CHANGALA QUESTIONS MUNDUBILE’S RESISTANCE TO PF CONVENTION
By Chilufya Kasonde
Political commentator and governance activist Brebner Changala has raised serious concerns over Brian Mundubile’s alleged opposition to the holding of a Patriotic Front (PF) Convention, saying the move exposes internal manipulation within the former ruling party.
Changala says it is hypocritical and undemocratic for Mundubile, who aspires to become PF President, to resist a convention that would give other presidential hopefuls a fair opportunity to contest. He challenged Mundubile to prove his popularity by allowing the process to take place freely, adding that only those who fear defeat would want to block others from participating.
“If Mundubile is truly popular in the PF, he should have nothing to fear from a convention. The fact that he wants to avoid it shows that he lacks confidence in his own support base,” Changala charged.
He further alleged that Mundubile and Mototwe Kafwaya are working behind the scenes to prevent figures such as Given Lubinda, John Sangwa, and Makebi Zulu from joining the PF presidential race. According to Changala, their plan is to have Kafwaya ‘clear the path’ for Mundubile, making it easier for him to defeat Greyford Monde and consolidate power within a tightly controlled inner circle.
Changala also accused Mundubile of being selfish and divisive, saying he has built his political career on scandalising others through media propaganda. He cited examples of how Mundubile allegedly used the Munyaule Facebook page to tarnish the reputations of former President Edgar Lungu and now President Hakainde Hichilema.
“Mundubile cannot be trusted with the leadership of Zambia. His track record shows that he thrives on destroying others for his own benefit. Such a man cannot be the President of this country,” Changala said.
The remarks come amid growing tension within the PF as factional battles intensify over the future leadership of the once-powerful party. Many observers say the PF’s inability to hold a transparent convention could further deepen internal divisions and delay its chances of rebuilding before 2026.
PF faction secretary general Raphael Nakacinda has denied any intentions to incite Zambians against the government, insisting that although he may be “a very robust politician” in his field, he remains “a man of peace.”
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Testifying before chief resident magistrate Davies Chibwili in a sedition case, Nakacinda said his statement urging PF members to go to former President Edgar Lungu’s Chifwema residence last year, was not meant to provoke violence but to encourage supporters to keep vigil amid reports of a planned police raid.
He explained that on September 26, 2024, he received credible information, supported by a newspaper report, indicating that law enforcement officers intended to raid Lungu’s home
“A day before when we arrived, we tried to engage the police, but they insisted they had instructions from above. By morning, we saw a tow truck with a grinder at the former President’s gate , a traumatising and shocking scene,” Nakacinda testified.
He said the experience compelled him to issue a statement the next day urging PF members and sympathisers to remain alert, not to resist the police, but to ensure any operation was conducted lawfully.
“I issued the statement to preempt what was reported in The Mast newspaper. My message was clear , go and stay vigil, not to resist or disobey, but to be alert,” he said.
Nakacinda told the court that he was later arrested on October 2, 2024, and detained for over 10 days without being taken to court, despite there being no official complainant.
He maintained that his statement had been misinterpreted, stating that it was made in good faith to protect the former President’s dignity and uphold the rule of law.
“My statement may have had strong political tones, but its spirit was peaceful. I have often been called upon by the police to help calm tensions, that should tell you I am not a man of violence,” said Nakacinda…https://kalemba.news/politics/i-am-a-man-of-peace-nakacinda/
People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) President Mr. Andyford Mayele Banda’s Press Address to the Media on Monday 6th October 2025
Title: STATE OF THE NATION
Date: Monday 6th October 2025
Members of the PAC National Executive Committee present here, ground forces present here, members of the media, Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to this very important Press Conference which is aimed at addressing a few issues that are taking place in our great nation.
As you maybe aware, the country edges towards a very critical election in 2026, it is for this reason that as the People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) we have elected like we have done in the past to start regular engagements with the media in order to prepare our people for the 2026 general elections.
We do this to ensure that our people are enlightended so that they can make the right decision in the 2026 elections. We have just come from our very successful convention four weeks ago, where we did not just get a fresh mandate but marked the beginning of political activities for PAC going into 2026.
As you may be aware, PAC will be heading into the 2026 elections for a third time and the only party outside UPND and PF that will be on the ballot 3 times or more. PAC and myself Andyford Mayele Banda first participated in 2016 elections and came out 4th out of 9 and also participated in 2021 where we came out 4th out of sixteen.
Without wasting much time lets get to the main issues that we have to address:
THE BUDGET
The Minister of Finance Honourable Situmbeko Musokwatane presented the UPND’s 5th and final budget to parliament on 26th September 2026.
The Minister proposed to spend K253.1 billion in the 2026 budget. This spend is 32% more than the UPND government’s opening budget of 2022 which was proposed at K173B. In 2026, the government proposes to finance the budget through domestic revenues of K206.5 billion, grants K12.1 billion, Domestic Borrowing K21.6 billion and external borrowing at K12.9 Billion. Domestic revenue under the UPND government has increased from K98.9 billion in 2022 as per budget projections to a projected K206.5 billion in 2026.
That’s a an impressive 109% increment from 2022. Analyzing the UPND’s five years we have noticed an upswing of spending from 173B in 2022 budget to K253.1 B projected for 2026. Understandably, populations are growing and the needs keep rising. In any event we don’t believe any budget including this one has adequately catered for the needs of the population.
However, in the same vein, debt is also on the rise. The UPND has accumulated an approximate figure of USD 4 billion in 4 years across, that is public external debt, domestic debt and domestic arrears. On the other hand, we have seen introduction of various taxes on the business community and individuals.
In 2025 budget, the government had targeted to reduce inflation from 16% to the 6-8% bracket which didn’t work. Of course this is as a result of the high cost of doing business which is attributed partly to the taxes that have been introduced on businesses, cost of imported raw materials, unstable currency and high cost of energy both petroleum and electricity.
The government has projected to reduce inflation to the 6-8% bracket in the 2026 which we as PAC can predict that it will fail due to high cost of commodity as a result of factors attributed above. Despite going into an election year, we don’t see how commodity prices will fall because the factors driving the prices cannot easily be changed.
On the other hand, there doesn’t seem to be political will to drive indigenous private sector participation as the government keeps crowding out funds in government securities through domestic borrowing meant for local entrepreneurs and lack of revolutionary policies to change the economic systems. In this year’s budget the government has increased domestic borrowing from K15.3B to K21.6B. What this entails is that there won’t be adequate funds within the banking sector to lend out to SMEs making it difficult to grow the indigenous grown private sector.
It is very clearly at this point that we have reached a point where both tax and debt have reached a sealing. We have introduced all the taxes imaginable at the moment and the debt situation at the rate we are moving is not sustainable.
In the 2025 budget presented by Minister of Finance more taxes were introduced on mobile money transaction, toll gates increments and a few others. This is in additional to various taxes introduced in previous budgets such as increase in property transfer tax, standard rating of petroleum products, advanced income tax on remittances exceeding $2,000, the revision of income tax, excise duty and many others.
The question we should ask ourselves is that, if all taxes have been introduced and debt acquisition is currently not sustainable, what must we do to keep pace with a growing population needs and to reduce poverty? A World Bank report projected that Zambia needs to create 10 million jobs by 2050 that’s like 400,000 jobs per year that does not include the backlog of young people looking for jobs and other young people having poor quality jobs such as cash for work. In the same vein, according to the Zambia Statistics Agency’s (Zamstats) 2022 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey (LCMS) found a national poverty rate of 60%, with 78.8% of the rural population poor and 31.9% of the urban population poor.
The question is what is needed to start reversing the escalating poverty? Has the UPND reduced poverty in the last four years since coming to power?
As PAC we don’t believe that the poverty levels have been reduced by the UPND due various factors including lack of deliberate policies that focus on empowering the local people and protecting them from exploitation from foreign interests coupled with drought which culminated into the current energy crisis. This definitely has made it difficult for businesses to operate.
It is our view also that the 5 years of the UPND budget has not focus on the matters that need addressing, creating of jobs, reducing poverty and also restructuring our economic systems. If you analyse the UPND’s 5 years of budgeting you will realize that their pride is more on social programs than programs that can lift people out of poverty.
Social programs focus more on social protection than production. While we understand that the vulnerable people in our society must be protected, continuously focusing on just protecting the vulnerable as the key focal point for any government is not sustainable. In fact the lack of adequate revenue generation can also be tied to the fact that people cannot afford various goods and services. If we boost the buying power in the economy you will find that even more taxes will be collected. The manufacturing industry will thrive because people can afford and are capable to buy goods and services. However, if you pin your strategy on social spending, you shrink the economy and as populations are growing that becomes unsustainable.
A nation should not be proud to focus on giving half the population which is poor free things. You hear the UPND says we have enrolled almost 2.4 million pupils in free education. While that is good, its also a sign of the levels of poverty in the nation. Social Cash transfer has continuously increased from the time the UPND came into power from K3.1 B in 2022 to K8.2B in 2025 and K7.6 B in 2026.
The UPND can claim that the increment in Social Cash transfer means far more coverage for the poor but to us as PAC, this is sign that poverty levels keep escalating. Cash for work which was introduced in 2024 to cushion people during the drought has continued even in 2026 budget with a budget of over a billion Kwacha put there.
Even the FISP is more like a social program because the original idea of FISP was to give farmers a head start and graduate them to stand on their own after a period. If you read the 2021 budget presented by the PF, you will realize that FISP of K5.7 which produced 3.6 million tons of maize targeted 1 million farmers. The budget of UPND of 2024 with K8.5 B which produced 3.7 million tons also targeted 1 million farmers. I know you are asking questions that how come PF invested K5.7 billion and managed to produce 3.6 million tons with one million farmers and yet UPND invested K8.7B and managed to only produced 3.7 million with also one million farmers.
Your guess is as good as mine. But the question is can you the UPND government point at the number of farmers that have graduated from FISP in the last four years especially with their Comprehensive Agriculture Policy? There is non. You see we cant we continue treating these programs as social protection programs but must ensure that we capacitate people to stand on their own. As populations grow these programs are becoming more and more unsustainable.
As PAC we shall relook the social transfer program for we know that some on the social cash transfer do not need to be there but just need to be capaciated to venture into farming. Social cash transfer won’t help to reduce poverty in rural areas which stands at 78%.
Over 22 billion was allocated between 2022 to 2025 for dismantling of arrears. When the UPND came into power they found domestic arrears at K46.9B. Despite allocating 22 Billion in dismantling arrears, the current domestic arrears stands at K84 billion.
This begs the question, why keep increasing the spend in the budget when you don’t have the funds to reduce the previous accumulated arrears you inherited? This could also mean that projected revenues are not being collected as planned. For example in the 2026 budget the government has projected to spend K14.5 Billion on Road Infrastructure a jump from K11B in 2025 and K8B from 2024. Why increase the spend on this when the government has increased domestic borrowing from K15B in 2025 to K21.6 Billion. Is it the elections? And why increase CDF if you have to increase domestic borrowing? Is it the elections?
Speaking of which why has the UPND doubled election budget from K600 Million in 2021 to K1.2B in 2026? Have you noticed that? What factors could affect the doubling of budget for elections. Is President Hakainde Hichilema so sure that his personal project of Bill 7 will be go through hence the need to prepare elections for more parliamentarians.
The PAC government will scrap off Cash for Work and invest the money in the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility so that we scale up access to Financing for the poor farmers.
The PAC government will reduce the social cash transfer and invest the funds in the sustainable agriculture financing facility so that we can scale up financing for the poor farmers and focus on production.
We shall enact legislation to stop FRA from buying maize but have them focus on producing and work with the small scale farmers as outgrowers taking the Kaleya small holders farmers model as they work with Zambia Sugar. Farmers needs support, and we want FRA to take the leading role in supporting farmers through financing, agriculture support services and other areas. ZNS must equally get into working with small scale farmers as outgrowers taking into the same model from Kaleya small holders. They should stop being entrepreneur wanna be, trying to do security, block making etc but focus on what they are good at and that’s food production.
To stimulate more economic activity within the local PAC will enact local content legislation to protect Zambians from foreign exploitation. This is the only way we can create jobs if we can get Zambians to have a significant participation in the local economy. Zambians cannot be relegated to mine suppliers in the mining sector but must be involved and be licensed large scale mine owners.
We cannot relegate Zambians to just artisanal mining but must be licensed large scale mine owners. We have energy transition in motion where most mineral commodities such as Copper, Lithium and others that we have in Zambia will be on high demand. We just need to put systems to ensure that we take advantage of the projected demand to raise capital for local people. The game changer is not CDF, the game changer is to ensure that in 3 million copper production target by 2031, 1.5 million or more must be driven by local people. We must create local US$ billionaires. Now that’s a game a changer. In 2024 we produced 820,000 tons of Copper and yet only a small percentange of 80,000 tons is attributed to local mine owners through artisanal mining license. The game must change.
We should protect Zambians from exploitation without apologies. No foreigners should be involved in cleaning business. No foreigners should be selling second hand vehicles. No foreigner should be involved in block making business. No foreigner should keep chickens. No foreigners should be involved in travel agency and many other areas.
We must make ensure that profits are kept in Zambia not repatriated. That’s how we are going to develop the economy. If we make Zambia chipanda odd where everyone walks in and does anything they want we won’t develop this nation. You cannot walk into other countries and do as you wish, first we must protect the local people. You can even see the United States is now requiring people to pay a deposit of US$15,000 from Zambia to travel there. That’s a developed country but they are serious with their American First policy. Hence, it will be critical to enact the local content legislation to protect Zambians first and that’s why our slogan for 2026 says “This time, its time for Zambia.”
In the 2026 budget on Energy, the Minister promises 1500MW to be added to the grid. However, as he did in the 2025 budget the Minister does not categorically indicate which projects are bringing the 1500MW apart from mentioning Mamba thermal plant of 300MW. The energy crisis has affected many businesses and individuals. While we do understand that ZESCO needs to earn a premium tariff by exporting to cover for their expenses due to the low tariffs locally and due to contractual obligations as a result of being a member of the Southern Africa Power Pool, as PAC we believe that bold decisions should have been made early on to stop exports in order to protect the local economy and save jobs that have been lost as result of the energy crisis.
The directive to stop exports at this time, seems like a political ploy meant to hondwink unsuspecting citizens towards the 2026 elections. Hence, now government thinks it’s important to channel more electricity in the compounds where more voters are so that they can think their government is working going into 2026 and get votes from there. Such kind of politics are long gone. With revolutions happening in Africa, it’s clear that political dynamics are changing. Young people are demanding for real solutions not political rhetoric.
While the government has been trying to streamline processes around the energy sector, the major issue and long term goal to attract more investment and sort out the energy crisis is by ensuring the tariffs are attractive. Now this is a decision that need to be bold independent of political expediency.
On the other hand it’s understood that definitely we must look at the vulnerable people in our society’s capability to afford. However, this mentality is the one that has brought us here. Over the decades politicians have been promising people cheap things without thinking of restructuring the economy so that people can afford goods and services at cost. There is no pride in just promising cheap things, we must move towards ensuring that our people can afford these goods and services. If people can’t afford goods and services, supply cannot be guaranteed.
Hence, our focus as PAC is resetting the economy and ensure more activity within the local economy by protecting Zambian businesses from exploitation from foreign interests. Once we do that, we will create more opportunities and jobs and now people can afford goods and services including electricity. That’s when we will solve not just the electricity problem but many other challenges facing this country.
Short term on the energy crisis, we must look at taking advantage of technology to provide financing products to help people get solar and pay on the meter as repayment. We can also get these people off-grid so that we channel this electricity to the real needy areas such as the industries. Technology is available. Government, banks, ZESCO and other Independent Power Producers (IPP) must look into this in order to cushion the current crisis.
The Minister of Energy must actualize the open access regime at Tazama if we want to see stable prices and supply of petroleum products. We cannot continue to be making pronouncements to the nation and yet what is on the ground is different. The TAZAMA pipeline cannot just benefit one company but must be accessible to all Oil Marketing Companies that need to use it. We challenge the Minister to ensure this is streamlined in line with pronouncements made by the President and Minister of Finance.
AUDITOR GENERAL A comprehensive statement will be issued as we are still studying the report the 380 page report. However, leafing through the report, it is clear that our governance has not reformed under the UPND. The same challenges and leakages we have seen over the years still keep coming.
To close all these leakages honest institution reforms are needed. We must stop government from being place where one party comes in, it’s time for one group to abuse it either a political party, tribe or greed business people. That can only change if we institute radical institutional reforms. We must ensure that we run a merit based governance system if we want to see government operate effectively, efficient and impartial.
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
To understand where we are in terms of constitutional reforms we must understand where we are coming from. The defects in constitutional reforms in Zambia is direct copy cut of colonial political systems. When Africans were pushing for independence colonial powers were not happy about that because they wanted to continue on a path of exploitation. It is for this reason that revolts and the call for independence was met with severe reprisal.
In many instances, people were indiscriminately arrested, harassed, tortured, and imprisoned. Freedom fighters were taken to court on trumped-up charges and sentenced to many years in prison. Others had to run away from their countries and live in exile.
Remember that the white colonial powers were in charge of the government so in order to continue controlling Africans and suppress resistance, the colonial powers had to create draconian legislation that saw many people being imprisoned for many years to perpetuate colonialism.
For example, in apartheid South Africa, a law called the Suppression of Communism Act of 1950, was one of the notorious legislations crafted to ban the activities of the Communist Party of South Africa. Despite this law being created against acts of communism, it was abused through its broad definition to target other political groups.
The main purpose was to suppress the liberation struggle. This is where we see legislations such as Cyber Security, which may seem to deal certain good things but when you go deeper you will find that many sections have broad definitions which gives power to those in government to target especially critics of the government. This is a direct pluck out of the colonial leadership template. In additional to these legislations, constitution of colonial governments kept changing to sustain the exploitation. Especially towards independence there were manoeuvres by the British to amend and sweeten constitutions while still leaving them in control.
So all these maneouvers by the UPND government and even previous govern
MDC CONDEMNS MUMBI PHIRI’S TRIBAL REMARKS IN THE STRONGEST TERMS
October 6,2025
Lusaka – The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has condemned, in the strongest terms, the recent tribal and divisive remarks made by former Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Secretary General and Tonse Alliance National Women’s Chairlady, Mumbi Phiri.
In her comments, Mrs. Phiri suggested that political power in Zambia could only be attained through narrow, regional alliances a statement that has drawn widespread criticism across the political spectrum.
In a statement made available to Falcon News, MDC President Felix Mutati described the remarks as “divisive, sad, and a dangerous disservice to our democracy.” He stated that such utterances undermine the fundamental principles of Zambian citizenship and nationhood.
“Zambia belongs equally to all its citizens, regardless of their province or region of origin. Citizens from every corner of this great nation share an equal, inalienable right to aspire and serve in any office,”Mutati said.
The MDC leader emphasized that Zambia’s national motto, “One Zambia, One Nation,” is more than just a slogan it is an unbreakable covenant that has held the nation together through generations and enabled the peaceful transfer of power since independence.
Mr. Mutati further reminded political leaders that leadership should be anchored on merit, service, and delivery not regional or ethnic considerations. He urged Zambians to reject any form of tribal politics and instead promote unity, peace, and love.
Drawing inspiration from his Christian faith, Mutati quoted Galatians 3:28, which reads: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” He said this scripture perfectly reflects the spirit of Zambia’s unity and equality before God and the law.
The MDC President warned that using diversity as a weapon to divide citizens for political gain is a betrayal of the national trust and values upon which Zambia was founded.
The MDC’s statement has reignited the debate on tribalism and regionalism in Zambia’s political landscape. As the nation heads toward the 2026 General Elections, the party has called upon all Zambians to rise above divisive rhetoric and embrace unity, tolerance, and mutual respect.
“Our future as a nation depends on our ability to see each other not as tribes, but as brothers and sisters bound by a common destiny,” Mutati concluded.
People’s Alliance for Change President Andyford Banda yesterday briefed the media on some key developments in Zambia, and raised some interesting questions.
The first one was on the national budget just delivered by Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, particularly relating to its provision for elections.
Banda observed that the budget allocation for elections next year is double what was spent by the precious government in 2021.
“The question we would like to find out is why the amount for elections has risen drastically, even doubled. Is it because President Hakainde Hichilema and the United Party for National Development (UPND) know that they will pass Bill 7, and will need this increased amount to do the things coming out of that, like delimitation…?” he asked.
He also wondered why there is still the push to pass Bill 7.
“If Bill 7 is not about boosting chances for winning next year’s elections, they just withdraw it. If you are confident of winning next year’s elections, then just withdraw it, disband the so- called Technical Committee, and regroup after elections. How can you have a technical committee excluding the Law Association of Zambia, who are the people who interpret the laws, or even the church mother bodies?”
He said PAC could not even go into discussing the merits or demerits of Bill 7 because the process being used is wrong. Let us use correct process as this is the only way to produce a strong constitution. “
Banda noted that he had worked with Hakainde Hichilema to campaign against the Patriotic Front (PF) Bill 10, and asked why now that he is President of the country he is doing this wrong thing.
He said since it was every Zambian’s responsibility to protect the constitution of the country, PAC has pledged to ensure Bill 7 does not go through, and called on citizens to resist all these efforts to amend the constitution before the 2026 elections.
On the compressed timetable for nationwide consultation, Banda said it was impossible to do an effective exercise in the seven months left before dissolution of parliament, for the constitution to be trade before elections.
“It has taken the UPND government two years to actualise the Access to Information law, after assent. How can it take them seven months to complete constitutional amendments in readiness for elections?”
All in all, it was a refreshing take on the many failures of President Hichilema’s government, their desperation to pass Bill 7 to survive the coming elections.
DR LUBINDA HAABAZOKA PRAISES PRESIDENT HICHILEMA’S ECONOMIC REFORMS
He shared………
Since August 2021, Zambia’s economy has undergone significant policy shifts under President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration. The government inherited a difficult macroeconomic environment marked by unsustainable debt, high inflation, currency volatility, and declining investor confidence. Over the past four years, reforms have been aimed at restoring fiscal credibility, stabilizing the macroeconomy, and setting the stage for long term recovery.
Debt Management and International Engagement
A central focus of the administration has been the resolution of Zambia’s external debt crisis. Through sustained engagement with the IMF, World Bank, and G20 Common Framework, Zambia reached a debt restructuring agreement with bilateral and private creditors in 2023 to 2024.
This restructuring has provided fiscal relief by extending maturities, lowering interest obligations, and creating space for higher social and capital spending. Comparisons have been made to the HIPC completion point of 2005, where debt relief similarly acted as a catalyst for growth.
Macroeconomic Stabilization
The macroeconomic environment has shown signs of stabilization: * Inflation, which exceeded 20% in mid 2021, has been brought into single digits in 2024 to 2025, improving price stability. * The exchange rate has experienced volatility but benefited from improved investor sentiment and external support. * Fiscal discipline has been reinforced through expenditure controls, greater transparency in budget processes, and efforts to broaden the tax base.
Nevertheless, pressures remain from high food prices, external shocks, and limited domestic revenue mobilization capacity.
Growth Drivers and Sectoral Reforms
Economic growth has been modest but resilient. Mining continues to dominate, with renewed interest in copper and critical minerals for the global energy transition. Policy reforms have sought to attract long term investment and improve value addition.
In agriculture, initiatives to improve productivity and market access are ongoing, though climate related risks remain a challenge. The energy sector has seen increased interest in renewable projects, supported by government policy.
Social Policy and Human Capital Investment
The government has increased allocations to education and health, recruiting additional teachers and health workers, and implementing free education at primary and secondary levels. These measures are expected to improve human capital formation over time, though fiscal sustainability will depend on effective targeting and efficiency in delivery.
Business Environment and Private Sector Role
The administration has emphasized a private sector led growth strategy, working to reduce regulatory barriers and attract foreign direct investment. Investor confidence has improved relative to the pre 2021 period, with increased participation in the Lusaka Securities Exchange and rising interest in sectors such as energy, agriculture, and ICT. However, access to affordable finance remains a constraint for small and medium enterprises.
Outlook
Zambia’s economy is in a transition phase. Debt restructuring and macroeconomic stabilization have created the foundation for recovery, but sustained growth will depend on structural reforms in agriculture, energy, and industrialization, alongside prudent fiscal management.
The administration has made progress in restoring international credibility and stabilizing the economy, but vulnerabilities including external shocks, climate variability, and high poverty levels remain significant.
In sum, President Hichilema’s economic management has been marked by restoration of credibility, stabilization of key indicators, and improved investor confidence, though the challenge now lies in translating these gains into broad based, inclusive growth. #SunFmTvNews
“WALK TO JERUSALEM ENDS IN MAZABUKA — THE FAITHFUL FINALLY RETURN HOME!”
After weeks of trending and turning heads across Zambia, the “Jerusalem Pilgrims” a religious group from Mazabuka led by the now-famous Rony Mweemba have finally hung up their sandals and returned home. The group, which had set out on an ambitious mission to reach Jerusalem on foot, was found stranded in Ndola, hundreds of kilometres away from their holy destination.
Comprising six families men, women, and children, a total of 48 souls, the group had been wandering across the country under the banner of their church, Goshali. With faith as their compass and the Bible as their map, they journeyed through districts believing the Holy Spirit would part borders the way He parted the Red Sea for Moses. Unfortunately, Ndola became their unexpected “Mount Sinai.”
But divine intervention, this time through government hands came in the form of the Ndola District Commissioner, who, in true Good Samaritan fashion, offered them food, shelter, and safe passage back to Mazabuka. Working with various departments, the DC ensured that the “pilgrims of faith” finally made their way home last evening.
Their arrival in Mazabuka was nothing short of biblical singing, ululations, and tears of relief filled the air as the families stepped off the vehicles, dusty yet determined. The District Commissioner’s Office and the local authority received them warmly, ensuring they were screened and given much-needed counselling to reintegrate them into their community in Mbaya Musuma.
One onlooker humorously remarked, “At least they reached a land beginning with ‘M’ maybe Mazabuka was the Jerusalem God meant for them!”
Indeed, what began as a spiritual expedition has ended as a lesson in faith, hope, and perhaps, better trip planning. The local leadership now hopes that with proper guidance and support, these families will settle back and continue their worship this time with both feet firmly on Zambian soil.
As one elder quipped with a smile, “Next time, we’ll pray for visas instead of sandals.”
In a world where everyone is chasing money to leave a comfortable and luxurious life, the family of a deceased Zimbabwean millionaire, Genius “Ginimbi,” has left all his wealth to perish after a mysterious incident happened to a member who inherited 60% of his wealth.
According to Zimbabwe Police, the 36-year-old millionaire met his untimely death after his Rolls-Royce collided with 3 other cars while celebrating the birthday of fitness trainer, Michelle Moana Amuli.
His real name was Genius Kadungure, but he adapted “Ginimbi” as his nickname, and that became very popular.
Kadungure was a successful businessman with a lot of wealth, hence the lavish lifestyle. He was the Chairman of Piko Trading Holding, Founder of Genius Foundation, and the owner of Club Sankayi, also known as Dreams Nightlife Club.
After Ginimbi died in a Gory accident, his sister, Juliet Kadungure, inherited a large portion of her brother’s wealth and was enjoying the good life her brother left behind.
Interestingly, Juliet died on October 10, 2023, which was supposed to be the 39th birthday of his late brother Genius Ginimbi Kadungure. From Credible sources, Genius Kadungure had 4 houses at different locations: Domboshava Mansion, Holiday Home in Dubai, Phankalane, Botswana, and Greystone Park Home.
Nobody Wants To Touch the deceased Zimbabwean millionaire Ginimbi's properties !! He died on 8 November 2020 in a car accident, His Sister Juliet Who Had inherited his wealth also died in an Accident,The family wants nothing to do with his property
Before Ginimb’s death, his worth was $ 5 million, considering how he spent and the assets he owned.
He had a fleet of cars and a few are Rolls Royce Ghost (2016 model), Rolls-Royce Ghost (2020 model), Rolls Royce Wrath (the one he died in), Bentley Continental GT W12 (2020 Model) Bentley Continental GT (2014 Model), diffrent versions of Range Rover Sport (2019, 2018 and 2017), a Merceded G Wagon (2016 and 2020 Model) and Mercedes Benz S Class (2014 and 2019 models)
Reports indicate that the family decided to stay away from Ginimbi’s wealth after the first person to inherit the wealth died in a car crash, in the same way Ginimbi died.
The Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, is facing a leadership crisis as an exclusive poll of party members reveals that exactly half do not want her to lead the party into the next general election.
The YouGov survey, taken ahead of the party’s annual conference, highlights the deep division within the membership. While 46% support her remaining in place when the country next goes to the polls, a clear 50% are against the idea. This instability is compounded by members being split on whether she will even survive as leader until the election: 49% believe she will be out before then, against 47% who think she will remain.
The survey of 652 Conservative members shows that the members’ favourite is now Robert Jenrick, Ms Badenoch’s former leadership rival.
When asked for their preferred leader, 46% of Tory members chose Mr Jenrick, placing him comfortably ahead of Ms Badenoch, who received 39% support.
This marks a significant turn for Mr Jenrick, who lost to Ms Badenoch in the leadership contest just a year ago, but is now clearly seen by the grassroots as the best option to lead the party.
The poll suggests he is viewed as a stronger candidate, with him beating rivals like Boris Johnson, James Cleverly, and Priti Patel in hypothetical head-to-head contests, although Ms Badenoch would narrowly defeat Mr Johnson.
Beyond the leadership question, the poll exposes a major rift between the party leader and the membership on the critical issue of Reform UK.
Despite Ms Badenoch’s firm rejection of any electoral pact with Reform UK, the vast majority of party members want exactly that. The poll found a commanding 64% of members support an electoral pact to avoid standing candidates against one another in target seats, with only 31% opposing the idea.
The appetite for collaboration is even more radical for nearly half of the membership: 46% would back a full-blown merger with Reform UK, narrowly trailing the 48% who would oppose it.
The desire to unify the right appears driven by a clear fear of a Labour government. Members are virtually unanimous in their opposition to a coalition with Labour (93% against to 6% in favour) in the event of a hung parliament.
In sharp contrast, a significant 73% of members would welcome a coalition with Reform UK in that scenario.
The findings deliver a clear message to Kemi Badenoch on the eve of her party conference: her path to the next election is obstructed by a significant faction of her own membership who favour a rival and who are demanding a political alignment that she has, so far, completely ruled out.
216,000+ Victims of Sexual Abuse By Clergy in the Last 70 Year in France Alone? 😭 A Lamentation by Rev Walter Mwambazi
What does one say to this? (This report was issued this month three years ago and shocked the world – but is this strange really?)
Four years ago, as some of you may be aware, I joined my voice to the advocacy and cry for the shining of a spotlight on what has been going on in certain quarters of the church in Zambia.
As you may be aware, there have been many accusations against a number of well known and popular ministers of God that have been making their rounds on social media concerning sexual victimization and impropriety.
I personally have come under serious attack and criticism by fellow clergy and colleagues for taking on what they are calling a “holier than thou” attitude of judgment whilst others are saying that I am envious and jealous of these successful pastors unlike myself who does not run any church but instead operates a market place ministry.
Let me say this… Please read the caption above again and pause to think for a moment.
Let me now ask some questions…
👉🏾 What emotions does such a headline evoke in your heart and soul?
👉🏾 What do you think has happened to these lives that were violated by men they trusted (clergy)?
👉🏾 How can justice be carried out?
👉🏾 Is this just the tip of the iceberg?
I have gotten reprimanded by many of my colleagues and even relatives who have been telling me that such issues are best handled off social media and that I should approach these erring pastors in private and utilize wisdom.
I agree. That is what Matt 18 recommends.
However, I have some questions…
👉🏾 What do you do with habitual offenders?
👉🏾 What if they don’t want to reform their evil ways?
👉🏾 Should there be legislature that goes beyond the church to bring offenders to book?
As it is right now here in Zambia, I learnt to my absolute shock and horror that a number of clergy I know and respect immensely are bang smack active in this vice.
It has put me in a very awkward situation. By standing to speak strongly against it, I am slowly MAKING ENEMIES FOR MYSELF.
But honestly whom do I honor, men or God?
I can now understand how such issues could have been consistently swept under the carpet by the Catholic Church. Heck, the Pentecostal and Charismatic circles are also proving to be rife with such behavior. The recent events at Gilgal Assembly are heartbreaking to say the least, but I can assure you what you’ve heard is just the tip of the iceberg (won’t say more).
It may not be young boys, but it’s sexual sin none the less.
I can tell you this, we are in trouble. And the church in its current state leaves much to be desired when it comes to issues of what Jesus condemned as being underplayed.
These are justice, mercy and faith.
All three are under siege.
My prayer is that even as these terrible things come to light, true justice can be done for the victims. We have protected the erring shepherds for too long. And they are now operating with impunity.
May the Lord Purge 🔥 His church and preserve His remnant!
PS: Since coming across this fact four years ago, I have become even more shocked by the revelations I am receiving. It has pained me to a point of absolute dread and numbness.
Anyone watched “Sound of Freedom”? That’s the movie about a US agent Tim Ballard who took on a very dangerous mission to rescue children caught up in international child trafficking.
It was opposed by the mainstream media and Hollywood to such an extent that one could not help but wonder if it’s just plain business rivalry or something more sinister.
I know for a FACT that child trafficking is mainly for their use in underage sex (pedophilia) but even worse, Satanic Ritual Abuse – which is an ongoing, very terrible vice that is the reason for this scourge.
My conclusion is that child sexual abuse is perpetrated by individuals that are demonized and are actual reprobates and ritualists.
Jesus gives a very stern warning in scripture against such persons.
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!” Matthew 18:6-7 NIV
California biotech tycoon Serhat Gumrukcu is facing a mandatory life sentence for orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot to kill a father of six and former business partner because their oil deal couldn’t pull through.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, 42-year-old Serhat Gumrukcu of Los Angeles was found guilty and now faces a mandatory life sentence for the 2018 abduction and killing of Gregory Davis, who was taken from his Vermont home and found shot dead at the base of a snowbank.
Gumrukcu is the founder of Enochian Biosciences, and was convicted of planning the deadly plot after Davis — a father of six whose wife was pregnant with their seventh child — reportedly threatened to sue him over a soured oil deal.
Prosecutors revealed that the biotech tycoon recruited his friend, Berk Eratay, 38, who then used a second intermediary, Aron Ethridge, 45, to hire hitman Jerry Banks, 37.
Banks, 37, arrived at Davis’ home on January 6, 2018, in a vehicle fitted with flashing red and blue lights, posing as a Deputy US Marshal and telling the father of six he needed to come in for questioning.
Prosecutors stated that Banks then abducted Davis from his Danville home and murdered him.
On January 7, 2018, Davis’s body was found in a snowbank not so far from his home in Barnet, Vermont.
Prosecutors admitted that after his murder, “investigators quickly discovered emails and messaging indicating the tension between Gumrukcu and Davis over the failed oil deal, resulting in Gumrukcu being interviewed twice by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,”.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, investigators later discovered Gumrukcu had lied in each interview, but cellphone data, purchase records, bank documents, emails, and messages eventually exposed him and his co-conspirators’ roles in Davis’ kidnapping and murder.
Reports indicate that around 2017, Gumrukcu was brokering a multimillion-dollar biotech merger with Enochian Biosciences built around his purported HIV cure — a high-stakes deal that prosecutors revealed made silencing Davis all the more urgent.
Prosecutors added that Davis’s threat to take legal action over their failed oil transaction could have jeopardized Gumrukcu’s bid to gain control of Enochian Biosciences.
It was in May 2022 that Gumrukcu’s downfall came, when he was arrested and taken into custody and was convicted in April of murder-for-hire, conspiracy, and wire fraud.
“Serhat Gumrukcu tried to hide his role in the murder of Greg Davis by paying one man to pay another man to pay the hitman, who shot and killed Greg Davis on a January night in Vermont,” stated Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher.
“Uncovering Gumrukcu’s responsibility for this murder involved years of determined investigation by the men and women of Vermont’s United States Attorney’s Office, working closely with the FBI and the Vermont State Police.”
Banks and Ethridge were arrested in April 2022, while Eratay was apprehended by cops in May.
Jerry Banks was sentenced to 200 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and Eratay received a sentence of 110 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, per The Post.
For Aron Ethridge, it was a sentence of 140 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
In September, Davis’s widow, Melissa, criticized Gumrukcu in court for shattering the lives of her and her seven children by killing her husband, per a Vtdigger report.
“I stand here today not only as a widow, but as the mother of seven children whose lives were shattered the night Gregg was taken from us,” she told Gumrukcu during a Sept. 25 court appearance. “You thought you could silence my husband, but your lies die here in this courtroom.” During that same court appearance, Gumrukcu had his sentencing pushed to November. He is staring down a mandatory life sentence.
As debate intensifies over how President Emmerson Mnangagwa could remain in power or politically relevant until 2030, political commentator Professor Jonathan Moyo has reignited controversy by arguing that Zanu-PF could lawfully extend the president’s current term without a referendum.
According to Prof Moyo, the Constitution allows Parliament to amend the length of a presidential term – currently set at five years under Section 95(2)(b) – through a two-thirds majority vote, without triggering the referendum required for altering term-limit provisions. He argues that the law distinguishes between “term limits” (how many terms a president may serve) and “term lengths” (how long each term lasts).
“The term-limit clause, Section 91 (2), restricts the number of terms a person may hold office. But the duration of a term under Section 95 (2)(b) can be varied by Parliament alone,” Moyo wrote on X (formerly Twitter), citing Section 328 (5) of the Constitution.
He said critics such as opposition senator David Coltart were “confusing two different provisions” of the Constitution. Coltart had earlier contended that extending Mnangagwa’s current term would require two national referendums under Sections 328 (6)–(9), as any move that “extends” a president’s time in office falls under protected term-limit clauses.
“The wording of Section 328(7) is critical,” Coltart wrote. “Even if another term isn’t sought – just an extension of a few years – any such amendment would still require two referenda where it involves an incumbent. It’s disingenuous to suggest that Zanu-PF’s 2024 resolution to extend Mnangagwa’s term can lawfully bypass this process.”
Prof Moyo, however, cited the 2021 Constitutional Court ruling in Marx Mupungu v Minister of Justice, which clarified that term-limit provisions concern the number of terms one may serve, not their duration. “The five-year presidential term is inherently flexible,” Moyo said. “It ‘extends until’ events like resignation, removal, or dissolution of Parliament. The sole constitutional cap on an officeholder lies in Section 91(2)’s two-term limit, which would remain untouched.”
He added that if Parliament amended Section 95 (2)(b) to make presidential terms seven years, President Mnangagwa could remain in office until 2030 – aligning with Zanu-PF’s “Vision 2030” agenda – without any referendum. “It would simply recalibrate the duration of the term through a two-thirds vote in both Houses,” Moyo said, noting that other countries such as Guinea and Ireland already operate seven-year presidential terms.
However, political analyst Mxolisi Ncube described the interpretation as “a test of constitutional loopholes” designed to entrench power. “If Zanu-PF’s resolution passes, the president could stay longer without a public vote, as long as the two-term cap isn’t breached,” he said. “Any such amendment should undergo broad public consultation.”
Meanwhile, constitutional scholar Dr Justice Mavedzenge outlined a different scenario that could still extend Mnangagwa’s political influence beyond 2028 – even without amending the Constitution. Speaking during CITE’s “This Morning Asakhe” X Space, Dr Mavedzenge said the president could resign before completing three years of his term, triggering Sections 100 and 101, which allow a vice president to act as president until Zanu-PF nominates a successor.
“The Constitution says a full term is anything above three years. If Mnangagwa resigns before that mark, it wouldn’t count as a full term, meaning he could run again,” Mavedzenge explained. He said such a manoeuvre, though politically risky, could allow Mnangagwa to return to office later and still remain within constitutional bounds.
He also noted emerging political developments, including efforts to “reconfigure” the vice presidency, which might signal preparations for such a strategy. “When you look at moves to bring in figures like Kuda Tagwirei and growing tensions around Vice President Chiwenga, it seems part of a broader reconstitution of the presidency,” he said.
Dr Mavedzenge warned that Zimbabwe’s constitutional safeguards are fragile due to weak democratic institutions. “A good constitution must be backed by an independent judiciary, a vibrant civil society, and a strong opposition,” he said. “Without this infrastructure, constitutionalism becomes meaningless.”
As the debate continues, analysts agree that whether through legal amendment or political manoeuvre, the question of Mnangagwa’s tenure could become one of the defining constitutional battles ahead of Zimbabwe’s 2028 elections.
One of the most enviable power couples, Cardi B and Offset, is gradually coming to an end, which is quite unfortunate. They both made it clear that it’s not clicking like it used to.
People are spreading speculations about the Divorce process, and this article will debunk some popular rumours and provide you with all the facts you need to know about why Offset and Cardi B are getting divorced.
The couple is going their separate ways after engaging in romantic affairs with other people.
Kiari Kendrell Cephus (Offset) and Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar (Cardi B) started dating in 2017 and secretly got married in September 2017.
A year later, Cardi B accused the rapper of cheating on her with one Jade, also known as Cubeatz, this one of the most publicised cheating scandals in American Entertainment History. Cardi B announced their separation on her Instagram but later deleted the post. They found an amicable way to solve their differences and came back together, but it seems Offset’s cheating behaviour is a recurring one.
In July 2024, the female rapper filed for a divorce after he allegedly caught Offset cheating while she was pregnant with their 1-year-old son, Blossom.
As of October 6, 2025, the Process is yet to be finalized, but people are already spreading some rumours about Offset trying to have 70% of Cardi B’s wealth.
Offset is likely to get half or more of Cardi B’s money and music catalog if they married in Community of Property, but they didn’t, so the rumours about Offset getting a large amount of her wealth are totally false.
If Offset provides evidence of joint contribution throughout Cardi’s career, then he will have a reasonable share.
Offset is worth around $30 million, and Cardi’s worth is around $95 to $105 million.
The high demands of Offset, earning the most from this divorce, keeping their 3 kids, Kulture (7 years), Wave (4 Years), and Blossom (1 year), and Cardi B is dragging her feet away from Offset’s Demands in the name of protecting hers and earning children’s custody is delaying the process.
In September 2025, Cardi B was seen with a Baby Bump, which caused numerous speculations. She later announced she is expecting a baby with Steffon Diggs. Their first appearance was at the Knicks Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 12, 2025.
She states that having an affair with Steffon wasn’t an act of cheating but moving on because there was no love in her heart for Offset after several betrayals.
The Battle continues in court, Fulton County, Georgia, as the 2 uphold their stance.
In addition to the video of 2Pac, AI-generated videos of other celebrities have been emerging online as well. A video created with artificial intelligence showing 2Pac shopping at Target is going viral on social media, and fans have had enough of the controversial use of the technology. The clip shows him interacting with fans while adding various items to his cart.
“I know some auntie on Facebook fell for this video saying PAC alive…AI is scary man,” one user wrote when The Neighborhood Talk shared the clip. Another added: “Ai is really getting out of hand. I guess people aren’t gonna car until crimes are been committed and placed on the wrong people using Ai but whatever smh.”
One more brought up the legal action 2Pac’s estate threatened to take against Drake for using an AI-generated voice of the late rapper during his feud with Kendrick Lamar. They wrote: “And his estate should sue them just like they sue Drake.”
Other users mentioned the viral boycott against Target over the company’s decision to roll back on its diversity, equity, and inclusion measures. “Pac woulda spoke about the DEI shit definitely not shopping at target,” one user wrote.
Read More: Keefe D Claims Diddy Allegedly Placed A $1 Million Hit On 2Pac
In addition to the clip of 2Pac, another video of the late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant is circulating online. The video shows him playing the newest NBA 2K video game.
Using artificial intelligence to create content with deceased celebrities has been extremely controversial in recent years. Back in May, Snoop Dogg said he was against the idea of adding an AI-generated version of 2Pac to any of his songs. “I don’t know about an AI song with 2Pac, because to me, it ain’t real when I got real records with him,” Snoop told Okayplayer. “When we made records, we sat next to each other. We didn’t battle each other, but we was on each other’s head like, ‘Say some dope sht,’ and then go in the booth, and he’s in there cheering me on, and I’m cheering him on.’ AI can’t give you that sht. That n***a’s a robot.”
SA ambassador Nathi Mthethwa’s burial plans pending investigation
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has confirmed that final arrangements for the burial of South Africa’s Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, are still pending.
DIRCO stated that they are awaiting the completion of all formal processes, including the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. The family has expressed their intention to work closely with DIRCO to ensure that Mthethwa receives a dignified send-off befitting his legacy .
Ambassador Mthethwa was found dead on September 30, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile hotel. French authorities suspect suicide, noting that a window in his hotel room had been tampered with and that he had sent a distressing message to his wife the previous evening.
The South African government has refrained from drawing conclusions, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation .
DIRCO has assured the Mthethwa family that his remains will be repatriated to South Africa once all necessary procedures are completed.
The family has expressed their appreciation for DIRCO’s support and is focused on honoring Mthethwa’s memory. The Department has also pledged to provide a dignified send-off for the late ambassador .
As investigations continue, DIRCO remains committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in determining the circumstances of Ambassador Mthethwa’s death.
EFF slams Malema’s firearm conviction as political targeting ahead of 2026 elections
Julius Malema, leader of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has been found guilty of multiple firearm-related offenses stemming from a 2018 incident during the party’s fifth anniversary celebrations in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape.
Magistrate Twanet Olivier convicted Malema on charges including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public place, and reckless endangerment. Malema had claimed the weapon was a toy, but the court rejected this defense .
The EFF has vehemently opposed the verdict, labeling it a politically motivated “witch hunt” aimed at undermining Malema’s leadership.
Party officials, including Head of International Relations Nqobile Mhlongo, argue that the timing of the conviction just ahead of the 2026 municipal elections is suspect. Mhlongo pointed to recent publications portraying Malema negatively and questioned why the case, which had been pending for seven years, was only now concluded .
Malema himself has denounced the ruling as racially biased, noting that his former bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, who was acquitted of related charges, is white. He has announced plans to appeal the decision, potentially up to the Constitutional Court .
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 23, 2026. If sentenced to more than a year in prison, Malema would be disqualified from holding a parliamentary seat under South Africa’s constitution .
As the 2026 municipal elections approach, the implications of this case are likely to remain a focal point in South Africa’s political discourse.
Man shoots another man at his home after finding him with his wife, then takes his own life
A devastating incident unfolded in Matshamahinkanu, Lulekani, during the early hours of Saturday, 4 October 2025.
A 36-year-old man reportedly discovered a 30-year-old man at his home with his wife around 05h00 AM.
It is alleged that the younger man was in a relationship with the suspect’s wife. In a fit of rage, the suspect fatally shot the victim before leaving his wife unharmed. He then proceeded to his mother’s residence, where he tragically took his own life.
The community is left in shock and mourning as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. At this time, further details remain limited, and law enforcement is working diligently to gather more information.
Family seeks answers after Ambassador Mthethwa’s death
The family of the late South African Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, is urgently seeking answers regarding his sudden and tragic death in Paris. Mthethwa, 58, was found deceased on September 30, 2025, at the base of the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile hotel.
French authorities have indicated that he fell from the 22nd floor, and a window in his hotel room had been tampered with. Prior to his death, Mthethwa reportedly sent a distressing message to his wife, apologizing and expressing suicidal intentions .
Despite the issuance of a death certificate, the Mthethwa family remains in South Africa, awaiting confirmation from French authorities on the repatriation of his remains. His brother-in-law, Dr. Sfiso Buthelezi, expressed gratitude for the support received but emphasized the family’s need for clarity on the circumstances surrounding his death .
Adding to the family’s concerns, reports indicate that Mthethwa’s mobile phone was found approximately 800 meters away from where his body was discovered. Family members have questioned the plausibility of the events, stating that Mthethwa had shown no signs of distress and had been in regular contact with loved ones during his time in Paris .
South African authorities have responded by deploying a team of investigators to France to assist in the ongoing probe. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is collaborating with French officials to determine the exact circumstances of Mthethwa’s death .
Mthethwa, a former Minister of Police and Minister of Arts and Culture, was appointed Ambassador to France in 2024. His sudden passing has left both the diplomatic community and the nation in shock. The South African government has extended condolences to his family, praising his unwavering patriotism and service to the country .
As investigations continue, the Mthethwa family remains steadfast in their quest for truth and justice, hoping for a resolution that honors his legacy.
Ramaphosa wins appeal reinstating King Misuzulu’s recognition
President Cyril Ramaphosa has successfully overturned a December 2023 ruling by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria that nullified his recognition of His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini as AmaZulu King.
The original judgment had found that the President failed to initiate the legally required investigative process when objections were raised about the succession, and ordered that his recognition be set aside and a review committee be established.
Now, with the appeal granted, Misuzulu’s status as King is reinstated.
Somtochukwu “Sommie” Maduagwu, a 29-year-old news anchor in Nigeria, died after falling from the third floor of her apartment in Abuja while trying to escape armed robbers who had broken into her home.
Maduagwu worked as a news anchor and producer for Arise News, one of Nigeria’s major television networks. According to People, she jumped from her apartment in a desperate attempt to flee the intruders. She was found unconscious on the ground and rushed to the hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police Ajao S. Adewale described the attack as “a cruel and senseless act that has no place in a sane society.” He confirmed that authorities have launched a full investigation and deployed special teams to track down the suspects.
Arise News released a statement honoring Maduagwu as “a beloved colleague” and “a vibrant voice” who connected deeply with viewers. The network added that she was also a lawyer known for her professionalism and kindness, saying her “spirit, passion, and legacy will endure.”
Benjamin Kalu, Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, expressed sorrow over her death and joined President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in urging security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Maduagwu’s death has left a deep impact on Nigeria’s media community, where colleagues and fans continue to mourn the loss of a promising young journalist.
Acoalition of hospitals, faith-based organizations, educators, and advocacy groups has filed a federal lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s new $100,000 H-1B visa fee. They called it an unlawful move that has upended the nation’s skilled worker system.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco on Friday, argues that the sudden rule change has “thrown employers, workers and federal agencies into chaos” and jeopardized essential services in healthcare, education, and research.
“Without relief, hospitals will lose medical staff, churches will lose pastors, classrooms will lose teachers, and industries across the country risk losing key innovators,” the Democracy Forward Foundation and Justice Action Center said in a joint statement. The groups urged the court to block the policy immediately and restore “predictability for employers and workers.”
Trump’s proclamation, signed Sept. 19, imposed the exorbitant new fee on companies sponsoring H-1B visa applications, citing what he described as widespread abuse of the program to replace American workers with lower-paid foreign labor. The order, which was to take effect in just 36 hours, prompted panic among employers who scrambled to recall employees from abroad.
The administration has not commented publicly on the lawsuit, which also names the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the State Department as defendants.
Congress created the H-1B visa system to help U.S. employers hire skilled professionals in fields where domestic labor is scarce. The lawsuit notes that roughly one-third of H-1B holders are doctors, nurses, professors, and clergy members, many of whom play critical roles in underserved communities.
Critics of the new fee say it would price out smaller employers and research institutions while favoring wealthy corporations. “The $100,000 fee will discourage the best and brightest minds from bringing life-saving research to the U.S.,” said Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors.
Mike Miller of the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America said in an AP report that the plan “prioritizes wealth and connections over scientific acumen and diligence.”
Democracy Forward’s president, Skye Perryman, called the fee “an exorbitant and illegal power grab,” arguing that the executive branch has no authority to unilaterally rewrite a program established by Congress or impose what amounts to a new tax.
The H-1B program traditionally uses a lottery system to allocate visas. Tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and Google account for many of the recipients each year, with California hosting the largest concentration of visa holders.
The lawsuit marks the first major legal effort to stop Trump’s H-1B overhaul, setting the stage for what could become a pivotal court battle over immigration and executive authority.
A Nigerian lady has taken to TikTok to share her heartbreak after discovering that the man she had been dating for two years is actually her uncle.
In a tearful video, she revealed that the relationship, which had lasted for two years, ended abruptly after learning they are blood relatives.
The shocking discovery has left her overwhelmed with shame and confusion, unsure of how to move on.
Expressing deep regret, she urged parents to be more proactive in introducing their children to extended family members to avoid such painful experiences.
Her emotional plea was clear: “Parents please learn to introduce us to all our family members. I dated my uncle for 2 years without knowing we are blood related. How do I move on now, the shame is too much.”
Her story quickly went viral, prompting reactions from netizens who shared words of comfort and similar experiences.
One user, @Amaka, commented: “sorry my love, same happened to me.”
A Kenyan man learned the hard way that technology never forgets, after being caught in a lie by the very CCTV cameras he installed himself.
A Facebook user by name Nevy Jackson confessed how the CCTV cameras he himself installed in his house exposed him to his girlfriend.
According to a post that has since gone viral, the man decided to stay home nursing a hangover one Sunday morning while his family went to church.
His girlfriend, identified humorously as a “short Meru girl” — asked him to pick up milk from a neighbor
Nevy however lied about his whereabouts. He claimed he wasn’t home in an attempt to avoid the errand.
“ I figure if I say I’m not home, I’ll buy myself some time and they’ll probably pick up the milk on their way back from church,” he explained.
Unfortunately for him, he had forgotten about the CCTV cameras he has recently installed in his living room as part of his security business.
Moments later, the “short Meru girl” sent him a screenshot from the footage showing him comfortably seated on the couch, despite insisting he was away.
The man admitted he nearly tried to deny it again, but the camera quality was “too clear” to argue with.
“I almost said, “That’s not me,” but the problem is, the camera quality was too clear — I couldn’t even deny it,” Nevy added.
In a series of chats on WhatsApp, his girlfriend called him out for lying and even sent him shots.
“You say you are not at home, yet I can see you on your phone. If you don’t go pick the milk, I won’t bring you gin. You will continue to nurse a hangover,” she responded.
France’s Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has resigned after less than a month in the post. French President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation, the Elysée Palace confirmed.
Mr. Lecornu’s sudden departure, which was described as unexpected and unprecedented, came just hours after he announced his new cabinet lineup on Sunday.
The composition of the new government was met with immediate and widespread criticism from both political allies and opponents, some of whom claimed it was either too right-wing or not right-wing enough, leading to threats to topple the government.
The new cabinet was scheduled to hold its first meeting on Monday afternoon.
Mr. Lecornu, 39, an ally of President Macron, was appointed prime minister on September 9 and was the seventh individual to hold the post during Macron’s presidency, and the fifth in the last two years.
The resignation further deepens France’s political crisis, which is marked by a fragmented parliament where no single group holds an absolute majority.
The political instability immediately affected financial markets. French stocks dropped sharply, with the CAC 40 index down by 1.5%. French banks led a market sell-off, as Societe Generale, BNP Paribas, and Credit Agricole all experienced significant drops.
The euro also fell against the sterling and the dollar, and French government borrowing costs on the bond markets rose to levels last seen about a month prior, during a previous political stalemate.
In response to the continuing political deadlock, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, called for the impeachment of President Macron.
US President, Donald Trump reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop being “so negative” during a private phone call, shortly after Hamas conditionally agreed to the latest Gaza peace proposal.
The exchange occurred as Tel Aviv and Hamas appeared to be on the brink of a potential deal, nearly two years into the conflict.
The US leader called the Israeli premier on Friday to share what he viewed as “good news” after Hamas’s response to the peace plan. However, according to an Axios report, Netanyahu felt differently, telling Trump there was “nothing to celebrate” about the development and that “it doesn’t mean anything.”
Quoting a US official with knowledge of the call, the report states that Trump “fired back,” saying, “I don’t know why you’re always so fing negative. This is a win. Take it.”*
Officials further told the publication that Netanyahu viewed Hamas’s response as a rejection and reportedly wanted Washington and Tel Aviv to issue a joint statement reflecting this interpretation to counter the narrative that Hamas had reacted positively to the proposal.
Trump, however, reportedly saw the partial acceptance as a crucial opening for a deal, especially after being concerned Hamas might reject his plan entirely. This difference in perspective is what reportedly led to his sharp reaction to the Israeli Prime Minister’s tepid response.
The exchange underscores the determination of the US President to overcome Netanyahu’s reservations and push through a deal to end the war, provided Hamas follows through on its commitments.
Shortly after the private call, Trump publicly called on Israel to halt its air strikes in Gaza, an order that Netanyahu followed three hours later.
Later, in an interview with Axios, Trump stated that “we are close” to a peace deal in Gaza, which he intends to finalize in the coming days. Recalling the conversation, he said he told Netanyahu this was his “chance for victory” and asserted that the Israeli leader had eventually gotten on board. “I said, ‘Bibi, this is your chance for victory.’ He was fine with it… He’s got to be fine with it. He has no choice. With me, you got to be fine,” Trump was quoted as saying.
Delegations from Hamas, Israel, and the United States are scheduled to convene for indirect talks in Egypt on Monday, with President Donald Trump urging negotiators to “move fast” to secure the release of captives in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian detainees and end the war.
A senior Hamas official told news agency AFP that the group’s lead negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, would meet with mediators from Egypt and Qatar in Cairo on Monday morning, ahead of broader talks in the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh.
The negotiations are expected to focus on determining the date of a temporary truce and establishing the conditions for the first phase of the peace plan, which calls for the release of 47 hostages held in Gaza in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.
On his Truth Social platform on Sunday, the US President praised the “very positive discussions with Hamas” and allies, including Arab and Muslim nations. “I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST,” Trump wrote.
Netflix has lost $25 billion since Elon Musk urged users to cancel subscription.
The streaming giant’s market value has taken a massive hit, reportedly slipping from about $514 billion on September 27 to $489 billion by October 3, a decline of nearly $25 billion.
Almost $7 billion reportedly vanished right after Elon Musk’s October 1 post urging followers to drop their subscriptions.
According to Yahoo Finance, Netflix shares fell dramatically on Friday, October 3, marking their biggest weekly decline since April 4.
Over the past five trading days, the stock dropped nearly 5% as Tesla CEO Elon Musk continued urging his 227 million followers on X to cancel Netflix subscriptions. Musk criticised the streamer for allegedly promoting transgender messaging in kids’ shows.
While the Nasdaq and overall markets climbed about 2% to record highs over the week, Netflix has lagged behind Big Tech peers like Amazon (AMZN) and Meta (META). On Thursday, October 2, as well, Netflix shares opened lower, falling 1.2% before trimming losses to end 0.8% down, reaching $1,161 at 2:15 p.m. EDT, Forbes reported. The stock has dropped about 2.4% since Musk tweeted on Tuesday, September 30, that he had cancelled his Netflix subscription. Over the past five trading days, Netflix shares have fallen 4.4%, even as the tech-heavy Nasdaq marks its fifth consecutive day of gains.
$15 billion in Netflix shares were liquidated after one tweet by Elon Musk. “Cancel Netflix.”
He urged canceling the streaming subscription for the sake of children’s health, labelling it LGBT propaganda.
Some reports estimate that Netflix has lost over $15 billion in market value since Musk’s calls began. While conservative sources peg the number at around $25 billion. But regardless of the exact total, analysts agree the timing between Musk’s boycott call and the stock dip is hard to ignore.
Musk has repeatedly called for a boycott. On Tuesday, he wrote: “Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids.”
The Billionaire CEO also reposted messages accusing Netflix of pushing a “transgender woke agenda.” These boycott comes amid the controversies surrounding the cancelled Netflix animated series, Dead End: Paranormal Park, directed by Hamish Steele. Conservative critics claimed the show promoted progressive ideas they disagreed with.
French Influencer Amine Mojito, whose real name is Ilan M., has been sentenced to jail after his syringe prank videos sparked outrage and fear in France.
The Paris Criminal Court made the ruling on Friday, October 3, and sentenced the 27-year-old to 12 months in prison, of which six months shall be served in custody, and the rest suspended.
Mojito was also fined €1,500 ($1,761) and prohibited from possessing or carrying a gun for three years.
The prankster went viral when he posted videos where he injected bystanders with an empty syringe on Parisian streets.
The video went viral just days before the country’s Fête de la Musique (World Music Day) in June, when France was on edge due to unfounded rumors of attacks involving needles at festivals and student parties.
The court in France convicted Mojito of “violence with a weapon not resulting in work incapacity.”
Prosecutors initially demanded a more severe sentence, 15 months in electronic monitoring for five years, claiming that the jokes knowingly aggravated public outrage in an otherwise volatile context.
One prosecutor described Mojito as a “public menace,” stressing that even though the syringes were empty, the fear they incited was real. Several victims testified to experiencing genuine panic, with one likening the experience to a nightmare given ongoing public health anxieties.
Mojito, though, defended himself by claiming the videos were never intended to do any damage.
“I had had the very bad idea of performing these tricks doing mimicry of what I had seen on the internet, in Spain [and] in Portugal,” he told the court, as published in Libération. “I didn’t think it could hurt people. That was my mistake, I didn’t think of others, I thought of myself.”
He went on to detail that the stunt was designed to revive his internet career and to market a physical exercise program, after having experienced, in his own words, a brief period of being an influencer in teen life.
The Taliban’s chief spokesman has firmly rejected Donald Trump’s push to “take back” Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
In a new interview with Sky News, Zabihullah Mujahid said: “Afghans will never allow their land to be handed over to anyone under any circumstances.”
But the senior Taliban member said his government had held talks with the US about reopening the Afghan embassy in Washington DC and the US embassy in Kabul.
He said: “We have discussed this matter and we wish to see the embassies reopened both in Kabul and in Washington.”
It is four years since the Taliban swept to power and only Russia has formally recognised their government.
But Mr Mujahid denied that they have a “legitimacy problem,” claiming that many countries privately had acknowledged their leadership.
“It is not only Russia that has openly recognised the Islamic Emirate. There are several other countries that have extended recognition, though not publicly.”
The Taliban government has increasingly placed restrictions on women and girls, and girls over the age of 12 still cannot attend school.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for two of the Taliban’s top leaders, including the Supreme Leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, accusing them of persecuting women and girls in Afghanistan.
Mr Mujahid, a close confidante of the Supreme Leader, would not commit to whether girls will ever be able to return to the classroom, though. “I cannot make any promises in this regard,” he stated.
When the Taliban took power, the ministry of education said the closure of schools would be temporary and vowed that they would be reopened once it put in place policies that would ensure compliance with “principles of Islamic law and Afghan culture.”
Four years down the line, however, there is still no plan to open the doors of secondary schools to girls in the foreseeable future or allow young women access to higher education.
Recently, Afghanistan was thrust into a 48-hour internet shutdown causing widespread disruption with banks closed, airlines unable to operate and ordinary Afghans prevented from going online or using their phones.
The Taliban’s spokesman said he still was not aware of why the blackout occurred and would not comment on whether the government had ordered it.
“We have not received any official communication from the ministry of telecommunications. Therefore, we are not in a position to comment on the matter,” he said. But one service provider in Afghanistan said in a customer email that the shutdown was ordered by the government.
Human rights activists claimed the shutdown was an act of censorship that harmed ordinary Afghans, including the women and girls now reliant on studying online. It followed previous restrictions on access to the internet in certain provinces in Afghanistan – aimed at “preventing immorality.”
Afghanistan is in the middle of an economic crisis and has experienced severe droughts.
But in a wide-ranging interview, Zabihullah Mujahid said the country had enjoyed “relative peace and stability under a unified government” with more security and “visible signs of economic recovery.”
But malnutrition has soared in the country, and 90% of children under five are in food poverty, according to UNICEF.
Mr Mujahid said it was the “result of decades of conflict and two major invasions that devastated Afghanistan’s infrastructure and economy.”
Massive aid cuts have also played a part. But some women in a clinic for malnourished children in Badakhshan in northeastern Afghanistan told Sky News that the government was also in part to blame, as mothers could no longer work and earn money to feed their babies.
Mr Mujahid rejected this as a common sentiment, claiming that “men remain the primary providers” in the “vast majority of households.”
Women are no longer able to train to be doctors or nurses under the Taliban. The UN condemned the policy as “profoundly discriminatory, short-sighted and puts the lives of women and girls at risk in multiple ways.” But the spokesman insisted the country already had “a sufficient number of female doctors.”
It highlights once again the gulf between the Taliban’s policies and the rest of the world. But the leadership are confident that the country has improved under their rule and that they’re building enduring relationships with other nations that will ensure their success.
“We have qualified Islamic scholars who will deliberate on this matter and find an appropriate solution in accordance with Islamic Sharia,” he said.
Swedish climate campaigner, Greta Thunberg and 160 other activists landed in Athens on Monday, October 6, after being expelled by Israel for taking part in a Gaza aid flotilla.
The activists, who were detained aboard vessels from the Gaza-bound flotilla, were deported from Israel on a special repatriation flight.
Greece’s foreign ministry confirmed that 161 nationals from 16 European countries landed in Athens. The group included Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, who was on the Greece-bound plane. Another ten flotilla activists were deported to Slovakia.
“A special repatriation flight landed safely in Athens carrying the 27 Greek citizens who took part in the ‘Global Sumud Flotilla,’” the Greek foreign ministry stated.
The statement added, “This flight also facilitated the return of 134 nationals from 15 European countries,” though it did not elaborate further on the nationalities.
The Swedish branch of the Global Movement for Gaza confirmed that the deported Swedish nationals were on board the flight.
Upon their arrival at Athens International Airport, activists unfurled a huge Palestinian flag in the arrivals hall and chanted slogans including “Freedom for Palestine” and “Long live the floti
I was for Brian, but I’ve to compare with Mudolo – Davies!
My support was for Brian Mundubile, but I now have to compare him with Willah Mudolo, and it’s my democratic right to do so, says former PF Secretary General Davies Mwila.
Speaking with Daily Revelation over the weekend on the new entrance of South Africa-based Zambian entrepreneur Mudolo into the PF presidential race, Mwila defended Mudolo’s constitutional right to stand for presidency in the former ruling party.
Asked about the reported traction Mudolo is said to be getting in the PFand that already a significant portion of party stalwarts and the base were flocking to South Africa “like they were getting on flash buses” to meet up with him —Mwila responded:
“First and foremost, me from the word go I said I will support Brian Mundubile. That has been my decision. I have not hidden that,” Mwila said.
… says Citizens First President Harry Kalaba is the unifying factor ahead of the 2026 polls.
LUSAKA, Monday, October, 06, 2025 [Smart Eagles]
Revamp Development Change President Robert Chansa has reaffirmed his support for Citizens First party leader Harry Kalaba ahead of the 2026 General elections.
Mr. Chansa says the CF leader is the only unifying factor amidst escalating tribal talks in the nation.
“Zambia needs healing from tribal talks. Harry KALABA is the only one who can stop tribal talks and bring reconciliation in Zambia and he is the best Presidential candidate for next year’s elections, ” Mr. Chansa said
DPP abusing his powers to favour Hichilema’s friends – Mwamba
PF chairperson for information and publicity Emmanuel Mwamba has charged that Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Gilbert Phiri has amended the charge from murder to manslaughter for the sole purpose of ensuring that Maria Zaloumis was granted bail and freed for now.
Mwamba accused Phiri of abusing his powers of DPP to favour the friends of President Hakainde Hichilema.
“In many cases against former Government officials, Phiri opposes bail, he seeks maximum punishment for offenders, never seeks rational, lenient or favourable charges,” Mwamba stated. “He even appeals against cases where accused persons have won cases such as the Honey Bee or Lt. Gen Eric Chimese’s cases. He lays and approves obnoxious and oppressive charges such as the draconian charges of sedition against critics of the President.”
Mwamba stated that within a short period, Phiri found it wise, despite strong evidence, to unilaterally reduce charges from murder to manslaughter and did not oppose bail, and did not object to the flight risk of the foreigner in the matter.
“Kabwe Magistrate Wamundila Liswaniso was on hand to grant bail with utmost favourable conditions,” stated Mwamba. “May the soul of Enoch Simfukwe rest in eternal peace.”
Kingsley Chanda convicted sentenced to 3 years in Jail
Kingsley Chanda, the former Commissioner General of the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), has been in court regarding charges of willful failure to follow procedure in the disposal of government vehicles.
Chanda and his co-accused, former ZRA Director of Administration Calistus Kaoma, have been cinvicted on the charges.
Chanda argued that he acted within his mandate during his tenure and followed internal structures and board approvals for the vehicle disposal process. He supported his claims with memos and a letter from the Treasury that authorized the disposal of obsolete vehicles.
Chanda asserted that the actual disposal of vehicles was handled by an independent interdepartmental Asset Disposal Committee (ADC), which was within its remit to carry out operational matters.
Chanda’s co-accused, Calistus Kaoma, testified that the Asset Disposal Policy presented by the prosecution as evidence was “falsified” and not in effect during the period in question (2017–2020). Kaoma noted several inconsistencies, including the policy citing a 2018 law for disposals made in 2017.
Chanda highlighted ZRA’s rigorous audit framework, stating that the institution was subject to annual audits by internal and external auditors and that none of these audits raised queries about the vehicle disposals during his five-year tenure.
He denied allegations that some vehicles were used for political campaigns or that he had influenced sales to individuals connected to him, calling the claims unfounded.
But Principal Resident Magistrate Sylvia Munyinya-Okoh proceeded to convict the accused and sentenced them to years in prison.
LUSAKA, Monday, October 6, 2025 — Former Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri has continued to attract criticism over her recent tribal remarks, with the United Party for National Development (UPND) youth leadership warning that such sentiments risk plunging the nation into civil strife.
UPND Lusaka Province Youth Chairperson, Anderson Banda, described Ms. Phiri’s statements as “a seed for division and anarchy,” saying they undermine the spirit of unity that Zambia has enjoyed since independence.
Speaking during a press briefing held at the UPND Secretariat today, Mr. Banda said it was unfortunate that opposition leaders were attempting to use tribalism as a political tool.
“It is sad that the opposition has chosen to champion tribalism as a tool to gain political mileage. Exposing our young ones to hate speech, tribal sentimentalism and divisive statements can lead to irreparable damage to national unity,” he said.
Mr. Banda emphasized that President Hakainde Hichilema has made deliberate efforts to entrench the “One Zambia, One Nation” motto by attending traditional ceremonies across all regions of the country, and therefore divisive rhetoric should not be tolerated.
He further urged the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to amend the Electoral Code of Conduct to include a provision that punishes politicians who use tribalism to advance their political agenda.
“The people of Zambia are not interested in tribal hegemony and divisive language. They want meaningful development that will lift them out of poverty,” he said.
Mr. Banda also cautioned Ms. Phiri to desist from promoting tribal sentiments, stressing that Zambians voted for President Hichilema not because of his tribe or region of origin, but because of his economic vision and leadership which has already delivered significant progress.
Patriotic Front to subject alleged tribal remarks by Member of the Central Committee Hon. Mumbi Phiri to investigations and possible disciplinary matter- Patriotic Front Chairperson for Information and Publicity, Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba
Mwamba also condemned the UPND for attempting to jump on Hon. Mumbi’s remarks as a naked mark of opportunism and hypocrisy.
“President Hakainde Hichilema is the most divisive leader Zambia has ever had due his tribal and regional appointments”
COURT DOWNGRADES MARIA ZALOUMIS’ MURDER CHARGE TO MANSLAUGHTER
By Nelson Zulu
Farmer Maria Zaloumi’s murder charge has been revised to manslaughter and has since been granted bail, along with her Nigerian lover and 3 farm workers.
Appearing before Kabwe Resident Magistrate Wamundila Liswaniso this morning, the accused were informed that through a consent by the Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri, their offence had been revised from murder to manslaughter under section 199 of the Penal Code.
The 4 are accused of causing the death of 20-year-old Enock Simfukwe at a farm in Central Province, and their matter has been committed to the high court for trial after they were granted bail in the sum K20,000 each with two working sureties.
22-year old Enock Simfukwe of 16 miles is alleged to have died at Ms. Zaloumi’s farm leading to her arrest along with her Nigerian husband Nathaniel Barthrem 34, Daniel Chiluwa, 40, farm manager, Fortune Mwitangati, 23 and Gift Daka, 25.
JAMES NDAMBO IMAGINARY AND MALICIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA STORIES.
I have been asked by family members to refute the malicious and made up stories alleging that Mr James Ndambo, a prominent businessman based in South Africa; (a) has been having secret meetings with PF officials and others, with a view to standing as a Presidential candidate in 2026.
Mr Ndambo has described these reports as false. He has authorized me to state for the 100th time, that he has not, is not and will not ever be interested in active politics. In 1991 and 1996, MMD offered Mr Ndambo a Parliamentary seat, which he would have won easily, and both cases he declined. He regards President Hakainde Hichilema, as a brother and says “brothers don’t stand against each other”.
Mr Ndambo is not even eligible to stand for President. (b) Mr Ndambo has not had any secret or other meetings with the President of PF. He has been asked this question many times and has not responded and this statement should be treated as his factual response. (c) Mr Ndambo has had serious discussions with his family and lawyers.
It has been agreed that the manufacturers and distributors of these malicious falsehoods, will from now own be sued and legally compelled to produce evidence in a court of law or face the consequences. Please stop making up falsehoods; Please stop the lies; Please stop the malice.
Dr Vernon J Mwaanga GOEZ. Ndambo Family Spokesman and Uncle to James Ndambo 4th October, 2O25.
The Lusaka Magistrate’s court has convicted former Zambia Revenue Authority ZRA Commissioner General Kingsley Chanda on three counts of willful failure to follow procedure.
His co – accused Callisius Kaoma has been found guilty and convicted of 16 counts of willful failure to follow procedure and acquitted of six.
The duo were jointly charged of willfull failure to follow procedure in the disposal of 22 ZRA vehicle.
Dora Siliya’s Convenient Amnesia on Tribalism and Legacy Politics
By Michael Lombe
In a wide-ranging interview with British veteran broadcaster Martine Dennis, former Minister Dora Siliya retraced her political journey and the hurdles she faced as a woman navigating both the media and the political arena. She spoke eloquently about gender stereotypes, the challenges of breaking barriers, and the difficulty of being taken seriously in male-dominated spaces.
She also addressed issues surrounding cybersecurity and the Public Order Act (POA), conceding that these are legacy instruments inherited from past administrations, a rare moment of honesty, perhaps, but also one that conveniently absolves her of accountability for policies she once defended.
The conversation took a deeper turn when Siliya spoke about tribalism in Zambia, warning that if left unchecked, it could one day spark civil conflict. Yet the contradiction was hard to ignore: she lamented the dangers of tribalism while speaking as though she were a bystander, not a participant in the very politics that entrenched it.
Siliya’s attempt to distance herself from the system she helped sustain feels less like reflection and more like revisionism, a selective memory wrapped in moral caution. True accountability requires confronting the past, not editing it.
Noticeably missing from the interview was a candid discussion about her own role in perpetuating tribal politics during her time in government. This omission is telling. Dora Siliya helped entrench tribal mobilisation, particularly in the Eastern Province, and the political seeds she planted continue to bear fruit in Zambia’s toxic political discourse today.
In October 2020, while campaigning in Eastern Province, Siliya was recorded saying, “Tongas have risen against us Easterners… we must fight.” The remarks, published by News Diggers, explicitly framed politics as an inter-tribal contest, not one of ideology or policy.
She used the message to rally an Eastern voting bloc, presenting the election as a battle between “Easterners” and “Tongas.” Civil society groups, including Transparency International Zambia (TIZ), condemned her rhetoric as toxic and dangerous, warning that it risked inflaming ethnic tensions to win votes for the Patriotic Front (PF).
Over time, she reinforced this divisive narrative, defending the East while branding Southern Province as “tribal,” thereby othering UPND strongholds and justifying bloc voting in the East. Her campaign style nationalised local elections, urging voters to act out of regional loyalty, portraying rivals as part of a “Tonga project.”
Independent media reports and civil society statements documented this pattern, describing it as ethnic mobilisation disguised as political strategy.
This brings us to a moral question: What is the difference between Dora Siliya and Mumbi Phiri?
Both women employed divisive tribal rhetoric during their time in politics. Yet public condemnation and political consequences have largely fallen on Mumbi Phiri, while Siliya’s similar conduct has often escaped comparable scrutiny.
If Zambia is to confront tribalism honestly, then accountability cannot be selective. Condemning one and excusing the other is hypocrisy masquerading as morality.
Dora Siliya’s interview was polished, articulate, and reflective, but only in parts. What it lacked was courage: the courage to own up to her complicity in the very tribal politics she now warns could destroy the nation.
True leadership demands not just hindsight, but humility and responsibility. Until then, her so-called reflections remain what they appear to be, convenient amnesia dressed as wisdom.
The Patriotic Front (PF) is facing a leadership crisis following the protracted funeral of its former President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu (ECL). In the aftermath, sentiments have emerged regarding who should lead the party — and, unfortunately, regional considerations have begun to dominate the conversation.
This path mirrors the divisions that once gripped the UPND after the passing of its founding leader, Anderson Mazoka. PF now risks walking the same dangerous road — promoting regionalism between the North and East instead of embracing a spirit of national unity. Such an approach is disastrous and will not yield any meaningful results for a party that once united Zambians across all regions.
It is worth remembering that the late ECL himself appointed Given Lubinda, a son of Western Province, as PF Vice President. That appointment was not accidental — it was a demonstration of his belief in inclusive leadership and national representation. Despite the challenging period of mourning, Mr. Lubinda has managed party affairs with stability and dignity.
While it is true that some cases involving senior members are pending in court, it must be emphasized that every politician is a potential suspect or even a potential convict — that should not be used to exclude capable leaders from serving their party or the nation.
PF must now allow democracy to prevail by holding a General Conference to elect its next leader — a process that was previously avoided despite calls from various stakeholders. Time is not on the party’s side; in just six months, Parliament will be dissolved in readiness for the next general elections.
The party must learn from the past and focus on what truly matters — offering Zambians a clear alternative to the current ruling party. Every Zambian, regardless of region, has the constitutional right to stand as Member of Parliament or even President. What will set PF apart is not where its leaders come from, but how differently they intend to lead — how they will:
Lower the cost of living,
End load shedding, and
Reduce the high cost of fuel.
PF’s revival depends on unity, inclusivity, and a renewed focus on the real issues affecting ordinary citizens. The time to rebuild is now.
