MORE VOICES ON THE ARREST OF MARIA ZALOUMIS. “SHE HAD THE POWER TO STOP MURDER” – Masheke Akashambatwa
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Maria Zaloumis as the owner and operator of the farm on which Simfukwe was beaten, tortured and later later died from his injuries had the power to stop it.

All those workers would’ve listened to her command to stop beating the young man and put him in the car to take him to the nearest police station.

Maria must be arrested at the very minimum on aiding and abetting in a commission of a crime under Penal Code Act, Chapter 87 section 21 of the laws of Zambia.

After that the family of Simfukwe must sue her estate.

According to the Alliance constitution, anyone wishing to become the Tonse Alliance President must first join the Patriotic Front Party, as the presidential candidate must come from the PF – Hon Given Lubinda

Lubinda Clarifies PF’s Role in Tonse Alliance Presidential Candidacy.

By Goodson BANDA
Astro TV
22/08/2025

Acting President of the Patriotic Front PF and Tonse Alliance Chairperson Given Lubinda has stated that there is no competition in the Alliance regarding the selection of a presidential candidate, as the matter is solely determined by the PF.

Speaking during an interview on Astro TV’s Your Voice governance program, Mr. Lubinda explained that the alliance constitution stipulates that the PF is the deciding authority on who should stand as presidential candidate under Tonse.

He further emphasized that any individual belonging to a political party outside the PF, but wishing to contest under the Tonse umbrella, would be required to defect and join the Patriotic Front first.

Mr. Lubinda maintained that the arrangement is in line with the spirit and guiding principles of the alliance, which he said places the PF at the core of its leadership decisions.
-AstroNews

EDITOR’S CHOICE – MUHABI LUNGU MISSES THE POINT ….OPPOSITION NEEDS STRUCTURES, NOT LECTURES..

By Gregory Mofu

In his recent article titled “Unbridled and Unrealistic Presidential Ambitions,  An Achilles Heel for Political Cohesion Amongst the Opposition,” Muhabi Lungu paints a gloomy picture of opposition politics, dismissing many as delusional presidential hopefuls.

While he marshals statistics to show how difficult it is to win State House, his analysis misses the real point. The crisis in Zambia’s opposition is not merely about ambition. It is about organization. And without addressing that, no amount of finger pointing will change the equation.

As of today, Zambia does not have an opposition leader who can genuinely inspire the masses. That is the blunt truth. The frustration ordinary citizens feel with government does not automatically translate into support for the opposition, because there is no figure or party that has built the kind of ground game capable of turning discontent into votes. People want change, but they also want to see seriousness in terms of structures, mobilization, and presence across the country.

Muhabi is right about one thing: unity is necessary if the opposition is to stand a chance in 2026. But unity cannot be built on air. Parties that come to the alliance table without members, without structures and without clear policies are bringing nothing to the equation. They weaken the collective rather than strengthen it. An alliance of empty shells is not a winning strategy, it is a recipe for ridicule.

And here is where Muhabi must look in the mirror. He is spokesperson of Zambia We Want, a party widely perceived by the public as having no real structures on the ground. How then can it be taken seriously in an alliance? How can it lecture other parties about maturity when it has not yet demonstrated the organizational backbone to stand on its own? Before telling others to tame their ambitions, should it not first prove that it exists beyond press statements and elite circles?

The truth is that alliances work only when parties bring something to the table. Frederick Chiluba’s MMD in 1991 was powered by the unions, real people, organized and mobilized. Michael Sata’s PF was built brick by brick, election after election, with a loyal base that never gave up.

These were not creations of wishful thinking or clever rhetoric. They were organizations rooted in communities.
So yes, the opposition must unite. But first, it must organize. The hard, unglamorous work of building branches, recruiting members and presenting credible policies must take precedence. Otherwise, talk of unity is meaningless. And no amount of condescending lectures will substitute for the structures that actually win elections.

That is why it is refreshing to see figures like Ms. Dolika Banda step onto the political scene. Muhabi dismisses such entrants as mere dreamers, but perhaps it is exactly those dreams that will one day come true. Zambia’s democracy has always been moved forward by men and women who dared to dream against the odds. Instead of ridiculing them, we should welcome new energy and ideas into the national conversation.

Until the opposition produces leaders who combine ambition with real structures, it will remain weak. And until parties like Zambia We Want prove they exist beyond rhetoric, their lectures will ring hollow. Zambians deserve more than statistics and cynicism, they deserve a credible alternative that is serious, organized and inspiring.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CRUCIAL FOR SUCCESS OF 2025 MASS VOTER REGISTRATION, SAYS ECZ CHAIRPERSON

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson, Ms. Mwangala Zaloumis, has highlighted the essential role of community engagement in the upcoming 2025 mass voter registration exercise.

In her closing remarks, delivered on her behalf by ECZ Commissioner Mr. Macdonald Chipenzi today during an orientation program for District Voter Education Coordinators in Kabwe District of Central Province, Ms. Zaloumis stressed the importance of these coordinators as a bridge between the electoral commission and local communities.

She urged the coordinators to develop customized voter education initiatives that reflect the unique demographics of their districts, emphasizing that informed citizens are better equipped to understand the electoral process and the significance of their participation.

“By addressing misinformation and educating the public, District Voter Education Coordinators can foster trust in the electoral system and encourage higher voter turnout,” Ms. Zaloumis stated.

The Chairperson also called upon the coordinators to collaborate closely with local stakeholders, community leaders, and media representatives to expand their outreach and ensure that comprehensive voter education efforts reach every corner of their districts.

Looking forward to the mass voter registration period from October 13th to November 11th 2025, Ms. Zaloumis emphasized the need for collective efforts to improve electoral literacy and civic responsibility.

She reinforced the importance of having informed voters who contribute positively to Zambia’s democratic fabric. “Together, we can empower our citizens to confidently exercise their democratic rights,” she concluded, urging all stakeholders to unite in this crucial endeavour.

UPND MEDIA TEAM

PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA’S STATEMENT ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR

While President Hakainde Hichilema speaks of engagement with the private sector and the need for collaboration, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The Zambian private sector the very backbone of our economy continues to suffer under his administration.

Prolonged load shedding has crippled manufacturing, mining, and SMEs, dragging productivity to its lowest levels. No amount of consultation at State House can substitute for stable and reliable electricity, which is the lifeblood of any modern economy.

As if this is not enough, we are grappling with high fuel prices and, currently, a shortage of diesel a major driver of the economy in terms of the transportation of goods and services. Yet President Hichilema remains detached, speaking as though he is out of touch with the daily struggles of our people.

Policy implementation has also been weak and selective. While government speeches promise inclusivity, the reality is different. Implementation has been poor and, in many instances, skewed in favour of small-scale enterprises, leaving medium and large-scale industries exposed to unfair competition and high operational costs.

Equally, despite acknowledging that growth comes from a thriving private sector, this government has failed to provide even the most basic support framework predictable policies, reduced red tape, energy stability, and a level playing field in both domestic and export markets.

The President continues to hide behind endless consultations, but consultations without tangible outcomes have become the hallmark of his government. The private sector does not need more empty meetings it needs an environment where investments can thrive, jobs can be created, effective representation of workers in private sector especially where salaries is concerned cause most of have poor salary and working conditions. Zambians can prosper with good, focused, action oriented, patriotic and visionary leadership with clear intent to serve the country not personal ambition.

President Hichilema has always branded himself as a successful businessman and an economist. Yet in practice, he has failed to apply even the most basic principles of business and economic sense in managing the economy. No credible business leader would promise growth while presiding over power shortages, fuel crises, inconsistent tax policies, and weak policy execution. This contradiction exposes a clear hypocrisy between the President’s rhetoric and his actual delivery.

Until he demonstrates genuine leadership by ending prolonged load shedding with practical solutions, implementing fair policies across all sectors, and building investor confidence through consistency and transparency, his statements of partnership will remain nothing more than empty rhetoric.

The Zambian private sector deserves better than promises. Sadly, President Hichilema is still behaving like an opposition leader who can afford to keep making promises, forgetting that he is in the driver’s seat a seat he fought tooth and nail to occupy. Yet without a clear roadmap and vision, Zambia will remain stuck in cycles of mismanagement and circus politics, where national resources and government machinery are auctioned off for personal gain.

The most unfortunate aspect of President Hichilema’s administration is the absence of a good governance culture. A modern government must embrace the King IV Principles of ethical culture, good performance, effective control, and legitimacy. These four pillars are not just ideals they are the foundation of good governance and a healthy democracy. Yet under this administration, they remain completely ignored.

Instead, what we see are unproductive and oppressive laws such as the Cyber Security Bill designed to gag citizens from questioning government, alongside Bills 7 and 13, which serve personal ambition rather than national interest. Meanwhile, productive laws and policies that could uplift the lives of ordinary Zambians remain neglected.

Abraham Simpamba
Together We Can
Ichalo Bantu! 﫵

TWO MOUNTAINS  REJECTS ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT’S DEMAND TO INSPECT BODY OF ECL IN PRETORIA

Pretoria, 22nd August, 2025

Two Mountains Funeral Parlour has declined the Hakainde Hichilema led government’s demand to inspect the body of late President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, pointing them to the ongoing court cases read together with Article 18 of the Supreme Court of South Africa.

In a letter seen by Smart Eagles in Pretoria, South Africa, from Two Mountains Funeral Parlour addressed to the Hakainde Hichilema-led regime lawyers VFV Attorneys, the funeral service provider stated that its contractual obligations and professional duties were strictly tied to the Lungu family, identified as the “First to Seventh Respondents” in the ongoing legal matter.

The firm emphasized that it was bound by confidentiality, as well as court orders issued on 25 June 2025 and 2 July 2025, and would not allow any inspection of the body without written consent from the Lungu family, being the First to Seventh Respondents.

“Accordingly, we will not permit any inspection of the body or disclosure of any related documentation, including any pathologist or embalmer report, without your client’s prior written consent,” the letter reads in part.

The Hakainde Hichilema led Zambian Government had earlier written to the funeral parlour demanding the commissioning of a pathologist and Zambian special envoys of President Hakainde to inspect the remains of the late President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, but the funeral home would not proceed unless expressly instructed by the Lungu family. It also underscored that any such process would need prior agreement on costs.

And in addressing the now-rumored concerns allegedly stating that the remains of the late President are concerning, the funeral parlour reassured that the remains of the late President Lungu continue to be preserved in accordance with their standard operating procedures, and there are presently no visible changes to their condition.

Following the ruling of the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, the Lungu family have since appealed to the Constitutional Court for interpretation, as they state that the High Court erred in its judgment on many grounds, including using Zambian law in determining a matter that was before the law of South Africa.

Article 18″ in the context of the South African Supreme Court refers to Section 18 of the Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013, which dictates that the operation and execution of a court order are automatically suspended pending a decision on an application for leave to appeal or an actual appeal, unless the court orders otherwise in exceptional circumstances. This means that if a party appeals a decision, the court order generally cannot be enforced until the appeal is heard”

Given the Article 18 of the South African Supreme Court act 10 of 2013 the requests made by the Zambian Government can not be adhered to because as it stands the Zambian Government has no jurisdiction or right to request inspect the remains of the late President while the matter is now with the Constitutional court of South Africa.

OPPOSITION WILL WIN IN 2026, SAYS PROFESSOR MOONGA

By Prof. Proud Moonga, PhD, Lecturer, University of Michigan

Let me be clear: the most tribal government of the UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema have betrayed the Zambian people. They came into power on a wave of hope but have delivered economic collapse, political persecution, and unrestrained corruption. What was promised as a new dawn has turned into a dark chapter. The UPND has become a danger to democracy, and Hichilema’s government has lost all legitimacy. They are a failed project and the people know it.

The 2026 elections will sweep them out, but removing the UPND is not enough. Zambia needs a complete national overhaul: a new system of governance, new leadership, and a development strategy that puts Zambians first, not foreign interests or political cronies.

This starts with urgent institutional reforms. The Zambia Police Service must be depoliticized and professionalized. It exists to protect citizens, not to serve as a private militia for politicians. The judiciary must be made truly independent, with all judicial appointments, including the Chief Justice and deputies handled by the Judicial Service Commission, subject to parliamentary scrutiny. No more backdoor appointments.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia must also be rebuilt. As long as the president appoints the ECZ Chairperson and Commissioners, elections will never be free or fair. This power must be transferred to the Chief Justice, an impartial figure, to ensure electoral integrity.

We must also reject career politicians and businessmen who see politics as a personal business venture. What Zambia needs is a people’s president, a servant leader, with no baggage, no links to corruption, and no loyalty to failed systems. While the people’s president will be elected through a general election, the process of identifying the people’s candidate must begin now.

That’s why I am making a direct appeal to Mr. Brebner Changala, a respected voice of conscience and a fearless advocate for justice, to spearhead the People’s Candidate Movement.

This movement should bring together a coalition of priests, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, labour unions, community leaders, and other interest groups with a clear and urgent purpose:

1. To identify a viable, clean, and nationally acceptable people’s candidate,

2. To foster unity among opposition political parties around that candidate, and

3. To establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)—a political platform for the candidate and all supporting structures including MPs, mayors, council chairpersons, and councillors to contest the 2026 elections under a united banner.

This movement must not wait for career politicians to anoint one of their own. It must be people-led, transparent, and rooted in national interest not tribal, partisan, or elitist interests.

In this national effort, the Bemba and Eastern communities have a critical role to play. Far from being tribal, as some would falsely claim, these regions are currently politically marginalized. Yet they hold immense political weight. Their leadership is needed not for regional dominance, but to help unify the country behind a candidate who represents all Zambians, regardless of tribe or province. The people’s candidate can, and should, come from any part of Zambia, including Bemba or Eastern regions, as long as they are credible, clean, and committed to the people.

Let there be no illusions: the tribal UPND government is finished. But our focus must be bigger than just defeating a failed regime. We must build a new political culture, one that rejects corruption, tribalism, recycled leadership, and weak governance.

The People’s Candidate Movement must become the beginning of that new era. Let Mr. Changala take up this responsibility with the full support of patriotic Zambians. Let the institutions of moral authority, the Church, LAZ, traditional leaders, unions, civil society and youth, rally behind the process.

2026 must not just be an election. It must be a reset. A revolution. A new beginning. Led by the people, for the people, through the people.

END///

KALABA CAN’T BE GIANT WITH 3 VOTES IN BY-ELECTIONS – MUHABI

Zambia We Want spokesperson Muhabi Lungu says he does not believe in conjecture, wondering why Citizens First (CF) leader Harry Kalaba and his party have been getting 3 votes in some by-elections if he claims to be a political giant.

In an interview yesterday in Lusaka, Lungu said 10 key opposition parties, including the top five in the 2021 general elections, with the exception of CF, have been meeting to strategise on how to work together.

Asked on his statement that President Hakainde Hichilema benefited from splits in MMD, and why Kalaba or any other could not benefit from the wrangles in the main opposition PF, Lungu responded: “On what basis given the fact that he (Kalaba) got O.

https://dailyrevelationzambia.com/kalaba-cant-be-giant-with-3-votes-in-by-elections-muhabi/

Muhabi Lungu, A Boardroom Politician without a Constituency.

Muhabi Lungu has never won an election in his political life. The last time he attempted to contest in Lusaka Central, he was so thoroughly defeated that he quietly slipped into partial retirement. Yet today, he parades himself as though he were a seasoned, all knowing politician.

The truth is, Muhabi’s career has been that of a boardroom politician detached from the people and with nothing tangible to show. Recently, he went as far as announcing the formation of a political party, “The Zambia We Want.” Unfortunately, it never went beyond the press announcement. No structures, no presence even in Lusaka Province where he lives, nothing but empty talk.

Now he wants to belittle men like Harry Kalaba, leaders he cannot even begin to match in record, sacrifice, or rights. If Muhabi is truly serious about politics, let him start by re-contesting in Lusaka Central. If, and only if, he wins, then perhaps Zambians can begin to take him seriously. But let’s be honest: that is unlikely to happen in the next decade.

We are tired of political jokers with no following, no structures, and no experience trying to undermine genuine political players who have fought hard, won the people’s trust, and earned the experience to sit at the apex of governance.

Muhabi would do well to first mobilize his so called party, open a secretariat, and show us he has followers on the ground. Only then can his perspective on alliances carry any weight.

When foolishness is disguised as patriotism, wisdom is always under attack.

Gentleness is power and influence under control.

Carlos Mukoma Chishiki
Lusaka District Chair

FIVE ZAMMSA SENIOR OFFICIALS SENT ON FORCED LEAVE AMID CORRUPTION PROBE

FIVE senior officials at the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) have been sent on forced leave to allow for a corruption investigation.

Speaking during a briefing today, Health Minister Dr. Elijah Muchima confirmed that this is to follow a forensic audit into the systematic theft of medicines and medical supplies.

The stolen items, funded by taxpayers and international grants, were allegedly diverted to private pharmacies.

Dr Muchima adds that  everyone implicated will face the law accordingly, without fear or favor as note the number of suspects has grown and confirmed a full management reset is underway at ZAMMSA.

He says that the investigation stems from an Inter-Agency Task Force established in November 2023 to tackle the widespread pilferage at the agency.

M&D