly divorced two years later.
Eminem and Scott briefly reconciled in 2006, but once again parted ways that same year.
The exes are also the parents to a 32-year-old daughter, Alaina Marie, and a 23-year-old child, Stevie Laine.
The “Without Me” singer adopted Alaina from Scott’s sister, Dawn, in the early 2000s amid the latter’s struggle with drug abuse.
Eminem got candid about dating after his divorce from Scott in 2017, telling Vulture that it was “tough.”
“Since my divorce, I’ve had a few dates and nothing’s panned out in a way that I wanted to make it public,” he said, admitting he would try to find dates at strip clubs and Tinder.
Real Madrid are reportedly set to release Antonio Rudiger at the end of the 2025-26 season.
Rudiger, 32, joined the Spanish giants on a free transfer from Chelsea in 2022 and he has enjoyed three impressive seasons at the Bernabeu.
The German centre back has been an integral figure for Real, playing 157 times for the club and winning eight trophies, although he has fallen out of favour under Xabi Alonso this season.
According to German outlet BILD, Rudiger’s contract, which is up at the end of the season, won’t be extended.
The report adds that Alonso is not convinced by Rudiger’s consistency and fitness record amid several niggling injuries in recent seasons.
The 32-year-old is currently sidelined due to a thigh problem he picked up at the start of September and he is not expected to return until November.
Eder Militao and Dean Huijsen have established themselves as Real’s preferred centre back pairing in his absence.
Rudiger is also believed to be one of Madrid’s highest earners and given he is viewed as a backup by Alonso, his salary of more than €10million-per-season is seen as prohibitive.
Meanwhile, reports of his potential exit come just months after the German was involved in a training ground bust-up with Real team-mate Jude Bellingham.
Spanish outlet El Chiringuito reported at the time how tensions boiled over in training, with Bellingham and Rudiger having to be separated by team-mates.
It was said that former Chelsea defender Rudiger put a bad tackle in on Bellingham during a small-sided game and received an insult back from the England star.
An Algerian woman has gone on trial in France accused of r@ping, torturing and murd£ring a 12-year-old girl in Paris in a case that horrified the country.
According to Mail Online, Dahbia Benkired, now aged 27, was arrested after Lola Daviet went missing in the northeast of the capital three years ago, and her body was then found in a trunk in the lobby of the building where her father and mother worked as caretakers.
Algerian woman, 27, goes on trial in France for
Benkired, speaking to the girl’s mourning family, today said in court: ‘I would like to ask the whole family for forgiveness. What I did was horrible and I regret it’.
Building residents saw Benkired in the lobby of the apartment block in the 19th district on October 14, 2022, carrying suitcases and a heavy trunk covered in a blanket, the investigation showed.
An hour and a half earlier, security footage showed Benkired approaching the girl as she returned from school, then leading her into the flat her sister occupied in the building.
Investigators say Benkired r@ped and hit the schoolgirl with scissors and a box cutter, then bound her up in duct tape, including around her face, leading to her death by asphyxia.
Algerian woman, 27, goes on trial in France for The presiding judge of the Assize Court, that is today hearing the case told the jurors that Lola’s ‘head was partially severed’ at the neck.
Benkired said today in court that she had forced the girl to undress and wash herself, before forcing her to perform an ‘oral’ act on her for the alleged killer’s pleasure.
She placed the body in a trunk and exited the building, pausing outside a cafe, where she told a client who suspected something strange in her luggage that she was ‘selling a kidney’, investigators said.
She then convinced a friend to drive her and the bags to his home, before taking a taxi with the trunk back to the building where her sister lived.
She fled when she saw police deployed in the area, but was arrested the next day.
A police investigation revealed that a pair of scissors, an oyster knife and an IKEA knife were found with traces of blood.
The Algerian woman had a tough upbringing with aunts before she settled in France in 2013, the investigation showed.
She told the court that she had been abused by family and neighbours as she grew up, claiming her aunts ‘forced her to watch pornographic films… and groped her in the forest.’
It was reported at the time of the k!lling that she was the subject of an expulsion order, prompting stinging criticism from the right and one of the most bitter political debates in recent memory.
She claimed to have suffered something of a mental breakdown following her parents’ deaths in 2019 and 2020. She said she would smoke up to ’20 [cannabis] joints a day’ to deal with this ‘tipping point’.
She had overstayed a student visa and had failed to comply with a notice issued in August to leave France within 30 days.
She told investigators she had been angry with the girl’s mother, who had refused to give her a badge to get through the apartment block’s front door, after her sister had given her a key to her flat.
The probe showed she had conducted searches online into witchcraft days before the murder.
Benkired, whose trial is to last until next Friday, faces a maximum sentence of life in jail.
The girl’s family sat in court on Friday, wearing T-shirts with the words: ‘You were the sun of our life, you will be the star of our nights.’ One woman in her fifties broke down in tears when the defendant entered the dock.
When asked by the judge what they expected from the trial, Lola’s family said they wanted just and for the truth to be revealed.
Lola’s brother Thibault Daviet said, referencing his late father: ‘I would like to speak on behalf of the whole family… and of course my father, who is unfortunately no longer here because of the same person.
US President Donald Trump has refiled his $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, weeks after a federal judge dismissed the original case for being overly long and filled with exaggerated praise.
The renewed filing marks the latest escalation in Trump’s ongoing campaign against media outlets he accuses of bias.
According to court documents seen by AFP, the new lawsuit, filed Thursday, October 16, in Florida, runs 40 pages, less than half the length of the previous 85-page version that Judge Steven Merryday threw out in September. The judge had criticized the initial filing for its “florid writing,” repetitiveness, and excessive length.
The latest complaint targets what Trump calls “false, defamatory, and malicious publications,” including two New York Times articles and a book published by Penguin Random House. It names the newspaper, three of its reporters, and the publishing house as defendants.
Trump’s lawyers wrote that the publications “wrongly defame and disparage President Trump’s hard-earned professional reputation, which he painstakingly built for decades” before entering public office. The suit accuses the defendants of acting “with actual malice,” a key legal standard in U.S. defamation law.
The filing asks the court to award Trump at least $15 billion in compensatory damages and additional punitive damages “in an amount to be determined upon trial.”
Trump’s legal team has framed the lawsuit as part of a broader battle against what they describe as “media corruption and political persecution.” The president has long attacked major outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, and The Washington Post, as “fake news,” accusing them of unfair coverage.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has filed multiple defamation suits. In July 2025, he sued Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal for $10 billion, claiming its reporting falsely linked him to a letter allegedly sent to convicted s3x offender Jeffrey Epstein.
That same month, Trump reached a $16 million settlement with Paramount Global over a segment on CBS’s 60 Minutes, which he claimed had been deceptively edited to favor his 2024 election opponent, Kamala Harris.
While critics say Trump’s lawsuits are attempts to intimidate the press, his supporters argue they are necessary to hold media outlets accountable for spreading what they view as politically motivated falsehoods.
The New York Times has not yet issued a public response to the latest filing.
Inside a quiet lab in the Swiss town of Vevey, scientists at the start-up FinalSpark are keeping tiny clumps of living human brain cells alive, not for medical research, but to use them as rudimentary computer processors. The cells, called organoids, must be constantly fed with a nutrient-rich solution to sustain their function. Unlike silicon chips, once they die, they cannot be restarted.
This new field, known as biocomputing or “wetware”, seeks to harness the extraordinary processing potential of biological neurons. FinalSpark’s co-founder Fred Jordan believes this technology could one day replace traditional processors powering the artificial intelligence revolution.
“Instead of trying to mimic, let’s use the real thing,” Jordan told AFP during a tour of the company’s facility.
Today’s supercomputers simulate the human brain using silicon semiconductors, but Jordan says real neurons are vastly superior: “Biological neurons are one million times more energy efficient than artificial neurons.” He added that living brain cells can be reproduced endlessly in the lab, unlike the costly and limited AI chips produced by firms such as Nvidia.
Biocomputing could also help address the soaring energy consumption of AI systems, which has threatened global climate goals and pushed some tech giants to consider nuclear energy. Still, Jordan admits wetware is “a very long way from competing” with modern hardware.
That hasn’t stopped researchers from wondering, could these tiny brains ever become conscious?
To create its bioprocessors, FinalSpark starts with human stem cells, originally skin cells from anonymous donors, which are reprogrammed into neurons. These are then grouped into microscopic clumps, each only a millimetre wide, forming what Jordan describes as “the size of a fruit fly larva’s brain.” Electrodes are attached to each organoid, allowing scientists to record neural activity and send small electrical impulses. A burst of activity or silence, Jordan explains, represents the equivalent of a one or zero in digital computing.
Around ten universities worldwide are experimenting with FinalSpark’s organoids, and the company even streams their neural activity on its website.
At the University of Bristol, researcher Benjamin Ward-Cherrier used one organoid to control a small robot capable of distinguishing between Braille letters. “Working with robots is very easy by comparison,” he joked. “There’s also the fact that they are living cells, and that means that they do die.” He recalled one experiment that had to be restarted after the organoid died halfway through. FinalSpark says the organoids can survive for up to six months.
In the United States, Lena Smirnova at Johns Hopkins University uses similar brain organoids to study conditions like autism and Alzheimer’s disease, saying the technology could help find new treatments. While she called biocomputing “pie in the sky” for now, she believes its potential “could change dramatically over the next 20 years.”
As for whether the organoids could ever develop awareness, all the scientists interviewed rejected the idea. Jordan said, “This is at the edge of philosophy,” noting that FinalSpark works with ethicists to ensure responsible research. The organoids, he added, “have around 10,000 neurons, compared to a human brain’s 100 billion,” and no pain receptors.
Still, the mysteries of how the brain produces thought and consciousness remain unsolved, and for Jordan and others, that’s part of the allure.
Back in the lab, he opens the door to an incubator housing 16 organoids, each connected by a maze of tubes. As he does, the monitor beside it suddenly lights up with spikes of neural activity. The phenomenon has puzzled his team for years.
“We still don’t understand how they detect the opening of the door,” Jordan admitted.
Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has questioned Yohanne Wissa’s decision to play for DR Congo during the September international window, suggesting that the forward should have exercised more caution and loyalty toward his new club.
Wissa, who joined Newcastle from Brentford in a £55 million deal, has yet to feature for the Magpies after suffering a knee injury while representing DR Congo last month.
The 29-year-old found the net in both of his country’s matches, against South Sudan and Senegal, but was injured in the latter game. His recovery has ruled him out of Premier League action since, and even if he returns on schedule, he is expected to miss part of December and January while playing in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Speaking to Betfair, Shearer admitted it was a difficult situation but said Wissa could have shown more restraint after missing pre-season with Newcastle.
“It will be a really difficult decision for Wissa not to go to AFCON because you always want to represent your country,” Shearer said.
“But what I would say is, because of him not training or playing during the summer, he could’ve shown more responsibility in not playing as much as he did in those two games when he went away on international duty and hadn’t played at all.”
The Newcastle legend acknowledged the pride players feel in representing their nations but pointed out the financial and sporting commitment the club has already made.
“It’s really tough to say to someone they can’t and won’t represent their country when it means so much. And we know AFCON is huge and players want to play in that tournament,” he continued.
“It’ll be a tough ask, but I understand that there’ll be a lot of people thinking that he’s never played for Newcastle and he needs to show some loyalty towards us.
“I get it and understand that point of view because Newcastle shelled out a lot of money on him and he hasn’t been able to take to the St James’ Park turf as yet. It’d be a really tough decision for him and Newcastle. Whether there’s a way around it, I’m not so sure.”
The Mthatha Regional Court in South Africa has sentenced a 45-year-old man to life imprisonment for violently r@ping his wife in front of their minor daughter.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in a statement on Friday, October 17, 2025 said the court further sentenced him to three years for assault, five years for violating a protection order and four years for causing a person to witness a s3xual offence.
The latter sentences were ordered to run concurrently with the life sentence.
Before the date of the incident, the couple and their three children stayed together at their home in KwaTshemese village near Mthatha.
There was a history of domestic violence between them, which propelled the wife to apply for a protection order against the husband. The protection order was granted by the court on 23 November 2022, prohibiting the husband from assaulting the wife and exposing their children to domestic violence.
On the evening of 01 January 2023, the intoxicated husband requested his wife to join him to sleep in a separate house within their homestead. When the wife refused, he got angry and left.
In anticipation of violence that would follow, the mother and her children locked the main door and ran into the bedroom and locked themselves inside.
The man came back in possession of a garden spade, broke into the house using the spade and entered the bedroom. He pushed the woman to the living room and ordered her to undress for them to have s3xual intercourse.
When the wife refused, he severely assaulted her with the sharp end of the spade, causing her serious head and body injuries. He then raped her in front of their daughter.
When the daughter tried to intervene, he also assaulted her. After the commission of the offences, they fled the scene. The victim was taken to the hospital where she had to be admitted for a week, during which she was also seen at the Mthatha Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC), for counselling.
The husband managed to evade arrest until May 2023, when he was apprehended at his place of residence, while still trying to convince his wife to forgive him.
During the trial, he pleaded not guilty, denying all the charges against him without any plausible explanation.
State Advocate Luvuyo Komanisi led compelling evidence, including the complainants, the mother and daughter, and handed in the J88 depicting the extent of injuries inflicted by the accused.
For sentencing, the state handed in the victim impact statement as facilitated by court preparation officer (CPO), Ziyanda Fambaza.
The court found no compelling circumstances for deviating from the prescribed minimum sentences for husband and father, whom it described as “unrepentant and unremorseful”.
Welcoming the sentence, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, commended the collaborative work by police, TCC, CPO and the prosecutor in ensuring that justice is delivered for the victims of the crimes that are a combination of gender-based and domestic violence of the worst form.
Cases of this nature reaffirm the NPA’s commitment to ensuring that perpetrators are removed from our communities, the statement added.
A judge in Lebanon has ordered the release on bail of Hannibal Gaddafi, the son of former Libyan ruler Moammar Gaddafi, after nearly a decade of pre-trial detention.
Following questioning, the judge ordered Gaddafi’s release on $11 million bail and simultaneously imposed a travel ban, according to a judicial official.
Lebanese authorities arrested Gaddafi in 2015, accusing him of withholding information related to the disappearance of Lebanese Shiite cleric Mussa Sadr nearly four decades earlier. Sadr, the founder of the Amal movement, vanished in 1978 during an official visit to Libya, along with an aide and a journalist. Beirut blamed the disappearances on Moammar Gaddafi, who was overthrown and killed in 2011.
Gaddafi’s lawyer, Laurent Bayon, immediately stated that the “release on bail is totally unacceptable in a case of arbitrary detention,” and noted they would challenge the ruling. Bayon emphasized that his client “is under international sanctions” and would be unable to pay the sum, asking, “Where do you want him to find $11 million?”
Hannibal Gaddafi, who is married to a Lebanese model, had fled to Syria before being kidnapped by armed men in December 2015 and taken to Lebanon, where he was ultimately arrested.
In August, Human Rights Watch urged Lebanon to immediately release Gaddafi, stating he had been wrongly imprisoned on “apparently unsubstantiated allegations that he was withholding information” about Sadr.
This month, Bayon had also raised concerns about his client’s health, noting that Gaddafi, who he said suffers from severe depression, had been hospitalized for abdominal pain.
Parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who succeeded Sadr at the head of the Amal movement, has accused Libya’s new authorities of not cooperating on the issue of Sadr’s disappearance, an accusation Libya denies.
US President Donald Trump announced Friday, October 17, that the upcoming peace meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, will be a bilateral event, but he assured that the US would maintain contact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Following a two-hour conversation with Putin yesterday, Trump confirmed the summit, which is set to take place in the coming weeks, though a precise date remains unconfirmed.
The US President confirmed the exclusion of the Ukrainian leader from the in-person summit, citing the contentious relationship between the two Eastern European presidents.
“It’s going to be a double meeting,” Trump said, “But we will have the President Zelensky in touch. There’s a lot of bad blood with the two presidents, and I’m not speaking out of turn when I say it.”
Speaking at the White House, Trump characterized himself as the “mediator president” for the conflict and said he intends to “keep a little bit of distance” between the two warring leaders.
He elaborated, “Three presidents and I’m the mediator president, and I’m mediating. Not an easy situation… It’s a lot easier when people understand each other, when they get together, when they like each other.
We don’t necessarily have that situation, as far as ‘like’ is concerned. Maybe it can turn around, maybe it can. But in the meantime, we’ll have them keep a little bit of distance.”
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a potential trade of Ukrainian drones for US Tomahawk cruise missiles during his White House visit with President Donald Trump.
Zelensky stated that Kyiv needs the Tomahawks and suggested that Ukraine has thousands of domestically produced drones that the US could take in exchange for the long-range missiles, saying, “Ukraine has thousands of our production drones but we don’t have Tomahawks. That’s why we need Tomahawks… They (US) can have our thousands of drones, that’s where we can work together.”
US President Donald Trump expressed hesitancy about the proposal, indicating that the US needs the Tomahawk weapon for its own stockpiles.
At the start of their working lunch, he said, “Hopefully they won’t need it, hopefully we’ll be able to get the war over without thinking about Tomahawks,” and later added that he has “an obligation also to make sure that we’re completely stocked up as a country… We need Tomahawks for the United States of America too.”
Regarding a peace settlement, President Trump stopped short of offering a definitive view on whether Ukraine would need to cede territory to Russia to end the war.
When asked about the possibility, Trump simply replied, “You never know… War is very interesting. You never know. You just never know with war, war and peace, but you never know.” This non-committal answer follows a series of shifting public opinions from Trump on the matter.
Prior to a previous meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he had suggested “land swaps” might be necessary, but he later changed his mind, saying he believed Ukraine could win back all occupied territory. His latest statement suggests he is waiting to see how negotiations progress before stating a firm viewpoint on territorial concessions.
Barcelona superstar, Lamine Yamal, will start refusing to sign autographs for free after agreeing to a deal with a ‘specialist merchandising website.’
According to reports in Spain, the teenage sensation has already stopped signing shirts for supporters at the club’s Ciutat Esportiva training ground due to a deal he has in place with a company.
Mundo Deportivo claims that a Yamal is close to signing terms with a website, which is not named, specialising in selling sports stars’ apparel and merchandise with autographs.
And as a consequence, he has been told by the people who manage his advertising contracts to stop signing autographs.
The 18-year-old’s advertising team is negotiating to market his signed items, such as boots and shirts, among others, and the fewer items he signs for fans at present would add value to his signature.
Therefore, anyone who wishes to obtain a signed piece of Yamal memorabilia will have to go through this website and pay for it.
THE OASIS FORUM POSITION ON THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CONSULT THE PEOPLE AND DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION DATED 7TH OCTOBER 2025 DURING A MEDIA CONFERENCE HELD ON THURSDAY,17tH OCTOBER 2025, COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN ZAMBIA BOARD ROOM
The Oasis Forum, a consortium comprising the church, civil society and the legal profession -including the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), the Non- Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC), and the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has noted the announcement by President Hakainde Hichilema on 7th October 2025 regarding the appointment of a Technical Committee to consult the people and draft amendments to the Constitution of Zambia.
As the Oasis Forum, we regard the appointment of a Technical Committee as a positive step in the country’s long-standing constitutional reform agenda, especially since it follows the directive of the Constitutional Court in the matter of Munir Zulu and Celestine Mukandila vs Attorney General (2025/CC7/009), which nullified the initiation process of Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 7 of 2025.
However, while the action appears progressive in spirit, it does not conform to the established and inclusive constitutional reform procedure that has traditionally guided previous processes.
In this regard, the move, though acceptable in intent, falls short of the correct procedural path necessary to guarantee legitimacy and broad-based ownership of the outcome.
The appointment of a Technical Committee, in and of itself, is therefore not sufficient to yield a legitimate, holistic constitutional reform process grounded in wide stakeholder consensus unless urgent measures are taken to strengthen and safeguard the process.
Equally concerning is the fact that the Terms of Reference for the Committee remain unknown to the public, days after its appointment and subsequent swearing in of the members, raising genuine public transparence fears with the process.
We therefore call upon Government to enact a legal framework to guide and protect the work of the Technical Commiltte to ensure independence, transparency, and accountability.
3. Timeline Must Not Be Tied to the 2026 Elections The constitutional reform process must focus on strengthening democratic institutions and expanding the Bill of Rights t not serving as a quick fix for electoral purposes. We strongly urge that the timeline and roadmap of the Technical Committee’s work not be linked to the 2026 General Elections, as doing so would undermine inclusivily and national consensus.
4. Bill 7 is Dead and Must Not Influence the Current Process The Constitutional Court, in Munir Zulu and Celestine Mukandla vs Attorney General (2025/CC2/009), declared the initiation of Bill No. 7 of 2025 unconstitutional and therefore a nullity.
Despite this, Bill 7 remains before the National Assembly – a situation that undermines public trust.
We therefore call upon Government to formally withdraw Bill No. 7 to demonstrate good faith.
Any attempt to base consultations or draft amendments on the discredited Bill would amount to resurrecting an illegitimate process and would erode public confidence.
Conclusion
The Oasis Forum – comprising the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC), and the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the promotion of Constitutionalism, Rule of Law, and Good Governance, which are essential for Zambia’s democratic advancement and the welfare of its citizens.
THANK YOU STATEMENT DULY SIGNED BY ThE CONVENORS OF THE OASIS FORUM
FREDSON YAMBA TO REMAIN IN JAIL AS COURT REJECTS BAIL APPLICATION
By Nelson Zulu
The Economic and Financial Crimes Court has rejected the request for bail pending appeal from former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba who is currently serving a prison sentence.
Acting Chief Resident Magistrate Irene Wishimanga dismissed the application this morning, stating that it lacked merit and that the proposed appeal had no prospect of success, which means Mr. Yamba will remain in custody.
Mr. Yamba was sentenced to three years in prison last month after being convicted of two counts of willful failure to follow procedure in relation to the purchase of a chancery in turkey.
During the bail hearing, state prosecutors led by Mukuma Chipawa argued that the seriousness of the offences and the circumstances surrounding the transaction weighed against interim release, while the defense sought bail pending the appeal.
Meanwhile, the court is due to rule this afternoon on a state application to forfeit two helicopters and properties in the Silverest Gardens area of Chongwe belonging to jailed former Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Malanji.
Mr. Malanji opposed the forfeiture, arguing that the helicopters are the subject of parallel proceedings in South Africa, that third-party interests remain unresolved, and that the statutory framework under the forfeiture of proceeds of crime act does not support wholesale confiscation of the assets.
Mr Malanji filed his own appeal against a four-year conviction and sentence on September 9, contending that the subordinate court erred in law and fact.
On the same date, Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri also appealed aspects of the trial court’s judgment, challenging the adequacy of the custodial terms and the lower court’s acquittal on one count relating to the royal gibson hotel in court.
This morning, we had a meeting with Comrade Capt Ibrahim Traore, the President of Burkina Faso, at the Kosyam Palace in Ouagadougou. President Capt Traore began by thanking us for coming from near and far to guide the youth, exchange ideas, and reflect on ways to give the revolution a lasting foundation.
He emphasized that in the struggle we are engaged in, there are only two camps: that of the oppressors and that of the oppressed. President Capt Traore further stressed that neutrality does not exist in this fight; those who claim to be neutral have either forgotten to turn on their brains or are working, consciously or not, for our enemies.
The President said that the most important achievement in the emancipation struggle we are waging today is the construction of an African consciousness. He thanked those who work tirelessly every day to awaken minds and arm spirits and spread truthful information – reminding everyone that the enemy never gets tired of trying to poison and demoralize our people through fake news and disinformation.
To win battles on the military front, on the political front, and on the mental front, we must have citizens and young people who are well-informed and well-educated, who know their history, who understand where we want to go, and who are aware of the geopolitical stakes of the current world.
He also told us that when Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro came to see him, he congratulated him for speaking directly to the African people. President Maduro told him that, in his time, Comandante Hugo Chavez used to speak to the Venezuelan people every single day. And that one day, when someone asked Commandante Chavez why he did that, he replied that the people needed it because the enemy never misses an opportunity to poison them with lies.
President Capt Traore also shared with us the story of his meeting with a young woman who, a few years ago, had wanted to start producing medical cotton for healthcare use. At the time, people had called her crazy and said her project was doomed to fail, and even confiscated her equipment and shut down her factory. His government has since given her the means to relaunch her project, and this morning, the factory was inaugurated.
The President recalled that the revival of the Institute of Black Peoples, which was originally created by President Thomas Sankara and later abandoned, must serve as a platform for all those committed to awakening consciousness. He said it should allow everyone to take part and make themselves available to help train as many Africans as possible, whether in person or online.
He once again thanked us and wished us a safe journey back home.
Fred M’membe President of the Socialist Party [Zambia]
IF I FAIL TO GET 1M SUPPORTERS, I’LL KNOW ZAMBIANS DON’T BELIEVE IN ME – SANGWA
MOVEMENT for National Renewal leader John Sangwa says nations are built by the best brains and experience coming together, not by thuggery, arrogance, or intimidation.
And Sangwa says if his track record does not inspire public confidence, then no amount of words can convince people otherwise.
Speaking on Prime TV’s One-on-One programme, Wednesday, Sangwa said running a government was a complex and serious undertaking that required intellect, expertise, and integrity, not brute force.
He was responding to remarks by UPND deputy spokesperson Elvis Nkandu, who recently advised him to rescind his decision to leave legal practice for politics, warning that he would be “bruised.”
“Countries are built by the best brains coming together, people with the best experience. Now when you say it’s dirty you’re basically saying politics is a game of thugs, but it requires more than thugs to govern a country, you need intellect, you need expertise, you need experience, and it’s not easy. When you’re running a government you’re responsible for the lives of about 25 million, it’s a very scary proposition. It’s not a light undertaking and that’s why you need the best brains in the country to join hands and be able to do what’s in the best interest of the country. And we currently have a scandal. And this is a beautiful country, we have everything you can imagine, so rich and yet so poor,” Sangwa said.
Sangwa wondered why anyone would want to “bruise” him for choosing to enter politics.
“It’s very sad, and shouldn’t be because I was just that you’re going to bruise me, what have I done to you for you to say you’re going to bruise me? First of all, we’ve never met, we’ve never met at interaction whether directly or indirectly. And you are just taken aback by the language. First of all, we are one people, we are all Zambians, and we are all trying to find ways and means to better this country, why should we be bruising one another? Instead of talking that kind of language there should be a language of love,” Sangwa said.
The constitutional lawyer further questioned why society accepted the notion that politics was inherently “dirty.”
“And there’s this notion that politics is dirty, then my question is why should it be dirty? And if it is, why shouldn’t we clean it up? Why should we normalise this notion that politics is dirty? I was fully aware of that fact and I said this cannot be accepted as normal and we have to start by cleaning it. I guess what they mean by politics is dirty is that the educated cannot get involved,” he said.
He added that his life’s work speaks louder than his promises.
“One of the guys in the diaspora asked me and said all you guys, you come and speak well, but when you’re given a chance you go and do something else, what guarantee is there? And I said all you have to do is look at my track record, if my track record doesn’t give you comfort, there are no words I can give you that will give you comfort. Whatever questions they have they should look at my life. If they are uncomfortable I don’t have to begin to explain myself. Look at everything that I have done. If you still have doubts then there are no words I can use that will give you comfort because if I have to explain then I have to start lying to you. I always believe that I have to minister to people with my life, not with my words,” he said.
Sangwa also said Zambia’s declaration as a Christian nation should be reflected in how citizens care for one another.
“We say we are a Christian nation, if we are a Christian nation that declaration should not just remain a declaration, we should see it in real life. Which means me being concerned about your wellbeing. Us collectively being concerned about the least privileged people. There are people in this country that are dying needlessly, people are dying who shouldn’t die, people are going without food when they shouldn’t, and we should be troubled. If we are not troubled by the scale of poverty and challenges that this country faces, then that’s an empty slogan,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Sangwa said his goal of reaching one million followers was a test of whether Zambians truly wanted his leadership.
“I admire some of my colleagues who are brave enough to jump in the political arena, form a political party, they are presidents and so on. I have a problem, I’m not that brave because I need some basis on which to believe that actually people know me and they believe in me. That’s why the first thing that we have done is to try and raise a million people. It’s a sign of confidence, if people don’t believe in what I’m sharing with them I won’t reach that one million. But if they do, I should be able to reach that one million,” Sangwa said.
“It’s a test even for me, I’m not arrogant enough to believe that actually people want me to serve them. I’m not that arrogant, that’s why I’ve never claimed any position, all I have said is I want to serve. I have never claimed any position that I want to be president or I want to be this. It’s for the people to decide, based on their evaluation of me, where they think I can be of service to this country.”
Sangwa insisted that he would not reinvent himself to please voters, saying doing so would amount to deceit.
“I can’t be everything, yes, each person brings their own qualities. I can’t be Michael Sata, I can’t be any of those, I can only be me, I know myself. If people do not like me, the problem is I also don’t like to start re-engineering myself and then reconstitute myself for the benefit of the voters, that’s again getting power by deceit. I can only be the authentic me. I can’t give them the sanitised version of me. And not only that, I’m 60 years old and then I can recreate myself, that would be a lie. My character is already baked. One of the guys came to me and said we want you to relate to people, we need to take pictures of you in a minibus, then I said no, that would be trying to lie to the people, I can only be me,” Sangwa said.
And Sangwa accused government of trying to manipulate the Constitution for political advantage ahead of the 2026 elections.
“There is no single sector in this country that is working as it should, that’s the problem, our judiciary is dead, our Parliament is dead, and you have a problem, even the Executive is not conducting itself as it should. For example, why would anybody be thinking of changing the Constitution 10 months before the election? Why would anybody who is sincere and loves this country be seeking to amend the Constitution 10 months before the election? Attend to what people are crying about, not the Constitution. In any case, the timing is off, the problem in Zambia has never been about the Constitution, our problem has been disrespect for the Constitution and what we are seeing is the worst form of disrespect for the Constitution,” he said.
He further criticised those who accepted to serve on the current constitutional technical committee.
“What is even a bigger scandal are those people that have accepted to be part of the technical committee, that’s a scandal because those are educated people that have accepted to be part of that technical committee, it’s simply wrong, that shouldn’t be happening. What’s going to happen is that government is trying to use the Constitution as a political tool to advantage itself for purposes of re-election. And that’s immoral, that’s wrong, it shouldn’t happen,” said Sangwa.
PF MAY ABANDON PARTY NAME IF LEGAL AVENUES FAIL – LUBINDA
PF acting President Given Lubinda says the party may consider using a different name if avenues being explored to get the name of the party back fail.
Lubinda adds that holding the PF together has been a difficult undertaking, especially after losing the 2021 general elections.
Speaking when he featured on Millennium TV’s Pulse Nation programme, Wednesday, Lubinda said his party was exploring a number of alternatives, including talking to Robert Chabinga, in order to get the PF name back.
When asked if the party had considered regrouping under another political party’s name, Lubinda affirmed that the option was open.
“That’s an option that is open for us to use. We could also say we’re having this convention under the auspices of the Patriotic Front. That’s also an option, we have options to use. One is to use the PF with or without having the registered name, the other is for us to abandon it and use another vehicle. It’s like a person who’s on a journey, you’re on the bus and the bus breaks down and the driver of that bus decides he’s going to sleep. He doesn’t want to repair the bus and another bus comes along and it’s empty. What do you do? It’s going in the same direction you are going, what do you do? You jump on the bus because it will take you to the same destiny that the original bus could have taken you,” he said.
“So we’re leaving those options open. We’re using all options including talking to Chabinga. Right now I won’t go into that because we haven’t concluded yet. I don’t want to pre-empt anything. You didn’t know about the conversations we were having with Miles Sampa until the conversations were concluded. So, we’ll leave it at that. All you ought to know is that we’re going to a convention at the end of November either under the PF name or under an alternative and we’re pursuing this including talking to Chabinga”.
Lubinda noted that the decision on whether or not to use a different name would have to be made before the party holds its convention.
He added that his party hoped that the Judiciary would give its judgement on the matter before the convention.
“We’re hoping, and I hope we’re not hoping against hope. I’m hoping the Judiciary will do what’s expected of them: that they’ll dispose of the matter that’s in court. You may have heard the last time when there was a status conference over this matter and later on there was a ruling on the matter, the court told us we have to go to a full trial.
We’re hoping that this full trial can take place quickly and the judgement be handed down. And we hope that the judgement will entail that the party name and the certificate is given back to us, the bonafide owners of the party. And we hope that can happen before we go to the convention. If not, the party will have to make a decision, because we cannot have a convention without having a name and that decision will have to be made by the Central Committee before holding the convention. If we decide that because the name has not been given to us, we may decide that we’re using a different umbrella, we’re using a different name,” he said.
He added that Chabinga had the party name and not the people.
“Chabinga has the registered name called Patriotic Front. But does he have the party? No. The party is the people. The party is made up of the members. And where are the members? Are the members with Chabinga? No. The members are with us, the members of the central committee which was elected together with president Edgar Lungu in April 2021 which at the moment is being led by myself, that’s where the people are.
The secretariat, I mentioned to you that the Secretary General’s Office and the Secretariat are going out, revitalising these structures. They are not answering to Chabinga, they’re answering to Raphael Nakacinda and in effect answering to the central committee that I head. So, we have the party and Chabinga has the registered name. We control the party, that’s what is happening. When we want people to move in one direction they’ll move, when we tell the people to stop moving, they will stop. We’re in control of the party machinery,” he said.
Lubinda lamented that holding the PF together had been a difficult undertaking, especially after losing the 2021 general elections.
“It has not been an easy time to hold the party together especially after having lost elections in 2021. Discerning viewers and discerning Zambians will recall that after the elections of 2021, a lot of people left the Patriotic Front. A lot of them remained mute, they didn’t want to be associated with the Patriotic Front.
There were some who even tendered resignations openly, publicly, they said I’m no longer this or the other, but indeed there were some who stood firm. They believed in the future of the Patriotic Front and they held the party together at great cost to themselves,” he said.
“A lot of people had to suffer all sorts of indignation and all sorts of frustration. A lot of our people who stood by the party were subjected to unnecessary searches at their homes, accounts frozen, businesses closed. I am one of those typical examples who was doing business and the government is holding on to their money. Since 2021 this government has not paid me. Why? Because of my sacrifice to hold on to this party”.
Meanwhile, Lubinda said those who accused him of wanting to sell the PF to the Socialist Party were either sponsored or wanted to bring confusion.
“Those making those allegations, what you have to bear in mind is that some of them were coming from a position of spoiling. They wanted to spoil. There were some who were doing it because they may have been sponsored. I’ve said that it has been clear to any person who has been following politics in Zambia for the last five years that UPND wants PF destroyed and they are using all sorts of methods. Is anything strange if some people were sponsored to create internal problems? That wouldn’t be strange to me.
There are some issues that are internal but there are others also that are fostered from outside. And when you hear people say Lubinda wants to sell PF to the Socialist Party when actually what I have been doing is exactly what president Edgar Lungu wanted us to do: ‘unite all opposition political parties.’ That has been our agenda,” said Lubinda.
“On the 28th of October 2023 when president Lungu decided to come back into active politics, what was his message? His message was, ‘I cannot watch the democratic space being destroyed, I have come back to active politics with one intention, to bring all political parties together.’
So, when some people saw me fraternising with other political parties under the United opposition Front, it suited them to try and create an impression that they were the ones who were more loyal to the Patriotic Front than I am, Raphael Nakacinda, but time has vindicated us. There’s no person who can be more loyal to the Patriotic Front than myself. I am completely engrossed in ensuring that the Patriotic Front succeeds”.
Even KK, Rupiah, Lungu were told they would win, Saki responds to HH
United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) chairperson Sakwiba Sikota has laughed off remarks by President Hakainde Hichilema that people have been saying that he was going to win the 2026 general election but some of the UPND members of parliament (MP) will not win.
During the meeting with provincial leaders at Mulungushi International Conference Centre on Sunday, President Hichilema said he heard that people were saying that he was going to win, but, some of his MPs and councilors would not win.
“These stories I am hearing that President asapita koma ma MP nama councilor ba zalusa (that the President will win, but his MPs and councillors will not win). Manje President azasebeza … Muni ona ine ati nilibe zelu? (How do you expect the President to work alone? You think l am foolish?),” President Hichilema asked. “Manje President azasebenza bwanji eka? Azasebenza bwanji President eka? (How do you expect the President to work alone? How is the President going to work alone?)”
When asked by Daily Revelation what he made of the President’s remarks, Sikota, amidst laughter, said that is what people used to tell
FRIGHTENED LITTLE MEN, SCARED OF THEIR OWN SHADOWS
I listened to the charges of Information Minister Mr Cornelius Mweetwa against me that I am celebrating the removal of the government in Madagascar. What is troubling Mr Mweetwa about the removal of a government in Madagascar? Clearly, these are frightened little men scared of their own shadows. They say the guilt are afraid. Bob Marley would say, ‘Who the cap fit, let them wear it.” The chronology of what happened in Madagascar is not a secret.
Hundreds of angry protesters, led by a young movement called “Gen Z Madagascar,” began taking to the streets of the capital Antananarivo on September 25, with protests over the weekend recording the largest number of demonstrators in the three weeks of unrest.
What began as anger about persistent water and power cuts that leave businesses and homes without electricity or running water for more than 12 hours quickly escalated into frustrations with general governance.
Protesters decried widespread poverty, high costs of living, and state corruption that they say has seen business elites benefit from close contacts in government. Demonstrators began calling for the end of Andry Rajoelina’s 15-year-old government and for a “free, egalitarian, and united society”.
Although Rajoelina sacked his prime minister and attempted a government reshuffle, protesters were not satisfied, culminating in the army”s elite unit, CAPSAT, backing protesters on Saturday in what the president called an “attempt to seize power”. The unit, in a statement, said it refused “orders to shoot” demonstrators.
Angry demonstrators blocked roads with burning tyres and rocks and reportedly attacked public buildings, transport infrastructure, and private shops. In response, security officials responded with “violent force”. At least 22 people have died, and dozens of others are injured.
Rajoelina ignored calls for his resignation and accused protesters, calling for his exit of wanting to “destroy our country.” His attempts to quell the anger by dissolving the government and appointing army General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as the new prime minister on October 6, as well as inviting protesters for talks, were rejected by the demonstrators, who accused the government of ruling “with weapons”.
Who led the protests? Young protesters, led by the “Gen Z Madagascar” group, started the demonstrations in late September, following similar youth-led uprisings witnessed in the past year in countries like Nepal, Morocco, Kenya, and Bangladesh.In Madagascar, protesters said they were demanding an end to 16 years of “inaction” by Rajoelina’s government and promised that they would not be silenced.
“They didn’t want to hear us in the streets,” a statement on the Gen Z Madagascar website reads. “Today, thanks to digital technology and the voice of Generation Z, we will make our voices heard at the table of power on the opposition side. To put an end to 16 years of inaction, let’s demand transparency, accountability, and deep reforms.”
The movement highlighted three demands from the government: the immediate resignation of Rajoelina and his government, the dismantling of the Senate, the electoral commission, and the constitutional court, as well as the prosecution of “the businessman close to the president”, referring to Rajoelina’s adviser and businessman, Maminiaina Ravatomanga.
It warned Rajoelina would be dragged to the International Court of Human Rights on various charges ranging from repression to embezzlement if the demands were not met. Opposition parties initiated the impeachment vote on the basis that Rajoelina had “abandoned” his post.
The country’s high court confirmed CAPSAT head Colonel Michael Randrianirina as Madagascar’s leader on Tuesday evening. Very briefly, this is what happened in Madagascar. This is what I am being given the honour of supporting by Mr Mweetwa! It’s very important for our leaders and our people to fully understand what happened in Madagascar and draw the right conclusions instead of being scared and burying their heads in the sand in the Ostrich style and fashion.
It may sound negative, but I have always thought it as positive to say that the important thing about democracy is that people can remove without bloodshed the people who govern them. The right of citizens to remove a government is known as the right of revolution or right of rebellion, a political philosophy that asserts a people’s right to alter or abolish a government that becomes destructive of their common interests. This right can be exercised through both peaceful means, such as elections or civil disobedience, and through armed struggle in extreme circumstances. In parliamentary democracies, governments can also be removed through a “vote of no confidence” by the legislature.
In democratic systems, citizens can remove a government by voting for a new one. They can also remove a government by civil disobedience – a tactic used by civil rights movements, this involves nonviolent methods to achieve political change. In parliamentary systems, the legislature can remove a government through a vote of no confidence.
Citizens can advocate for changes to the constitution to fundamentally alter or disband the current government. Philosophers and revolutionaries have justified violent methods and rebellion in situations where a government is seen as tyrannical and unresponsive to the people’s needs. In some cases, the right to resist has been exercised through armed rebellion against a government or foreign occupation.
The American Declaration of Independence states that people have the right to “alter or to abolish” a government that becomes destructive of their unalienable rights. This right is often seen as a last resort, to be used only when a government has a “long history of abuses and usurpations.”
As a lawyer, Mr Mweetwa should understand this better and not be so eager to exhibit such crass ignorance and uncouthness.
ZUMANI, LUBINDA RECONCILE AHEAD OF NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
As Zambia prepares to commemorate the National Day of Prayer, Peace, and Reconciliation on October 18th, former Presidential Political Advisor Dr. Chris Zumani Zimba has reconciled with Acting Patriotic Front (PF) President Given Lubinda in what has been described as a warm and brotherly meeting.
The dialogue, held in the presence of senior party officials including PF Secretary General Raphael Nakachinda and MCC Dr. Canicius Banda, focused on fostering unity and healing within the former ruling party as a way of honoring the legacy of the late President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
The two leaders have pledged to work together in strengthening the Patriotic Front and the broader Tonse Alliance ahead of next year’s elections.
Their reconciliation comes after recent tensions within the party, during which Dr. Zumani and Mr. Lubinda clashed over Tonse Alliance matters — disagreements that led to Mr. Lubinda reporting Dr. Zumani to the police for alleged identity theft and harassment.
Renowned Lusaka lawyer John Sangwa says he would have welcomed an endorsement of late former president Edgar Lungu.
Commenting on reports that Lungu was considering him and businessman Willah Mudolo as potential presidential candidates in the 2026 general elections, Sangwa said he was neither aware nor privy to that information.
Asked why he would have accepted an endorsement from someone whose governance style he heavily criticised, Sangwa said as long as something
Fred M’membe Responds to Information Minister Mweetwa’s Accusations Over Madagascar Events
Socialist Party President Dr. Fred M’membe has responded to accusations made by Zambia’s Information Minister, Mr. Cornelius Mweetwa, alleging that he celebrated the removal of the government in Madagascar.
In a statement issued on Thursday titled “Frightened Little Men, Scared of Their Own Shadows,” Dr. M’membe dismissed the accusations, describing Mr. Mweetwa and government officials as “frightened little men scared of their own shadows.” He questioned why the minister appeared troubled by the recent developments in Madagascar, suggesting that those who are guilty are often the most fearful.
Dr. M’membe outlined the sequence of events that led to the removal of Madagascar’s government, emphasizing that the situation was well-documented and public. According to him, protests began on September 25 in the capital, Antananarivo, led by a youth movement called “Gen Z Madagascar.”
The demonstrations, which started over widespread water and electricity shortages lasting more than 12 hours daily, escalated into broader protests against poverty, corruption, and governance failures. Protesters accused the government of enriching business elites through close ties with officials and called for the end of President Andry Rajoelina’s 15-year administration.
In response to growing unrest, President Rajoelina dismissed his prime minister and reshuffled the cabinet. However, these actions failed to appease the demonstrators. The protests reached a turning point when the army’s elite unit, CAPSAT, sided with the protesters, refusing orders to open fire. Rajoelina described the event as an “attempt to seize power,” while CAPSAT stated it would not shoot civilians.
The unrest led to at least 22 deaths and dozens of injuries as security forces attempted to disperse protesters. Demonstrators blocked roads with burning tires and rocks and attacked public buildings, transport systems, and private property.
Despite attempts by Rajoelina to restore order—including the appointment of army General Ruphin Fortunat Zafisambo as prime minister on October 6 and invitations for dialogue—the protesters rejected his overtures, accusing the government of ruling “with weapons.”
The youth-led movement, Gen Z Madagascar, issued a statement on its website, declaring that it sought to end 16 years of “inaction” by the Rajoelina administration. It demanded the president’s resignation, the dismantling of key state institutions—including the Senate, electoral commission, and constitutional court—and the prosecution of businessman Maminiaina Ravatomanga, a close adviser to Rajoelina.
The group also warned that the former president could face charges at the International Court of Human Rights for alleged repression and embezzlement. Eventually, opposition parties initiated impeachment proceedings against Rajoelina, accusing him of “abandoning” his duties. The country’s high court later confirmed CAPSAT head Colonel Michael Randrianirina as Madagascar’s new leader.
Dr. M’membe stated that this summary of events was the same situation that Mr. Mweetwa accused him of supporting. He urged Zambian leaders and citizens to understand the circumstances in Madagascar rather than dismissing or fearing them.
He further elaborated on the principles of democracy and the right of citizens to remove a government that fails to serve their interests. Quoting political philosophy and historical precedents, Dr. M’membe said that the right to remove a government—sometimes called the “right of revolution” or “right of rebellion”—can be exercised through peaceful or, in extreme cases, armed means.
He pointed out that citizens can achieve political change through elections, civil disobedience, or constitutional reforms. In parliamentary systems, he added, governments can be removed through a vote of no confidence.
Dr. M’membe referenced the American Declaration of Independence, which affirms the people’s right to “alter or abolish” any government destructive to their rights, noting that such measures are a last resort after a “long history of abuses and usurpations.”
Concluding his statement, Dr. M’membe said that as a lawyer, Mr. Mweetwa should understand these democratic principles rather than display “crass ignorance and uncouthness.” Credit: Lusaka Times
SUMAILI CONDEMNS GOVERNMENT OVER ALLEGED SECRET ATTEMPT TO ACCESS LATE PRESIDENT LUNGU’S BODY
By: Thomas Afroman Mwale
Former Religious Affairs Minister Godfridah Sumaili has voiced dismay over reports that government officials attempted to access the body of late President Edgar Lungu without his family’s knowledge.
The Lungu family, through spokesperson Makebi Zulu, claims a private investigator was secretly hired to examine poisoning allegations, bypassing the family entirely.
Reverend Sumaili described the incident as deeply troubling for a nation that upholds Christian values.
She further alleged that the family had been prepared to repatriate Lungu’s body three months ago, but the government breached a prior agreement, eroding trust. Calling the situation “sad and embarrassing,” the former minister urged President Hakainde Hichilema to resolve the standoff and let his predecessor rest in peace.
Lungu passed away on June 5, 2025, and remains unburied. #SunFmTvNews
The reasons given by President Lungu’s family, as to why he is not yet buried, have grown up before our very eyes.
1. New born – President Lungu left instructions that his body should be transported home in a private plane. His reasons were that he travelled for treatment as a private citizen, after the government had refused to evacuate him. So, he left strict instructions for his body to return the same way.
2. Toddler – President Lungu said he did not want his successor anywhere near his body. So President Hichilema must undertake to officiate the funeral while keeping a loooong distance from the body.
3. Teenager – the government changed the burial programme. They are also paving the road to Chifwema, meaning the route for the daily passage of the body, from the residence to Mulungushi, has been compromised.
4. Adult – We are going to bury in South Africa to ensure that we prevent President Hichilema from taking possession of the body, literally or figuratively.
5. Senile – Secretary to the Cabinet has not written us a letter we want. The letter is to state to us that the accusation we made is untrue. The accusation we want denied, in writing, is that the Zambian government, through a group that did not include a single Zambian, that, according to us, appeared at the mourtury, tried to carry out a post-mortem on President Lungu’s body. The post-mortem was to prove (or disprove) the claim, made by some random Souh African group, that he was poisoned.
Oh, another grievance is that Archbishop Alick Banda, the family negotiator, is being attacked in Zambia for something that has absolutely nothing to do with the funeral, the body or the burial.
There is an important lesson to be learnt from all this.
It is that emotional manipulation or theatrics should never cause an individual, group or society to depart from what is known to be logical, right, cultural or lawful.
The Lungus, by sounding passionate and highly aggrieved, managed to convince a good part of the country that their rather bizarre reasons, for breaking every known Zambian funeral cultural norm, were justified.
What do we do now with this reason that has reached the age where it is walking with a cane, and has forgotten its own name??
Events in the past few weeks have shown that despite Greyford Monde being way younger in the PF Presidential race, he possesses more maturity and wisdom.
When Sean Tembo led a group of Tonse Alliance members to convene at his house, Given Lubinda sent thugs to disrupt the meeting.
When Given Lubinda himself went to have a radio interview at Radio Phoenix, Brian Mundubile sent thugs to disrupt him
Clearly, the main problem in PF is Given Lubinda and Brian Mundubile camps.
Brian Mundubile has chauvinistic supporters who believe only him can lead their party, and consequently lead Tonse Alliance. Equally, Given Lubinda thinks the same.
And talking numbers, if the PF goes to the convention, Greyford Monde will be a tough contender based on the numbers. He has Southern, Western and Northwestern as well as Central Province. While the rest of the contenders will be sharing Eastern, Luapula, Northern, Muchinga, Copperbelt and Lusaka since all of them are Bembas.
The competition in Southern, Western and Northwestern will be between Given Lubinda and Greyford Monde. But clearly, Monde has more influence than Given Lubinda in those areas.
There is no other PF Presidential aspirant who can equally convincingly beat Greyford Monde in those areas, especially that he doesn’t have penguin hands. Greyford Monde is young but he shares money. Akufumafye akale, ba Monde ka Samfing balapela. He doesnt look at the face.
Nombafye isho midala shimbi shilya sheka nama cadres babo and expect everyone to support them. Those old madalas akaso nobupuba pamulu. If they have akaso now in opposition what more when you make them President?
Government Spokesperson and Minister of Information and Media, Cornelius Mweetwa, has criticised Socialist Party leader Fred M’membe for celebrating the recent military takeover in Madagascar, warning that such conduct undermines Zambia’s democratic values and threatens political stability.
Mr. Mweetwa issued the strong caution during the commissioning of a new female correctional facility in Livingstone yesterday, where he urged political leaders to uphold Zambia’s long-standing tradition of peaceful transitions and constitutional governance.
He stated that it was unacceptable for any political figure to glorify unconstitutional changes of government elsewhere, noting that such attitudes cast doubt on their commitment to democratic principles at home.
Mr. Mweetwa emphasised that Zambia’s democracy is anchored in lawful processes and respect for the rule of law—not military intervention or political disorder.
Meanwhile, the minister condemned rising cases of political violence, particularly within the Patriotic Front (PF), following an alleged attack on opposition leader Sean Tembo’s residence by a PF faction.
He warned that government will not tolerate acts of political lawlessness and urged the PF to resolve its internal disputes within its own structures.
Mr. Mweetwa stated that government will continue to safeguard Zambia’s democratic order and promote issue-based politics that foster unity and national development.
