SA NGO DEMANDS INVESTIGATION INTO EDGAR LUNGU’S DEATH

Lobby group Progressive Forces of South Africa is demanding an investigation into circumstances surrounding the death of former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Lungu died at the Medforum Hospital in Pretoria on June 5 this year and it was reported at the time that he had succumbed to cancer.

At the moment there is a protracted court battle between the incumbent Zambian government and the late Lungu’s family, this as the Zambian government wants Lungu’s corpse to be repartited to Zambia for a state funeral, while the family wants Lungu to be buried in Johannesburg, South Africa.

PFSA spokesperson Bonang Seboloane led a delegation of civic members to the SAPS Gauteng Provincial Head Office in Johannesburg on Monday to hand in a memorandum of demands addressed to Acting Minister of Police Professor Firoz Cachalia and Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni, wherein the Minister and the Commissioner are called upon to investigate Lungu’s death.

“There are allegations that former President Lungu didn’t die of poisoning; that he was actually poisoned and that the South African government had a hand in his death together with agents of the Zambian government,” said Seboloane.

“Member of the Patriotic Front in Zambia (Lungu’s political party)Raphael Nakacinda said Lungu was poisoned with the help of the South African government and Lungu’s daughter Tasila Lungu Mwansa has also indicated that her father was poisoned,” said Seboloane.

“We are asking the SAPS to investigate this matter so that we can clear our name as South Africans,” she said.

Laura Miti writes….

We keep hearing popup statements that Bill 7 is going back to Parliament.

Sounds like the nation is being primed to expect the Bill’s retabling.

All I know is that, for that to happen without the promised meaningful consultation of citizens on what they want to see in their Constitution, President Hichilema would have to be prepared to go completley against his word.

If Bill 7 goes back to Parliament without the consultative steps the President categorically promised  to multiple groups that he, himself, invited to State House, he would have to not be believed  when he speaks to the nation.

Beyond the face to face baritone promise made to a room full of people, deferment of Bill 7until full consultation was announced, on the Kateks’ behalf, on the famous Orange Headed Paper,

Maybe the President’s people should read the second paragraph of the statement below, then give it to the President to re-read it.

Together they should then have a one agenda meeting – What did we promise the nation?  If they can still force Bill 7 through after that, ninshi batidoba.

What a huge risk to take – to lose the gravitas of your word, as leader.

The question would  be why? What magic is in Bill 7 that the President  do that to himself?

NAKACHINDA CALLS  FOR  OPPOSITION  UNITY – PUT ZAMBIA FIRST, NOT PERSONAL AMBITIONS

By: Justin Banda

Tonse Alliance And Patriotic Front (Pf) Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda, Has Called On Opposition Leaders Within The Alliance To Set Aside Personal Interests And Focus On Building A United Front Capable Of Unseating The Ruling United Party For National Development (Upnd).

Speaking To Journalists Following A Court Appearance, Mr. Nakacinda Emphasized The Need For Internal Cohesion, Urging Alliance Members To Stop Undermining One Another And Instead Prioritize The Expectations Of The Zambian People.

He Further Criticized The Proposed 2026 National Budget, Describing It As A Public Relations Exercise That Fails To Address The Real Challenges Facing Zambians.

Nakachinda Argued That The Budget Appears Designed To Mask The Shortcomings Of The Current Administration Rather Than Offer Meaningful Solutions.

#SunFmTvNews

Tonse Alliance Meeting Disrupted, Key Decisions Delayed

By Mark Ziligone

Confusion marred the Tonse Alliance Council of Leaders meeting, which was scheduled to take place today but was disrupted by unknown individuals.

The Council leaders had gathered at the residence of Alliance Spokesperson Sean Tembo, where the disruption occurred. Mr. Tembo explained that the individuals objected to the meeting being held at his home, despite clarifications that the official venue was a lodge.

As a result, the meeting was adjourned, but Mr. Tembo confirmed it will be reconvened, citing the critical and sensitive nature of the agenda items. With less than ten months to the 2026 General Election, the Alliance is yet to agree on a Presidential Candidate and finalize the unveiling of new Council members.

Earlier, New Congress Party Leader Peter Chanda attributed the confusion to a lack of communication regarding the change in venue, which he said contributed to the misunderstanding.
#Tonse

UPND LEADERS CAUTIONED AGAINST PUBLIC REBUKE OF OFFICERS AFTER MATAMBO’S POLICE CRITICISM

By Joseph Kaputula

Former Transport and Communication Minister Dr. Brian Mushimba is urging UPND leaders to handle matters more formally after Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo publicly criticized a traffic police officer for mounting a roadblock early in the morning.

In a widely shared video, Mr. Matambo is seen expressing concerns that officers were causing unnecessary delays on Copperbelt roads.

However, Dr. Mushimba says while acknowledging Mr. Matambo’s genuine concerns, he is suggesting that a more effective approach would be to engage the traffic police’s central command, which instructs officers on roadblock placements.

He has told Phoenix News that the increasing number of roadblocks and speed traps nationwide are part of the traffic police’s design and implementation.

Dr. Mushimba adds that criticizing an officer publicly, as Mr. Matambo did, could be demotivating.

PHOENIX NEWS

Matambo acted like a cadre by confronting police officers – Kampyongo

By Mwenya Mofya

FORMER Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo says Copperbelt Province Minister Elisha Matambo’s conduct towards the traffic police officer who mounted a roadblock early on Monday morning was like that of a cadre, and not befitting of a minister.

Matambo dressed down some traffic police officers who had mounted a roadblock around

https://diggers.news/local/2025/10/01/matambo-acted-like-a-cadre-by-confronting-police-officers-kampyongo/

Read more @ Diggers.News

ZAHU, ZESCO SEAL $240 MILLION DEAL FOR 200MW SOLAR PLANT IN MUMBWA

Mumbwa, Central Province — Zahu Energy Solutions Limited has signed a $240 million agreement with ZESCO Limited for the sale and purchase of power from a 200-megawatt (MW) Solar PV Plant to be built in Mumbwa District.

The project represents a major boost to Zambia’s renewable energy drive and is expected to strengthen national energy security while advancing the country’s green growth agenda.

Zahu Energy CEO Prince Hangoma has confirmed that both parties had agreed on timelines for groundbreaking, commissioning, and capacity assessments of the plant.

Mr. Hangoma said the partnership underlines a shared commitment to clean energy and sustainable infrastructure development.

Once operational, the facility is expected to help diversify Zambia’s energy mix, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and provide long-term benefits to households, industries, and the wider economy.

CHINESE WOMAN CONVICTED AFTER ‘WORLD’S BIGGEST BITCOIN SEIZURE

A Chinese national has been convicted following an international fraud investigation which resulted in what’s believed to be the single largest cryptocurrency seizure in the world.

The Metropolitan Police says it recovered 61,000 bitcoin worth more than £5bn ($6.7bn) in current prices.

Zhimin Qian, also known as Yadi Zhang, pleaded guilty on Monday at Southwark Crown Court of illegally acquiring and possessing the cryptocurrency.

A second person appeared in court on Tuesday to admit to their role in the scheme.

Malaysian national Seng Hok Ling, of Matlock, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court of entering into a money laundering arrangement on or before 23 April 2024.

According to the charge, he had been dealing in cryptocurrency on Qian’s behalf, “knowing or suspecting his actions would facilitate the acquisition or control of criminal property by another”.

Between 2014 and 2017 Qian led a large-scale scam in China which involved cheating more than 128,000 victims and storing the stolen funds in bitcoin assets, the Met said in a statement.

It said the 47-year-old’s guilty plea followed a seven-year probe into a global money laundering web which began when it got a tipoff about the transfer of criminal assets.

Qian had been “evading justice” for five years up to her arrest, which required a complex investigation involving multiple jurisdictions, said Detective Sergeant Isabella Grotto, who led the Met’s investigation.

She fled China using false documents and entered the UK, where she attempted to launder the stolen money by buying property, said the Met.

“By pleading guilty today, Ms Zhang hopes to bring some comfort to investors who have waited since 2017 for compensation, and to reassure them that the significant rise in cryptocurrency values means there are more than sufficient funds available to repay their losses,” said Qian’s solicitor Roger Sahota, of Berkeley Square Solicitors.

On Tuesday, the Court heard that confiscation proceedings had begun in an effort to retrieve more than £16.2 million from Ling, with the figure to be adjusted to reflect cryptocurrency rates when he is sentenced in November.

Some reports have suggested the UK government will seek to retain the seized funds. The BBC has approached the Treasury and the Home Office for a response.

Reforms to crime legislation under the previous Conservative government aimed to make it easier for the UK authorities to seize, freeze and recover crypto assets. The changes would also allow some victims to apply for the release of their assets held in accounts.

Qian had help from a Chinese takeaway worker named Jian Wen, who was jailed for six years and eight months last year for her part in the criminal operation.

Wen, 44, laundered the proceeds from the scam and moved from living above a restaurant to a “multi-million pound rented house” in north London, said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) earlier this year.

She also bought two properties in Dubai worth more than £500,000, the CPS said.
The Met said it seized more than £300m worth of bitcoin from Wen.

Chinese media outlet Lifeweek reported in 2024 that investors, mostly between 50 and 75 years old, had poured “hundreds of thousands to tens of millions” of yuan into investments promoted by Qian.

Some of the victims, including business people, bank employees and members of the judiciary were reportedly urged to invest with Qian’s scheme by friends and family.

The investors reportedly knew little about Qian, who was described as “the goddess of wealth”.

“Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are increasingly being used by organised criminals to disguise and transfer assets, so that fraudsters may enjoy the benefits of their criminal conduct,” said deputy chief Crown prosecutor, Robin Weyell.

“This case, involving the largest cryptocurrency seizure in the UK, illustrates the scale of criminal proceeds available to those fraudsters.”

Monday’s conviction marks the “culmination of years of dedicated investigation”, which has involved the police and Chinese law enforcement teams, said Will Lyne, the Met’s Head of Economic and Cybercrime Command.

Qian is being held in custody ahead of sentencing, which will take place on 10 November – as part of a two-day sentencing hearing at which Seng Hok Ling has also been asked to appear.

UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis said the conviction sent a “clear signal” that UK wasn’t a “safe haven” for criminals.

“Money laundering erodes trust, undermines our economy, and fuels the rise of serious organised crime,” he said in a statement.

The BBC has contacted the Chinese embassy in the UK for comment.

BBC

Illegalities and Thuggery have no place in the Patriotic Front

Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba Wrote;

What happened today is unfortunate.

A series of events where a Tonse Alliance Meeting occurred today, youths from the Patriotic Front stormed the meeting and disrupted it and the Zambia Police was called in to restore order, presents a picture of leadership failure.

My strong views on these matter are;

1. The Convening of Tonse Alliance Meeting without proper procedure was an act of illegality and indiscipline. Order and discipline forms the bedrock of any functional organisation, any revolutionary entity or formation presenting itself as an alternative leadership to the UPND.

2. The unleashing of youths from the Party Secretariat to go and disrupt another illegal meeting was another act of gross indiscipline. This was also utter failure to learn from the past where brutal force and thuggery reigned, and Zambians punished the Patriotic Front for allowing terror and political violence  to resolve issues.

3. The release of the so called list purportedly approved by the Late President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, is a clear abuse of his name, an act of utmost disrespect to his previous authority and his memories. Dwelling on this list or its substance or its merit is a futile exercise as it is bogus, fraudulent and should not attract any further attention.

Until we demonstrate maturity, leadership and direct our energy and focus on the vision to emancipate this country, our efforts will remain futile, and our actions will be betrayal and an act of irresponsibility to Zambians who are looking to us to provide national solutions and to provide alternative leadership.

Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

Had UPND Become So Unpopular That Only Bill 7 Can Save Them?

By Dr Mwelwa

Bill 7 was deferred on the President’s own word — announced in a formal statement from State House. What changed? Why are we suddenly hearing whispers of its return without the promised national consultation?

Had UPND become so unpopular that the only way to keep power is through constitutional manipulation? Is this the desperate fallback of a government that fears the people’s verdict in 2026?

Will MPs be so shallow as to forget the Orange Headed Paper that carried the President’s categorical promise of consultation? Do they not realize that if they pass Bill 7 now, they are merely being used to serve one man’s agenda?

Is Parliament, the supposed guardian of the Constitution, so weak that it will allow itself to be reduced to an extension of State House? Will MPs not see that they are trading their dignity for crumbs of political favor?

What magic is in Bill 7 that makes the President willing to risk his credibility, his integrity, and his legacy? Is it worth losing the trust of citizens to force through a law they rejected?

Will MPs ignore history? Did the one-party state not fall when it tried to bend the Constitution to the will of one leader? Did Zambia not rise in 1991 because citizens rejected manipulation of their collective destiny?

Will MPs go home to their constituencies and tell farmers, bus drivers, civil servants, and marketeers that they voted for hunger budgets and then amended the Constitution to tighten the noose further? What answer will they give?

If Bill 7 is alive again, then what was the point of the consultations with churches, civil society, and ordinary citizens? Were they just a performance to buy time? Is the President ready to be remembered as the man who made promises he could not keep?

Bill 7 is dead — the nation buried it when it was deferred for consultation. To force it back is to dig up the grave and mock the people. Will MPs be complicit in such mockery?

When the final vote comes, will our Parliament stand as patriots, or will it kneel as pawns?

TONSE ALLIANCE UNVEILS EXPANDED COUNCIL OF LEADERS AMID CONFUSION

TONSE ALLIANCE unveils an extended list of Council of Leaders in preparation for the 2026 General elections as appointed and approved by the late Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

PRESIDENT HICHILEMA ARRIVES IN GLASGOW, SCOTLAND FOR A THREE-DAY WORKING VISIT

He writes ✍️:

Together with the First Lady, Mutinta, we have arrived in Glasgow, Scotland to commence our three-day working visit to the United Kingdom.

At the invitation of His Majesty King Charles III, we look forward to deepening and strengthening the longstanding bonds between Zambia and the United Kingdom, fostering greater cooperation and mutual prosperity for our nations.

We are truly grateful for your prayers and continued support as we work on this trip to deliver for you, the Zambian people.

Hakainde Hichilema,
President of the Republic of Zambia.

PF CADRES RANSACK SEAN TEMBO’S HOUSE TO DISRUPT A TONSE ALLIANCE MEETING

=================
They have already started fighting,  there are factions in Tonse alliances. One faction is being headed by Given Lubinda,  another faction constsist of Sean Tembo among others, and the other group is with Peter Chanda

This morning the two functions,  that is, of Sean Tembo and Given Lubinda were having meetings simultaneously.

Sean Tembo was having a meeting at his house where a number of PF leaders where invited that is Chris Zumani Zimba, Brian Mundubile,  Mumbi Phiri, Mutotwe kafwaya,  KBF among others.

Meanwhile Given Lubinda was at the PF Secretariat where he was also having a meeting with some other leaders. 

Upon hearing of the two meetings Peter Chanda who is the president for new congress party mobilized cadres to go and disrupt the meeting at the Secretariat, from there they went to Sean Tembo’s house and the disrupted the meeting that was going on.

Thanks to the CDF police van that took the police to Sean’s house to save the situation because Sean had to make a quick phone call whilst hiding under the bed.

MAGISTRATE ORDERS CASE TRANSFER IF ARRESTING OFFICER FAILS TO PRODUCE WITNESSES IN NAKACINDA TRIAL

By Nelson Zulu

Lusaka Magistrate Mwandu Sakala has directed that the seditious case against Patriotic Front-PF- faction Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda be handed over to a criminal investigations officer if the arresting officer fails to summon witnesses at the next court sitting.

The directive was issued following a request for an adjournment by State Prosecutor Changwa Jere, who informed the court that the arresting officer was unwell and therefore unable to appear or summon the required witnesses.

Mr. Nakacinda is facing one count of seditious practices under section 57(1)(b) of the penal code.

The charge stems from remarks he allegedly made during a radio appearance on august 21, 2024, in which he accused government of committing genocide by importing maize and mealie-meal allegedly contaminated with aflatoxins, substances said to be linked to the deaths of dogs and an unverified number of people.

And speaking to Journalists at the court premises, Mr. Nakacinda has called for calm amid the ongoing burial dispute of former president Edgar Lungu, saying there is light at the end of the tunnel provided talks are ongoing between government and the Lungu family.

PHOENIX NEWS

SUSPECTED PF CADRES DISRUPT TONSE ALLIANCE PRESS BRIEFING

By Joseph Kaputula

About 20 suspected Patriotic Front-PF- cadres this afternoon disrupted a Tonse Alliance press briefing which was scheduled for 11:45hrs at Palm Valley Resort in Lusaka.

The briefing was meant to communicate resolutions of the meeting of Tonse alliance council of leaders and addressed by Tonse Alliance Spokesperson Sean Tembo and other leaders in the alliance.

The suspected cadres blocked Journalists from taking any pictures and videos and threatened violence at Mr. Tembo`s residence where the briefing was moved to.

Despite police presence, the PF supporters blocked Journalists from entering Mr. Tembo’s residence.

By broadcast time, Mr. Tembo had not commented on what had transpired.

PHOENIX NEWS

Seychelles to hold rerun presidential election as no candidate secures 50%

The electoral authority has not announced when the rerun election is expected to be held.

With no outright winner, Seychelles will hold a rerun presidential election after the country’s two main contenders secured below 50 percent of the votes, the electoral authority said.

According to official results on Sunday, incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan gained 46.4 percent of the vote while opposition figure Patrick Herminie received 48.8 percent, according to The Associated Press news agency.

ZACA DESCRIBES 2026 PROPOSED NATIONAL BUDGET AS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE IN ADDRESSING ESCALATING COST OF LIVING

By Michael Kaluba

The Zambia Consumer Association-ZACA- has described the 2026 proposed national budget as counterproductive in addressing the escalating cost of living, financial inclusion and job creation and has warned of dire consequences for consumers.

ZACA Executive Secretary Juba Sakala tells Phoenix News in an interview that the proposed increase in toll fees for trucks will push the cost of goods even higher, as transporters will pass on the expense to producers and distributors, who in turn will push it onto consumers.

According to the budget, medium heavy vehicles with two to three axles will now pay K400 from K300 at the Michael Chilufya Sata toll plaza and K200 from K50 at all other plazas while heavy vehicles with four axles and above will pay K600 from K460 at the Michael Chilufya Sata toll plaza and K300 from K250 at other plazas.

The 2026 national budget, presented by Finance and National Planning Minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane last Friday, has also proposed an increase in levies on mobile money transactions, with the lowest bracket of between K1 and K150 rising from 16 ngwee to 32 ngwee, while transactions above K5,000 and K10,000 will now attract K8 from K3 previously.

Mr. Sakala says while government is seeking to raise revenue to fund the budget, it should have taken a more consumer-centered approach, contending that taxing mobile transactions heavily will slow job creation, make the business environment difficult, stagnate local economies and hinder both digital and financial inclusion.

PHOENIX NEWS