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Edgar Lungu burial Judgement delivered by the South African High Court

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Edgar Lungu burial Judgement delivered by the South African High Court

Edgar Lungu  bruial Judgement delivered by the South African High Court;

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
GAUTENG DIVISION, PRETORIA

Case Number: 2025-096565

(1) REPORTABLE: YES
(2) OF INTEREST TO OTHER JUDGES: YES
(3) REVISED: YES
8 August 2025

In the matter between:

GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA — Applicant

and

ESTHER LUNGU — First Respondent
BERTHA LUNGU — Second Respondent
TASILA LUNGU — Third Respondent
DALIESO LUNGU — Fourth Respondent
CHIYESO LUNGU — Fifth Respondent
CHARLES PHIRI — Sixth Respondent
MAKEBI ZULU — Seventh Respondent
TWO MOUNTAINS — Eighth Respondent
THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION — Ninth Respondent

⸻

Summary:
This judgment was prepared and authored by the Court whose names are reflected and is handed down electronically by circulation to the Parties/their legal representatives by email and by uploading it to the electronic file of this matter on CaseLines. The date for handing down is deemed to be 8 August 2025.

JUDGMENT
CORAM: LEDWABA AJP, MUDAU ADJP et POTTERILL J (THE COURT)

Introduction
[1] On 24 June 2025 the applicant, the Government of Zambia represented by the Attorney-General [the Government] launched this urgent application for an order, inter alia, seeking that the eighth respondent, Two Mountains [the funeral parlour] be ordered to keep and to preserve the body of the late President Lungu and not to remove or to dispose of it in any manner pending finalisation of the application seeking the repatriation of the body. The application was to be instituted on or before 22 July 2025. The funeral parlour did not partake in the proceedings. The ninth respondent, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, was joined and then removed, had notice of the application but chose not to participate. Nothing turns thereon.

[2] On 25 June 2025, this court, per Ledwaba DJP, pursuant to an agreement by the parties ordered that the funeral and burial of the late President Lungu be suspended pending the determination of the main application. The respondents opposed the main application and for ease of reference the first to sixth respondents are referred as the “Family” of the late President Lungu. The seventh respondent, Makebi Zulu [Mr Zulu], the late President Lungu’s attorney participated in negotiations between the Government and the Family but did not partake in the proceedings before us.

[3] Despite the above order by agreement between the parties, the Government brought an ex parte application on 2 July 2025, seeking to vary the consent order granted by Ledwaba DJP. In the ex parte application the applicant alleged that the original order implicitly required the funeral parlour to continue caring for the late President Lungu’s body indefinitely pending the hearing of this application. This application was granted. Bringing such an ex parte application is frowned upon by this Court.

[4] In the amended notice of motion the Government sought a declaratory order that it is entitled to repatriate the late President Lungu’s body for a state funeral and burial thereafter in Embassy Park, Lusaka, Republic of Zambia. The funeral parlour is authorised and ordered upon demand by the Sheriff of this Court to surrender the body of the late President Lungu to a representative or representatives of the Zambia High Commission to enable the Government to repatriate the body to Zambia for a state funeral and burial. The Family is authorised to be present when repatriation is executed and an Aide De Camp, the late president’s personal physician and two Family members (subject to such restrictions the applicant may reasonably impose), accompany the coffin containing the body of the late President Lungu during the repatriation.

[5] Both parties filed applications to strike-out certain phrases and/or paragraphs of the affidavits alleging that these allegations are vexatious, irrelevant and scandalous or constituted hearsay evidence. Furthermore, the Family filed an application for condonation for the late filing of a conditional counterclaim to declare an alleged agreement between the parties pertaining to the repatriation and burial void, if the court should find that such agreement was reached. The Government opposed this application for condonation.

Joinder application
[6] Mr Vincent Kafula, a Zambian national currently residing in Cape Town, sought to intervene in these proceedings on allegations that he has “a substantial interest in upholding the Constitution of Zambia, international human rights law, and the affairs of Zambia”. He contends inter alia that, “what Zambia requires at this critical juncture is national reconciliation and the rectification of unconstitutional laws that undermine democratic principles. Although this court may lack direct jurisdiction, it can issue a declaratory order to guide the Constitutional Court of Zambia in affirming and enforcing these necessary changes for the public good”.

[7] The test for joinder is whether the non-joined party has a direct and substantial interest, i.e. a legal interest in the subject matter of the litigation which may be affected prejudicially by the judgment of the court. In that circumstance it is a necessary party and should accordingly be joined in such proceedings.

[8] Joinder, ordinarily, would occur to ensure that persons who have an interest in the subject matter of an existing dispute or have rights which may be affected by the judgment of the court in such a dispute are before the court. In argument Mr Kafula was constrained to concede that this Court has no jurisdiction over the Zambian courts and that the relief sought in that regard is incompetent. Mr Kafula thus has no direct and substantial interest in the relief sought. Furthermore, the question of joinder of Mr. Kafula on account of his Zambian nationality does not arise in this matter. This court dismissed the intervention application but made no order as to costs.

Common cause facts
[9] The late President Lungu served as President of the Republic of Zambia from January 2015 until August 2021, as the leader of a political party in the Republic of Zambia, called the Patriotic Front. The late President Lungu initially received the customary benefits accorded to former heads of state under the Zambian Benefits of Former Presidents Act, 1993. On 28 October 2023 when he announced his return to active politics his benefits were withdrawn according to section 5(1)(b) of the Act that provides as follows: “The pension and other benefits conferred by this Act shall not be paid, assigned or provided to a former President who is … or (b) engaged in active politics”. The late President Lungu’s access to state security, housing, transport and medical support was terminated.

[10] The Benefits Act provides for pension and other retirement benefits of former Presidents of the Republic of Zambia. It also provides in Section 4(1)(b) set out in the Schedule to the Act, for the payment of a former President’s funeral expenses.

[11] The late President Lungu arrived in South Africa on 19 January 2025 for medical treatment. The President unfortunately passed away on 5 June 2025. It is common cause that as a Zambian citizen Zambia was the late President Lungu’s permanent place of residence. Following the announcement of the passing of the late President, the current President of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema on 6 June 2025 dispatched a delegation of senior government officials led by the Zambian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Haimbe, and International Cooperation, to engage the Family and to discuss the logistics for the repatriation of the mortal remains of the late President to Zambia. Mr Zulu acted as spokesperson for the Family during these engagements.

[12] The delegation was informed, inter alia, that the Family wanted to conduct a post-mortem on 9 June 2025 that was supposed to be undertaken by a private pathologist from abroad. In addition, that, the Family was looking at departing Johannesburg, South Africa, for Lusaka, Zambia on Wednesday, 11 June 2025, aboard a private charter plane which the Family had already arranged. Also, the Family had planned to transport the body to Ndola, where the late President Lungu was born, Kitwe, where he lived during his formative years, and Petauke, where he hailed from. This was intended to provide the opportunity to the late President’s supporters and friends to pay their last respects before proceeding to Lusaka. In addition, that Zambians living in South Africa had also requested the Family to allow for a Memorial Service in his honour since most of them would not be able to travel to Zambia for the funeral, a request that had been considered.

[13] Minister Haimbe thereafter conveyed to the Family the applicant’s envisaged logistical arrangements, that the Applicant had following the privileges due to a former head of state when they pass on, declared seven days of national mourning beginning the date of death; the applicant would provide a military aircraft to transport the late President’s mortal remains and mourners back to Zambia at the earliest possible date preferably the 7 or 8 June, 2025, arrange full military honours at send off and arrival in Lusaka. The Applicant committed to purchasing a lockable casket and to paying for all associated expenses relating to the funeral. It was conveyed that a burial place would be prepared at Embassy Park, which is the designated burial site for all deceased Zambian Presidents.

[14] There were further meetings that followed. A second delegation to negotiate with the Family was led by the Hon. Mr. Enock Kavindele, former Vice President of Zambia, accompanied by Mr. Lesley Mbula, former Secretary to the Cabinet and former Zambian High Commissioner to South Africa. Also included was Mr. Patrick Kangwa, Secretary to the Cabinet. On 10 June 2025 at City Lodge, Waterfalls, the delegation met with representatives of the Family. Mr Zulu again acted as the Family’s spokesperson. From this meeting, it was agreed that the Family would purchase their preferred casket that was lockable; the Family would use a chartered aircraft, while government officials would use a Zambia Air Force aircraft that was on the ground for any eventualities.

[15] Annexure “FAA7” sets out what the parties agreed. For convenience, it is reproduced as is:

Program for Repatriation, Funeral and Burial of the 6th Republican President, Dr. Edgar Chagwai Lungu

Wednesday 18th June 2025:
• Departure of Body from Funeral Parlor to Lanseria Airport Arrival of body at Lanseria Airport Family and body depart Lanseria Aboard a Private Charter.
• Arrival at Lusaka and receiving of the Body at KKIA by the Family – Military honours
• Departure for the house in Chifwema where the body will lay (sic) in state.

Thursday 19th June 2025:
• Departure of Body from Funeral house in Chifwema to Mulungushi Conference Centre old wing.
• Prayer and commencement of body viewing from 09:00 to 16:00
• Return of the body to Chifwema to lay (sic) in state

Friday 20th June 2025:
• Departure of Body from Funeral house in Chifwema to Mulungushi Conference centre, old wing.
• Prayer and commencement of body viewing from 09:00 to 16:00
• Return of the body to Chifwema to lay (sic) in state

Saturday 21st June 2025:
• State Funeral at Mulungushi conference centre, hosting foreign dignitaries

Monday 22nd June 2025:
• Valedictory session at the Supreme Court Church service by Bishop Alick Banda at Showgrounds
• Burial

  1. National mourning to be extended
  2. The body to always lay (sic) in state at Chifwema
  3. The body to always be accompanied by a relative, the ADC, and Dr …..
  4. Parties will consult and agree on who speaks at all events.
  5. Hon. Given Lubinda to speak on behalf of the Patriotic Front Party

[16] Mr Zulu in a separate televised briefing confirmed the agreement, inter alia, firstly that the body of the late president Lungu shall be transported together with the Family from Lanseria airport in South Africa to Zambia on Wednesday, 18 June 2025 using a private charter made available to the Family by well-wishers. Secondly, following the arrival and receipt of the body by Family members in Lusaka, full military honours will be conducted at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, after which the body shall be taken to the funeral house in Chifwema, where it will lie in state. Thirdly, that the body of the former president will be taken to Mulungushi International Conference Centre on Thursday 19th June, Friday 20th June and Saturday 21st June to enable members of the public to pay their last respects from 09:00 to 16:00, after which it shall be returned on all days to the funeral house in Chifwema to lie in state.

[17] On 18 June 2025, and shortly before the body of the late President was due to be transported to the Lanseria Airport for repatriation, the Family informed that the body of the late President would not be arriving at Lanseria Airport, that the late President’s body would remain at the mortuary and that the Family had decided that the late President would be buried in South Africa in a private funeral.

[18] The main issue to decide is whether an agreement was reached pertaining to the repatriation and burial of the former late President. Furthermore, whether Zambian law or South African law is applicable, affording whom a right to burial.

[19] On behalf of the Government it was argued that it accepted the Family’s proposal that was recorded in annexure “FAA7”. This was further confirmed in the press briefing, despite the Family now contending that the press statement was false because “no agreement that the remains would be repatriated” existed. Furthermore, in terms of the agreement a tentative programme was drawn up by the Family, and that programme reflected that the body of the late President would be repatriated to Zambia on a private charter plane on 18 June 2025 for purposes of a state funeral and burial on 22 June 2025. This agreement was confirmed during a joint briefing of the Government and the Family at the Rivonia Southern Sun hotel. It was argued that the Family clearly agreed to the terms as set out, but has breached the agreement.

[20] The Government contended that the domicile, habitual residence, and nationality of the late President and the Family are connecting factors that would point to Zambian Law as the proper lex causae. Reliance was placed on the matter of Society of Lloyd’s v Price; Society of Lloyd’s v Lee 2006 (5) SA 393 (SCA) wherein the SCA found that where there is a potential conflict between the two applicable systems of law, that “via media approach is the appropriate one in dealing with the kind of problem with which we are now confronted. Not only does it take cognisance of both the lex fori and the lex causae in characterising the relevant legal rules, but it also enables the court, after this characterisation has been made, to determine in a flexible and sensitive manner which legal system has the closest and most real connection with the dispute before it.”

[21] Counsel for the Government further pointed out that in terms of Zambian law, public policy requires that the wishes of a late President or his/her Family yield before the requirement that deceased heads of state be afforded a state funeral and burial at Embassy Park. In selecting Zambian law as the lex causae, this Court ensures that the Zambian legal principles are harmonised and that the policies underlying the relevant legal rule are respected and upheld. Further, in this regard, the court was referred to the case of The People v Secretary to the Cabinet Ex parte Kaweche Kaunda (HP768 of 2021) [2021] ZMHC 6 (7 July 2021). The Zambian Court found that a state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rule of protocol, held to honour people of national significance. In addition to that, even if it was a personal wish of the late President not to be accorded a state funeral, such a wish must be overridden by the public interest. This decision, we find, is persuasive.

[22] The Family submitted that no agreement was reached. In the alternative, and if this Court found that an agreement was concluded, the Family elected to cancel the agreement based on what the Family alleged were material fraudulent misrepresentation, alternatively negligent misrepresentations, further alternatively innocent misrepresentations. The misrepresentations relates to the Family being adamant that the current President of Zambia was not to preside over the state funeral.

[23] The Family also contended that, following the principle of lex fori, it dictated that South African courts would apply South African law to disputes arising within its jurisdiction, regardless of the nationality or domicile of the parties involved. As this is the country where the late President Lungu passed away, the lex causae in this instance should be the South African law.

[24] This Court was referred to some judgments emanating from this court, such as Simakuhle v Simakuhle and Another (Simakuhle) [2024] ZAGPPHC 33 at para [36] followed by Moshoana J in P.N and Others v P.N (104659/2022) [2024] ZAGPJHC 924 (18 September 2024) as authority for the proposed approach, wherein Phooko AJ stated: “In my view, the First Respondent, as the wife to the deceased, has burial rights and may decide where her late husband should be buried.”

Reference was also made to TM v CM and Another [2019] ZAGPJHC 412 yet another unreported judgment by Adams J in which the learned Judge stated: “Weighing up several factors listed in the judgment, the learned judge found that the fairest order (on the facts of that case) was that the surviving spouse should be allowed to bury the deceased” in support of the Family’s argument.

[25] It is well-established in our law that the correct judicial approach to the interpretation of written documents is that the inevitable point of departure is the language of the document itself. Words must be given their ordinary grammatical meaning, unless to do so would result in absurdity. A written agreement between the parties must be read as a whole to determine the true intention of the parties. If regard is had to the grammar and syntax of “FAA7”, the purpose for which it was drawn up, considering that both parties were alive to the disputes between them, “FAA7” can only be interpreted as an agreement between the parties.

[26] On the issue of whether Zambian or South African law is applicable, we took into account the decision of Society of Lloyd’s supra one has to determine a flexible and sensitive manner in which the legal system has the closest and most real connection to this dispute. The domicile, habitual residence and nationality of the late President and the Family are connecting factors that would point to Zambian Law as the proper lex causae.

[27] As counsel for the Government pointed out, in terms of Zambian law, public policy requires that the wishes of a late President or his/her Family yield before the requirement that deceased heads of state be afforded a state funeral and burial at Embassy Park. In selecting Zambian law as the lex causae, this Court ensures that the Zambian legal principles are harmonised and that the policies underlying the relevant legal rule are respected and upheld. Further, in this regard, the court was referred to the case of The People v Secretary to the Cabinet Ex parte Kaweche Kaunda (HP768 of 2021) [2021] ZMHC 6 (7 July 2021). That court stated that a state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rule of protocol, held to honour people of national significance. In addition to that, even if it was a personal wish of the late President not to be accorded a state funeral, such a wish must be overridden by the public interest. This finding too caters for the order that follows below.

[28] The agreement leaves no room for doubting that the current President of Zambia would be involved in receiving foreign dignitaries as Head of State of the host country. Details as to who else was to speak, other than the leader of the opposition party that the deceased belonged to, are trivial. The late President Lungu, like any other President in established democracies around the world, deserves to be buried with the necessary dignity. This Court cannot bar a President of another country to attend a state funeral. Stripped of emotive language and political posturing in the papers, the order that follows is intended to achieve that purpose. It follows that the Family’s counterapplication is unmeritorious and must be dismissed.

[29] As for the striking-out applications by both parties this Court did not take cognisance of any vexatious, irrelevant or scandalous averments by any of the parties in coming to its decision. Neither party has suffered any prejudice and both applications are dismissed with no orders as to costs. Despite the lateness and the paucity of the reasons given for the condonation application for the late filing of the counter-application this Court considered the averred misrepresentations, but finds no substance in these allegations.

Costs

[30] The Court has a discretion when awarding costs and must exercise this discretion judicially. An order of costs must be made upon a consideration of the facts in this matter, and the decision thereon is made considering the fairness to both parties. In this matter it is only fair and just that no order as to costs should be made. The effect of this order is that each party is to pay its own costs.

Order

[31]

  1. The intervention application is dismissed. No order as to costs.
  2. The applications to strike-out are dismissed. No order as to costs.
  3. The application for condonation and the counter-application are dismissed. No order as to costs.
  4. It is ordered that the applicant is entitled to repatriate the body of the Late President Edgar Lungu (“the late President Lungu”) for a state funeral and burial thereafter in Embassy Park, Lusaka, Republic of Zambia.
  5. The Eighth Respondent is authorised and ordered upon service of the court order by the Sheriff of this Honourable Court, to immediately surrender the body of the Late President Lungu to a representative or representatives of the Zambia High Commission to enable the Applicant to repatriate the body to Zambia for the purposes stated in paragraph 4 above.
  6. The First to Seventh Respondents are authorised to be present when paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Order are executed, and an Aide De Camp, the late president’s physician, and two Family members may accompany the coffin containing the body of the Late President Lungu during the repatriation.
  7. There is no order as to costs, which includes reserved costs.

Signatures

A.P. Ledwaba
Acting Judge-President of the High Court
Gauteng Division, Pretoria

T.P. Mudau
Acting Deputy Judge-President of the High Court
Gauteng Division, Johannesburg

S. Potterill
Judge of the High Court
Gauteng Division, Pretoria

Hon.  Davies Chama  Sentenced to 8 years Imprisonment

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Hon.  Davies Chama  Sentenced to 8 years Imprisonment

FORMER PF STRONG MAN DAVIS CHAMA SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS IMPRISONMENT WITH HARD LABOUR FOR SHOOTING ANOTHER PERSON DURING BY-ELECTION

Hon.Davies Chama, Brian Nyoni Sentenced to 8 years Imprisonment



Former Minister of  Defence Davies Chama and Brian  Dumisani Nyoni sentenced to 8 years imprisonment with hard labour for allegedly shooting Mushaukwa Mushaukwa in the Mulobezi By-election in 2015.


Only Hon. Davies Chama was present in court as information has filtered that Brian Nyoni was unavailable, and has reportedly been missing for the last 3 months.

Details later.

Lungu Family lawyer  aided Zambian govt win the case- Sean Tembo

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Lungu Family lawyer  aided Zambian govt win the case- Sean Tembo

WHY THE SA COURT BATTLE WAS LOST

By Sean E. Tembo – PeP President & TONSE ALLIANCE Spokesperson


1. When Govt sued the ECL family and obtained an Interim Injunction to stop the burial that was scheduled for 26th June 2025, l took time to study the arguments that Govt was advancing, as well as the counter arguments that ECL’s family was advancing.



2. It soon became apparent to me that ECL’s family clearly had an upper hand, for the simple reason that South African law gave the next of kin the right to determine where and how a dead person should be interred. In this particular case, the wish of ECL’s family was to bury in South Africa. That is all that mattered.



3. However, among all the frivolous arguments that Govt advanced in court, there was one, which if they could prove, might have the potential to supersede South Africa’s that gives the next of kin the right to determine how and where a dead person should be interred. That argument was public interest.



4. However, it is very difficult to definitively prove public interest in court, without your argument being successfully rebutted. You literally have to undertake a statistically sound survey where it is determined that the majority of Zambians want ECL to be buried in Zambia, and that it is therefore in the public interest that he must be buried in Zambia.



5. Of course Govt tried to demonstrate public interest by, according to a recorded conversation between two Honorables, engaging proxies to undertake protests in front of the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. But these efforts fell far short of the requisite solid argument for public interest, that would sway the court to determine in favor of Govt.



6. Until the matter came up for a hearing on 4th August 2025. Both parties made their submissions and it appeared like ECL’s family might carry the day, until the Judge asked the ECL family lawyer, a rather rhetorical question.The judge said; do you think it is in the public interest that ECL should be buried in Zambia?



7. The ECL family lawyer answered in the affirmative, but quickly qualified his answer by saying “… it is however the desire of the family that he should be buried here in South Africa..”. At that moment, l sunk in my seat with helplessness. The moment the lawyer agreed that it was in the public interest that ECL should be buried in Zambia, l knew that we had lost the case. It did not matter the qualification that he made thereafter by saying it is however the desire of ECL’s family that he should be buried in South Africa. Because on any day of the week, public interest takes precedence over family interest.



8. Suffice to mention that Govt had been struggling and failing to prove public interest, until the family lawyer gave it to them on a silver platter, through an admission. Infact the judge even quiped that “.. you seem to be agreeing with the submissions of the Applicant..”. The question that shall remain lingering on the back of my mind is whether that was due to plain incompetence or he was compromised?

Anyway, TILI TONSE 欄 and the Future is SET ✌️

SET 08.08.2025

“No costs given to the Government of Zambia; each party bears its own costs”-AG: Mulilo Kabesha

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“No costs given to the Government of Zambia; each party bears its own costs”-AG: Mulilo Kabesha

“No costs given to the Government of Zambia; each party bears its own costs.”-AG: Mulilo Kabesha



in coming to its decision. Neither party has suffered any prejudice and both applications are dismissed with no orders as to costs. Despite the lateness and the paucity of the reasons given for the condonation application for the late filing of the counter-application this Court considered the averred misrepresentations, but finds no substance in these allegations.



Costs

[30] The Court has a discretion when awarding costs and must exercise this discretion judicially. An order of costs must be made upon a consideration of the facts in this matter, and the decision thereon is made considering the fairness to both parties. In this matter it is only fair and just that no order as to costs should be made. The effect of this order is that each party is to pay its own costs.



Order

1. The intervention application is dismissed. No order as to costs.

2. The applications to strike-out are dismissed. No order as to costs.

3. The application for condonation and the counter-application are dismissed. No order as to costs.



4. It is ordered that the applicant is entitled to repatriate the body of the Late President Edgar Lungu (“the late President Lungu”) for a state funeral and burial thereafter in Embassy Park, Lusaka, Republic of Zambia



5. The Eighth Respondent is authorised and ordered upon service of the court order by the Sheriff of this Honourable Court, to immediately surrender the body of the Late President Lungu to a representative or representatives of the Zambia High Commission to enable the Applicant to repatriate the body to Zambia for the purposes stated in paragraph 4 above.




6. The First to Seventh Respondents are authorised to be present when paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Order are executed, and an Aide De Camp, the late president’s physician, and two Family members may accompany the coffin containing the body of the Late President Lungu during the repatriation



7. There is no order as to costs, which includes reserved costs.




A.T. LEDWABA
ACTING JUDGE-PRESIDENT OF THE HIGH COURT
GAUTENG DIVISION, PRETORIA


T.P. MUDAU
ACTING DEPUTY JUDGE-PRESIDENT OF THE HIGH COURT
GAUTENG DIVISION, JOHANNESBURG



S. POTTERILL
JUDGE OF THE HIGH COURT
GAUTENG DIVISION, PRETORIA

SA Court  has ruled that the body of Edgar Lungu be repatriated to Zambia

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SA Court  has ruled that the body of Edgar Lungu be repatriated to Zambia

SOUTH AFRICAN COURT ORDERS ECL’s REMAINS BE REPATRIATED TO ZAMBIA.



By Veronica Chilufya

The Pretoria High Court in South Africa has ruled in favor of the Zambian government, ordering the repatriation of the body of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu to Zambia for burial.



The court’s decision comes after a legal battle between the Zambian government and the Lungu family, over the custody of the late president’s remains.


The late Edgar Lungu, Zambia’s sixth President passed away in South Africa on June 5, 2025, following his death, a dispute arose regarding where he would be laid to rest .


The Zambian government took legal action, suing the Lungu family to secure the return of the former leader’s body to Zambia.


A bench of three Judges at the Pretoria High Court delivered the judgement, affirming that the government has the right to repatriate the remains.



The Court has ordered that the body of the late president be surrendered to the republic of Zambia’s government without delay.



Meanwhile, Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha, has appreciated the judgement by the Court, and that the government has just done what the Zambian people wanted.- YAR

VIDEO: Reactions from Edgar Lungu’s sister as court rules Lungu to be buried in Zambia

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VIDEO: Reactions from Edgar Lungu’s sister as court rules Lungu to be buried in Zambia

Pretoria Court Orders Release of Edgar Lungu’s Remains to Zambia Amid Family Opposition



By Brian Matambo, Sandton, South Africa

The Pretoria High Court has ordered the immediate release of former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s remains to the Zambian government, rejecting a bid by his widow and children to bury him in South Africa in accordance with their wishes.



In a ruling delivered Friday, the court found that a binding agreement had been reached between the family and the state to repatriate the late leader’s body to Lusaka for a state funeral and burial at Embassy Park, Zambia’s official presidential cemetery. The court invoked the legal doctrine pacta sunt servanda, which means agreements must be kept, and dismissed the family’s argument that the deal was invalid due to misrepresentation.



Family supporters allege the outcome was tainted by political interference. According to sources close to the matter, Robert Chabinga, a political operative with close ties to the ruling administration, received 12 missed calls from President Hakainde Hichilema and 20 missed calls from the Director General of Intelligence in the days leading up to the ruling. In an audio recording, Chabinga is heard telling Cabinet Minister Doreen Mwamba that he was on assignment to bribe the South African judge as instructed by the president. The same sources claim this mission was carried out successfully.



Critics argue that the court has gone against South African legal precedent and its own family law, delivering a verdict that strips the widow of her rights in deciding her husband’s final resting place. “This is an unfair and politically motivated punishment that subjects Mrs. Lungu to unnecessary pain,” said one family ally outside court.



Lungu, who died in Johannesburg on June 5 while undergoing medical treatment, was the sixth president of Zambia and remains a polarising figure in the nation’s politics. The government moved quickly after his death to announce full military honors and an official burial in Lusaka. But on June 18, the day set for repatriation, the family refused to proceed, citing personal and security concerns, and declared their intention to hold a private burial in South Africa.



From the family’s standpoint, the dispute was not merely about protocol but about dignity, safety, and autonomy. They argued that the state should have pursued dialogue rather than litigation, warning that the politicisation of Lungu’s death risked deepening national divisions. President Hakainde Hichilema has not visited the funeral house or called former First Lady Esther Lungu since the president’s passing, a silence the family and supporters see as emblematic of strained relations and a lack of genuine reconciliation.


Under Friday’s order, the late president’s body is to be handed over to Zambian officials immediately, in the presence of his personal physician and two family members, who are authorised to accompany the remains. The family has not yet indicated whether they will appeal.



For Lungu’s supporters, the ruling is a fresh reminder of the lengths to which the state will go to assert control over his legacy, even at the expense of family wishes. For them, it is a story not just about a burial but about the deep entanglement of power, law, and grief.

OPPOSITIONS WORKING ON SELECTING CANDIDATE FOR 2026 – SP

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OPPOSITIONS WORKING ON SELECTING CANDIDATE FOR 2026 – SP

OPPOSITIONS WORKING ON SELECTING CANDIDATE FOR 2026 – SP



SOCIALIST Party National Youth Chairperson Kelvin Kaunda says the opposition is developing a process to select a candidate for the 2026 elections.



On Monday, former Southern Province Minister Dr Edify Hamukale said the proliferation of political parties was a sign of greed among opposition leaders who refused to be led by others. In an interview, Wednesday, Kaunda said Dr Hamukale’s concerns were noted.



“We’ve taken note of Dr Hamukale’s submission. We will continue to engage with various other stakeholders until we are able to come up with a legitimate process which will enable us to arrive at a common flag bearer for the opposition. We also wish to agree with him that his concerns, basically is the Zambian people’s concern” he said.

News Diggers

PRESIDENT HICHILEMA CALLS FOR UNITY AND RESPECT FOLLOWING BY-ELECTION VICTORIES

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PRESIDENT HICHILEMA CALLS FOR UNITY AND RESPECT FOLLOWING BY-ELECTION VICTORIES

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 8th August, 2025, Lusaka.

PRESIDENT HICHILEMA CALLS FOR UNITY AND RESPECT FOLLOWING BY-ELECTION VICTORIES


President Hakainde Hichilema has congratulated the people of Mfuwe, Nchelenga, and Mpongwe for conducting peaceful by-elections on Thursday, 7th August 2025.



Expressing his satisfaction, the President commended the growing political tolerance among parties, noting with pride that the elections were free from violence. He reiterated that political competition must focus on the exchange of ideas dedicated to public service, rather than personal or partisan hostility.



“We are pleased to observe the calm and respectful atmosphere that characterised the campaigns across all constituencies. The reports we have indicate that campaign teams from different parties campaigned side by side, as fellow citizens competing in diverse ideas, this is as it should be,” President Hichilema stated.



The Head of State congratulated Mama Mufunelo, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Mfuwe, as well as the newly elected councillors in Mpongwe and Nchelenga. He also paid tribute to the ruling party’s campaign teams for their commitment, while stressing that victory must be used to unite the nation rather than divide it.



“To the victors, remember that your opponents are not enemies but fellow citizens, brothers and sisters in one Zambia. Love and respect them as you serve, for our democracy thrives when we rise above hate and division,” he urged.



President Hichilema thanked all participating political parties for embodying the true spirit of democracy and fraternal brotherhood during the electoral process, adding that this spirit should be nurtured and spread across the country.



“The UPND now proudly has Members of Parliament representing all ten provinces of our country. This is a significant achievement, but most importantly, it marks our first historic entry into Muchinga Province. To the people of Mfuwe, thank you for your trust. We will not let you down. Together, we will secure long-term prosperity,” he affirmed.

Issued by:

Clayson Hamasaka
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

STATE HOUSE

Ghana’s Communications Authority to Suspend DSTV Ghana Over MultiChoice’s Refusal to Reduce Prices

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Ghana’s Communications Authority to Suspend DSTV Ghana Over MultiChoice’s Refusal to Reduce Prices

NCA Moves to Suspend DSTV Ghana Over MultiChoice’s Refusal to Reduce Prices, Proposed by Sam George



MultiChoice Ghana has been informed by the National Communications Authority (NCA) that it intends to suspend the operating licence of DSTV operations in the country.


This follows MultiChoice Ghana’s refusal to accept the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George’s call to reduce the prices for their Pay-TV packages.



The drag began after Mr George requested a 30% reduction in DSTV’s prices following the recent appreciation of the Ghanaian cedi.



However, MultiChoice Ghana rejected the proposal, claiming the demand was untenable.


Well, the Communications Minister directed the NCA to suspend DSTV’s license effective August 7, 2025, if the company fails to reduce its subscription prices.

Tragedy strikes in Mamelodi as cleansing ritual ends in drowning

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Tragedy strikes in Mamelodi as cleansing ritual ends in drowning

Tragedy strikes in Mamelodi as cleansing ritual ends in drowning

A traditional family cleansing ritual turned into a devastating tragedy last weekend  when a mother and her three adult children drowned in the Delfie Quarry Dam in Pienaarsport, Mamelodi, Pretoria.



According to Gauteng police, the 51-year-old woman, her 36-year-old daughter, and two sons in their twenties entered the dam as part of the ceremony but never resurfaced.


A seven-year-old girl, the youngest family member who did not participate raised the alarm after noticing the group had not returned from the water.



Emergency services, including the SAPS diving unit, were dispatched to the scene. The bodies of the mother and daughter were recovered shortly after, while the search for the two sons continued into the following day.



On Monday, 4 August, divers retrieved the remaining two bodies despite challenging conditions caused by the dam’s depth and murky water.


Boschkop police have opened an inquest docket to investigate the circumstances surrounding the drownings.



Authorities have urged the public to take precautions during traditional rituals performed in or near water sources.

WATCH LIVE:  Edgar Lungu  Burial Judgement

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WATCH LIVE:  Edgar Lungu  Burial Judgement

Court Overrules Lungu’s Burial Wish…Orders Repatriation to Zambia



A South African court has ordered the body of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu to be returned to Zambia for a state funeral, despite objections from his family who insist he wished to be buried privately in South Africa.



The ruling by the Pretoria High Court on Friday brings an end to a two-month legal dispute between the Zambian government and the Lungu family, but has left close relatives furious.



Lungu died on 5 June at Mediclinic Medforum in Pretoria while receiving treatment for esophageal cancer. He was 68.



His widow, Esther Lungu, and family lawyer Makebi Zulu told the court that the former president had expressed a strong desire not to be buried in Zambia, and specifically wanted to exclude President Hakainde Hichilema from any funeral proceedings

“My husband was clear: he wanted President Hichilema nowhere near his funeral or his body,” Mrs Lungu said in an affidavit.

The family also accused the Zambian government of contributing to Lungu’s death by allegedly delaying approval for his medical evacuation to South Africa and by stripping him of presidential benefits in 2023.



But the court ruled that, as a former head of state, Lungu’s burial must follow national protocol.

“This is a matter of national dignity,” said Acting Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba, delivering the ruling alongside a full bench. “As a former head of state, President Lungu’s burial must reflect Zambia’s protocol and honour his service to the nation.”



The court granted the Zambian government’s request for full control over the burial process. This includes the repatriation of the body, its release from a Pretoria funeral home, and the exclusion of the family’s authority over funeral arrangements.



Judge Ledwaba acknowledged the family’s concerns and advised that President Hichilema should minimise his involvement in the burial, “to honour the family’s wishes as far as possible”.

The decision has angered Lungu’s relatives, who accuse the government of ignoring the late president’s personal instructions and using his death for political purposes.


A family member, speaking anonymously, told the BBC: “This is not what he wanted. We feel betrayed.”

The Zambian government, represented by Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha, argued that the burial of a former president is a state matter governed by law, and not subject to private arrangements.



The court also dismissed an application by Zambian citizen Vincent Kafula, who had tried to intervene, warning that the dispute was “tearing Zambia apart”.

Lungu’s body will now be flown to Lusaka on a private chartered aircraft. It will lie in state at his residence and at a national conference centre before burial at Embassy Park with full military honours.



President Lungu served as Zambia’s sixth president from 2015 until 2021. His political legacy remains divisive, and his death has only deepened tensions within Zambian society.

MFUWE BY ELECTION RESULTS UPDATE

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MFUWE BY ELECTION RESULTS UPDATE

CONSOLIDATED FINAL & VERIFIED MFUWE PARLIAMENTARY BY ELECTION OF 36 OUT 36 POLLING STATIONS.

CONSOLIDATED & VERIFIED MFUWE PARLIAMENTARY BY ELECTION OF 32 OUT 36 POLLING STATIONS.

CONSOLIDATED & VERIFIED MFUWE PARLIAMENTARY BY ELECTION OF 30 OUT 36 POLLING STATIONS.

CONSOLIDATED & VERIFIED MFUWE PARLIAMENTARY BY ELECTION OF 12 OUT 36

Mfuwe Constituency

Lupembashi ward ,Lumbatwapolling station

Total Registered voters 453

UPND 223
NCP 11
SP 34

Mfuwe Constituency

Lulimala ward,Ngweshi polling station



UPND 109
NCP 7
SP 93

Mfuwe Constituency

Lulimala ward,Chiundaponde polling station



Stream 1

UPND 227
NCP 70
SP 62

Mfuwe Constituency

Mpamadzi ward, Mpamadzi polling stations

Voters 301

UPND 250
NCP 21
SP 27

Rejected 7

Mfuwe Constituency

Mpamadzi  ward,Kalonje polling stations

Total Registered voters 618

UPND 191
NCP 37
Sp 27

Mfuwe Constituency

Mpamadzi ward,Tubondo polling stations

Total Registered voters 435

Upnd 117
Ncp 44
Sp 3

Rejected  voters 9

(C) UPND MEDIA TEAM

MFUWE CONSTITUENCY



CHIKANDA WARD, MPUMBA POLLING STATION STREAM 1

UPND 174
NCP 62
SP 16

STREAM 2

UPND 175
NCP 69
SP 19

Mfuwe Constituency

Chikanda ward Mununga Polling station 

Stream2

total  voters 207

UPND 150
NCP 50
SP 02

Mfuwe Constituency

Chikanda ward Mununga Polling station

Stream2

total voters 207

UPND 150
NCP 50
SP 02

Chikanda ward
UPND 135
NCP 0
SP 05

KAPENGWE POLLING  STATION: MUTINONDO WARD: MFUWE CONSTITUENCY:

TOTAL REGISTERED VOTERS 589

1 UPND: 233
2 NCP: 50
3 SP: 09

4 REJECTED: 03

Mfuwe Constituency

Chikanda ward,Lukulu polling station

Total Registered voters 934

NCP 71
UPND 286
SP 15

Total voters 375

Mfuwe Constituency
Chikanda ward,Mabonga  polling stations

Total Registered voters 443.

NCP 120
SP . 31
UPND. 287
Rejected.5

Mfuwe Constituency, Muwele polling station

Total Registered voters 2164

Stream 1

1,UPND 68
2 NCP 87
3,SP 76



Mfuwe election results

Mununga steam 1 polling station
POLLING STATION.
UPND …171
NCP …66
SP…4

MFUWE PARLIAMENTARY BY ELECTION

Lavushimanda – 7th August, 2025.

RESULTS:

Mununga steam 1 polling station

POLLING STATION.

UPND …171

NCP …66

SP…4

Mfuwe Constituency, Chikanda ward
Chito polling station

Registered voters 253

Total voters 152

UPND 135
NCP12
SP5

Chinampanga Poling Station – Mpongwe

UPND 125
SP 01
NCP 6
Rejected 02
Total 134

*Minsongwe Poling Station results* Mpongwe District/Copperbelt, Kashiba Ward
===============
Total votes: 109

UPND – 90
NCP – 12
SP – 05
Spoiled – 02

Bilima Poling Station results* Mpongwe District/Copperbelt, Kashiba Ward
===============
Total votes: 124

UPND – 85
NCP – 24
SP – 14
Spoiled – 01

HH has a duty to attend Lungu’s funeral….it is not a matter of life and death but duty – State House

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HH has a duty to attend Lungu’s funeral….it is not a matter of life and death but duty – State House

HH has a duty to attend Lungu’s funeral – State House
By Mwiche Nalwimba
STATE House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka says President Hakainde Hichilema attending former president Edgar Lungu’s funeral is not a matter of life and death but duty.


On Monday, Lungu’s family lawyer, Makebi Zulu, said President Hichilema should respect the wishes of the late president’s family by not insisting on attending his funeral, arguing that “he won’t die if he misses it.”


Commenting on this in an interview, Thursday, Hamasaka said it was rude and cruel to indicate that President Hichilema wouldn’t die if he missed Lungu’s funeral when he was just fulfilling his duty as the Head of State.


“The way they (Makebi and Lungu’s family) are making it, it’s like a matter of death and life for HH to attend or to view the body, they are making it like it’s a matter of life and death.

You know, if he will be there, he will probably be there to perform a role as Head of State and I mean if, emphasising ‘if,’ if he will be there, it will be to fulfil his duty as an elected Head of State towards a former head of state not as a matter of life and death.

I am saying if he will be there, he will be there as a matter of duty as Head of State, especially if it’s a state funeral. [At] a state funeral, don’t you expect the head of state? That’s why it’s called a state funeral, you expect the head of state to be there,” Hamasaka said.


“If he will be there, it’s a matter of duty to the nation as elected Head of State, not as a matter of life and death as they are trying to put it. So, let’s use sober language towards each other in finding a solution to this issue. If you say he won’t die if he doesn’t attend, let him just stay away, that is being too cruel, that language doesn’t build a country”.


Hamasaka further wondered who told Zulu that President Hichilema insisted on attending Lungu’s funeral.
“I think firstly, it’s a bit rude to extend such language in such situations, right? It’s rude and that’s being cruel. Let’s respect each other, let’s be civil with each other.

Let’s all use language that brings people together in the country and in finding a solution around the impasse [rather] than being uncivil with each other. Who told anyone that HH is insisting on body viewing, who [said] HH is insisting on attending? Who told them that?

My view to the young man Makebi is [that] let’s be sober, let’s engage each other as Zambian citizens, this thing will pass, we’ll remain, [and we] will have to keep engaging each other even on other issues.

So, cruel language will not help anybody. We can also respond in a cruel [way] around this whole thing but we don’t want to go that route as well,” said Hamasaka.
Credit News Diggers.

UNITY OR NOTHING: NAKACHINDA’S 2026 OPPOSITION CALL

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UNITY OR NOTHING: NAKACHINDA’S 2026 OPPOSITION CALL

UNITY OR NOTHING: NAKACHINDA’S 2026 OPPOSITION CALL

By Brian Matambo – Sandton, South Africa

In a charged edition of _*Emmanuel Mwamba Verified,*_ Hon. Rev. Raphael Nakachinda, Secretary General of both the Patriotic Front (PF) and Tonse Alliance, used his platform to deliver a blunt prescription for Zambia’s fractured opposition: set aside personal ambition and unite behind one leader, or risk forfeiting 2026 to President Hakainde Hichilema.



Nakachinda framed the current administration as “the weakest candidate to defeat” provided the opposition avoids self-inflicted division. He warned that manipulation of state institutions, including the judiciary and Parliament, could be overcome only if opposition parties present “a viable, united platform” chosen by the people themselves.



Callers from across the diaspora – Italy, England, Australia, the UK, the United States, and within Zambia – echoed his unity theme, pressing Nakachinda on whether the PF would be prepared to rally behind a non-PF candidate within the Tonse Alliance if legal battles over PF leadership remain unresolved. Several callers linked the unity question to the ongoing political harassment of opposition figures, cost-of-living crises, and the state’s treatment of former First Lady Esther Lungu during the funeral of former President Edgar Lungu.



Nakachinda’s responses were measured but firm. He confirmed PF’s willingness to work with other opposition parties, stressed that leadership selection must be driven by mutual respect and maturity, and insisted no issue, including the choice of presidential flag-bearer, should be “too sensitive” to discuss in pursuit of liberation.


The program also veered into sensitive territory. Callers challenged the government’s alleged use of tribal politics, questioned the judiciary’s independence, and condemned double standards in the application of freedoms at home and abroad. Nakachinda defended the right to call out tribalism, linking the political struggle to a “spiritual war” requiring prayer and moral clarity alongside political strategy.



In perhaps his most defiant moment, Nakachinda dismissed threats of incarceration or worse:

_“If they decide to cut us into 100 pieces, each piece will still speak for justice and for the voiceless.”_



The broadcast underscored an emerging consensus among opposition supporters: without a single, credible opposition candidate in 2026, the UPND government will exploit fragmentation to secure re-election. From Sandton, the message resounded across the diaspora and into Zambia’s political bloodstream, unity is no longer a talking point, but a survival strategy.

_Brian Matambo is a media consultant and political pundit currently operating out of Sandton South Africa._

When people say I can’t win presidential election, I laugh it off – Kang’ombe

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When people say I can’t win presidential election, I laugh it off – Kang’ombe

When people say I can’t win presidential election, I laugh it off – Kang’ombe

KAMFINSA Member of Parliament Christopher Kang’ombe says being told he cannot win an election is nothing new as he has heard that line since he was 21 and dared to run for councillor while still a student.

Now 40, Kang’ombe said he is once again hearing familiar criticism after announcing that he is considering contesting the presidency in next year’s general election.

But just like two decades ago, the youthful MP stated that he was not deterred.

He recalled how in 2006, as a third year engineering student at the Copperbelt University, he walked into Radio Ichengelo with no campaign funds but a bold plan to run for councillor in Riverside Ward.

He told the radio station that he couldn’t afford airtime but he was in need of it and the station gave it to him for free.

Kang’ombe revealed that at first, his mother was against the idea of her 21 year old son joining politics and after some time, she was convinced and his father eventually gave him K2,000 to help him campaign.

He said he went on to win and made history by being elected councillor as a student in Zambia.

Since then, Kang’ombe has served two terms as councillor, a term as Kitwe mayor and currently holds the Kamfinsa parliamentary seat, which he won in 2021.

He also served as president of all local authorities across the country.

Now, he is weighing his next political move of whether to recontest his parliamentary seat or take a shot at the presidency.

Kang’ombe expressed belief that leadership requires more than just money or age but it requires ideas that resonate with the people around you.

“I have heard people tell me, Christopher you can’t win an election because you are young and I laugh it off. I would walk into Radio Ichengelo and told them that I don’t have money for a radio programme, I’m only 21 years and I want to stand as a councilor and that’s how I was given free airtime at radio Ichengelo.”

“I was 21 and I had the enegy to walk. [I have] been hearing the argument that I’m too young for certain positions and I laugh it off. Because I hear it. I have hard people say I can’t win because I’m young and that I don’t have logistics. I don’t think it’s just logistics that can make you win an election. You must have a message that resonates with the people,” he explained.

He said he has always drawn strength from being underestimated.

“I like it when people don’t pay attention to me. I like being underrated. When people praise you, you become complacent. When they demoralise you, it encourages you to work hard and prove them wrong,” he said on SML TV.

He insisted that Zambia has many qualified citizens with ideas that could transform sectors like health and education but many of them lack the confidence to step forward.

“What we need is to give Zambians enough options. People should be able to say, here’s another candidate, let’s assess his strengths and weaknesses,” he said.

“There is so much wisdom and ideas out there. Some of the things I debate, it’s people who give me the wisdom. When people tell you that you can be a president but not now, it fuels you to do better. I don’t get discouraged by criticism.”

By Catherine Pule

Kalemba, August 8, 2025

BINWELL BETTER OPTION FOR 2026 PRESIDENT OF ZAMBIA THAN KANGOMBE SAYS POLITICAL SCIENTIST

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BINWELL BETTER OPTION FOR 2026 PRESIDENT OF ZAMBIA THAN KANGOMBE SAYS POLITICAL SCIENTIST

BINWELL BETTER OPTION FOR 2026 PRESIDENT OF ZAMBIA THAN KANGOMBE SAYS POLITICAL SCIENTIST



By George Mtonga
Okay enough about the court case.. let’s talk about this as individuals or as tickets. Here is why I feel Binwell is a better pick.



I like kangombe even when he frustrates me but I always feel Kangombe makes a better administrator. If you look at these two Kangombe is a cabinet minister in Binwell government not the other way.



If im choosing between these two im choosing Binwell because he can fight. The reason why I like someone who can fight is because being president is fighting, fighting for your ideas and plans.


Binwell is restless enough to always push his agenda and when he compromises its because he has to not because its easy to get a compromise out of him.

If this ticket can go through.. im talking about President Binwell and Vice President Kangombe.



Zambia needs to go to war with itself and we need restless leaders who will be kept in check by stable minds. Kangombe is very stable. He is needed but he is not the first soldier you send in the battle fields to fight against the issues Zambia is facing.



Binwell is part of the first platoon that gets dropped. Kangombe is probably managing logistics for the soldiers.

M23 says they are not aware of the ACC Purge- Amb Emmanuel Mwamba

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M23 says they are not aware of the ACC Purge- Amb Emmanuel Mwamba

Amb Emmanuel Mwamba writes:

M23 says they are not aware of the ACC Purge

State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka says he is not aware about the purge and resignations that have occurred at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).



But how can they be aware when the entire m23 team is busy with something else such as personal projects and content creation.

Infact, the entire m23 seem to be camped here as primary source of their news!



Here is the update;

Tainted retired Supreme Court Judge, Evans Hamaundu has purged the Anti-Corruption Commission staff to meet President Hichilema’s new make-believe fight against corruption.



Scandal; 17 Officers Removed & Resigned

1.Deputy Director-General .onica Mwansa-Chipanta(removed)

2.Raymond Chiboola -Director of Investigations(removed)



3. Friday Tembo Assistant Director of Investigations,(removed)
4. Milton Siakabeya -Senior Investigations Officer has also been placed on early retirement.


5.About 17 ACC officers have resigned from the commission in the last one month..6 from investigations, 9 from legal, 1 from IT.

MAKE CHOOSING OPPOSITION CANDIDATE EASY BY GETTING RID OF ALL THE NO HOPPERS FIRST

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MAKE CHOOSING OPPOSITION CANDIDATE EASY BY GETTING RID OF ALL THE NO HOPPERS FIRST

MAKE CHOOSING OPPOSITION CANDIDATE EASY BY GETTING RID OF ALL THE NO HOPPERS FIRST



Acting Patriotic Front (PF) President Given Lubinda is wrong to suggest that choosing a unified opposition presidential candidate for the 2026 elections will be difficult. It is a very easy undertaking, if left in the hands of capable people.


Here is a simpe guide. Step one is to recognise that these capable hands are actually outside the set of all those calling themselves Council of Presidents.


There are a good number of Zambians of good standing who are not politicians, for whom this would not be such a difficult task. These are people who have  “no dog in this fight”, but are moved by a sense of patriotism and desire to rescue Zambia’s democracy from the clutches of the one man governance disaster that President Hakainde Hichilema has turned out to be.



There is a group of Zambians respected for the consistency of their positions on governance, and  social and economic issues, who can help guide opposition leaders through a process of keeping bloated egos in check, and picking the most able member among them to carry their hopes in 2026 elections.



This process will, inevitably, have to begin by ridding the field of ALL the NO HOPPERS – those who in various ways have found themselves at the helm of political parties of indeterminate strength and membership.



If such leaders do not voluntarily raise their hands, we shall have no choice but to begin identidying them one by one. Some of these are merely posturing that they understand the enormity of the governance problem Zambia is facing. If they did, many of them would not have to be asked to remove themselves from consideration as presidential candidates, because they are just a nuisance presence.



The task that this “eminent group” of concerned Zambians would have is to devise a means to conduct a cost-effective, speedy, and nationally representative consultation of the Zambian public, the majority of who are equally fed up with the sectarian politics and promotion of elitist economic interests championed by President Hichilema and the United Party for National Development (UPND) government.


If Mr Given Lubinda and his PF want to be part of this solution, they must commit themselves to this process of consulting ordinary people on the choice of a unified opposition candidate. Believing that this will be a difficult process is simply refusing to “think outside the box”.

Goodnight

John 8:32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Get in touch with us on  WhatsApp +263786654620
#zambianwhistleblower #zwb
©️ Zambian Whistleblower.

High Court Sets Date for Hearing in a Case Where Emmanuel Mwamba Sued the Attorney General

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High Court Sets Date for Hearing in a Case Where Emmanuel Mwamba Sued the Attorney General

High Court Sets Date for Hearing in a Case Where Emmanuel Mwamba Sued the Attorney General

Emmanuel Mwamba writes,,:



LUSAKA- Friday, 8th August 2025

The matter in which Patriotic Front Chairperson of Information and Media sued the Attorney General for a

bduction and torture inflicted on him has been set for 2nd September 2025.
He also sued the police officers;Steven Simweenda, Brian Chisanga and Joseph Kapasa, who abducted and tortured him.



The matter will come up for status conference before Lusaka High Court Judge, Hon. M. C. Kombe.

This is two years after Mwamba sued the Attorney General in October 2023.



The Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and former Permanent Representative to the African Union, Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba sued the Attorney General in the Lusaka High Court for the injuries caused on him by State agents from the Zambia Police.



Mwamba has also sued, in their personal capacity, Steven Simweenda, Brian Chipango and Joseph Kapasa, police officers from the Criminal Investigations Department at Zambia Police Service Headquarters, that brutalized him and inflicted injuries on him.



Mwamba is demanding that the high court declares unlawful the conduct of the state agents who physically assaulted him and injured him in violation of Article 11 of the Constitution of Zambia.



He is also demanding that the manhandling and bundling that made him suffer various injuries inflicted by the state agents amounted to torture and inhumane treatment and where in violation of Article 15 of the Constitution.


He also demanded that the state compensates him for the torture, assault and battery and any other relief the Court may deem fit for such a case.

He has also demanded for damages for the mental and emotional distress the brutal actions has caused him.


In a legal suit filed on October 19th,2023 in the Lusaka High Court by his lawyers, Makebi Zulu Advocates, Mwamba has narrated how he was brutalized at a car wash in Woodlands on 14th June 2023 around 15;30, when about 12 men turned up in 3 separate cars and demanded that they go with him.



Mr Mwamba said the officers did not identify themselves as police officers and did not show any identification.

He stated that when the men demanded to go with him, he asked that he could call and inform his lawyer or a family member.



He stated that it was at this stage that the men brutally attacked him where his phone was grabbed from him and he was forced and pushed towards the car.

He stated that various personal items including bank cards, NRC, Driver’s license, car keys, diplomatic cards were seized from him and to date have not been returned.


He has stated that the entire ordeal left him with a knocked out a tooth, injuries on his thumb, wrist, neck and shoulders. He also stated that he also sustained bruises.

He stated that to date, the pain on his neck side has never subsided despite several treatments.



He also stated that he was detained at Emasdale Police Station for 3 days and was denied access to medical treatment so that he could be treated for the injuries inflicted on him by the officers.

He stated that during the entire time of detention, despite repeated requests, he was denied access to medical treatment, water and food.



He also stated that he was denied access to see his lawyers or his family during the first the two days.

Mwamba has stated that these actions by the Zambia  Police and the police officers breached his fundamental rights and freedoms, and violated various articles of the Zambian Constitution were violated.



He stated that Article 11 of the Constitution of Zambia was violated as the officers assaulted him, physically injured him and confiscated personal items, and denied him access to his family and legal representation.

He stated that the right to protection and right to personal liberty is guaranteed by the Constitution.

He stated that this was violated by the treatment and detention and was a violation of Article 13 of the Constitution.



He stated that the forceful manhandling and bundling him into a vehicle amounted to torture inflicted on him by the 3 officers, which violated his fundamental right to protection against inhuman treatment as guaranteed under Article 15 of the Constitution of Zambia.

He stated that the action to grab his phone and confiscate his phone, and personal items such as bank cards, NRC, Driver’s licence and other items violated his right to property, right to privacy and other rights guaranteeing right to property as provided under Article 15 &16 of the Republican Constitution.



He stated that the action to deny him legal representation was a violation of the protection of the law and was contrary to Article 18 of the Constitution.



Mwamba stated that he had taken the court action against the State as the criminal complaint he filed against the 3 officers at Woodlands Police Station where a docket was opened against the Police Officers who assaulted and tortured him has not been acted upon and the officers have never been arrested and despite providing medical evidence of the inflicted injuries.


He also stated that a complaint he filed against the 3 Police Officers at the Police and Public Complaints Commission has also not been heard four months after it was filed.

Black Man Arrested For Having Three Wives. None of Them Knew Each Other

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Black Man Arrested For Having Three Wives. None of Them Knew Each Other

Henry Betsey Jr., a 50-year-old African American man from Florida who managed to marry three different women — without any of them knowing about the others — has been sentenced for felony bigamy. He was convicted after it was revealed that he wed the women in separate counties to avoid detection, ultimately leaving all three blindsided when his secret unraveled.

On July 31, a judge sentenced Betsey to two years of probation, sparing him jail time but marking him as a convicted felon. None of the women knew each other before the investigation, and all learned of his deceit only after one wife decided to dig into his background.

According to People, the first to uncover the scheme was Tonya Betsey, who married Henry in November 2020 after meeting him on Tinder. Suspicious, she began searching county records across Florida and discovered that her husband was still married to two other women: Michele Betsey and Brandy Betsey.

Michele, who married him in November 2022 just three weeks after meeting on Match.com, said she was stunned when Tonya reached out. Brandy, who wed him in February 2022 after meeting on Stir, told the court he “said all the right things” and seemed like the perfect partner — until the truth came out.

All three women say they met Henry through dating websites and married him in local courthouse ceremonies. According to reports, his dating profile described him as a man seeking a “beautiful woman who understands the ups and downs of life” and who was “trustworthy” with “no games.” In reality, they believe his motive was financial gain, accusing him of targeting them to access their money. The court learned that the marriages spanned just two years, from 2020 to 2022.

When Henry pleaded guilty to the felony charge in May, he appeared with a new girlfriend by his side. At his sentencing, however, he faced the three women he had deceived.

In court, he apologized to them, their families, and his own, saying, “This is something that I didn’t wish to be part of.” Judge Merritt ultimately ordered him to stay off social media and have no contact with his wives as part of his probation terms.

Despite his apology, none of the women accepted it as genuine. Tonya later told ABC Action News she believed his words were only spoken because “it was recommended by his attorney” and that she doubted he felt any real remorse. Brandy and Michele shared similar sentiments, saying they saw his charm as a calculated act rather than an honest connection.

Hernando County inmate records confirm Henry Betsey Jr. was released from custody the same day he was sentenced. While he avoided prison, his actions — and the heartbreak they caused — have left three women united in disappointment, bound not by love, but by the deception of the same man.

Trump Says Gayle King’s Career is Over and She Has “No Talent,” She Responds

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Gayle King responded after Donald Trump claimed her career was “over” and said she had “no talent.” Trump posted the remarks on Truth Social, and King replied calmly, saying she enjoys her job and plans to keep doing it well.

Trump reposted a New York Post article hinting at problems inside CBS Mornings and added his own message: “Gayle King’s career is over… No talent, no ratings, no strength!!!” He also criticized her for not supporting him publicly.

According to WBLS, King didn’t engage in a long back-and-forth. When asked by TMZ, she said, “I like my job,” and added that she will continue doing her best. She also said, “I’m sorry he feels that way.”

In a lighter tone, King joked that she now joins a growing list of celebrities Trump has insulted—naming Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, and Stephen Colbert as examples.

This isn’t their first clash. In 2025, King made headlines for calling out the lack of diversity at Trump’s inauguration, which drew mixed reactions from the public.

Meanwhile, King’s show, CBS Mornings, has been under ratings pressure. The program draws fewer viewers than Good Morning America and Today, with about 1.8 million compared to their 2.6 million and 2.3 million.

Ramaphosa’s ANC dares the United States to sanction it

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Ramaphosa’s ANC dares the United States to sanction it

South Africa’s biggest political party said the government won’t bow to demands from Donald Trump’s administration to change its policies even if that means its leaders are subjected to US sanctions.

American lawmakers are considering a bill that seeks a review of Washington’s bilateral relations with Pretoria because of its foreign-policy stance.

Proposed by Texas Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson in April, the draft legislation states that South Africa has abandoned its relationship with the US while aligning itself with China, Russia, Iran and “terrorist organizations,” and raises the prospect of unidentified “corrupt officials” being censured.

America is meanwhile set to impose 30% tariffs on imports from South Africa from Thursday, the highest duty charged on goods from any sub-Saharan African nation, part of a shakeup of its relationship with its trading partners.

The Trump administration has made a raft of demands, including that South Africa abandon laws that were put in place after apartheid ended in 1994 and are aimed at addressing persisting racial inequality, said Fikile Mbalula, the secretary-general of the African National Congress.

The party governed the country outright for three decades before losing its parliamentary majority in last year’s elections, and it subsequently entered into an alliance with nine rivals to retain power.

“They want us to do away with certain policies. It is not going to be possible,” Mbalula told reporters in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

“If it means we are going to suffer through sanctions as leaders of the ANC, let it be. We will never back imperialists to subvert our democracy, to subvert our sovereignty.”

“If they want to bring sanctions on us, let them bring them,” he said.

Relations between South Africa and the US have been fraught since Trump returned to the White House in January. He has falsely accused the African nation’s government of presiding over a genocide of White farmers, and criticized its international allegiances.

The new tariffs will place 30,000 jobs at risk in South Africa, according to the trade department, exacerbating one of the world’s worst unemployment crises. The auto and agricultural sectors will be hardest hit, with the US a major export market for both industries.

While the tariffs will negatively affect South Africa’s economy, making any concessions that undermined the national interest wasn’t an option, Mbalula said.

“The Trump administration is asking us to abandon the essence of who we are and that is not going to be possible,” he said.

“If we are punished for advancing and defending South Africa, that should be the case.”

Source – businesstech

Putin briefs Ramaphosa on his recent meeting with US Special Envoy Stephen Witkoff in Moscow,

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Putin briefs Ramaphosa on his recent meeting with US Special Envoy Stephen Witkoff in Moscow,

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with President Cyril Ramaphosa today, Thursday.

The call, which took place amid heightened global tensions, saw Putin briefing Ramaphosa on his recent meeting with US Special Envoy Stephen Witkoff in Moscow, focusing on the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

Ramaphosa expressed gratitude for the update, while the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and South Africa.

The discussion also touched on a peace initiative endorsed by several African states, including South Africa, signaling a potential collaborative approach to resolving the conflict.

Charges dropped in Limpopo pig farm murder as accused turns state witness

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Charges dropped in Limpopo pig farm murder as accused turns state witness

Charges dropped in Limpopo pig farm murder as accused turns state witness

Murder charges against 20-year-old farm supervisor Rodulph De Wet (middle) were dropped in the Polokwane High Court after he turned state witness in the gruesome 2024 pig farm killings of Maria Makgato and Lucia Ndlovu.



De Wet was one of three men accused of fatally shooting the women, who had reportedly been scavenging for expired food on a farm near Onverwacht, Limpopo.



Their bodies were allegedly dumped in a pig enclosure to destroy evidence. De Wet claims he acted under duress and that farm owner Zachariah Johannes Olivier, 60, was the shooter. A third accused, Zimbabwean national William Musora, 50, also faces charges.



The state withdrew charges against De Wet, citing his cooperation, which is expected to strengthen the prosecution’s case against Olivier and Musora.

Reactions have been mixed, with some defending the move as tactical, while others decry it given the brutality of the crime



The trial resumes on 17 October 2025. Olivier and Musora face charges including murder, attempted murder, illegal firearm possession, and defeating the ends of justice. Musora is also charged with contravening immigration laws.

“AVRAM GRANT’S HIS EXCUSES: FROM FLIGHTS TO FRIENDLIES, WHAT WENT WRONG FOR ZAMBIA..”

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“AVRAM GRANT’S HIS EXCUSES: FROM FLIGHTS TO FRIENDLIES, WHAT WENT WRONG FOR ZAMBIA..”

“AVRAM GRANT’S HIS EXCUSES: FROM FLIGHTS TO FRIENDLIES, WHAT WENT WRONG FOR ZAMBIA..”

By Uncle Philip Banda

Following Zambia’s disappointing 2-0 loss to DR Congo in the CHAN 2024 group clash at Nyayo Stadium, head coach Avram Grant has offered a series of explanations for the team’s lackluster performance — ranging from travel delays to lack of preparation matches.



“We didn’t play well. We didn’t play like we wanted to play,” Grant admitted. “But it’s also the first time this group is playing together. We didn’t have friendly games, and we couldn’t even play between ourselves because of problems with the flights we had planned.”



The Israeli tactician blamed disrupted preparations, citing delayed flights, missed training sessions, and the failure to arrange even basic practice matches. While some may view these as valid challenges, many fans believe Grant is simply reaching for excuses after a performance that lacked tactical sharpness and team cohesion.


What’s more concerning is Grant’s own confession that this was the first time the group had played together. In a tournament like CHAN — which relies on domestic players — team chemistry and local knowledge should have been built long before arriving in Nairobi. The absence of a single friendly game paints a picture of poor planning and questionable logistics.



Zambian football fans have not held back, taking to social media to question the preparedness of the technical bench. If flights and planning disrupted progress, why wasn’t there a contingency? Why couldn’t even a scrimmage be organized?



Critics argue that these “excuses” risk becoming a recurring theme under Grant’s tenure. Since taking charge, Zambia’s playing identity has been vague at best, and this latest performance has only amplified concerns.



Zambia’s path forward in CHAN 2024 is now steep. The team must bounce back — not just physically, but mentally — if they hope to progress. And for Grant, the time for excuses is running out. The spotlight is now firmly on solutions, leadership, and results.

Will Grant continue blaming the circumstances — or finally take charge of them?

PUTIN CHOOSES UAE AS THE VENUE TO MEET TRUMP.

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PUTIN CHOOSES UAE AS THE VENUE TO MEET TRUMP.

By CIC International Affairs.

PUTIN CHOOSES UAE AS THE VENUE TO MEET TRUMP.

Vladimir Putin may be traveling abroad next week for potentially pivotal talks with U.S. President Donald Trump despite the Russian leader facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.
Putin is wanted by the court on a warrant dating back to March 2023 for alleged involvement in the abduction of children from Ukraine during the conflict triggered by Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor.
The court, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, relies on other countries to arrest suspects and has a spotty history of cooperation.


Putin knows that and has traveled overseas since the warrant was issued, including to ICC member state Mongolia . He’s also traveled to China and North Korea, which are not court members.
Choosing the United Arab Emirates as a venue would mean Putin visiting another country that is not a member of the global court.


The court was set up in 2002 and aims to hold leaders and senior officials accountable for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide. It has 125 member states, but three major global powers the United States, Russia and China are not members. Ukraine officially joined the court in January.
More than 900 staff work for the court that has a budget this year of just over 195 million euros ($228 million).



In an indication of the problems it has getting suspects arrested, judges have issued warrants for 61 people and 30 remain at large.
The ICC is a court of last resort, meaning it only takes on cases when other countries’ legal systems are unable or unwilling to prosecute suspects.


Trump’s administration has slapped sanctions on the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, after Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the ICC . He accuses the court of “illegitimate and baseless actions” targeting America and Israel. The court has issued an arrest warrant for two top Israeli officials, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, over alleged war crimes in Gaza. They deny the accusations, and Netanyahu has called the warrant “absurd.”



Trump previously sanctioned Khan’s predecessor , Fatou Bensouda, in his first term in the White House and the Biden administration subsequently lifted those sanctions.


Russia also rejects the court’s authority and has issued a warrant for Khan and the ICC judge who signed Putin’s warrant.

It is not just Mongolia that has failed to arrest a suspect wanted by the court. In April, Netanyahu visited Hungary, an ICC member state, and was not arrested. Instead, the Israeli leader received a red-carpet welcome from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who later said his country does not arrest its visiting friends. Hungary is now in the process of leaving the court .


The only other countries to have left are Burundi and the Philippines, whose former president, Rodrigo Duterte, is in custody at the court’s cell block in The Hague after he was arrested on charges of crimes against humanity linked to his government’s deadly crackdown on drugs.


Duterte was arrested in his home country in March by Philippine police as he arrived on a flight from Hong Kong. President Ferdinand Marcos said the arrest was “proper and correct” and not an act of political persecution.



South Africa allowed Sudan’s then-leader Omar al-Bashir to visit in 2015 without arresting him. Al-Bashir is wanted on charges including genocide for his role in the bloody conflict in Sudan’s western Darfur region in the 2000s. He is in prison in his own country but still has not been sent to The Hague, even after being ousted from office in 2019 in a popular uprising.
Karim Khan, the ICC’s chief prosecutor, has stepped down pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct . He has categorically denied accusations that he tried for more than a year to coerce a female aide into a sexual relationship and groped her against her will.
No date has been set for the investigation to be completed.

CIC PRESS TEAM

WHY TRUMP WILL FAIL TO BREAK PUTIN’S WAR GOALS THE FORMER KGB LT COLONEL SPY IS NO JOKE TO MESS WITH NOT EASILY SHAKEN BY FOREIGN PRESSURE ESPECIALLY FROM AMERICA AND WHEN IT CONCERNS UKRAINE

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WHY TRUMP WILL FAIL TO BREAK PUTIN’S WAR GOALS THE FORMER KGB LT COLONEL SPY IS NO JOKE TO MESS WITH NOT EASILY SHAKEN BY FOREIGN PRESSURE ESPECIALLY FROM AMERICA AND WHEN IT CONCERNS UKRAINE

By CIC International Affairs.

WHY TRUMP WILL FAIL TO BREAK PUTIN’S WAR GOALS THE FORMER KGB LT COLONEL SPY IS NO JOKE TO MESS WITH NOT EASILY SHAKEN BY FOREIGN PRESSURE ESPECIALLY FROM AMERICA AND WHEN IT CONCERNS UKRAINE.



President Donald Trump announced that Russia and any country purchasing Russian oil would be hit with severe tariffs in 50 days if Moscow failed to sign a cease-fire with Ukraine. Two weeks later, during a trip to Scotland, he shortened the timeline to 10 days, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s cooperation was virtually absent. Despite Trump’s claim that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff’s fifth meeting with Putin was “ highly productive ,” the deadline will hit on Friday.


Much of the commentary to date has focused on Trump’s U-Turn on the war in Ukraine understandably so. Unlike his predecessor Joe Biden, Trump had no love for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who he called a “ dictator ” and falsely blamed for instigating the Russian war.



And unlike Biden, Trump was more willing to tighten the screws on Zelensky, who often demanded terms like Russia’s full withdrawal from Ukraine, including Crimea that were not tethered to facts on the ground. His highly-publicized dressing down in the Oval Office this past February, in addition to Washington’s temporary suspension of military and intelligence assistance to Kyiv, may have helped scare Zelensky into watering down his position and agreeing to peace talks without preconditions.



Now Putin is the one on the hot-seat. The Trump Administration’s attempt to negotiate a 30-day ceasefire in March went nowhere, as did an effort to strike a similar accord in the Black Sea weeks later. The Russians have dropped substantially more ordinance on Ukraine during Trump’s first six months than they did during the last six months of Biden’s term, and Trump has grown increasingly critical of Moscow. His tariff threat, alongside his decision to allow Washington’s NATO allies to purchase U.S. arms for Ukraine’s benefit, is as much a sign of extreme frustration with Putin’s antics as it is about injecting life into moribund talks.Yet assuming Trump follows through with his own deadline, will the pressure tactics actually work to change Putin’s war calculus? The answer: highly unlikely.



First, the tariffs on Russia won’t have much of a financial impact. U.S.-Russia trade last year was an abysmal $4 billion , as sanctions the Biden Administration put together continue to penalize Putin’s war of choice in Ukraine. Instead, the real meat on the bones is secondary tariffs of 100% on importers of Russian energy, such as India and China, who indirectly provide the Kremlin with tens of billions of dollars that finance its war effort. India, which traditionally received most of its oil from the Persian Gulf, has exponentially increased cheap Russian crude since Moscow was locked out of Europe’s energy markets.



Trump is betting he can browbeat India into stopping, or at least substantially reducing, its purchases of Russian oil through the threat of 50% tariffs. With less money, the argument goes, Putin will have trouble paying the big salaries he has relied on to pad the Russian army’s ranks and finance the 40% of the Russian budget that is now earmarked for military spending. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, is an ardent nationalist who doesn’t roll over easily and his country still relies on Moscow for a significant chunk of its military equipment. Indian officials quickly struck back at Trump’s latest tariff threats, with the Foreign Ministry calling the decision “extremely unfortunate” and hinting at possible retaliatory tariffs.



Even if Modi does cave to pressure, one can’t expect the same from Putin. The Russian strongman doesn’t bend to foreign pressure easily particularly when it comes at Washington’s hand and concerns a subject like Ukraine that he’s maniacally obsessed with. The blunt reality is that the war in Ukraine is now so synonymous with Putin’s legacy that he is unlikely to budge.



Evidence for this is strong. Putin has been willing to take a lot of pain, including a warrant for his arrest issued by the International Criminal Court , as well as place Russia’s entire geopolitical position in jeopardy, for the sake of the war. Russia’s economy has been relatively resilient in the face of a large-scale Western sanctions regime, but some Russian economists now warn of a recession. Moscow’s ties to the West are essentially broken, which means the Kremlin’s only true option is to get closer to China, even if this means handing Beijing an enormous amount of leverage it can lord over Moscow in the future. All in on Ukraine, the Russians are losing their near-abroad ; unable or unwilling to uphold security commitments, countries like Armenia are now seeking to lessen their dependence on Moscow by broadening relations with alternative power-centers. If Putin cares about any of this, it seems to be taking second fiddle to his Ukraine aims.



Finally, although Trump’s turning of the economic screw on Russia might look dramatic, it’s hardly a novel idea. The U.S. has leaned heavily on the stick ever since Russia launched its war of aggression in Ukraine. Washington has sent Kyiv more than $66 billion in weapons; enacted a list of sanctions on the Russian economy; and helped the G-7 push through an unprecedented price-cap scheme meant to limit Russian oil revenues all in the hope Moscow would sue for peace.



None of it, though, has convinced the former KGB officer to change course. Russia’s goals for the war cap the size of the Ukrainian army; fully capture the four Ukrainian provinces Putin annexed in September 2022; prevent Ukraine’s admission into Western security institutions; and keep Ukraine in Russia’s sphere-of-influence are the same today as they were in February 2022 instead Moscow is getting more land as if nothing is happening.


The bottom line is downright depressing: short of a direct U.S. military intervention that no serious analyst would contemplate, Trump’s toolkit to will a Ukraine peace deal into existence is bare. Whether it’s the carrot of a presidential-level meeting next week or doubling down on sticks like sanctions, tariffs, and military aid to Ukraine, Trump is learning the hard way that it’s the combatants, not the mediators, who are driving the train in the image and the world of Putin.

CIC PRESS TEAM

“Use actual toilets, no public Peeing” – LCC

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“Use actual toilets, no public Peeing” – LCC

“Use actual toilets, no public Peeing” – LCC

In an unexpected plot twist worthy of a daytime drama, the Lusaka City Council (LCC) has had it up to here with the city’s “free-flowing” problem public urination and defecation. Yes, dear reader, apparently some residents have mistaken sidewalks, corners, and unfortunate shrubs for toilets.



Issuing a stern warning on Wednesday, LCC’s Public Relations Manager Ms. Chola Mwamba called on residents to zip it up, button it down, and for the love of sanity, find an actual toilet.



“Open urination and defecation pose serious health risks such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea,” Ms. Mwamba said, in a tone we can only imagine was halfway between desperation and disbelief. “It also contributes to environmental pollution and sabotages our sanitation efforts.”



In other words: Stop peeing on the city. It’s not your backyard.

According to the LCC, those caught turning the city into their personal lavatory could be fined up to K1,000. That’s a whole bag of mealie meal and a side of talk time just for refusing to find a loo.



The council, backed by the Public Health Act Cap 295 and Statutory Instrument No. 12 of 2018, is taking sanitation seriously. And frankly, they have a point. With Lusaka battling diseases linked to poor hygiene, one would think the population could hold it in until they reach a proper facility.



But alas, some residents seem to treat the great outdoors like a festival ground no wristbands required, just weak bladders and questionable decision-making.

“Residents are encouraged to report such behaviour,” Mwamba added. One imagines a growing underground task force of “Toilet Avengers” stalking alleys with camera phones and air fresheners.



Behind the humour, however, is a very real issue: poor access to sanitation facilities in some parts of the city. While some people may be serial offenders, others simply have no alternative. The Council’s plea, while necessary, also highlights a need for better infrastructure and public toilets that are clean, accessible, and open past 5PM.



Still, let it be known the LCC is watching. So next time nature calls in public, remember: it could cost you more than just dignity. It could cost you K1,000 and a photo op in the wrong kind of viral post.

Let’s keep it in our pants, Lusaka. And maybe… aim for a better future.

©️ KUMWESU | August 7, 2025

Spanish town bans Muslim religious festivals from public spaces

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Spanish town bans Muslim religious festivals from public spaces

Spanish town bans Muslim religious festivals from public spaces

By: The Guardian

A local authority in south-east Spain has banned Muslims from using public facilities such as civic centres and gyms to celebrate the religious festivals Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha.

The ban in Jumilla, in Murcia, is a first in Spain. It was introduced by the conservative People’s party (PP) and passed with the abstention of the far-right Vox party and the opposition of local leftwing parties.

The proposal states “municipal sports facilities cannot be used for religious, cultural or social activities alien to our identity unless organised by the local authority”.


The local Vox party posted on X: “Thanks to Vox the first measure to ban Islamic festivals in Spain’s public spaces has been passed. Spain is and will be forever the land of Christian people.”


Mounir Benjelloun Andaloussi Azhari, president of the Spanish federation of Islamic organisations, told El País newspaper the proposal was “Islamophobic and discriminatory”.

Haiti businessman takes over presidency as gangs threaten transition

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Haiti businessman takes over presidency as gangs threaten transition

Haiti businessman takes over presidency as gangs threaten transition

By: Reuters

Haitian businessman Laurent Saint-Cyr took over his country’s leadership on Thursday, the last phase of its transition before it is mandated to hand power to a democratically elected successor, but a top gang leader threatened to topple the precarious government.



Saint-Cyr was inaugurated at a ceremony at the capital’s Villa d’Acceuil, the temporary seat of power after downtown Port-au-Prince became too insecure.

He called on foreign allies to do more to help local security forces that have struggled to prevent heavily armed gangs from gaining power and territory.



“I invite all international partners to increase their support, send more soldiers, provide more training,” Saint-Cyr said at the ceremony. “I am asking the security forces to intensify their operations.”


A U.N.-backed security force led by Kenyan police deployed to Haiti a year ago but it has struggled with a lack of personnel and resources. The council has said it has recently contracted a private military company to assist.

Prince Harry issued a strong statement after he was cleared of bullying allegations at African charity he set up

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Prince Harry issued a strong statement after he was cleared of bullying allegations at African charity he set up.

On Aug. 5, the Charity Commission for England and Wales concluded that it found no evidence of “widespread or systemic bullying, harassment, misogyny or misogynoir” at the African charity Sentebale following an investigation, People magazine reported. They also found no “overreach” by the charity’s current chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, or the British prince, 40.

“Unsurprisingly, the Commission makes no findings of wrongdoing in relation to Sentebale’s Co-Founder and former Patron, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex,” a spokesperson for Harry told Fox News Digital.

“They also found no evidence of widespread bullying, harassment, or misogyny and misogynoir at the charity, as falsely claimed by the current Chair,” said the spokesperson. “Despite all that, their report falls troublingly short in many regards, primarily the fact that the consequences of the current Chair’s actions will not be borne by her — but by the children who rely on Sentebale’s support.”

The Commission did criticize all sides for allowing the dispute “to play out publicly,” citing poor internal governance and a “failure to resolve disputes internally [that] severely impacted the charity’s reputation and risked undermining public trust in charities more generally.”

A spokesperson for Sentebale told Fox News Digital in a statement that the organization accepted the findings of the investigation. They’re also determined to follow any recommendations made by the Commission.

“It provides Sentebale with some degree of reassurance that the Charity Commission has not identified widespread bullying within the charity, but the Commission has acknowledged the strong perception of ill treatment felt by a number of parties to the dispute and the impact this may have had on them personally,” read the statement.

“The Charity Commission is explicitly clear, including in its public guidance, that it is not the Commission’s responsibility to adjudicate or mediate internal disputes. This would include individual allegations of bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir, etc.”

“As a result, the Commission has not investigated any individual allegations and therefore has not made any findings in relation to individuals, including Prince Harry. The issues not investigated by the Commission can and may be dealt with through avenues more appropriate than the Commission.”

A source told People magazine that both Prince Harry and the charity’s cofounder, Prince Seesio, don’t see a way back to Sentebale as long as Chanduka is in place.

“Both Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso are devastated by what has effectively been a hostile takeover by Sophie Chandauka,” the source close to the former trustees and patrons told the outlet.

“This was Prince Seeiso and Prince Harry’s life work. They established it 19 years ago and in that time put in blood, sweat and tears and their own money into building this charity up to what it was: a multi-million-pound charity that delivered nothing but good for the beneficiary community that is supported in Lesotho and Botswana.”

In a statement, Chandauka said, “I appreciate the Charity Commission for its conclusions, which confirm the governance concerns I raised privately in February 2025. The experience was intense, and it became a test of our strategic clarity and operational resilience.”

“I thank every dedicated colleague and the courageous new Board members who have stayed focused on the mission in the face of unprecedented media glare. The unexpected adverse media campaign that was launched by those who resigned on 24 March 2025 has caused incalculable damage and offers a glimpse of the unacceptable behaviors displayed in private. We are emerging not just grateful to have survived, but stronger: more focused, better governed, boldly ambitious and with our dignity intact.”

“Despite the recent turbulence, we will always be inspired by the vision of our Founders, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, who established Sentebale in memory of their precious mothers, Princess Diana and Queen Mamohato,” she continued. To all who believe in our mission: please walk with us as Sentebale recovers, renews, and rises to meet the hopes and expectations of the next generation.”

A source close to the former trustees told People they found it “appalling” that Chandauka invoked the names of the founders and their late mothers in her statement “for her own good.”

Imposter Nurse arrested after treating 4,000 Patients without license

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Imposter Nurse arrested after treating 4,000 Patients without license

A woman has been arrested in Florida, USA, for allegedly posing as a registered nurse and treating more than 4,000 patients over a two-year period — all without a valid medical license.

Autumn Bardisa, 29, was taken into custody on Tuesday after authorities revealed she had treated 4,486 patients since July 2023 at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway, where she had worked by allegedly lying about her credentials.

“This is one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud we’ve ever investigated,” said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly. “This woman potentially put thousands of lives at risk by pretending to be someone she was not.”

Investigators say Bardisa used a former classmate’s nursing license number and forged documentation to get hired as an advanced nurse technician. She reportedly claimed she had completed the required nursing education but hadn’t yet passed her licensing exa

m. Later, she told supervisors she had passed the exam and presented a license number — which turned out to belong to someone else.

When questioned about the discrepancy between the last name on the license and her own, Bardisa said she had recently gotten married. However, she failed to provide a marriage certificate despite repeated requests.

Imposter Nurse arrested after treating 4,000 Patients without license in shocking scam

The deception came to light in January when she was up for a promotion. A colleague discovered Bardisa only held an expired nursing assistant license, prompting an internal investigation. She was fired by the hospital on January 22, 2025, after continuing to withhold documentation.

Further investigation revealed the license Bardisa used belonged to someone she once attended school with, though the two were not personally acquainted.

She now faces seven counts of practicing a healthcare profession without a license and seven counts of fraudulent use of personal identification. Bardisa is being held on a $70,000 bond.

South African Man devastated after girlfriend faked pregnancy and baby’s funeral using a doll

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South African Man devastated after girlfriend faked pregnancy and baby’s funeral using a doll

A man from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, has been left devastated after learning that his girlfriend faked an entire pregnancy and staged a funeral using a doll placed in a coffin.

Nkululeko Zulu, from Machibini in Mandeni, had been in a relationship for two years with Diyana Makukeke, 44, who claimed to be carrying his child. Elated by the news, Zulu supported her emotionally and financially throughout the supposed pregnancy.

Speaking to Daily Sun, Zulu recounted how the situation unfolded. “She used to visit often during the early months. But as time went on, she stopped coming. Then she told me she gave birth—but didn’t send any pictures. Before I could make sense of that, she informed me the baby had died,” he said.

Heartbroken, Zulu and his family prepared for the funeral. He paid for transport from Durban, where Diyana claimed she had given birth, to his family home in Mandeni, and also provided food for mourners. Local community members assisted in digging a grave near the family plot.

On 2 August, Diyana arrived a day late, bringing a small coffin in a van. The burial was set to proceed until Zulu’s elder brother insisted the coffin be opened so Nkululeko could see and wipe the baby’s face, in accordance with local customs.

What they discovered was shocking. “I almost fainted when I saw a doll dressed in baby clothes inside the coffin. I couldn’t believe what was happening,” Zulu said.

Amid the confusion and disbelief, Diyana reportedly fled the scene and has not been seen since. The incident has stunned the local community, prompting questions and outrage over the deception.

Ballon d’Or 2025 nominees list: Dembele, Salah, Mbappe make 30-man list

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The Ballon d’Or 2025 nominees for the 69th annual ceremony have been revealed, with Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, and Mohamed Salah included.

PSG forward Ousmane Dembele is the front-runner to win his first Ballon d’Or after registering 36 goals and 13 assists across competitions for both club and country. He also won the Champions League and the French league with his team.

Mohamed Salah, Premier League winner with Liverpool, and Raphinha, who won the La Liga title with Barcelona, are some of the other big names on the list.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the UEFA Nations League in June, and Lionel Messi of Inter Miami missed out.

The 69th annual ceremony is set for September 22 at the Theatre du Chatelet, in Paris, France.

See the Ballon d’Or 2025 nominees in full

Ousmane Dembele (Paris-Saint-Germain, France)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris-Saint-Germain, Italy)
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)


Desire Doue (Paris-Saint-Germain, France)
Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan, Netherlands)
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund, Guinea)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal, Sweden)


Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco)
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain, Georgia)
Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona, Poland)
Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, Argentina)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, Argentina)
Scott McTominay (Napoli, Scotland)


Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, France)
Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
Pedri (Barcelona, Spain)
Cole Palmer (Chelsea, England)
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich, France)


Raphinha (Barcelona, Brazil)
Declan Rice (Arsenal, England)
Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain, Spain)
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid, Brazil)


Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt)
Florian Wirtz (Liverpool, Germany)
Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)

Man arrested after he tried k!lling daughter-in-law

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Man arrested after he tried k!lling daughter-in-law

A British man has been charged with attempted murd3r after allegedly trying to drown his daughter-in-law during a family holiday in Florida, near Disney World, United States of America.

Mark Gibbon, 62, from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, was staying at the luxury Solterra Resort in Davenport with his family when a violent altercation broke out on Monday. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the incident stemmed from a dispute over a will.

Authorities allege that Gibbon attacked his 33-year-old daughter-in-law, Jasmine Wyld, while they were in the resort’s pool, pushing her under the water multiple times. A sheriff’s office spokesperson said the victim “had to fight Mark in order to get away from him and from under the water, but he kept pushing her back under.”

The incident reportedly escalated further when Wyld’s nine-year-old daughter attempted to intervene. Police say Gibbon pushed the child away as she tried to help her mother.

Man arrested after he tried k!lling daughter-in-law while on holiday

According to witness testimony cited in U.S. media reports, Gibbon was seen holding the victim underwater and scratching her chest. Two women who witnessed the incident reportedly told him that they had called the police, prompting him to stop the alleged assault.

Gibbon, a lighting technician by profession, was taken into custody at the scene. During questioning, he is said to have admitted to pushing his daughter-in-law under the water but denied attempting to kill her.

He has been formally charged with attempted second-degree murder and battery. Jasmine Wyld, who shares two children with Gibbon’s son Alex, was not reported to have sustained life-threatening injuries.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd condemned the alleged attack, saying, “It’s great that Polk County draws visitors from all across the world, but we expect vacationers to behave while they visit with us, just as we expect our lifelong residents to do the same. Because Mr Gibbon couldn’t control his anger, he may find himself spending a lot more time in Florida than he had anticipated.”

The Solterra Resort, where the incident occurred, markets itself as a luxury vacation destination located minutes from Walt Disney World.

Hamas accuses Benjamin Netanyahu of sacrificing hostages for his personal Gain

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Hamas accuses Benjamin Netanyahu of sacrificing hostages for his personal Gain

Hamas has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of endangering the lives of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza in order to advance his own political agenda.

In a statement released Thursday, August 7, the militant group said Netanyahu’s recent comments about taking full military control of Gaza represent a “blatant reversal” of ongoing ceasefire and hostage negotiations. The Israeli leader made the remarks during an interview with Fox News, stating that Israel plans to maintain military control over Gaza going forward.

“Hamas views these statements as a deliberate sacrifice of the remaining hostages to serve Netanyahu’s personal interests,” the group said. “His actions confirm why he withdrew from the last round of negotiations, despite the proximity to a final agreement.”

Netanyahu’s comments came just hours before Israel’s security cabinet was set to vote on a proposal for the full reoccupation of Gaza — a move that has sparked division within Israeli society. Many citizens are pushing for an end to the war and the safe return of hostages, rather than further escalation.

Hamas condemned the plan as a “continuation of the policy of extermination and displacement” and warned that Gaza would “remain resistant to occupation.” The group also urged the international community to reject Netanyahu’s stance and pressure Israel to return to the negotiating table.

The Israeli government has not yet issued a direct response to Hamas’ statement.

Thomas Partey joins Villarreal amid r@pe charges

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Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has joined La Liga club Villarreal following his release from Arsenal.

The 32-year-old, who signed for Arsenal in a £45m deal from Atletico Madrid in 2020, left the Gunners when his contract expired at the end of June.

Four days later, Partey was charged with five counts of rape against two women and a charge of s£xual assult against a third woman.

Partey, who denies the charges, was granted conditional bail on Tuesday at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Under the conditions of the bail, Partey must not contact any of the three women and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel.

In a statement, Villarreal said: “The club is aware that the player is currently involved in legal proceedings in England.

“The player firmly maintains his innocence and denies all charges against him.

“The club respects the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence and will await the outcome of the judicial process, which will be responsible for clarifying the facts of the case.

“Due to the law in England in relation to the ongoing proceedings the club is unable to comment further.”

The charges against Partey followed an investigation by detectives which started in February 2022.

Nearly 1,000 supporters have signed a petition set up by online content hub the Villarreal Report to protest Partey’s signing.

Villarreal’s statement added that it “wishes to clearly reiterate its strong commitment to respect and diversity and firmly condemns any act of violence in all its forms, including gender-based violence, discrimination, racism, xenophobia, or any behaviour that undermines the dignity of individuals”.

Partey, who will join up with his new club on Friday, is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 2 September.

His move follows Villarreal’s 3-2 friendly win against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

Putin expresses interest in meeting Trump

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Putin expresses interest in meeting Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday, August 7, he hopes to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump next week—possibly in the United Arab Emirates—as diplomatic momentum builds toward a potential resolution of the war in Ukraine. However, the White House signaled that such a summit is unlikely unless Putin also agrees to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Putin’s remarks came just a day before a White House-imposed deadline for Moscow to demonstrate progress toward ending the nearly three-year-old war in Ukraine—or face a new wave of U.S. sanctions. A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the sanctions are still expected to be announced Friday and said a U.S.-Russia summit would not happen unless Putin commits to engaging with Zelenskyy, either directly or through a sequential meeting.

Putin reiterated that he is open to talks with Zelenskyy “under certain conditions,” though he stopped short of specifying what those conditions might be. The Kremlin has consistently said such a meeting should only occur once substantive progress has been made through lower-level negotiations.

Despite speculation that the UAE could serve as the meeting venue, no formal location or schedule has been confirmed. Speaking in the Kremlin after a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Putin said both the U.S. and Russia had “expressed interest” in holding the summit.

The potential Trump-Putin summit has raised alarm in Kyiv, where officials fear being sidelined in backchannel negotiations between Washington and Moscow. In response, President Zelenskyy said Thursday that he had spoken with several European leaders, reaffirming the need for a multilateral approach.

“Ukraine is not afraid of meetings and expects the same boldness from Russia. It is time to end the war,” Zelenskyy said. He emphasized that any ceasefire must be tied to long-term security guarantees—something he believes must involve both the U.S. and Europe.

A recent Russian missile strike in Ukraine’s central Dnipro region killed four people and wounded eight others, Zelenskyy noted, criticizing Russia’s continued targeting of civilians even as peace discussions are floated.

Despite the White House’s insistence on including Zelenskyy in any peace process, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov downplayed that possibility. “We propose, first of all, to focus on preparing a bilateral meeting with Trump,” Ushakov said, calling it the priority and noting that Ukraine’s involvement “was not specifically discussed.”

Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, echoed this view, saying a summit would allow Moscow to clearly communicate its stance and potentially explore mutual economic cooperation—including in rare earth elements.

If held, the summit would mark the first U.S.-Russia meeting since Trump returned to the presidency and the first bilateral summit between the two nations since President Joe Biden met with Putin in Geneva in 2021.

Trump, who has long admired Putin, has recently grown more critical. While he initially echoed some of Putin’s narratives on the war, Trump has since voiced frustration with the Kremlin’s rigid negotiating stance and has threatened new sanctions if progress isn’t made.

Amid diplomatic developments, Ukrainian public sentiment appears to be shifting. A new Gallup poll released Thursday found that nearly 70% of Ukrainians now support negotiating a peace deal as soon as possible. In contrast, in 2022, roughly 75% favored continuing the fight until full victory.

Only about one-quarter of respondents now favor prolonging the war, a view that has declined across all age groups and regions. The poll surveyed over 1,000 Ukrainians aged 15 and older, excluding areas under long-term Russian control.

In Kyiv, reactions to the proposed Trump-Putin summit were divided. “Negotiations are necessary, and we all really want the war to end … because this war will only end with negotiations,” said resident Ruslan Prindun.

Others, like Volodymyr Tasak, were more skeptical: “It’s unlikely anything good will come of U.S.-Russia talks. Zelenskyy is being squeezed out.”

Lyudmila Kostrova, meanwhile, dismissed Putin’s motivations entirely: “He just wants to avoid sanctions. He’s not interested in ending the war.”

Manchester United fan sets up GoFundMe to raise £120m and help club sign Carlos Baleba

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A passionate Manchester United fan has taken an unusual step to support his club’s transfer ambitions — by launching a GoFundMe campaign aimed at helping the Red Devils sign Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba.

United have reportedly expressed interest in the 21-year-old Cameroonian, who impressed last season with 34 Premier League appearances and three goals under new Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler. According to The Athletic, Manchester United have made contact with Brighton through intermediaries to inquire about the conditions of a possible transfer. Baleba has three years left on his contract, with the option of an additional year at the Amex Stadium.

However, a move for the young midfielder appears financially challenging, as United continue to walk a tightrope with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

The club has already spent heavily this summer, with the arrivals of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford for £71 million and Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5 million. They are also on the verge of finalizing a deal for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Šeško, pushing their total summer outlay close to £200 million — the third highest in the Premier League behind Liverpool and Chelsea.

In the midst of this, a United fan named Ian M., based in England, decided to act. On Wednesday night, he launched a GoFundMe campaign titled “Baleba to Man United Fund”, featuring an image of Baleba in his Brighton kit and a brief but enthusiastic plea: “We need this to happen.”

Ian set a fundraising goal of £120 million, a figure likely tongue-in-cheek given the actual transfer fees involved in modern football. As of now, the campaign has not received any donations. The GoFundMe page includes a prompt encouraging early support: “Give £20 and be one of the first to donate — your donation is the start of Ian’s journey to success. Your early support inspires others to donate.”

While Ian’s fundraiser might be more symbolic than realistic, it highlights the growing frustration and emotional investment of fans in the ever-spiraling world of football finances. The report notes that a move for Baleba remains unlikely unless Manchester United are able to offload several players and raise significant funds before the transfer window closes next month.

Despite the financial strain, the club reportedly remains keen to reinforce its midfield. Current options include Casemiro, new signing Manuel Ugarte, Toby Collyer, and attacking midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo, who could be adapted into deeper roles under manager Ruben Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 system.

Trump has ordered the Department of Commerce to begin work on a new census that excludes undocumented immigrants

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US President Donald Trump has ordered the Department of Commerce to begin work on a new census that excludes undocumented immigrants, marking a renewed push to redraw electoral maps in favor of Republicans and reduce the political power of Democratic-leaning voters.

Announcing the move on Truth Social, Trump declared that “people who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS,” adding that the updated census should be “highly accurate” and based on data from the 2024 presidential election.

The U.S. Constitution mandates a national census every ten years to count all residents, determining congressional representation and allocation of federal funding. The 14th Amendment requires counting the “whole number of persons in each State.” Excluding undocumented immigrants could alter the number of House seats in states like California, Texas, and Florida—home to about 42% of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump’s order comes amid growing pressure on Republicans to redraw congressional districts. In Texas, Democrats have fled to other states to block a GOP-backed redistricting plan that could give Republicans five more seats. Trump, in a recent interview, claimed victory in Texas and criticized what he called gerrymandering in states like California.

Excluding undocumented immigrants from the census is not a new idea for Trump. During his first term, he attempted to add a citizenship question and issued a memo to remove undocumented individuals from the population count used for apportionment. Both efforts were blocked or delayed by the courts.

Former US President Joe Biden reversed those orders upon taking office, reaffirming that all residents—regardless of immigration status—should be counted. Trump has now reversed that policy after returning to the White House in January.

Meanwhile, some Republican lawmakers have proposed legislation to count only U.S. citizens for House apportionment. A legal challenge filed by four GOP state attorneys in January was paused in March, as Trump administration lawyers requested more time to evaluate their approach.

If implemented, the exclusion could significantly shift political representation and funding away from diverse, immigrant-heavy states—intensifying debates over fairness, legality, and the future of American democracy.

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