MALAWI ELECTORAL COMMISSION TO DECLARE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WINNER TODAY AT 2PM
By: Times 360 Malawi
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has announced that it will declare the winner of the presidential election today at 2 p.m.
MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa explained that, for this reason, the Commission will not be addressing the nation before the scheduled announcement.
He also clarified that MEC has not received any court injunction preventing it from releasing the election results.
Meanwhile, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader Lazarus Chakwera earlier sought a court order to stop MEC from announcing the results until certain issues were reviewed.
However, the court only agreed to hear the matter but rejected the request to block the release of the results.
The announcement was made yesterday at the totaling Center.
POLITICAL ANALYST EXPLAINS WHY AMBASSADOR WEBBY MWAPE WAS RIGHT TO ENDORSE LUBINDA AS PF/TONSE ALLIANCE FLAG BEARER FOR 2026
Political Analyst Suzyo Mbewe says the endorsement of Given Lubinda by Ambassador Rev. Webby Mwape as the flag bearer and presidential candidate for the PF/Tonse Alliance in 2026 is a clear statement of direction, discipline, and continuity.
Mbewe says the PF/Tonse Alliance has no time to waste, and Lubinda’s early endorsement sets the wheels of momentum in motion.
He believes Lubinda’s current role as Acting President affirms him as the natural choice to lead the Alliance forward.
Mbewe reflects on the legacy of President Michael Sata and Edgar Lungu, noting that Lubinda now carries that torch of continuity.
He observes that Lubinda has long been the face of the Alliance, and formalising his leadership brings clarity to the electorate.
Mbewe points to Lubinda’s national reputation, saying Mwape’s backing only deepens public trust and recognition.
He highlights Lubinda’s distinguished record in government, calling it a foundation of experience for the presidency.
Mbewe values Ambassador Mwape’s moral voice, noting that his endorsement lends weight and credibility to Lubinda’s candidacy.
He connects Mwape’s grassroots activism to Lubinda’s leadership, forming a powerful engine for mobilisation.
Mbewe recalls Mwape’s political impact in Mpulungu, suggesting that with Lubinda at the helm, such victories can multiply.
He sees unity in Mwape’s decision, saying it avoids the divisions that often plague opposition movements.
Mbewe frames Lubinda’s leadership as people-centred, grounded in humility and a genuine desire to serve.
He applauds the inclusive nature of the endorsement, proving the PF/Tonse Alliance is a national movement open to all Zambians.
Mbewe observed that Ambassador Mwape’s move signals readiness, seriousness, and a strategic path toward 2026 – with Hon. Given Lubinda as the credible alternative.
….as seen from the early campaigns embarked on by the ruling party, says SP National Youth Chair
Lusaka… Wednesday September 24, 2025 – The opposition Socialist Party (SP) has said the ruling party UPND is in a panic mood after realizing that they have lamentably failed to perform.
SP National Youth Chairperson Kelvin Kaunda says this is why they have embarked on early campaigns because they are afraid of losing next year’s general elections.
He said the UPND claims that there is no strong opposition in Zambia to unseat them but they are busy campaigning across the country.
He claimed that even at public events, the UPND are trying by all means to take advantage of such events to campaign.
He said this when he featured on Millennium Tonight programme on Millennium TV in Lusaka.
“We have taken time to listen to the sentiments that there is no credible opposition in Zambia by the UPND. But the question is, if there is no opposition in the country, why is it that our colleagues are in a panic mood? Why is it that day in day out, they are in a business of talking about the opposition,” he questioned.
“They have alleged that there is no strong opposition in Zambia that can defeat the UPND. So, if there is no opposition that can unseat the UPND, why are they busy campaigning? I thought that the UPND by now should be in a space where they are enjoying and relaxing but even the people of Zambia can see that they are desperate. They have started campaigning. Every time the President is out even in places where there must be no regalia, they wear UPND regalia. All that shows desperation.”
Mr Kaunda further claimed that the UPND are scared because they have failed to perform according to the promises made to the people of Zambia.
He said they over promised because they did not know what was expected of them when it comes to govern.
How do you explain to the generation you once promised would be leaders of tomorrow that you still wish to rule over their grandchildren?
I still remember those walks along the beach, your hand holding mine, as you told me I was the future. You filled my heart with dreams of what was to come. But now, the future has arrived, and yet you hold on, unwilling to let me live the life you promised.
Dad, look at your peer, Robert Mugabe. Once celebrated, he was quickly forgotten after his passing because of his arrogance in clinging to power. Please, learn from his story. Let go, and let the future unfold. I love you.
-Brenda Biya writes another heart piercing note to her father Paul Biya who seeks re-election to power after 43 years.
‘Tasila Lungu’ fakes abduction after fight with mother, Police catches her in the lie
A 12-YEAR-OLD Juvenile who faked her abduction story on September 14, has been caught in the lie after thorough Police investigation into the matter.
Police Spokesman Rae Hamoonga has told TV Yatu in a statement that, on September 14, a report of suspected child trafficking was widely circulated in the media, prompting swift police action to ascertain circumstances under which the assertion may have occured.
“The said report alleged that a missing female juvenile, aged 12, had been found at a named orphanage in Lusaka West—Mothers Without Borders—where her name was allegedly changed to Tasila Lungu and that blood had been withdrawn from her for unknown purposes
“Upon receipt of this information, officers from the CPU immediately instituted investigations into the matter. The investigations involved interviewing the child, her parents, and orphanage authorities, as well as reviewing the sequence of events that led to her placement at the center,” Hamoonga states.
He says investigations have since revealed that the child fabricated the abduction story.
“The juvenile fabricated the story of abduction. She claimed to have been forced into a motor vehicle in a busy area but made no attempt to raise alarm, and no physical injuries consistent with abduction were observed.
“The name “Tasila Lungu” was never officially adopted but rather given to her informally as a nickname by staff at the orphanage due to a resemblance,” Hamoonga states.
He says blood tests conducted at Mothers without Borders were part of routine medical assessments required for all children admitted into the facility, not for any ulterior motives
“The girl gave inconsistent accounts of her circumstances both to her parents and to the orphanage, including falsely presenting herself as an orphan to secure admission.
“Her actions were influenced by a domestic dispute with her mother, which caused her to leave home. From the investigations conducted thus far, there is no evidence to substantiate the allegations of child trafficking or ritual activity as earlier reported,” Hamoonga shares.
⬆️ Malawi’s Cliffhanger: Court Says Count Can Proceed As Chakwera Seeks Review
Malawi’s election drama tightened on Tuesday as a High Court granted President Lazarus Chakwera permission to challenge how the Malawi Electoral Commission handled his party’s complaints, but refused to halt the presidential tally or stop the declaration of results.
In a handwritten order seen by our correspondent, Mwape Nthegwa, the judge ruled: “Application for leave to apply for judicial review is granted. However, the order restraining the respondent from declaring the presidential results is not granted.” Translation for voters: the legal fight may continue, yet the count and a declaration can still happen.
Security has been stepped up across Lilongwe, Blantyre and other flashpoints ahead of the Commission’s plan to announce the presidential results tonight. Malawi voted on September 16. Eight days later, the stakes could not be higher.
Provisional district tallies released so far show former president Peter Mutharika holding a commanding lead of roughly 66 percent of valid votes, with President Lazarus Chakwera near 24 percent, and other candidates far behind. Two big facts frame the night: Malawi’s system requires more than 50 percent to win outright, and the Commission has until the end of Wednesday to pronounce verified results.
Tensions surged after Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party alleged “irregularities” and sought what it called a physical audit. The Commission has pushed back, saying it is committed to “transparency, accuracy and credibility,” and has withheld some district results while it double-checks figures.
Police confirmed eight data-entry clerks were arrested on suspicion of attempting to manipulate results. The message from the umpire: checks are happening, the process continues.
Pressure on the incumbent is building. The Malawi Council of Churches urged Chakwera to accept the people’s verdict. Former president Bakili Muluzi publicly encouraged him to concede, saying “there is life after State House.” Chakwera’s camp insists more votes from key councils will lift his numbers and has not ruled out further court action if needed.
Context matters. Malawi’s Constitutional Court annulled Mutharika’s 2019 win over irregularities. Chakwera won the 2020 re-run with a landslide. Five years on, a grinding economic crisis and rolling power cuts have soured public mood. This election is both a verdict on performance and a stress test of institutions still shaped by that historic court ruling.
What tonight’s call could mean.
• If Mutharika is declared winner above 50 percent: Chakwera’s judicial review proceeds on process, not on stopping the result. Any remedies would have to be specific and evidence-driven.
• If no one crosses 50 percent: Malawi heads to a runoff, and every legal challenge becomes leverage over rules, timelines and recounts.
For now, the signal is clear. The court opened a legal lane for the President, but it did not put the brakes on the election. The Commission will speak. The country will listen. And the region will be watching how Malawi balances passion, law and peace on a very long day eight.
FORMER DIPLOMAT QUESTIONS PRESIDENT HICHILEMA’S INACTION ON NON-PERFORMING ENVOYS
By Joseph Kaputula
Former diplomat, Muhabi Lungu, has criticized President Hakainde Hichilema’s reluctance to recall underperforming diplomats, four years into his tenure.
Recently, President Hichilema expressed disappointment over the failure of some Zambian diplomats to attract investment since their appointments.
But in an interview with Phoenix News, Mr. Lungu who served as Zambia’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo has questioned why the president would wait so long to express disappointment over diplomats’ failure to attract investment.
He has accused President Hichilema of shifting blame onto diplomats for the country’s lack of foreign investment, further stating that performance indicators would have guided the Head of State in recalling non-performing diplomats within a year or two.
Mr. Lungu has also highlighted that not all diplomats are mandated to secure investments, citing examples like Geneva, where diplomatic work focuses on coordinating UN activities.
LOADSHEDDING IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT’S FAULT-NDC FACTION LEADER
By: Melinda Banda
National Democratic Congress (NDC) Faction Leader, Joseph Kasonde has said the current loadshedding problem is not the ruling government’s fault because none of the previous leaders planned ahead for this.
Speaking to Sun FM TV news, Mr Kasonde described the situation as unforeseen, adding that it can happen to any government, due to low water levels at Kafue Gorge Power supply.
He stessed that the UPND government should not be blamed for the ongoing loadshedding because it is significantly making efforts to address and scale up solutions, which among is the solar energy project that accounts for 85 percent of Zambia’s energy and can be vulnerable due to climate change
Meanwhile, Mr Kasonde has commended government through cabinet for approving the year 2026 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, which will assess how government has been using resources, to uphold accountability.
He adds that it will also formulate the 2026 Annual Budget in line with the Constitution requirement and the National Planning and Budgeting Act No. 1 of 2020.
A lawyer was employed by a State-run institution as Company Secretary but was simultaneously also running a private law firm. A dispute arose over his employment contract with the institution, which led to him suing in the High Court. However, the institution raised a question of law in the High Court, arguing that the lawyer was not allowed by law to have two jobs.
The High Court Judge, after hearing both sides, ruled that the lawyer under the Zambian law was indeed proscribed from having two jobs.
Unhappy with the decision, the lawyer launched an appeal in the Court of Appeal where he argued that there was nothing wrong for him to have two jobs as the Company Secretary one was not that busy. He also contended that he had actually obtained permission from the Board Chairman to run his law firm in his free times.
A panel of three Judges determined the appeal and ruled that there was nothing wrong with the lawyer having two jobs as in-house counsel as well as private practice (See my earlier article on this case).
This decision riled the company and consequently climbed the ladder and lodged an appeal in the Supreme Court. Three Judges – led by deputy Chief Justice – relooked at the case and the “Legal Practitioners’ Practice Rules”. They then determined thus;
“Rule 24(2) specifically prohibits employed legal practitioners from providing legal services to anyone other than their employer,” the Supreme Court noted.
“Such practitioner, is therefore, limited in his practice to only for one client, the employer,” the Judges said.
The Court said allowing employed lawyers to run own law firms will bring conflict of interest and unfair competition in the market as the in-house lawyers will be diverting business to their own firms using inside information and trade secrets.
“This risk is higher and can be more damaging in institutions such as banks and other financial institutions,” the Judges noted.
“Hence the need to restrict the activities of employed legal practitioners to their employers only” the Judges said.
The Supreme Court noted that business for private law firms in Zambia has been invaded by other professions in areas of Conveyancing, Liquidations, Receiverships and Business Rescues which used to be for lawyers.
“This has resulted in business of provision of legal services shrinking with private practitioners having to scramble for limited business,” the Judge said and expressed concern that LAZ did not stop this practice as a regulators of lawyers.
“LAZ, chose instead, to allow the transgression to go unimpeded,” the Judges noted, and urged LAZ to take action on such issues timely.
Case citation – Occupational Healthy Safety Institute v James Mataliro -Appeal No. 13/2025 and Judgement rendered last week on 19th September, 2025.
Lecture Notes;
1. This is very important case that has shaped the practice of law. The Court explained that nothing stops the lawyer from doing other work such as lecturing or arbitration but for the practice of law in private firms when already employed. Simply, you cannot draw a monthly salary and then go and compete with your colleagues in the private sector for the same business.
2. This case applies to those working as in-house counsel. Nothing stops lawyers in private sector from being board members or part time company secretary or indeed run other businesses away from the law firms.
…Former Envoy has arrived in New York City to attend the 2025 U.N General Assembly High-Level Week..
New York City-23rd September, 2025
Zambia’s Former Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU), Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba has called on the United Nations to expedite reforms to make the organisation respond to current global challenges.
Speaking on the sidelines of the official opening of the United Nations General Assembly Heads of State and Government Summit, Mwamba said the UN should use the commemoration of its 80th Anniversary of its founding, to urgently reform the organisation.
He said the current structure of the United Nations, where the UN Security Council (UNSC) holds the veto power enjoyed by only five permanent members (P5): China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US excluding Africa and the entire global south.
Mwamba bemoaned that the UN had been rendered almost irrelevant as its role has been sidelined especially in recent conflict and humanitarian crisis in the Ukraine/Russia War, the Isreal/Palestine war and the never-ending conflicts and humanitarian crisis in Africa in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes region.
Mwamba said he stated that he was privileged to contribute on proposals to reform the United Nations when he served as Permanent Representative and Zambia held the position of Vice-Chairperson on the Committee of Ten (the C-10), a group of African Union member states dedicated to advocating for the Common African Position on the reform of the United Nations.
Mwamba also called on member states to support major UN reform initiative, known as “UN80,” which were recently launched in March 2025 by Secretary-General António Guterres to address the proposed reforms and streamlining both structural and internal changes.
He also called on the C10 to collaborate with diverse range of governmental, academic, and civil society organizations dedicated to advocating fm United Nations reforms such as Uniting for Consensus (UfC)a group of nations, including Italy, Pakistan, Mexico, and South Korea, and Article 109 Coalition, a coalition of dozens of civil society organizations, academics, and former government and UN officials, gathered to fight for meaningful reforms.
He also urged member states to use the 80th Anniversary to enhance the policy and engagement concerning the family unit as the foundation of society.
He said there were threats to the family as a natural and fundamental group unit of society, and required that it be respected and was entitled to protection by both society and the State.
Amb. Mwamba is in New York City to attend the 2025 UN General Assembly High-Level Week, marking the UN’s 80th anniversary, taking place from September 22-29, 2025.
By the Editor | Reported by Aibuh News Connect | September 23, 2025 | Lusaka, Zambia
YOUR FALSEHOODS EXPOSED: A LESSON IN STRATEGY FOR EMMANUEL MWAMBA
Dear Emmanuel Mwamba,
I’ve read your toxic and vile post, and it’s clear you’re not interested in facts or the reality of strategic governance. Your piece is a pathetic attempt to smear a President who is actually working, using the same old propaganda handbook your faction has always used. Since you seem confused, allow me to school you on the facts and debunk your falsehoods point by point.
1. ON “SHUNNING” THE UNGA: YOUR HYPOCRISY IS SHOWING
You and your ilk spent years screaming that President Hichilema was “traveling too much” and “wasting money.” Now that he demonstrates prudent leadership by delegating the UNGA to his highly capable Foreign Minister, Hon. Mulambo Haimbe, you call it “shunning.” You can’t have it both ways.
This is not shunning; it is strategic delegation. The initial, high-profile travels were necessary to personally rebuild our international reputation, secure the IMF deal you lamentably failed to achieve, and champion our debt restructuring. Those missions were a resounding success. Now, we are in the implementation phase. The UNGA is largely a ceremonial talking shop.
Zambia’s interests are robustly represented by our permanent mission and our Minister. The President’s time is better spent overseeing the actual work here at home—managing the economic recovery and ensuring these international deals benefit Zambians. Your flip-flopping proves your criticism is not based on principle, but on a desperate need to oppose everything.
2. ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES: THE UN ITSELF PROVES YOU ARE A LIAR
Your most malicious lie is that President Hichilema is “being cited by the UN for human rights abuses.” This is a complete and utter falsehood. In fact, the United Nations Country Team in Zambia has explicitly stated that your claim is inaccurate. They confirmed that Zambia has NOT been sanctioned or cited for abuses by the UN Human Rights Council.
You are citing the very institution that has publicly dismissed the lies you are peddling. Your post is not just wrong; it is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public with information you know to be false. That is the height of intellectual
3. ON DESTROYING DEMOCRACY: YOU’RE PROJECTING YOUR OWN HISTORY
You accuse HH of “destroying democratic institutions” while supporting a party that oversaw the brutalization of opponents, the curtailment of media freedom, and the weaponization of state institutions. President Hichilema is the one who has opened up the democratic space. We have a vibrant and critical opposition (which you are part of), a free press that holds power to account daily, and an independent judiciary that rules against the government regularly. Your definition of a “tin-pot dictator” seems to be a leader who allows you to freely spread lies without throwing you in jail—something your previous leaders famously failed to do.
4. ON CORRUPTION: THE AUDACITY TAKES MY BREATH AWAY
For you to accuse anyone of “corruption, stealing, and plunder” is the most ironic thing I have read all year. This administration is cleaning up the catastrophic plunder of the past. It is pursuing stolen assets and reinstating the rule of law to ensure that the looting of national resources never happens again. Your sudden, feigned concern about corruption is a transparent attempt to deflect from your own record.
5. THE REAL STRATEGY YOU FAIL TO COMPREHEND
President Hichilema is a strategist. His approach is phased:
PHASE 1 (CRISIS & ADVOCACY): Personally lead the charge to rescue Zambia from bankruptcy and global isolation. Result: Success.
PHASE 2 (DELEGATION & IMPLEMENTATION): Empower a competent team to handle multilateral forums while he focuses on domestic governance and high-stakes bilateral deals. Result: Ongoing success with projects like the Lobito Corridor and Mingomba Mine.
You mistake a lack of theatrical performance for a lack of engagement. The President doesn’t need to be on every international stage for a photo op; he is busy behind the scenes securing deals that actually put food on the tables of Zambians.
Your entire argument is a classic propaganda tactic: when you have no substantive policy to criticize, you resort to personal smears, hypocrisy, and outright lies. You are not a critic; you are a propagandist.
The President is working. The results are clear. Maybe instead of plotting useless trips to New York, you should come stay here and learn what actual governance looks like, instead of being an economic refugee in foreign lands.
Shame on you, Emmanuel. You can do better, especially in matters of diplomacy where you have been privileged to serve, but instead, you are abusing experience for propaganda.
AIBUH NEWS CONNECT- CONNECTING YOU TO THE REAL PULSE OF THE WORLD- YOU DESERVE CLARITY!!!
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has called on traditional leaders to help maintain national unity before and after the 2026 General Election.
President Hichilema emphasised that disunity during elections can disrupt the peace the country has been enjoying.
He also urged all eligible Zambians to register as voters and exercise their right to vote in next year’s general election.
Information and Media Minister Cornelius Mweetwa delivered the President’s message at the Ikubi Lya Bana Munyati Traditional Ceremony of the Ila-speaking people under Chief Nalubamba in Namwala District yesterday.
Speaking through a representative, Chief Nalubamba appealed to the government to consider completing the Livestock Services Centre in the Chitongo area.
Meanwhile, Zambia Flying Doctor Service Public Relations Manager Violet Tembo said the institution is using traditional ceremonies as an opportunity to reach underserved communities and provide specialised medical services.
DOES PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA HAVE A LEGACY IN ZAMBIA?
By Aibuh News Connect | Zambia
The question of President Hakainde Hichilema’s legacy is not just a political debate—it is a matter of national discussion across all ten provinces. Many Zambians are asking whether the Head of State’s leadership has left a lasting footprint in their communities and in the country at large.
THE CRITICS’ VIEW
Some citizens argue that while government policies are well-intentioned, more still needs to be done on the ground. They cite the high cost of living, limited road infrastructure, and delays in implementing certain projects as evidence that the President’s promises have not yet been fully realized by ordinary households.
THE SUPPORTERS’ VIEW
Supporters, however, highlight visible achievements that are already shaping HH’s legacy nationwide:
✓ Health Sector: Delivery of ambulances, improved medical supplies, and increased staffing levels in hospitals and clinics.
✓ Education: Expansion of classroom blocks through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and the free education policy, which has eased the financial burden on parents.
✓ Employment: Thousands of teachers and health workers recruited, providing opportunities for young professionals across the country.
✓ Community Empowerment: CDF-funded projects including skills training, youth and women empowerment initiatives, and small-scale infrastructure development.
✓ Improved Governance: A decline in cadre violence and greater civic freedoms compared to previous years.
✓ Mining Sector: Restructuring of the mining industry through debt resolution and renewed investor confidence. Agreements with major players like First Quantum Minerals and Mopani Copper Mines have restored production stability, safeguarded jobs, and attracted fresh investment into Zambia’s copper belt.
✓ Agriculture: Timely distribution of farming inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), increased investment in irrigation, and support to smallholder farmers aimed at transforming Zambia from a food-deficit to a food-secure nation. Export of surplus maize and policy measures to strengthen agro-value chains are also part of HH’s agricultural footprint.
THE BALANCED REALITY
To understand HH’s legacy, Zambians must also remember where the nation was coming from before the UPND took over in 2021. At that time, the country faced heavy debt distress, high levels of political violence, and limited civic space. Service delivery in many sectors was struggling, with unpaid salaries, shortages in schools and hospitals, and citizens losing confidence in public institutions.
Today, some of those challenges remain—especially the high cost of living—but the government has managed to stabilize key areas, restore investor confidence, and improve governance. Foundations have been laid in education, health, mining, agriculture, and community empowerment.
CONCLUSION
Whether President Hichilema is remembered fondly across Zambia will depend on how effectively his government turns these policy foundations into everyday economic relief and visible infrastructure before the end of his current mandate.
AIBUH NEWS CONNECT- CONNECTING YOU TO THE REAL PULSE OF THE WORLD- YOU DESERVE CLARITY!!!
NHIMA UNVEILS PRINTED MEMBERSHIP CARDS FOR EASIER ACCESS TO HEALTH FACILITIES
By: Melinda Banda
The National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) has officially launched the nationwide rollout of printed NHIMA membership cards, aimed at enhancing access to health services under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
In a statement to the media, NHIMA Head of Public Relations, King Syacika, announced that eligible members will now receive printed cards on demand either at the point of registration or when accessing NHIS services.
He emphasized that the new cards are fully legitimate, officially recognized, and valid for use across all accredited healthcare facilities.
Mr. Syacika also urged healthcare providers and service assistants to continue accepting both the printed and digital versions of the NHIMA card, ensuring that no member is denied services due to card format.
The rollout is part of NHIMA’s broader effort to streamline service delivery and improve member experience across the country. #SunFmTvNews
M’MEMBE MOURNS FORMER ARMY COMMANDER LT. GEN. FRANCIS SIBAMBA
Lusaka… Tuesday September 23, 2025 – The Socialist Party (SP) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Army Commander and Ambassador, Lieutenant General Francis Gershom Sibamba (Rtd), who passed away on 20 September 2025 at Maina Soko Medical Centre in Lusaka.
In a statement, SP leader Dr. Fred M’membe said the party had joined the nation in mourning the loss of “one of the country’s great sons of the soil.”
Dr. M’membe conveyed his deepest sympathies to the family of the late General and to the nation, noting that Sibamba’s dedicated service to the country would not be forgotten.
He further added that the party prayed for the Lieutenant General’s soul to rest in everlasting peace.
The late Lieutenant General Sibamba, who also served as an ambassador after his military career, is remembered as a committed leader and patriot.
HON. JACK J. MWIIMBU CHAMPIONS CDF TRANSFORMATION IN MONZE CENTRAL
By Aibuh News Connect | Monze Central | September 23, 2025
The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) under the New Dawn government continues to breathe new life into communities across Zambia—and Monze Central stands tall as a shining example of this transformation, championed by its area MP, Hon. Jack J. Mwiimbu, SC.
For nearly a decade, between 2012 and 2021, constituencies were restricted to a meagre K1.6 million allocation—a drop in the ocean compared to the overwhelming needs of the people. That reality has since changed dramatically under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema.
Today, the CDF is not just bigger—it is bolder, more impactful, and community-driven.
2022: K25.7 million
2023: K28.3 million
2024: K30.6 million
2025: K36.1 million
This exponential rise in funding has opened the floodgates for massive development opportunities in Monze Central.
The fund has delivered the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, laboratories, clinics, ablution blocks, staff houses, water reticulation systems, and even a police post. Desks and learning materials have also been provided, giving education a solid foundation.
But the story does not end with infrastructure. The CDF has gone further to touch lives directly:
Women and youths have accessed empowerment grants to grow businesses and create income.
Vulnerable children are supported through the secondary school bursary scheme, ensuring no child is left behind due to poverty.
Young people are being equipped with life-changing skills through fully paid training programs that open doors to employment and entrepreneurship.
These developments are not mere statistics; they are real investments in education, health, livelihoods, and security. They are steadily uplifting the quality of life for the people of Monze Central—proof that the New Dawn government is delivering on its promises.
Hon. Jack J. Mwiimbu, SC, MP, who represents Monze Central and also serves as Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, has encouraged residents and visitors alike to tour the wards and witness these remarkable developments firsthand.
Indeed, the enhanced CDF is rewriting the development story of Monze Central, one project and one life at a time.
AIBUH NEWS CONNECT- CONNECTING YOU TO THE REAL PULSE OF THE WORLD- YOU DESERVE CLARITY!!!
SOCIAL USERS BULLY MAMPI INTO RESPONDING AFTER CALLING ON HER TO GET MARRIAGE LIKE HER FRIEND
A post celebrating her friend Abby’s Makeover’s chilanga mulilo turned into a crusade for singer Mampi to get married and a reminder of how miserable it is to be single and childless.
Abby’s Makeover was taking chilanga mulilo a few days ago, and being a prominent makeup artist, female celebrities turned up in support, including rapper Xaven and Mampi.
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After sharing images of her attending Abby’s chilanga mulilo, it was not long before social users started throwing marriage advice at her, advice she did not appreciate.
One social user by the name FEAR NOT told Mampi, “Yet she’s not married. Ala bwafya, beauty without a husband or just a child awe fikulu bapanda.”
While others told the singer that she was next in line, another social user wrote, “Ask Mampi and MM how difficult it is to find a man. They were just like you. (Do) you think you have options? Wait, I see a lot of you entering 30s frustrated.”
These attacks saddened the singer enough into responding, hence breaking her tradition of ignoring such comments.
Captioning several screenshots, she questioned, “So ninshi, we are not allowed to bath or celebrate our friend’s marriages because we are not married aini?”
Several social users have since shared messages in solidarity with Mampi, who has for several years been a victim of constant online bullying because she is not married and does not have children.
TRUMP ACCUSED UN OF FAILING HIS PEACE DEALS… AND BLAMES ESCALATOR AND TELEPROMPTER TOO
By: AFP
In a blistering speech during his first UN General Assembly appearance since his White House comeback, US President Donald Trump accused the United Nations of failing to help him as he tried to broker a series of peace deals including in Gaza and Ukraine, instead giving him only “a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter”, referring to two mishaps on the day.
MEC POSTPONES ELECTION RESULTS BRIEFING TO WEDNESDAY
Lilongwe, September 23, 2025
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has announced that it will not hold its routine press briefing on election results today.
MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa said the decision follows the commission’s busy schedule as commissioners are still scrutinizing the remaining results.
“The commission is occupied with the verification of outstanding results and, therefore, will announce the full presidential results tomorrow,” Mr. Mwafulirwa stated.
He further clarified that MEC has not received any legal restrictions barring it from releasing the results today.
Court rebuffs, Chakwera, MCP on results’ determination
High Court Judge Howard Pemba has dismissed an application by President Lazarus Chakwera and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to stop the Malawi Electoral Commision (MEC) from declaring presidential election results for the September 16 polls.
Based on court documents, Chakwera and MCP were seeking an injunction and judicial review over MEC’s failure/refusal to determine the party’s complaint on alleged electoral irregularities.
But Justice Pemba, while granting Chakwera and MCP permission to apply for judicial review, has rejected the application for an injunction to stop MEC from declaring or publishing the final presidential results.
In an interview a while ago, Judiciary spokesperson Ruth Mputeni said the decision means MEC is at liberty to proceed with declaration of results.
The subordinate court in Kabwe has adjourned the habeas corpus hearing of prominent farmer and entrepreneur Maria Zaloumis to 6th October 2025.
The hearing seeks to challenge her continued detention following her arrest in connection with the death of Enock Simfukwe
In a parallel development, the Zaloumis family has formally reported a series of death threats to the Zambia Police Service issued by a known person that apparently lives in Botswana.
The threats according to a lodged official complaint are, allegedly issued by Ms Fatima Gathshwane, a Botswana national, allegedly the estranged wife of Maria’s Nigerian partner Nathaniel, who has targeted the entire Zaloumis family, with specific threats directed at Maria and her three children.
The threats have been digitally recorded and submitted to law enforcement in Zambia for investigation.
According to the family, Ms Gathshwane accuses Maria of “getting away from her alleged partner”, Nigerian national Nathaniel Bethram, who is co-accused in the ongoing murder case, she claims is her husband.
The deceased, Simfukwe, is reported to have been sent by Ms Gathshwane to harm Maria, allegedly armed with acid intended to cause grievous bodily harm.
The Zaloumis family has expressed deep concern for their safety, citing the explicit nature of the threats and the involvement of minors. They live in fear now not knowing where the next attack comes from.
They have requested heightened police attention to the matter and swift action to prevent any escalation from Gathshwane.
The threats have intensified the family’s distress as they navigate both legal proceedings and personal security fears.
MARIA REMAINS IN DETENTION WEEKS LATER
Maria Zaloumis remains in custody and is seeking habeas corpus–a legal remedy that requires authorities to justify the lawfulness of a person’s detention before a court.
The principle is rooted in constitutional protections against arbitrary arrest and detention.
Legal experts emphasize that Maria Zaloumis, like all accused persons, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Zambia Police Service has confirmed receipt of the threat reports and stated that investigations are ongoing.
Here is one of the threat messages from Fatima “Your children will die Maria don’t do that…Marea what are you doing with my husband (Nathaniel)?”
Even though Maria is an adult with own family and flourishing successful businesswoman whose farm employs hundreds of people in surrounding local community, threats have been extended to her mother, a well-known public servant she doesn’t even live with.
“Be a woman and stop all the nonsense (Mrs Zaloumis). Nathaniel is legally married your daughter is a man farmer,” texts from Gathshwane in Botswana in possession of the police in Zambia read ominously daily to the chagrin of the family.
GOVT TARGETS 16-HOUR DAILY POWER SUPPLY FOR RESIDENTIAL AREAS
GOVERNMENT has set a target to supply a minimum of 16 hours of electricity daily to residential areas and compounds by the end of this month.
Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet for Finance and Economic Development, Siazongo Siakalenge, emphasised that power should be prioritised for residential areas during productive hours, while industrial zones should receive supply at night.
Mr. Siakalenge made the remarks during the Finance and Economic Development Cluster Group meeting for Permanent Secretaries and Controlling Officers held in Lusaka today.
He stressed the need to leverage favorable energy reforms such as open access and net metering to address the country’s ongoing energy challenges.
Mr. Siakalenge also called for the swift and timely execution of cabinet resolutions, noting that they are a top priority for national development.
Meanwhile, Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit, Kusobile Kamwambi, said the meeting aims to discuss measures being taken to ensure efficiency in handling resources.
“ZAMBIA IS IN INTENSIVE CARE” ROBERT SICHINGA FIRES THE WARNING
By Brian Matambo – Lusaka, Zambia
“Zambia is in intensive care.” Hon. Robert Kenneth Sichinga did not flinch when he said it. Loadshedding affecting homes and industries, no medicines in the hospitals, no infrastructure development while heavy trucks destroy the little road network we have, and maize exported before guaranteeing food security at home. These, he declared, are the symptoms of a dying economy.
Hon. Sichinga told his colleagues in the Zambia We Want that the manifesto was not a political brochure, it was a prescription. The “patient” is Zambia, and the only cure is economic surgery.
THE MAN WHO WRITES THE BLUEPRINTS Few in Zambian politics have authored as much as Sichinga. The MMD Manifesto of 1990 was drafted in his office. He prepared the alternative budgets for UPND under Mazoka. He managed Michael Sata’s campaign, even writing the speeches, including the Oxford University lecture that stamped Sata’s global presence. Where others spoke, Sichinga built the text that carried them to power.
ECONOMY BEFORE EVERYTHING “If you don’t have solutions for the economy, you won’t solve anything else,” he told the gathering. For Hon. Sichinga, agriculture in Namwala, fisheries in Luapula and Kariba, livestock in the valleys, copper and cobalt in the mines, these must stop being wasted opportunities and start feeding a national industrialisation drive. The resources are there, the problem is leadership.
AN IMPECCABLE RECORD He reminded the room that he has sat in the big offices: Minister of Commerce, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Finance (nominated). He has carried responsibility for budgets, food security, and trade. And in all this, he stressed, there is no record of theft. “My reputation is more valuable than anything else,” he said, holding up his Harvard Business School plaque and his fellowship as a certified accountant.
READY TO FACE HH Hon. Sichinga’s sharpest line came when he challenged the party itself: “You have to pick somebody who can stand against HH and say, fact number one is this. Figures don’t lie.”
He warned that a weak choice would doom ZWW to repeat the same mistake. “If we pick somebody without the experience of running government, we will end up with another HH, talking without knowing what to do.”
He closed by turning to his peers: “You are the doctors, you are the nurses. You will decide who can cure this illness.”
Sichinga did not ask to be liked. He asked to be believed. He offered competence instead of charisma, evidence instead of noise, integrity instead of improvisation. For Zambia We Want, and for a country on life support, his message was brutal in its simplicity: save the economy first, or nothing else matters.
PEER REVIEW POLITICS: A SMARTER WAY TO CHOOSE ZAMBIA’S NEXT LEADER
By Brian Matambo – Lusaka, Zambia
Zambia’s democracy is healthiest when parties open themselves to scrutiny, ideas, and competence. The Zambia We Want (ZWW) Peer Review held at Lieutembm University in Lusaka offered exactly that. It was a disciplined, transparent, and idea-driven process where presidential aspirants submitted themselves to questions, timelines, and a collective scorecard. If replicated across the political spectrum ahead of the 2026 elections, this format can elevate our politics from personality contests to performance contests.
Peer Reviews are not pageantry. They test the three things that truly matter in leadership selection: character, capacity, and a credible plan. They reveal whether a candidate can stand on a policy record, communicate a clear national direction, and accept critique without defensiveness. They also give party members and the public a structured way to compare visions side by side. Zambia needs more of this. Every party should consider institutionalising peer reviews for presidential hopefuls, secretary general positions, and parliamentary primaries. The outcome is better policy, stronger teams, and leaders who are prepared for office from day one.
Below is a highlight of what each candidate presented, in the order they spoke.
Ernest Mwansa: THE REFORMER WITH A RECORD Ernest Mwansa grounded his case in service and results. He traced a journey from the Copperbelt to Parliament, citing ministerial tenures in Energy and Water Development, Information and Broadcasting, and Health. He pointed to tangible legacies: initiating rural electrification, pushing media liberalisation so ZNBC would not be the only voice, advancing health reforms, and championing the Constituency Development Fund alongside colleagues. He served as Deputy Speaker and chaired Parliament’s Reforms and Modernisation Committee, arguing that he understands institutional change and how government truly works. His message was simple and confident. Leadership is delivery, and delivery is measured.
Dr Auxilia Bupe Ponga: THE PARTNERSHIP BUILDER Dr Ponga offered a leadership philosophy rooted in integrity, humility, and inclusive development. A career civil servant with international experience, she spoke to Zambia’s best moments of collective action, such as the HIV and AIDS response, and called for the same partnership model among churches, traditional leaders, youth, and civil society to tackle today’s challenges. She framed leadership as capacity building, conflict resolution, and respect for separation of powers. Her appeal was to lift people and places that policy has ignored, and to keep development at the centre rather than politics. She described two Zambias divided by opportunity and argued that leadership must close that gap.
Richewell Siamunene: THE ORGANISER AND UNIFIER Richewell Siamunene focused on sacrifice, unity, and ground game. He stressed that leadership without sacrifice is empty, and unity without inclusivity is fragile. He described broad mobilisation across provinces and on community radio, positioning himself as a field operator who builds structures rather than waits for perfect conditions. He rejected tribal calculations and called for a shared national vision. His strategic pitch was blunt. Study the incumbent, attack strengths with better strengths, and deploy human and financial resources with discipline. Politics, he argued, is won by organised people, not loud arguments.
Robert “Bob” Sichinga: THE ECONOMY FIRST CANDIDATE Robert Sichinga framed Zambia as a patient in intensive care and the economy as the elephant in the room. A veteran of policy and party manifestos, a former minister in finance-adjacent portfolios, and a long-time economic voice, he argued for a transformation agenda that tackles power reliability, industrial roads, hospital functionality, food security, and value capture from minerals. He presented himself as prepared, practical, and measurable, insisting that alternative budgets and clear targets are not luxuries but the basic tools of governance. His challenge to members was to pick leadership that can stand toe-to-toe with the incumbent on facts, figures, and delivery.
Kapembwa Simbao: THE SYSTEMS ENGINEER Kapembwa Simbao approached leadership like a production line that must be redesigned for quality. An electrical engineer and former cabinet minister, he set out two core problems. Governance that blurs the separation of powers, and an economy that underperforms because systems are misaligned. He called for judicial independence to unlock investor confidence and for Parliament that is genuinely free from executive control. On the economy, he prioritised mechanised agriculture, rapid restoration and expansion of energy generation capacity, and an SME-centred industrial policy. He argued for restructuring mining ownership to build a sovereign wealth fund and finance long-term national projects.
WHY THIS PEER REVIEW MATTERS This session did more than showcase personalities. It stress-tested ideas against reality, history, and feasibility. It rewarded preparedness. It placed party interest above individual interest. It demonstrated that internal democracy can be orderly and rigorous without losing passion. Most importantly, it modelled how Zambia can pick leaders who are ready to govern, not only ready to campaign.
If every party adopts credible peer reviews, voters will get clearer choices, parties will field stronger slates, and national debate will shift toward outcomes that improve the daily lives of Zambians. That is the politics our country deserves in 2026 and beyond.
Lusaka… Tuesday September 23, 2025 – Socialist Party (SP) President Dr. Fred M’membe has expressed deep sorrow at the death of renowned actor and comedian Robam Mwape, popularly known as Mwine Mushi.
Dr. M’membe conveyed his condolences to the Mwape family, with particular mention of the late comedian’s brother, Owas Ray Mwape.
He also extended his sympathies to the Zambian entertainment fraternity, which he said had lost one of its brightest stars.
He noted that Mwine Mushi had brought joy, laughter, and thought-provoking messages to many Zambians through his unmatched talent and creativity.
Dr. M’membe added that the comedian’s untimely passing was not only a painful loss to his family but also to the nation’s cultural and artistic life.
He further stated that Mwine Mushi’s legacy would continue to inspire future generations of artists, and he wished that the late entertainer’s soul may rest in eternal peace.
HOW EMMANUEL MWAMBA IS FOOLING HIS PF FOLLOWERS ON HIS SO-CALLED ATTENDENCE AT THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Truth is Emmanuel Mwamba travelled to New York city from wherever he is hiding the US, where the world leaders meet for the annual General Assembly.
As a matter of fact, Emmanuel Mwamba actually met the Zambian delegation in the corridors of the venue, greeted then and asked why he had not been paid his retirement benefits for his services as a diplomat. The Zambian delegation told him to formally come to their offices at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Cabinet Office in Zambia, like his colleagues have done. That’s how the Zambian delegation left him in the corridors as they entered the venue.
A few things you will notice about his photos are that he is posing with his name written on an A4 plain paper. However during such events, they don’t put names on the tables for each individual delegate. They put names of countries attending. So as a delegate, you look for the name of your country and not your individual name. Actually the Zambian mission in these places would already have established where you are supposed to sit as a country and not as an individual.
The room Emmanuel Mwamba was posing are those reserved for sideline meetings for delegates or for journalists to write stories.
In terms of other photos, world leaders are generally generous with people requesting for selfies and photos with them in the corridors.
Anyway, PF cadres in Zambia are as usual busy celebrating his lies and propaganda calling him ‘BIG MACHINE’.
As a matter of fact, PF cadres should sympathise with Emmanuel Mwamba. This gentleman has been used to surviving from government treasury and now leaving a lonely life as a fugitive without his family.
PRESIDENT HICHILEMA HOLDS TALKS WITH THE LITUNGA AND PARAMOUNT CHIEF MPEZENI
Lusaka… Tuesday September 23, 2025 – President Hakainde Hichilema has said he was deeply honoured to host His Majesty the Litunga, Lubosi Imwiko II, and Paramount Chief Mpezeni IV at State House earlier today.
According to the Head of State, the meeting focused on preserving Zambia’s rich cultural heritage, advancing the economic and social development of the people, and strengthening dialogue and collaboration between government and traditional leadership on issues affecting communities.
President Hichilema emphasised that traditional leaders were held in the highest esteem as custodians of culture and vital partners in national development.
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He further noted that their role in bridging the gap between citizens and government highlighted a shared responsibility to serve communities with unity, respect, and dedication.
COURT REJECTS LAZS BID TO JOIN SAMPA, ZCCM-IH CASE
The Constitutional Court has dismissed an application by the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to be joined to the Case in which Matero Member of Parliament, Miles Sampa filed a petition against the transaction involving Mopani Copper Mines and Delta Mining Limited.
Earlier this year, LAZ requested to join the case, adding that this would help the association in determining procedural and constitutional issues raised.
But when the matter came up for hearing today, Constitutional Court President Margaret Munalula dismissed the application, stating that details of the reason would be available later.
Meanwhile, the hearing could not proceed following a request by Mr Sampa’s lawyers for adjournment.
One of the Lawyers, Mutembo Nchinto who is representing ZCCM-IH cited miscommunication concerning the matter which was supposed be heard today.
He explained that the lawyers were of the view that the only matter being heard today was the request by LAZ to join the case.
Judge Munalula has since adjourned the hearing to November 25, 2025.
In 2021, ZCCM Investments Holdings acquired Glencore’s shares and later securing full ownership of Mopani Copper Mines.
However, due to financial challenges, ZCCM-IH issued 7,181,633 new shares, reducing its ownership stake from 100% to 49%.
These newly issued shares were allocated to Delta Mining Limited, bringing Mopani’s total share count to 14,081,633.
Member of Parliament Miles Sampa has raised concerns over the transaction, alleging it contravenes constitutional provisions related to the management of major state assets.
He has petitioned the Constitutional Court to nullify the deal, arguing that it bypassed the required parliamentary approval process.
“FOREIGNERS MASQUERADING AS INVESTORS SQUEEZING OUT ZAMBIANS, WARNS NJOBVU.
Democratic Union (DU) President Ackim Antony Njobvu has raised alarm over what he describes as a worrying trend of foreigners, masquerading as investors, engaging in small-scale businesses that should rightfully be reserved for Zambians.
Speaking on Millennium TV on Monday night, Njobvu criticized the New Dawn government’s appetite for foreign direct investment (FDI), arguing that the policy risks suffocating local enterprise.
“Whilst foreign investment is needed, the focus should be on local investment by Zambians themselves. We cannot continue to depend on outsiders when Zambia has enough resources to stand on its own,” Njobvu charged.
The opposition leader said the unchecked influx of foreign nationals in retail trade, block making, poultry rearing, and other low-level business ventures was a betrayal of citizens who have the capacity to operate such enterprises. He stressed that genuine foreign investment must target industrialization, manufacturing, and value addition that create jobs and long-term benefits for locals.
“Real investment should have a measurable impact on Zambians. It should not be about foreigners opening tuck shops and poultry runs. That is killing local entrepreneurship,” Njobvu said.
He further urged the government to use the upcoming national budget to prioritize local investment, warning that without deliberate policies to protect small businesses, Zambia risks perpetuating economic dependency.
Njobvu also took aim at the free education policy, citing the recently released school results as evidence of a compromised quality of learning. “Free education is a good policy, but if the outcomes are poor, then the entire system is failing the children,” he said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signaled openness to talks with the U.S., directly mentioning President Donald Trump for the first time since Trump took office.
Speaking before North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim said he still has “fond memories” of Trump but emphasized Pyongyang will “never” abandon its nuclear arsenal.
Kim stated dialogue is possible if Washington “abandons its absurd obsession with denuclearizing us” and instead seeks “genuine peaceful coexistence.”
While open to the U.S., Kim struck a harsher tone on South Korea, vowing never to negotiate or pursue unification with a country “that entrusts its politics and defense to a foreign power.”
In response, South Korea’s presidential office said it remains committed to promoting U.S.–North Korea dialogue, while reaffirming that a denuclearized peninsula remains its core priority.
UPND NATIONAL TRUSTEE CHIVUYE CRITICIZES SOCIAL MEDIA ATTACKS ON HICHILEMA
United Party for National Development UPND National Trustee Grace Chivuye has voiced deep concern over the growing trend of insults directed at President Hakainde Hichilema, particularly on social media platforms.
She says that the opposition should focus on providing meaningful checks and balances by telling citizens what they would do differently from the ruling party, rather than misleading the public with verbal attacks.
Ms Chivuye has cited government achievements such as the reintroduction of meal allowances, free education, increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF), and the elimination of caderism as evident that progress is being made.
She, however, cautioned that Zambians should not be taken for granted, noting that many still carry fresh wounds from past injustices adding that some of the insults bring her to tears, as they do not reflect the respect the presidency deserves.
AIPAC Backs HH Crackdown, Warns of Mining Mafias and Land Grabs
The Acton Institute for Policy Analysis Centre (AIPAC) has thrown its weight behind President Hakainde Hichilema’s crackdown on illegal mining and land allocation, but warned that entrenched networks of “mining mafias” and corrupt land dealers are undermining Zambia’s stability.
In a statement issued yesterday, AIPAC Executive Director Solomon Ngoma said the government must act firmly, particularly on the Copperbelt, where illegal mining and land invasions have spiraled out of control.
“Illegal mining undermines the rule of law, promotes tax evasion, and robs the state of much-needed revenue for development,” Ngoma said. “We cannot develop without collecting taxes from mines.”
AIPAC has recommended closer collaboration between the Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Home Affairs, and security agencies to ensure that both local and foreign illegal miners face arrest and prosecution. The watchdog group also urged young Zambians eager to enter the mining sector to follow proper procedures instead of joining illegal operations.
The think tank further raised the alarm on illegal land allocation in Kitwe, where reports indicate that some council officials, in collusion with suspected political cadres, have been grabbing titled farmland and reallocating it unlawfully.
“This practice cannot be tolerated,” Ngoma stressed, adding that failure to act risks fueling social unrest ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Malawi Council of Churches (MCC) has called on President Lazarus Chakwera to humbly concede defeat in the September 16, 2025 General Election.
MCC chairperson Reverend Billy Gamah observes that, based on the partial presidential election results announced by the Malawi Electoral Commission last night, “the table cannot change to deliver victory” for Chakwera.
Reverend Gama said a public statement by the President, acknowledging defeat would not only be an act of statesmanship but also a powerful gesture to encourage his supporters to accept the outcome peacefully.
“We believe that conceding early, even before the official announcement, will show maturity, promote peace, and help the nation move forward without violence or unnecessary tension,” said Gamah.
MCC’s call comes hours after reports indicate that former president Bakili Muluzi also asked Chakwera to concede defeat.
REBUTTAL: Leadership, Culture, and Truth — Defending Zambia’s Dignity Amid Grief and Misinformation by LINDA BANKS
By Masheke Akashambatwa September 21, 2025
In a recent article titled “A President Who Won’t Travel Because of a Corpse”, journalist Linda Banks attempts to frame a complex national moment through the narrow lens of foreign voyeurism, emotional sensationalism, and cultural ignorance. As a Zambian, I find her depiction not only intellectually dishonest but deeply disrespectful to our cultural values, our grieving process, and indeed, our national sovereignty.
Let me begin by acknowledging that no one, including President Hakainde Hichilema (HH), is above criticism. Healthy democracies require scrutiny of power, but what Linda Banks has offered is not scrutiny—it is storytelling cloaked in sentiment, built on shaky facts and foreign presumptions.
1. Cultural Realities Cannot Be Dismissed as Theatre
Linda mocks the President for not traveling “because of a corpse,” a phrase deliberately loaded to ridicule, rather than to understand. In Zambian culture—as in many African societies—the burial of a leader, especially a former Head of State, is not a procedural event. It is a sacred responsibility.
To suggest that President Hichilema is “hiding” from international diplomacy due to embarrassment is not only speculative—it is grossly dismissive of African tradition. The President’s decision not to travel while the remains of former President Edgar Lungu lie unburied is an act of cultural deference and leadership. In Zambia, it is uncultured and spiritually inappropriate for a leader to conduct business as usual, or represent the nation abroad, while the death of a fellow leader remains unresolved.
Would Linda have made the same mockery if a Western monarch had chosen national mourning over diplomatic travel?
2. The Truth About the Delay: Family, Not Government
Let us correct the central lie of her article: the corpse is not being “held ransom” by the government. In fact, the State has offered—repeatedly—a dignified state funeral befitting the former President. It is the Lungu family that has refused these overtures. The reasons for their refusal are personal, political, and unfortunately, increasingly weaponized.
The government cannot—and should not—force a funeral on a grieving family. That would itself be an act of tyranny. What Linda Banks fails to grasp is that the delay lies not in the State’s unwillingness to honour the deceased, but in the family’s unwillingness to cooperate with the process.
Had the Lungu family accepted the offer of a state funeral, former President Lungu would have already been laid to rest with full honours. That is not speculation—it is documented fact.
3. The Judiciary is Not a Tool of Vengeance
Ms. Banks implies that the former first family is being “dragged through courts” out of cruelty or political vendetta. This is another misleading statement. Zambia, like any constitutional democracy, does not exempt individuals from legal scrutiny simply because they are in mourning or have held power. Ongoing legal matters involving members of the Lungu family are matters of public concern—especially where public funds and abuse of office are alleged. These cases are being handled by independent courts, not by the President’s pen.
To suggest that mourning should automatically grant legal immunity is not justice—it is privilege masquerading as grief.
4. There Is No Shame in Our Cultural Values
Linda writes that President Hichilema avoids international stages due to “shame” and “fear of questions.” This is conjecture—unsupported, unverified, and irresponsibly repeated. If the President were driven by shame, would he have been the same man who travelled extensively in his first years of this term, engaging with global institutions, building partnerships, and inviting investment into Zambia?
Let us not confuse respect for weakness, or principled silence for guilt. There is nothing shameful in choosing cultural duty over diplomacy. In fact, that restraint is a form of leadership that too many Western commentators, like Ms. Banks, are unequipped to understand.
5. The Role of the Press Is to Inform, Not To Inflame
Journalism must walk the fine line between criticism and distortion. Sadly, Ms. Banks’ piece fails this basic journalistic test. She wraps conjecture in poetic metaphors, but poetic language cannot excuse the lack of factual grounding.
She invokes Nazi Germany to paint a picture of complicity and silence, comparing those in HH’s government to wives of fascist dictators. Such analogies are not only grotesquely exaggerated—they are dangerous. They suggest moral equivalency between administrative grief management and historical genocide.
This is not analysis. It is melodrama with a political agenda.
In Conclusion:
The Real Questions We Should Ask
Zambia is not a failed state. Zambia is not in hiding. Zambia is not ashamed. What Zambia is experiencing is a political moment charged with grief, family conflict, and cultural reverence that defies easy analysis through foreign eyes.
Instead of asking, “Why won’t HH bury the body?”, the real question is: “Why won’t the family accept the funeral that has been offered?”
Instead of implying a collapse of dignity, we should ask: “What does dignity mean in the African context, and who defines it?”
And finally, instead of mocking our silence, maybe try listening to what is being said—not in press statements, but in our actions, our traditions, our values. Let us not confuse noise for courage or poetry for truth.
Let Zambia mourn its son with honour, not as a subject of foreign mockery, but as a nation navigating the intersection of culture, law, and respect.
***
Masheke Akashambatwa is a Zambian commentator on politics, a good governance activists, an economist, and data scientist.
Zambia Is Not Malawi?” Tell That to Hichilema’s Shaky Throne
By Michael Zephaniah Phiri Political Activist
The recent elections in Malawi have rattled the very foundations of UPND. Suddenly, their praise-singers have found refuge in a tired chant: “Zambia is not Malawi.” But who are they fooling? The truth is staring them in the face — Malawi’s political storm is a mirror reflection of what awaits UPND in 2026.
When Lazarus Chakwera rode to power, the UPND in opposition danced and sang praises, hailing him as a hero of democracy. Today, as Malawians reject him, the same UPND cadres shamelessly twist their tongues to say, “Zambia is not Malawi.” Yet Zambia and Malawi are like Siamese twins — culturally, politically, and electorally bound. What happens in one is a prophecy for the other.
Hon. Miles Sampa, Leader of the Opposition, once prophetically described President Hakainde Hichilema as a “Once Viewed President.” Malawi has now produced its own version in Lazarus Chakwera — a leader once adored, now rejected. The parallel is striking: both nations have been cursed with loquacious presidents who showered citizens with promises of heaven on earth, only for implementation to hit absolute zero.
Even in Parliament, when Hon. Stephen Kapyongo raised the alarm about UPND’s dwindling fortunes, the Second Deputy Speaker rushed to cut him short with the same hollow excuse — “Zambia is not Malawi.” But the facts are undeniable. Mpulungu’s by-election already handed UPND a bitter defeat at the hands of NCP. The people are speaking, and the echoes from Malawi are only amplifying Zambia’s looming verdict.
The arrogance of UPND will not save them. Hichilema’s government has become a carbon copy of Chakwera’s regime — loud on promises, mute on delivery. Just as Malawians are pushing Chakwera out, Zambians are preparing to show Hichilema the exit.
The fear in UPND today is real, and it is justified. Because when the people rise, no slogan — not even “Zambia is not Malawi” — will stop the fall of a once viewed president.
*UPND should stop comforting themselves — Malawi has simply handed them their political obituary in advance.*
Former President Bakili Muluzi has advised incumbent president Lazarus Chakwera to congratulate Peter Mutharika for winning the September 16 general elections.
According to statistics, Mutharika, DPP leader, has gained over two million votes with Chakwera trailing behind with over seven hundred thousand votes.
Meanwhile, the Malawi Electoral Commission has announced official results from 24 district councils.
In an interview, Muluzi said he has told Chakwera over the phone that figures clearly indicate that the DPP president is going to win the election.
With this, Muluzi said it would be wise for Chakwera to congratulate Mutharika , saying doing so would cool down the tempers of his followers.
POLITICAL SCIENTIST SAYS ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND NOT OPPOSITION DISARRAY WILL DETERMINE 2026 POLLS
Political scientist Dr. Alex Ng’oma says next year’s general election results will largely be shaped by Zambia’s economic hardships, rising cost of living, unprecedented load-shedding and sporadic fuel shortages as opposed to the apparent disarray in the opposition.
Dr. Ng’oma says while the opposition appears divided and weak on paper, voters are expected to provide serious checks through the ballot, making it critical for the ruling UPND to deliver on key essentials ahead of the polls.
He has told Phoenix News that the UPND should not be misled into thinking opposition fragmentation guarantees them victory, but must focus on ensuring the availability of fuel, electricity, mealie-meal and other essential commodities to citizens, at the right price and in sufficient quantities.
Dr. Ng’oma has further advised opposition political parties against centering their strategies on personalities or those claiming to have been “anointed”, but instead to allow the current situation to dictate their political approach.
He notes that having too many aspirants posturing as presidential contenders’ risks weakening their chances while urging citizens to scrutinize candidates thoroughly to avoid what he terms pretenders and chancers.
I AM INNOCENT …Fatima, wife of Maria Zaloumis Nigeria partner speaks out
I NEVER sent anyone to go and harm Maria Zaloumis at her farm in Chisamba, Botswana businesswoman Fatima Gabatshwane has said.
Breaking her silence since the murder of 22-year-old Enock Simfukwe last month, Fatima said she is legally married to Zaloumis’ partner, Nathaniel Chinyeremi Barthram, and even has in her possession a valid marriage certificate as proof.
Zaloumis, Barthram and two others are jointly charged with murder following the death of Simfukwe.
“I don’t know the said Simfukwe, let alone where exactly the ordeal happened. All I knew was that my husband [Barthram], whom I’m legally married to with two children, was somewhere in Zambia living with a woman. And I was waiting for him to come back and divorce me,” Fatima said.
Simfukwe was ‘captured’ at Zaloumis’ farm in Chisamba, and his captors claimed he had confessed to have been sent by Barthram’s Botswana-based wife, Fatima, to harm Zaloumis for allegedly snatching her husband from her.
“The deceased [Simfukwe] might have been forced during alleged torture to name me as having sent him to trespass on the private farm,” Fatima said.
In a widely shared video captured during the alleged torture of the youth, which resulted into his death on August 17 2025, Simfukwe claimed to have been sent by Fatima to harm Zaloumis.
But in an exclusive interview with The Mast from Botswana, Fatima, 43, vehemently distanced herself from Simfukwe’s cruel murder.
She denied any interference in her husband’s new romantic expedition with Maria, a prominent Zambian farmer popularly known as Zed Farmer.
Fatima is the owner of King Jagaban Lounge in Mogodishane, Botswana, which she is said to have previously co-owned with Barthram.
She said a forensic investigation into allegations that she had hired Simfukwe to pour acid on her Zambian rival, Zaloumis, would outright exonerate her.
A marriage certificate seen by The Mast shows that the marriage between Barthram and Fatima was solemised at a Mogodishane local court on December 17, 2020.
Birth records and pictures seen by The Mast of the couple’s two children aged 6 and 4 indicate Barthram and Fatima as their father and mother, respectively.
“Nathaniel left the kids in February 2025 to visit the family in Nigeria. But I was surprised to see his photos with another woman on social media,” Fatima said.
She said their sudden separation stunned many people in Botswana who had known them as Botswana’s ‘powerful couple’.
Fatima described Barthram as “a loving and caring husband and father” until he left to be with Maria in Zambia.
She said Barthram’s family, including his mother, knew her very well and that the couple had travelled together to Nigeria on three occasions.
Fatima said justice should prevail for Simfukwe’s killers whom she said had robbed the young man of his life at a prime age.
Efforts to secure an interview with Barthram were unsuccessful as he is remanded in custody in connection with Simfukwe’s murder pending court appearance
Zaloumis, Barthram and their accomplices appeared in the Kabwe Magistrates Court for mention yesterday.
Last week, the Kabwe High Court ordered that all the four appear in a subordinate court because they had been in police detention longer than the law allowed without being presented before a competent court of law.
