MONGU MAYOR ESCAPE LYNCHING AT KASHUMBA MARKET

Mongu Mayor Nyambe Muyumbana escaped from Kashumba Market after almost lynched by Motorists still  operating at the former trading space.

The mayor in the company of Council Police Officers stormed the old market telling drivers to shift to Kasima Bulk Market annoying the motorists who called for his beating, and was rescued by the officers who later were stonned and had to run away using Mulambwa School grounds.

More details coming

CREDIT: Oblate radio LISELI

OPPOSITION LEADER SAYS NEW PF CHIEF WILL HEAD ALLIANCE

The opposition party has outlined how its leadership succession will affect the country’s political landscape ahead of the 2026 elections.

Raphael Nakacinda, Secretary General of the Patriotic Front (PF), says whoever becomes the party’s new president will automatically lead the Tonse Alliance, a coalition of opposition parties formed to challenge the ruling UPND government.

Speaking on Diamond TV’s Costa Show, Mr Nakacinda explained that the new PF leader would assume the role previously held by former president Edgar Lungu, who led the alliance until recently.

“At the time that we are having elections within PF and the leader emerges, that leader automatically becomes the chairman and also automatically becomes the flag bearer,” he said.

Mr Nakacinda defended PF’s leadership of the alliance, citing the party’s size and parliamentary representation. “PF is the main and bigger political party in opposition,” he argued, pointing to the party’s structural presence across the country and its mayors, council chairpersons and councillors.

The alliance, which includes 14 member parties, was established with PF as the “anchor political party” based on what Mr Nakacinda described as a technical assessment of each party’s contribution.

However, the alliance faces internal challenges. Mr Nakacinda revealed that concerns had been raised about the integrity of the process to draft what was initially planned as a Memorandum of Understanding but has evolved into a potential constitution for the coalition.

“We discovered a few things which we are dealing with at this particular stage, in terms of the integrity of the process,” he admitted.

Zambia’s $3.5 Billion Leak: A Wake-Up Call

Amb. Anthony Mukwita wrote-

29 Jul 25

I often sail clear off issues with political connotations, preferring diplomacy instead, but after reading the FIC report, I couldn’t help but think that I should drop my two ngwee here.

Let’s talk numbers, and not the kind that make you proud. In 2024 alone, Zambia lost $3.5 billion through illicit financial flows, according to the Financial Intelligence Centre.

That’s nearly 20% of our national budget, siphoned off through shady commercial transactions, shell companies, and suspicious remittances.

It’s not just a problem, it’s a slow bleed in an economy already walking a tightrope.

Now, zoom out. Zambia’s GDP in 2024 stood at $26.3 billion, with a projected growth of 6.6% in 2025, a hopeful rebound after a drought-hit 2024.

But hope needs fuel, and that fuel is cash. When nearly a fifth of your economic output vanishes into offshore accounts, it’s like trying to fill a leaking bucket. Its crazy.

Our GDP per capita? Just $1,235 in 2024. That’s the average income per Zambian, barely enough to scrape by, especially when over 60% of the population lives in poverty, and nearly 49% are classified as extremely poor.

In rural areas, poverty hits 78.8% of households. These aren’t just statistics, they’re stories of empty plates, unpaid school fees, and dreams deferred.

Meanwhile, Zambia’s foreign debt hovers around $23 billion, with restructuring efforts underway.
The IMF projects our debt-to-GDP ratio could fall below 90% by 2026, but that depends on growth, discipline, and, yes, plugging leaks like this $3.5 billion scandal.

What’s worrying is the shift: public sector corruption reports are down, but private sector schemes are up.

Multinational enterprises using Zambian proxies, fake furniture invoices, and third-party cash deposits, this isn’t petty theft. It’s organized, systemic, and deeply corrosive.

So what do we do? We tighten controls. We regulate professional enablers, lawyers, estate agents, accountants.
We empower banks to flag suspicious transactions. And we talk about it. Loudly. Let’s not leave it to the Donors when the government has told us they hate the scourge of the raft of graft.

Silence is expensive. And Zambia can’t afford it.
Let’s turn this leak into a lesson. Let’s make financial integrity a national value, not just a compliance checkbox on a dash board.
After all, every kwacha we save is a child fed, a road built, a future secured.

In life those that raise red flags for you love you, the ones that stay quite hate you.

—

Amb. Anthony Mukwita is an International Relations Analyst and published author.

ZICA CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF BILL 13, CITES THREAT TO PROPERTY RIGHTS AND ECONOMY.

The Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) has issued a strong warning against the enactment of the controversial Land Administration Bill No. 13 of 2024, citing potentially devastating consequences for the country’s economic stability, investment climate, and land administration systems.

In a statement delivered by ZICA President Mrs. Yande Siame Mwenye, the institute called on the government to immediately withdraw the Bill and conduct widespread consultations with stakeholders before moving forward with any legislative action.

One of the major concerns highlighted by ZICA is the legal uncertainty surrounding land ownership that the Bill introduces. The organization emphasized that unclear land tenure laws will scare away both local and foreign investors, particularly in agriculture, real estate, and manufacturing sectors where long-term land security is crucial.

“It is nearly impossible for any serious investor to commit to large-scale infrastructure or production projects without guarantees of ownership. Bill 13 severely threatens that security,” Mrs. Mwenye stated.

ZICA also pointed out the risk of property value impairment. If the government is allowed to revoke land titles at will, property values could plummet due to fears of future disputes or nullifications. This, the institute says, will create a chilling effect on Zambia’s land market.

From an accounting standpoint, land is traditionally classified as a non-depreciable asset with an infinite lifespan. However, the uncertainty created by Bill 13 may force reevaluation of that principle, especially if land ownership can no longer be guaranteed.

Financial institutions are another sector expected to suffer. ZICA warns that banks and lenders may lose confidence in accepting land as collateral, severely limiting access to credit for businesses and individuals alike.

“This Bill will disproportionately affect smallholder farmers, startups, and emerging entrepreneurs who rely on land-based collateral to access funding. Without it, many could be pushed out of business,” the statement read.

ZICA further cautioned that the ripple effects of Bill 13 could increase the cost of capital, as lenders raise interest rates to hedge against risk. In a country already battling inflation and economic uncertainty, this could worsen the financial strain on ordinary Zambians.

The institute stressed that while the intentions of addressing fraudulent allocations and double titling are valid, the Bill lacks sufficient safeguards and opens the door for abuse of power and administrative overreach.

ZICA’s call for action includes urging government to engage all key stakeholders, such as the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), banks and financial institutions, business associations, civil society groups, and the general public before enacting any land reforms.

“Land is not just a legal matter; it is an economic pillar. Its regulation must be guided by transparency, accountability, and stakeholder consensus,” said Mrs. Mwenye.

©️ KUMWESU | July 29, 2025

Government Has no Right to the Remains of ECL-Family

….The Family stated that the efforts by the Attorney General to assert authority over the late President Lungu’s remains, were not only legally unfounded, but also morally and diplomatically inappropriate….

Lawyers for the family of the late former President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu have submitted to the Gauteng High Court,.Pretoria Division that the Zambian Government has no authority or right to the remains of the late President as demanded by the Attorney General.

The lawyers were responding to the submission by Zambia’s Attorney General, Mulilo Kabesha who asserted that the State was entitled to repatriate the body of the late
President Lungu for purposes of holding a state funeral and burial at Embassy Park in Lusaka, Zambia.

Kabesha also claimed that the Zambian law dictated that the State of Zambia was to decide the
manner and place of burial of a previous Zambian Head of State.

But the lawyers for the family dismissed the assertions and stated that the argument presented and advanced by the Attorney General
attempted to illustrate that the Benefits of Former Presidents Act,
1993 [chapter 15 of the Laws of Zambia], gives the necessary right
to the Attorney General to decide this issue.

This was also purportedly in
accordance with the traditions and customs of the State.

But the family has rejected this and stated that the Zambian Government had no locus standi or enforceable right in South African law to compel the repatriation of the remains of the late President Lungu.

The lawyers submitted that the application was therefore legally unsustainable, factually flawed and impermissible in the context of the South African
Constitution, 108 of 1996.

The family stated that the relief sought by the Attorney General undermined the
constitutional and common law rights of the family, including
the right to dignity, family life, and cultural practices.

They stated that the application made by the Attorney General sought to invoke purported Zambian protocol
and customs which had no extra-territorial effect and were not enforceable within the Republic of Sputh Africa.

The family argued that even if there was such a Zambian law, it would still not be enforceable in South Africa.

They stated that the late President Lungu’s benefits as a former Head of State were revoked prior to his passing, rendering him a private citizen at the time of his death.

During the period his benefits were revoked, he was compelled to seek financial support from family and friends and was forced to leave
Zambia to receive medical treatment in South Africa, fearing politically motivated medical negligence in his home country.

Tje family stated that the revocation of these benefits was a deliberate act by the Zambian government aimed at weakening the late President
Lungu, ultimately contributing to his deteriorating health and untimely passing;

The Family also stated that the South African Government has since formally confirmed
that it respects the family’s decision to inter the late President in South Africa, and would not oppose the burial in South Africa.

A copy of this communication was submitted as part of the annex to the Opposing
Affidavit as Annexure “EL15”15.

They stated that the efforts by the Attorney General to assert authority over the late President Lungu’s remains were therefore not only legally unfounded, but also morally and diplomatically inappropriate.

The family stated that they were entilted to the remains not only as surviving next-of-kin, but as the only parties aligned with the wishes of the late President Lungu.

They stated that the opposition to the repatriation application was therefore rooted in
South African legal principles, the late President Lungu’s human rights, and the constitutional values of dignity, autonomy, and respect for the
family’s cultural and personal choices.

Mwamba Urges Fr. Chikoya to Decline President Hichilema’s Appointment to the Human Rights Commission

Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba Wrote;

“Due to flagrant abuse of human rights, utter disregard for the Constitution and his determination to enact a dictatorship, the Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chikoya, the General Secretary of the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) should decline President Hakainde Hichilema’s appointment to an institution he has made a mockery and laughing stock.

“President Hichilema has a habit of appointing credible people or highly compromised individuals, to institutions he is abusing to sanitise or legitimize his illegal or corrupt decisions”.

“Be like Dolika Banda that resigned or turned down the appointment. Or you will become like Mumba Malila where you become complicit to President Hichilema’s crime and misrule”

“He should leave these appointments to people like Laura Miti.”

President Hakainde Hichilema has appointed members of the Human Rights Commisson Board.

President Hakainde Hichilema has appointed a new board for the Human Rights Commission.

Dr. Pamela Sambo has been appointed as Chairperson, with Dr. Felicity Kalunga taking on the role of Deputy Chairperson. The President has also appointed Bishop Emmanuel Yona Chikoya, Ms. Panic Malawo Chilufya, Ms. Laura Mary Miti, Father Joe Komakoma, and Mr. Fred Wamundila Waliuya as Commissioners.

‘Why the Clergy Should Think Twice About Accepting Presidential Appointments’.

By Linda Banks ©

In a country where silence has become a survival mechanism, and truth a revolutionary act, it is imperative for moral leaders, especially members of the clergy to step cautiously when approached by political power. President Hakainde Hichilema’s recent appointment of Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chikoya, General Secretary of the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), to the Human Rights Commission has sparked applause in some corners. But for those who have watched Zambia’s political history repeat itself with surgical cruelty, the moment is less one of pride and more of profound unease.

We must ask, Is this appointment a genuine call to service, or a quiet conscription into complicity?

Zambia has a long and troubling history of clerical leaders being co-opted by political power, only to emerge diluted, discredited, or disastrously compromised. When religious leaders align too closely with political regimes, they risk swapping their prophetic voice for a partisan whisper. They go from being voices of the people to ornaments of the palace, revered no longer as moral compasses, but as hollow legitimizers of oppression.

Consider Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba, a man once so revered, congregants spoke of him as “Jesus Junior.” Once a very solid national spiritual voice, his fall from spiritual grace to political ridicule is not merely a personal tragedy, but should serve as a warning to other men and women of the cloth. Today, even fools mock his name on social media. Not because he sinned greatly, but because he entered a political arena that devoured his credibility and sullied his once pristine pulpit. He remains a symbol of what happens when clergy mistake proximity to power for real influence.

Let us not forget Bishop John H. Yambasu of Sierra Leone, who tried to bridge the Methodist Church with the ruling SLPP government, only for the Church to fracture and his reputation to be questioned. In the United States, the image of the late Rev. Billy Graham praying with presidents from Nixon to Reagan has been both admired and criticised. His son, Franklin Graham, went further, aligning overtly with right-wing politics {So close to president Trump in his first term} and in doing so, compromising the very Gospel of love and truth he inherited.

What unites these examples is simple: prophetic credibility is always sacrificed on the altar of presidential approval.

President Hichilema, it must be said without flinching, has presided over a Zambia where democratic backsliding is no longer a threat but a fact. Opposition lawmakers have been jailed without transparent due process. Citizens are kidnapped in broad daylight. Journalists and civil rights defenders live in self-imposed exile. Others simply vanish, their families left to grieve in silence. And all this under the watch of a president who now dares to fill the Human Rights Commission with “credible” individuals.

Why?

Because credibility, once absorbed, becomes currency. The president needs people like Chikoya to sanitise his rule, to offer a façade of reform while maintaining a machinery of repression. Credibility, in Hichilema’s Zambia, is not respected, it is harvested, drained, and discarded. Ask Mumba Malila. Once a respected jurist, now reduced to a shadow presiding over constitutional decay, complicit in silence as rights are trampled and institutions gutted.

Is that the fate waiting for Rev. Chikoya?

It is not enough to be appointed into integrity. One must preserve it. And in a regime that appoints both the compromised and the credible, there is no honour in being summoned. There is only risk, the risk of becoming another well-dressed pawn in a game where the people always lose.

Zambia today has a Human Rights Commission on paper, but in practice, it is a symbolic entity. It has watched, even applauded, as journalists are arrested, whistleblowers are threatened, citizens disappear without trace and constitutional violations become routine. What power will Chikoya really have in such a structure? And at what cost?

This is not to question the bishop’s character. It is to remind him of the stakes.

To accept this appointment is to sit at a table where the meal has already been poisoned. To lend credibility to a regime that desecrates the very values the Church holds dear. If you accept, you will be remembered not for what you stood for, but for how easily you were swayed.

If President Hichilema truly respected human rights, he would not need to appoint moral figures to mask the rot. He would govern justly.

Rev. Chikoya, you have spent your life fighting for justice, truth, and dignity. Do not throw that legacy into the furnace of politics. Step back. Speak out. Remain free!

Because the day will come when the regime you now serve will collapse under the weight of its own sins. And when it does, the people will remember who stood with them and who chose comfort over conviction.

WHY ARE PRAISE SINGERS CATCHING FEELINGS?

I merely stated facts, akin to saying 1+1=2. I do not understand why anyone would catch feelings when I did not add my opinion in any way to the stated facts. Praise singers may find the irrefutable facts uncomfortable but I did not create them.

I am merely stating them as they exist today: On assuming office in 2021, President Hichilema found five commissioners at the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) who were all appointed by his predecessor.

These five were Ndiyoyi Mutiti, Vincent Mukanda, Ali Simwinga, Esau Chulu and Emily Sikazwe from Western, Northwestern, Northern, Eastern and Eastern provinces, respectively.

Since then, three commissioners have had their contracts not renewed by Hichilema. The latest occurred on 30 June 2025 when Ali Simwinga left the ECZ, following the earlier exits of Chulu and Sikazwe in 2022 whose contracts were also not renewed by Hichilema despite the fact that they, like Simwinga, were eligible for another seven year term.

With Simwinga’s exit, the ECZ is now left with four commissioners, all from one region — Mwangala Zaloumis, Vincent Mukanda, Ndiyoi Mutiti, and McDonald Chipenzi.

So far, Hichilema has replaced departing commissioners with individuals from his region. What is wrong with stating these facts?

-Sishuwa Sishuwa

*Official Statement from the Office of the Vice President*

We have taken note of deeply misleading rumors circulating on various media platforms, which falsely identify a young woman in a recently shared video as the daughter of the Vice President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr. W.K Mutale-Nalumango.

Let it be stated with clarity: the woman portrayed is not related in any way to the Vice President or her family. These claims are completely inaccurate, and we are disheartened by the speed at which misinformation can eclipse truth in our digital age.

Moreover, some voices have sought to associate the figure of $10,000 with a supposed gift from the Vice President to the young woman. Such suggestions do not only misrepresent facts, they challenge the integrity of the Vice President who is committed to transparency, equity, and the responsible stewardship of public resources.

The Vice President is a mother, but more importantly, she is a servant of God and the people. She does not indulge her children with state funds, nor does she treat them with privilege above fellow Zambians. Her children live and work with the same spirit of dedication, humility, and resilience that defines the character of this great nation.

We appeal not simply for correction, but for reflection. Truth must never become optional. Let us remember that behind every viral image is a real person, a real story, and often, undeserved harm.

We thank all Zambians who continue to uphold values of respect, kindness, and critical thought.

Njenje Chizu-Press Aide,
Office of the Vice President of Zambia.
ZNBC Today
Zambia News and Information Services
W.K Mutale Nalumango

Haabazoka Reflects on IMF’s $1.55 Billion Support to Zambia: “It’s a Turning Point—If Managed Well”

Former Economist and former Economic Association of Zambia (EAZ) president Dr. Lubinda Haabazoka has called on the Zambian government to ensure transparency, discipline, and strategic investment in the use of the $1.55 billion received from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), describing the funds as a “clear signal of international confidence” and a potential “turning point” for Zambia’s economic recovery.

Speaking in a recent reflection titled “What Has Zambia Done With the IMF’s $1.55 Billion?”, Dr. Haabazoka offered a detailed breakdown of how the funds under the three-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) have been applied, and what more needs to be done to ensure ordinary citizens benefit.

“While many Zambians may not yet feel a direct impact in their everyday lives, the programme has laid critical foundations for long-term economic resilience and inclusive growth,” Dr. Haabazoka said.

According to the economist, the IMF funding has already been instrumental in four key areas: macroeconomic stabilisation, debt restructuring, social sector investment, and governance reform.

He noted that a portion of the funds has been used to stabilise the kwacha and build up foreign reserves, which has in turn contributed to controlling inflation and stabilising prices for essential commodities such as food and fuel.

“Part of the money has gone into strengthening Zambia’s foreign exchange reserves, which has helped stabilise the kwacha,” he explained.

The IMF support also enabled Zambia to clear some of its arrears and re-engage with creditors more effectively, a process Dr. Haabazoka described as vital in restoring Zambia’s credibility in international financial markets.

On the social front, he pointed to the recruitment of over 30,000 teachers and health workers, alongside the expansion of the Social Cash Transfer programme, as concrete ways the funding has improved lives on the ground.

“The hiring of teachers and health workers has improved access to education and healthcare, while the Social Cash Transfer is reaching more vulnerable households,” he said.

Haabazoka also highlighted improvements in institutional capacity and public financial management. He commended reforms in procurement systems and budget execution, as well as capacity building in key institutions like the Ministry of Finance, the Auditor General’s Office, and the Zambia Revenue Authority.

Looking ahead, Dr. Haabazoka proposed a number of interventions to deepen the benefits of IMF support. These include scaling up local production in agriculture and manufacturing, creating a youth employment fund, and expanding social protection to include food security schemes and transport subsidies.

He stressed the need for citizen inclusion in economic discourse, urging the government to be more transparent and accountable in its communication.

“Improved public engagement is essential. Citizens need to understand how government funds are spent and how ongoing reforms will benefit them,” he said.

Haabazoka further emphasized the importance of export-led growth, urging the Bank of Zambia to maintain prudent monetary policies while prioritising key sectors like agriculture, mining, and tourism to bolster foreign exchange earnings.

“If managed well, this phase of economic adjustment and reform can mark a turning point for Zambia,” he concluded. “What is now required is discipline, consistency and citizen empowerment.”

The $1.55 billion support under the ECF is part of Zambia’s broader effort to navigate its debt crisis and realign its economy on a path to sustainability. While challenges remain, Haabazoka’s reflection reinforces the notion that with the right approach, Zambia can leverage this support to foster a more inclusive and prosperous future.

©️ KUMWESU | July 29, 2025