HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION STATEMENT ON THE CLASH BETWEEN THE DEFENCE AND SECURITY FORCE AND THE INFORMAL AND UNLICENSED MINERS IN MUFUMBWE DISTRICT OF NORTH WESTERN PROVINCE
7th July 2025 Press Release For Immediate Release
The violent clash between the informal miners and the security personnel at Kinkonge Gold Mine in Mufumbwe District of North-Western Province that resulted into deaths and injuries on 6th July 2025, is deeply concerning and the Human Rights Commission calls for restrain and calm to avoid aggravating the situation.
The loss of lives is deeply regrettable and the Commission calls for thorough investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths as well as prevent disproportionate use of force and protect lives in future operations.
The right to life is so sacred and fundamental that its protection must be prioritised in all circumstances, especially during law enforcement. Therefore, the Commission is calling for thorough investigations and subject the perpetrators of the grave violation of the right to life to the due process of the law in line with Article 12 of the Constitution of Zambia, Chapter 1 of the Laws of Zambia and other written laws and procedures.
Further, the safety and lives of police and other security officers is paramount and the Commission condemns the attacking of the Law Enforcement Officers, which resulted into injuries.
The Commission is appealing to the informal and unlicensed miners to heed the Government call for them to vacate the mining area and engage in constructive dialogue in order to find a lasting solution to illegal mining.
Meanwhile, the Commission is calling on the deployed Law Enforcement Officers to strictly adherence to the due process and the Rule of Law in addressing illegal mining activities in order to prevent any harm and respect human rights and dignity
(Original Signed) Mweelwa Muleya Director-Education, Training and Spokesperson HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
The electorates in Choma central constituency have stated that it is time for change at parliamentary level in 2026 general elections.
In a vox – pop conducted in the central business district on Monday, the residents said current member of parliament Cornelius Mweetwa had done his part and that it is time to pave way for another person.
Mweetwa, who is also information minister is currently serving his third term as member of parliament, having been elected in 2011 under the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND).
But the parliamentarian said during a recent press briefing that calls for him to step aside on grounds that he had overstayed as area MP were unrealistic.
Mweetwa protested that in other places, people had held on leadership positions longer than he has.
But similar sentiments of change of an MP were also expressed in Masuku ward during the Siamoote memorial sports tournament graced by Joe Muchindu.
Muchindu (in pic) has been tipped to be the next MP for Choma central when Zambia goes to the polls next year.
Muchindu has in the recent past been actively facilitating developmental projects in various wards of the constituency, leading to his popularity growing among the electorates.
Zambians will next year be electing their leaders for the mayoral, councillors, members of parliament and the president.
SHOULD ILLEGAL MINING BE ALLOWED SIMPLY BECAUSE ZAMBIANS NEED TO EAT?
From the Media Director’s desk:
Land in Zambia is regulated by the constitution and over 23 Acts of parliament .
The Lands Acts in part ll section (1) provides ,”Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law, instrument or document, but subject to this Act, all land in Zambia shall vest absolutely in the President and shall be held by him in perpetuity for and on behalf of the people of Zambia”.
Arising from the above all of us are tenants ; this is why title deeds are for 99 years , 66 years , or more depending on the use and citizenship or status of applicant .
Among the acts of parliament that regulate mining include , the principle Act which is the Mines and Minerals Act , Minerals Regulation Commission Act to be fully operationalized , Geological and Minerals Development Act no. 2 of 2025 , the Water Resources management Act , the Urban and Regional Planning Act , the Land Survey Act , among other acts of parliament .
The presence of law means , we cannot mine illegally; we can build on land illegally. Even customary land requires consent of the traditional leadership.
Mining is only regulated by the state through statutory law . Statutory law is written law – it is different from customary law , because customary law is unwritten , but it must be knowm to exist .
When there is a conflict between customary law and statutory law ,over land matters , Statutory law takes precedence .
Suffices to say , Customary law does not regulate mining .Therefore , no traditional leadership has power over mineral exploitation in Zambia .
The rule of law should be upheld by all . No citizen is allowed to own land or mine without required documentation – no miner is required to use weapons to conduct mining activities by force in any part of the country.
In some failed states , regions rich in minerals are controlled by illegal armed forces or militia – this is not what we want to see in Zambia .
You cannot allow foreigners going to an illegal mine and Zambians are glorifying such activities- meanwhile getting military weapons in exchange for minerals .
We have seen how some countries in Africa have almost lost their sovereignty to illegal mining; illegal visitors have gone to mine illegally… at the end the state loses control .
While it is sad that a life is lost ,in the process , this is not the main intention of government ; the idea is to stop criminality not by killing but by engaging the illegal miners who unfortunately , responded with riots and guns against the police .
Yes ! It is painful to lose a relative . Very painful, especially when we can avoid death . But how do we avoid death ? We avoid death by engaging in safe and legal mining habits .
“There is no better excuse in ending life of another person “- and this is what President Hichilema is saying.
You do not need to commit a crime in order to eat . If we go by the principle that committing a crime in order to eat is right , then we should as well legalize theft in homes.
But God forbid , crime must be stopped by lawful institutions as has been the case .
Many citizens do recall that even where the state has not moved to stop illegal mining , youths have been buried to death in those mining areas .
Many may recall that not long ago , youths were buried in Chingola ; some of the victims of the chingola mine accident have not been recovered to date- and it is this behavior government wants to stop .
In Northwestern , more citizens were buried and government cannot keep quiet and allow people to die in that manner .
Government is not stopping people from eating or conducting mining activities ;All government is saying is , can we train you , give you documentation so that you can mine properly and safely ; This is a solution to the problem of illegal mining . A solution is not found in political blackmail especially ahead of the 2026 elections – but in doing what is right .
Political blackmail as a way of doing wrong things should never be an option . Criminality under the previous leadership hid in politics ;
We saw people illegally exporting mukula through politics .Is this what we want to see come back ? We saw youths armed in town killing each other when going for rallies ; is this what we want to see again ? Let us not allow that behavior to come back.
We cannot commit crime in order to eat !! As a country , let us reflect as we sympathize with dead , while safeguarding the interests of the living.
3P OF 4 NA 5 WARNS AGAINST JUMPING INTO THE AUDIENCE DURING PERFORMANCES
By: Sun FM TV Reporter
Zambian artist 3P of the duo 4 na 5 has warned fellow performers against jumping into crowds during live shows after being attacked by some fans during his performance at the 2025 Zambia International Trade Fair.
The incident occurred when the artist, known for making crowd jumps his signature act since 2023 launched himself into the audience.
While initially well-received, some individuals in the crowd began hitting him on the head, with others reportedly striking his leg with a metallic object, resulting in injury.
Speaking after the ordeal,3P expressed disappointment over the turn of events.
He noted that the act had been successful in previous performances at other trade fair events but was shocked by the aggression he faced during this one.
He also regretted starting the trend, which he introduced in 2023 and said the experience has been a wake-up call.
The artist has also bemoaned the mockery by some Zambians making fan of his situation on social media instead of showing concern.
He has since cautioned other musicians not to mistake fans singing along to their songs as a sign of true love or safety, stating that haters are always watching and can take advantage of such moments.
Copperbelt Musician 4Na5 Tests Gravity -Fans Pass the Test, He Doesn’t
In a plot twist straight out of a slapstick comedy, Copperbelt-based musician 4Na5 decided to leap off the stage at the Zambia International Trade Fair today presumably expecting fans to catch him like some kind of gospel in motion.
In an unexpected but painfully educational moment, fans graciously parted like the Red Sea, letting gravity do what it does best. 4Na5 hit the ground with the type of impact that makes you reconsider your life choices and your stage choreography.
Eyewitnesses claim the artist “looked confident mid-air,” until he realized his fanbase draws the line at being human crash mats. The dramatic dive, which had all the precision of a misfired parachute, left him slightly bruised and deeply humbled.
Currently admitted to Ndola Hospital, the hitmaker is said to be in stable condition and in surprisingly good spirits. Nurses report he’s laughing off the whole incident, calling it “a foolish decision,” which, frankly, may be the most accurate lyric he’s ever written.
Medical staff are closely monitoring his ego, which reportedly suffered the worst injuries.
When asked if he would attempt the stunt again, sources close to the artist say he simply muttered, “Next time… trampoline.”
Bank of Zambia (BoZ) Governor Denny Kalyalya says the central bank is not buying gold being extracted from “gold rush” districts country-wide because of ethical issues such as child and or militia labour.
And BoZ has about 2.8 tonnes of gold in its reserves worth US$300 million.
Dr Kalyalya said during a media tour and briefing at Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) here on Sunday that the process of buying gold using the local currency has continued.
However, Dr Kalyalya highlighted that BoZ is not participating in buying gold from gold rush districts country wide for varying reasons.
Dr Kalyalya said to start with, gold coming from the said districts is unprocessed.
He said BoZ can only buy gold from places where the mineral is properly mined, processed and with no issues of child or slave labour.
Netanyahu nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize amid Middle East talks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally nominated U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize during a private White House dinner.
The nomination, presented in a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, lauded Trump’s “steadfast and exceptional dedication to promoting peace, security, and stability” globally, spotlighting his role in the Abraham Accords and recent ceasefire negotiations in the Middle East.
Netanyahu highlighted Trump’s efforts in brokering a potential 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, alongside his diplomatic intervention in the India-Pakistan conflict earlier this year. “This recognition is well-deserved,” Netanyahu stated, emphasizing Trump’s contributions to regional stability. Trump, visibly moved, called the nomination “very meaningful,” particularly as it came from a key ally.
The nomination, Trump’s second this year after Pakistan’s endorsement in May, has stirred debate.
Supporters view it as a testament to Trump’s unconventional diplomacy, while critics argue it’s a symbolic gesture amid ongoing tensions and domestic controversies.
The Nobel Committee, which evaluates nominees based on lasting contributions to peace, will announce its decision later this year.
ZAMBIA MUST GOVERN ITS GOLD, SAFEGUARD ITS CITIZENS, BUT SUPPORT THEM TOO
The recent discovery of gold in Mufumbwe, like similar finds across Zambia, presents us a rare opportunity to expand our mineral economy beyond copper. It also comes with real risks and the events unfolding at the Kikonge gold mine should serve as a national wake-up call.
The deaths of three people in an incident involving illegal miners and police are tragic. Yet they also underline what we should consider an point. This is no longer just about excitement over new minerals. It is about governance, law and order, and national interest.
Government, through the police, acted to maintain public safety and protect a strategic national resource. That responsibility cannot be taken lightly. Allowing illegal mining to flourish without intervention would have risked chaos and resource plunder. However, enforcement alone is not enough. Zambia needs a gold strategy, one that secures our minerals, protects our people, and puts our long-term interests first.
What is happening in Mufumbwe and other gold-rich areas may also be symptomatic of a deeper frustration, a growing desire among ordinary citizens to finally reap the benefits of the country’s natural wealth.
For decades, communities living near mineral-rich zones have watched as the profits of extraction flowed elsewhere, often with little to no improvement in their daily lives. The surge in illegal mining should not only be seen as a law enforcement issue, but also as a wake-up call. It signals a population that is eager to participate in the wealth of their land, not in theory, but in practice.
If left unaddressed, this demand will continue to manifest outside formal systems. Perhaps the real solution lies in creating legal pathways for participation, profit-sharing, and empowerment that do not compromise order or national interest.
Too often, resource-related issues in Zambia are dragged into populist debate. Politicians position themselves as defenders of “the people,” even when the outcomes of that rhetoric serve no one. In the case of gold, this approach is dangerous. Encouraging illegal mining under the guise of empowerment, or looking the other way to gain political mileage, can only lead to disorder. The truth is that artisanal miners are operating in legal limbo, vulnerable to exploitation and unsafe working conditions. What they need is not political sympathy, but protection through formal recognition and regulation.
Under the Mines and Minerals Development Act No. 11 of 2015, all minerals in Zambia are vested in the President on behalf of the Republic. This means that even if gold is discovered on customary or private land, no one can lawfully extract it without a valid license issued by the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development. The same Act provides for various categories of mining rights, including artisanal mining licenses, which can be granted to individuals or cooperatives.
In short, no person is allowed to mine gold, or any mineral, without express permission from the state. This is not only the law; it is the basis of resource sovereignty.
Additionally, the Land Act, Chapter 184 of the Laws of Zambia, makes it clear that ownership of land does not extend to what lies beneath. Surface rights and mineral rights are separate. This distinction is very important, especially in rural areas where customary landholders may mistakenly believe that a discovery of gold on their land gives them ownership over it.
Without proper legal guidance and community education, this misunderstanding can fuel conflict and encourage illegal mining activity.
We must be honest with ourselves. Zambia is at a crossroads. Countries that mismanage gold, such as parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, have paid a heavy price.
They have witnessed environmental degradation, conflict, and the theft of national wealth by criminal networks. If we are not careful, the same forces could take root here. The warning signs are already visible.
Fortunately, there are models we can learn from. Botswana remains a shining example of what disciplined, transparent resource governance can achieve. For decades, it managed its diamond wealth through state-led strategies, strong institutions, and deliberate reinvestment in the public good. There was no room for populism. There was leadership. That leadership translated into roads, schools, hospitals, and jobs, not just mineral exports.
Zambia must now craft its own path forward. This starts by formalizing artisanal mining, issuing licenses, enforcing environmental safeguards, and putting in place a transparent, accountable system for managing gold. The role of government is important, not only in enforcement, but in vision. The police can secure the site, while policymakers must secure the future. Make the process reasonable and EASY for people.
This is not a time for politics-as-usual. It is a time for sober leadership. Our gold should not be reduced to a campaign issue. It should be a catalyst for national development. When managed well, it can create jobs, build infrastructure, and boost national revenue. If mismanaged, it could become a source of conflict, corruption, and regret.
Bad Economy and Youth Unemployment Forcing People to Look For Survival.
While we, FDD, believe in the real operation and application of the rule of law, and whereas we don’t support illegal activities such as illegal mining, we find the killings of unarmed citizens to be barbaric and excessive. And the UPND should be held accountable for these unfortunate events.
As FDD we believe that the failure by Hichilema and the UPND to better the economy has now been manifested in such situations. Today, the country is experiencing unprecedented youth unemployment, High household poverty and chronic and endemic sufferings of many kinds. All because Hichilema and the UPND have mismanaged the economy and have no clue Whatsoever on how to navigate this worst situation they have created.
Our young people, our mothers , fathers including toddlers have been forced to go to places such as Kikonge in Mufumbwe and Kasempa in search of survival and not necessarily Gold. Because of the suffering which has been brought about by this lying administration of Hichilema and the UPND, people have chosen to migrate in search of a livelihood and their so-called government has unleashed live bullets on them.
The blood of those innocent Zambians who are merely trying to survive is on Hichilema and the UPND. Hichilema accused Edgar Lungu of killing citizens but today he is now the one who has openly killed innocent Zambians who have done nothing but merely wanting to benefit from their God given natural resources which Hichilema and the UPND would give to foreigners much to the disadvantage of Zambians.
Fellow zambians, this situation should never be allowed in our country where innocent Zambians must be massacred for merely trying to survive. Hichilema and UPND have failed the Zambians. And the people of Mufumbwe, all the Zambians must work to ensure that next year 2026, we vote out this UPND administration.
Some residents of Shalom in Lusaka are demanding that the father of a juvenile suspect, accused of tattooing charms on several neighborhood boys, be brought forward to help reverse what they believe to be a spiritual affliction affecting their children.
The parents claim their children have been behaving strangely since the incident, with reports of unprovoked fights, refusal to attend school, and sudden mood swings.
One concerned mother says she now fears for her life after allegedly encountering a prophet who told her that her son had been initiated into Satanism and could be compelled to sacrifice her or her husband.
According to earlier statements by Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, the teenage boy involved in the tattooing incident was released on police bond.
UNITED Church of Zambia Lusaka Presbytery Bishop Rodwell Siame has urged political leaders to exhibit the values for which Zambians are known as they engage with one another.
Bishop Siame says that when leaders uphold national values, those same values will filter down to the citizens.
He said this during the United Church of Zambia St Paul’s Kabwata Congregation Choir Tetinfilondolole Bwino album launch in Lusaka yesterday.
Meanwhile, Vice President Mutale Nalumango emphasised the importance of leaders communicating with one another respectfully, as citizens often emulate their conduct.
Mrs. Nalumango added that politicians must lead by example and speak the truth.
She further stated that there is no need for the Church and Government to operate in parallel, as they serve the same people.
Mrs. Nalumango also encouraged the Church to use music and talent as tools to minister to society against divorce, substance abuse, and other social vices.
She donated fifty thousand kwacha to support the choir in purchasing a 29-seater bus for evangelism.
Meanwhile, UCZ St Paul’s Congregation Minister-in-Charge, Reverend Chiyana Nkonde, said music in the hands of Godly men and women carries great power.
Reverend Nkonde said the newly launched album will serve as a medium through which God will bring healing, comfort, and joy to many who listen.
FQM STRENGTHENS ZAMBIAN SUPPLY CHAIN, CHAMPIONING LOCAL BUSINESS RESILIENCE AT INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR
Ndola, Zambia… Monday July 7, 2025
In reinforcing its commitment to Zambia’s economic transformation in line with the Government’s agenda to promote local content, FQM has sponsored 27 Zambian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and commercial partners to exhibit their products and services at this year’s Zambia International Trade Fair, held under the theme ‘Enhancing Business Resilience through Innovation and Trade’.
This initiative reflects FQM’s broader strategy to foster inclusive growth and long-term sustainability by building the capacity of local enterprises within the mining value chain. By providing fully sponsored exhibition space at Zambia’s premier trade event, FQM is opening up new market access opportunities and creating tangible business prospects for Zambian entrepreneurs.
The 27 participating SMEs form part of FQM’s comprehensive supplier development programme—an initiative designed to integrate local businesses into the mining sector through structured enterprise development, mentorship, access to finance, and skills enhancement.
Speaking at the official opening of the trade fair, FQM Country Manager Dr Godwin Beene reaffirmed the company’s alignment with Zambia’s development priorities.
“We are deeply committed to Zambia’s economic transformation and inclusive growth. Our participation in the Trade Fair underscores our strategy to strengthen Zambia’s industrial base through local partnerships and enterprise development,” he said.
“This year, we have sponsored 27 Zambian SMEs and commercial partners to exhibit in our pavilion at our cost. Building local capacity is not just good for the community—it is good business. We believe in Zambians supplying Zambian mines, and we are investing in making that a reality.”
Dr Beene also highlighted the role of strategic partnerships with various institutions. These collaborations, he noted, provide a vital framework for SME growth through training, financial support, and market linkages.
“These partnerships enable us to deliver structured enterprise development and build a thriving ecosystem of competitive Zambian businesses,” he added.
Dr Beene concluded by affirming FQM’s long-term vision: “We will continue to champion partnerships that drive sustainable, inclusive growth. We expect our SME partners to grow—not just financially, but in number—so that together we can realize the full value of mining for the benefit of all Zambians.”
Also speaking at the Trade Fair, Minister of Finance and National Planning Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane applauded the resilience of the private sector amidst economic challenges and reaffirmed Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for inclusive growth.
“The government has been working hard to improve national resilience, which in turn helps companies become more resilient,” he said.
Citing the revival of the mining sector and new energy policies, the Minister noted: “The innovation has been to encourage the private sector to lead, with the government providing the enabling conditions. We are moving towards an era where we must demonstrate resilience by doing more to solve our own problems.”
We wish to express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families arising from the shootings that took place in Mufumbwe.
No Zambian civilian should have to lose their life at the barrel of a Zambian soldier’s gun. This is unacceptable.
While we agree that illegal mining must be stopped and replaced by order and the rule of law, we insist that Zambians must never be killed in cold blood unless when in full fledged combat with criminals. We therefore call for a thorough investigation in this unfortunate development.
This is not the first gold rush in history. There have been several. One notable one is known as the California gold rush(1848-1855) when gold was found by James W Marshall at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California. This news brought approximately 300,000 people to California from the rest of the United States and abroad. The injection of these gold revenues made California into the huge economic state that it has become.
We can learn lessons from history. Instead of chasing the gold diggers, we must take administrative procedures there without excluding those who got there first.
There is always a better way, that can eventually benefit all.
FREE EDUCATION POLICY BRIGHTENS FUTURE OF ZAMBIAN CHILDREN – LEVY NGOMA
Muchinga Province, Zambia – Special Assistant to the President for Political Affairs, Mr. Levy Ngoma, has praised President Hakainde Hichilema’s Free Education Policy, describing it as a transformative tool that is grooming a bright and prosperous Zambia.
Speaking during a public engagement in Muchinga Province, Mr. Ngoma said the policy reflects President Hichilema’s deep love and commitment to the sustainable development of the nation.
“I want to appreciate President Hakainde Hichilema for his vision to support school-going children through the Free Education Policy,” Mr. Ngoma said.
He emphasized that the initiative has bridged the gap between children from privileged backgrounds and those from underprivileged homes, promoting equality and opportunity for all.
“Free education is a very good policy because it will enable children to realize their full potential and contribute positively to the development of this country,” he added.
Mr. Ngoma also appealed to young people across the country to rally behind President Hichilema’s vision of building a sound and sustainably developed Zambia.
Meanwhile, Muchinga Province Minister Hon. Njavwa Simutowe echoed the praise, commending the government for significantly increasing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from K1.6 million in 2021 to K36.1 million.
“This gesture has made it easier for Members of Parliament to develop their respective communities,” Hon. Simutowe said.
He noted that the increased CDF has resulted in improved school infrastructure, enhanced health facilities, among other developments.
Hon. Simutowe further highlighted the positive impact of the Decentralization Policy, which has empowered cooperatives and the youth through skills development initiatives.
However, he expressed concern over the poor utilization of CDF in some constituencies, attributing it to ineffective leadership at both the local government and parliamentary levels.
“It is unfortunate that despite the increase in CDF, some Members of Parliament and local government officials are sabotaging this noble cause. Instead of delivering much-needed development, they are withholding the funds,” he said.
South Africa rejects U.S. 30% tariff, pushes for trade talks
President Cyril Ramaphosa has responded to a unilateral 30% trade tariff imposed by the United States, announced by President Donald Trump on July 7, 2025.
The tariff, targeting South Africa among other nations, stems from a disputed U.S. interpretation of the trade balance between the two countries.
In a statement, Ramaphosa contested the U.S. claims, noting that 56% of goods enter South Africa at a 0% most-favored-nation tariff, with 77% of U.S. goods entering duty-free.
The average tariff on imports, he added, stands at just 7.6%, challenging the basis for the U.S. tariff. South Africa remains committed to diplomatic efforts for a balanced trade relationship.
Recent discussions at the US-Africa Summit in Luanda on June 23, 2025, revealed a U.S. trade engagement template for sub-Saharan Africa, which South Africa awaits.
Ramaphosa has instructed negotiators to urgently engage based on a Framework Deal submitted to the U.S. on May 20, 2025, addressing concerns like South Africa’s alleged trade surplus and unfair practices.
The President also urged South African trade teams and businesses to accelerate diversification efforts to bolster economic resilience and global supply chain integration.
The U.S. has indicated the tariff could be modified post-negotiations, offering hope for a resolution.
MultiChoice CEO takes pay cut despite R1.8B profit turnaround
MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela earned R35-million in total compensation for the past financial year, a decrease from R51-million, despite leading the company from a R4-billion loss to a R1.8-billion profit.
The turnaround was fueled by a R3.4-billion sale of MultiChoice’s 60% stake in NMSIS to Sanlam and aggressive cost-cutting measures that delivered R3.7-billion in savings, surpassing internal targets.
However, the pay-TV giant faced headwinds, with revenue declining 9% to R50-billion and a loss of 1.2 million subscribers, driven by fierce competition from streaming platforms and rampant piracy.
Mawela’s performance was mixed, he exceeded targets on BetKing and cost savings but fell short on Showmax, MultiChoice’s streaming service struggling to keep pace in a crowded market.
The reduction in Mawela’s pay reflects lower long-term incentives, tied to performance metrics. Despite the profit recovery, MultiChoice’s challenges highlight a company navigating a rapidly evolving media landscape, balancing cost discipline with the need to innovate against global streaming rivals.
Today is Heroes Day in Zambia. I take advantage of this Day to pay tribute to individuals and institutions that – especially since the 2021 election – continue to make a difference in areas that matter most and to stand up for Zambia when many have retreated into praise singing, bootlicking, silence, or defending sectional interests.
When celebrating this Day, the general tendency is to focus on the heroic deeds of those who helped Zambia secure its independence from Britain in 1964. This narrow approach overlooks the present-day heroes whose actions, courage, and principles offer hope and inspiration, and who, through their conduct in public political life, risk the ire of the authorities in defence of the common good.
For a country as big as Zambia, the dearth of individuals who, perhaps without being self-conscious about it, consistently demonstrate an utmost loyalty or commitment to principle, no matter the obstacle or consequence, is a major cause for concern. In general, we are a country that lacks people who show an unwavering dedication to their morals, who exemplify courage in the face of adversity, who prioritise the upholding of the greater good over individual or private gain, and who inspire public trust, regardless of who is in power.
In no order of importance, I celebrate the following as my heroes for this Day:
• the four Constitutional Court judges, namely, Margaret Munalula, Martin Musaluke, Judy Mulongoti, and Mathew Chisunka, who recently declared as unconstitutional the appalling Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill Number 7 of 2025. This verdict is arguably the most important judgement from the ConCourt since the matter of Katuka and Law Association of Zambia vs Inonge Wina and Others in 2016 – the only other occasion when this typically executive-friendly court ruled against the executive in a case with lasting consequences: that the continued stay in office of ministers after the dissolution of parliament is illegal.
In the latest case, the four justices, in effect, upheld the foundational principle of Zambia’s constitutional order: that the source of power is the people; that those in the executive arm of government can change the constitution, but not without consulting the people that put them in office; that any constitutional amendment should originate from the people through a structured process; that politicians are servants of the people, and that the power they use is delegated to them by the people; any changes to that power requires going back to the people. I had nearly given up on Zambia, but the four Constitutional Court judges, in a rare show of judicial activism that combines the spirit and the letter of the law, renewed my hope. I suspect that the magnitude of the importance of their decision on that specific matter will only become apparent to many in years to come;
• the staff and management of Diamond Television and Hot FM Radio who continue to position their stations as major platforms for public debate, promoting accountability, and the expression of a plurality of views that are essential to the workings of a functional constitutional democracy. Since the 2021 election, one or two private media institutions that were previously on the side of the people have turned around to join hands with the establishment – becoming a daily public diary of the president, promoting official agendas or narratives, denying sufficient coverage to alternative voices from the opposition and civil society even on subjects of major public interest, downing tools of investigative journalism especially as it relates to the prevalence of corruption in government, and spiking stories deemed critical to those in power to secure commercial interests.
In a media climate that has witnessed the capture or co-optation of other independent media outlets by the State, the continued abuse of the state media by the ruling party and the opportunistic decision by social media pages with a historically large following to hire themselves to those in power, the editorial independence of Hot Fm and Diamond TV is to be highly commended. Other private media outlets that deserve an honourable mention, especially taking into account the unconducive environment in which they are operating, include KBN TV, the Daily Nation and The Mast newspapers;
• Faides Tembatemba, Telesphore Mpundu, Musa Mwenye, Linda Kasonde, Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma, John Sangwa, Brebner Changala, Archbishop Ignatius Chama, Archbishop Alick Banda, Bishop Gabriel Msipu Phiri, for consistently raising their voices to speak out against human rights violations, injustice, abuse, corruption in government, the erosion of democratic and the indifference of the country’s political leadership to the plight of many. Many of the prominent individuals in academia, the church, and civil society who opposed wrongs under the previous administration (s) now constitute an essential part of the vociferous choir that sings praise for the presidency on a regular basis, even where silence would be golden. Others have remained so quiet that one might think they are dead, going by their incriminating silence on subjects that would have previously attracted the expression of their public outrage such as Bill 7, the violations of human rights as lately documented by major rights bodies such as the United Nations and Human Rights Watch, the continued disregard for the Constitution of Zambia by the executive and the Speaker of the National Assembly, and the abuse of State institutions like the police and the courts to suppress peaceful protests against the government and fix political opponents and critics.
Immersed in sea of government kakistocracy, democratic backsliding, the continued careless contraction of huge public debt, extreme levels of poverty and inequality, death and infections, it is easy to lose hope and be pessimistic about Zambia because we are not seeing many green shoots growing from the debris. The individuals mentioned above exemplify a negation of the rotten conditions that characterise today’s Zambia and are among the inspiring few who refuse to be intimidated by repression, to hide what they think or to keep their thoughts to themselves, are fighting to make Zambia free and against those who rob the people of their rights, life and dignity. In a context where the majority of us are spectators, watching these people taking extremely dangerous risks to themselves and to their families, we will do well to celebrate these forthright and upstanding citizens. Amidst the detritus, they represent not only what is green and fresh in us but also a bridge between two extremes: a rotten present and the possibility of a good, better future;
• Binwell Mpundu, the Nkana independent lawmaker, who, though relatively young, continues to hold the powerful to account through informed parliamentary debates. There was a time, especially under the MMD, when Zambia had a crop of outstanding members of parliament who debated with knowledge, held the executive to account, and defended public interest even when they belonged to the ruling party. Examples of such distinguished MPs include Dipak Patel, Crispin Sibetta, Bob Sichinga, Given Lubinda, Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika, and Edith Nawakwi. These backbenchers were aided by the presence of relatively tolerant Speakers of the National Assembly such as Robinson Nabulyato and Amusaa Mwanamwambwa.
Today, the debates in parliament are generally shallow while the Speaker, Nelli Mutti, is so shamelessly partisan in her conduct that she has even stopped pretending. In this uninspiring context, it is refreshing that Mpundu has continued to hoist his voice on issues that matter most to the public such as the continued refusal by the Ministry of Finance to adequately tax foreign mining companies and the reckless expenditure by the executive that has resulted in supplementary budgets and contraction of more debt from commercial banks, to the disadvantage of the local private sector;
• Chabota C. Mweetwa, a youthful patriot, who continues to use social media especially TikTok to highlight – in an accessible language – issues of greater public concern;
• the Law Association of Zambia, as an institution, for remaining steadfast in defending the Constitution and the rule of law;
• the faceless and unknown Zambians whose heroic acts do not attract media or public attention but who, as part of the wider division of labour that all of us are engaged in (one unit, different roles), work hard and quietly in the background to contribute to the creation of a better society that we all envisage. These are ordinary men and women strewn across different stations such as the civil service, markets, politics, civil society, industry, academia, the professions, secret service, etc. None of these trades is more important than the other.
In the end, and as founding President Kenneth Kaunda wrote in Letters to My Children, it is through the sum total of our countless isolated efforts that everything is changed – hopefully for the better. Regardless of our professional stations in life, it is crucial that we discharge our responsibilities well and in a way that both enhances the lives of others and advances the health of our country, firm in the awareness that we swim or sink together.
HH A GOOD PRESIDENT WITH A HEART FOR THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE ————————————————-
The democratic space in Zambia has greatly expanded contrary to assertions by some sections of society that it is shrinking when in fact not.
This is evidenced by the freedom of expression that’s being grossly abused by President Hakainde Hichilema’s usual critics, in alliance with media outlets hostile to government.
More so, on a daily occurrence, Zambians are treated to screaming and sensational newsflash headlines spreading falsehoods against President Hichilema in an effort to erode citizens’ confidence in their democratically elected government, yet no media house has been closed down as was the case in the past with previous administrations.
However, the government under the able and focused leadership of President Hichilema has not, at any given time trumpled upon citizens’ freedom of expression or stifled media outlets hostile to government.
Indeed, this demonstrates that Zambia has a President with not only a good heart for the Zambia people, a true democrat who tolerates divergent views, but also a great statesman who is alive to the need of promoting peace, love and unity in the country, anchored on our national slogan: ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION.
FROM LIES TO KILLING: A GOVT AT WAR WITH ITS OWN CITIZENS
Before the elections, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema promised the multitudes of unemployed youths in this country mining licenses and capital.
Instead, his government has delivered nothing but death and despair. On top of these broken campaign promises, they have effectively declared war on their own citizens.
They have failed to deliver what they pledged and now, instead of acknowledging their failure, they are determined to punish the very voters who believed in them. The poor citizens of this country are being made to suffer simply for having placed their hope and trust in this administration. What a shame! What an injustice!
As the Holy Bible reminds us, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” The tears, pain, and bloodshed we witness today will stand as testimony to this government’s cruelty and dishonesty.
Yes, our people may feel trapped in this hopeless situation today but nothing lasts forever because power is transitory. True redemption will come. Let them victimize, injure, maim, or even kill innocent citizens whose only “crime” is striving to fend for their families but one day, this injustice will be history. No government has declared war on its own citizens and they have succeeded. Tapali eko baleya. Fikapwa!
Ba Zambia, the time has come to stand up and be counted. Let us save ourselves from this madness.
THEY PROMISED YOU MINING LICENCES AND CAPITAL, BUT THEY HAVE DELIVERED YOU DEATH
This is time for mourning and meditation. I am pained to the core by the killings of the young men in Mufumbwe District of North Western Province.
I know I share this pain with all the compassionate people of this country. This is truly a national loss of incomprehensible proportion.
We mourn their loss as a nation together. For the families of the young people, we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this act of Mr Hakainde Hichilema’s government. But we strongly feel the loss, and we’re thinking about you so very much. Your loved ones were neither thieves nor crooks; they were not lazy but hard working, daring and brave young men trying to fend for their loved ones. They were simply trying to get their share of God’s mineral gifts to us all.
They were following on the promises and commitments that were made to them by Mr Hichilema when he was seeking their votes and support as an opposition presidential candidate in the run-up to the 2021 elections:
“We are going to introduce a change in the law. All extractive industries, mines, timber, mukula. Licenses will be given to Zambians and Zambian companies. Licenses – all new licenses – will be given to Zambians and Zambian companies. You don’t have to be a rich person to own a mine. The UPND will facilitate you owning a mine and give you a license. If you don’t have the money, then you can find a joint venture partner to bring the money, to bring the technology, then you become partners in the mining, become partners and you can become partners in the trading of mukula, that’s all, that’s all. So, stop being cheated around the black mountain. We will not just do that, we will be able to give credit as a government … we will be able to support technically so that those who are mining, abanesu who are mining there do not die because of accidents because they are not given support to mine in an area like that. Every now and then, tuleshika abana besu, tulelosha because they are dying looking for money to feed their children, that will be a thing of the past.”
Mr Hichilema promised you mining licences and capital, among other things, but he has instead delivered you death.
It is so painful that instead of delivering on his promises to these young men, Mr Hichilema has delivered death to them. They’ve cut short the vibrant lives of the young men. They have destroyed families and those who depended on them in a flash. How cruel and heartbreaking to see this happening in our country today.
Again, what type of government is Mr Hichilema running?
Any leader worth his salt knows that these are not times of ease or resting but of incessant striving so that we can give the millions of our people who suffer and are humiliated a dignified and happy life.
It means working very, very hard to end poverty and ignorance, and disease and inequality of opportunity. We need to work very, very hard to wipe every tear from every eye.
To you, the people of our homeland, we make appeal to join us with faith and confidence in this great work to remove Mr Hichilema and his tyrannical, deceptive, lying and corrupt regime.
We have to build a noble nation in which all our people can live dignified and happy lives.
It’s time to break out of this and break through with a clear and revolutionary vision for Zambia. We must do it together. We must work for it together. We must plan for it together because it can only be done together. Leaders lead, but in the end, the people must govern.
Either we struggle together, or we are defeated alone.
TONSE ALLIANCE STATEMENT ON POLICE BRUTALITY AT KIKONGE GOLD MINE IN MUFUMBWE DISTRICT OF NORTH-WESTERN PROVINCE OF ZAMBIA
Liberty House, 7th July 2025
1. The TONSE ALLIANCE is very saddened by the unnecessary loss of lives due to Police brutality at Kikonge Gold Mine in Mufumbwe District. From our standpoint, it does not matter whether the total number of those killed is 3, as alleged by Government media, or 18 as alleged by some private media. Even a single life lost due to Police brutality is one too many.
2. As TONSE ALLIANCE, we wonder why Government did not simply issue eviction notices to the miners, for them to vacate the premises within a specified period of time, instead of sending Police to ambush them, bringing about unnecessary bloodshed and loss of lives. If the UPND Government respected human lives, then the use of force should have been the last resort and not the first option.
3. As TONSE ALLIANCE, we further wonder why the UPND Government has been unwilling to issue artisanal mining licenses to these youths so as to allow them to regularize their mining activities, instead of gleefully referring to them as illegal miners? It is evident that these youths are Zambian citizens who are not lazy, but are able and willing to work hard by engaging in mining activities. So why can’t the Government empower these youths by issuing them with artisanal mining licenses so that they can undertake their activities within the confines of the law?
4. It is evident that our youths, both those who went to school and those who did not, are battling with high levels of unemployment. There are no jobs on the market. This has forced many youths to engage in criminal activities. However, instead of engaging in criminal activities and robbing innocent citizens, the youths who went to Mufumbwe decided to work hard for themselves by engaging in small scale mining. By all means, this was a noble undertaking. However, instead of their Government empowering them with artisanal mining licenses and training, their Government instead sent armed police officers to shoot them dead. The question is why?
5. As TONSE ALLIANCE, we wish to advise the UPND Government to learn from their counterparts in Zimbabwe with regard to the handling of artisanal mining. In Zimbabwe, individual artisanal miners are empowered with licenses and safety training, which has turned them into the biggest contributors to the local diamond mining industry. To the contrary, in Zambia, the Department of Mines has a long list of outstanding applications for artisanal mining licenses, and yet our people are harassed and even killed by the police for engaging in artisanal mining without licenses.
6. As TONSE ALLIANCE, we wish to advise President Hakainde Hichilema and his Government to change their attitude towards artisanal miners. Instead of criminalizing them and sending Police to brutalize them and shoot them dead, the Government should instead empower these youths by issuing them with artisanal mining licenses, so that they can operate within the law. Once these youths have been licensed, they should then be subjected to safety training so that we can avoid the many small scale mining accidents that have been rampant of late. No president can build a nation by deploying force where wisdom is required.
///END
Issued by:
Sean E. Tembo (SET) PeP President & TONSE ALLIANCE Spokesperson Lusaka, Zambia.
EDITOR’S CHOICE: Kikonge Massacre and the Price of Economic Collapse
By Dr Lawrence Mwelwa
There’s blood in the soil of Mufumbwe—and the government can’t scrub it off. Whether it’s two lives or fourteen, the dead don’t lie. What happened in Kikonge is not just a security incident. It is a scandal. It is a moral indictment. It is the moment the State fired bullets into a crowd of its own forgotten people—people who had already been abandoned by jobs, by justice, and by every promise made in campaign season.
The official line is weak and offensive. They say only two were killed. As if the value of life has dropped so low that body count is a matter of public relations. As if two is somehow a number to be proud of when you fire live rounds into thousands of unarmed citizens trying to feed their families with picks, shovels, and borrowed hope.
Fifty thousand people. That is not a protest. That is not a criminal ring. That is a human avalanche caused by hunger, unemployment, and systemic betrayal. It is the economic apocalypse in broad daylight. People do not travel over 100 kilometres into the bush for fun. They go because the economy has shut them out. They go because the State has become a fortress of broken promises guarded by uniforms and barricaded by bureaucracy.
And what did this government do when its people cried out—not with placards, but with bare hands in the soil? It met them with boots, shields, and bullets. This is not governance. This is war. A war on the poor. A war on those who believed the dream that Zambia was ready to rise again.
Let’s be clear: the blood spilled in Kikonge is not an isolated tragedy. It is the harvest of an economy that grows only on Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations. We have leaders talking about “debt restructuring,” “macro stability,” and “foreign reserves,” while on the ground people are dying over dust, digging in the dark for scraps of copper and gold that they will never benefit from. This is extractive capitalism meets post-colonial incompetence.
As one whistleblower from within the mining sector revealed anonymously, “The same government that kills villagers over mining licenses is the same one that gives away mineral wealth to foreign corporations for a song.” What do we call this? Policy? No. This is a scandal of betrayal. A betrayal of Zambians by the very leaders who promised to restore dignity.
And now, to cover up the mess, the government spins narratives. “No massacre,” they say. “Only two dead,” they say. “Calm down,” they say. But what they don’t say is that these deaths were avoidable. That poverty is a State failure, not a personal choice. That this tragedy was years in the making—carved out by IMF conditions, shrinking budgets, and hollow slogans about job creation.
This scandal must not be buried with the bodies. It must be investigated. It must be prosecuted—not in court alone, but in the court of public opinion, in the memory of the youth, and in the conscience of a nation that must never get used to the sound of gunfire over a loaf of bread.
To the government: the scandal is not that people said 14 died. The scandal is that even one died, and you think you can manage the fallout with press statements and denials. The blood of Kikonge will stain every speech, every promise, every handshake until the truth is owned and justice is done.
Zambia is bleeding. And it’s not just from the mines. It’s bleeding from the wounds of inequality, the bruises of mismanagement, and the open fractures of a broken social contract.
And no amount of silence will make this scandal disappear.
So he made history, skipped the ZITF and Killed a Dozen
Letter From the United States
Vol.II
By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba
This week was Independence Day, popularly known as the Fourth of July, a federal holiday in the United States which commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which established the United States of America.
I saw Americans hold celebrations, join in fireworks display shows and sing the “The Star-Spangled Banner”, the national anthem of the United States.
I also saw them make the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance, a patriotic verse recited, that promises allegiance to the flag of the United States and the republic of the United States.
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” crowds shouted with hands on hearts.
It was a pleasure to watch a people show public loyalty, deep affection, love and patriotism to their country. Probably we wouldn’t have wars and unrelenting civil conflict in Africa if we loved our countries more.
Those who have followed my writing will agree.
That I’m a big critic of the Bretton Woods institutions, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, and the role they play in pretending to help Africa while preparing it and grooming it for western and multinational exploitation.
I’m also a strong critic of the economic liberalism, a political and economic ideology that emphasizes on limiting government intervention in the economy, promotes unfettered free markets, free trade, and grants minimal government regulation.
I have found, for example, that China’s economic system, which promotes a mixed or socialist market economy, a blend of state-led planning and market-based principles, is more practical and suitable to Africa than the liberal policies.
The Chinese economic development and results in the last 30 years, speak for themselves.
I regularly condemn the dominant role that many multi-national companies play in Africa, exploiting its resources, refusing to pay just or fair taxes, seeking exploitative incentives and engaging in illicit financial flows, tax dodging and tax avoidance schemes to obtain as much wealth as possible, from Africa without recourse to opportunities for Africa’s benefits.
This position is mistaken to mean that I’m anti-western world. No I’m not.
So my presence in the United States is greeted with suspicions and ridicule…”What are you doing eating with Imperialists?”
Anyway…
So while President Hakainde Hichilema is obsessed and locked in a battle to access and retrieve the body of his predecessor, against family wishes, while he has resumed his chest-thumping self praise about the economy alleged rise, and has grabbed yet another parliamentary seat from the Opposition, more grave things are brewing.
His government has killed a dozen youths while dispersing the thousands of youths that gathered and camped at Kikonge Old Gold pit in Mufumbwe district in North-Western province.
As is now customary, Government is trying hard to lie and reduce the death toll to two even when videos, witness account and other sources of information show otherwise.
They lie about everything.
While at it, President Hichilema made history. He missed the Zambia International Trade Fair, Zambia’s premier trade show with exhibitors from Africa and beyond.
For the first time in its 59 year history, the holiday calendar to coincide with the Trade Show was adjusted by a week at a very short notice.
We heard this was to accommodate the special Guest of Honour, a President from the region as is custom, to co-officiate with President Hichilema.
Despite the valiant effort by the organizers, this was not be!
In the end we were treated to Situmbeko Musokotwane (Finance), Chipoka Mulenga ( Commerce Trade and Industry) and Elias Mubanga ( Small and Medium Enterprises) trying hard to stand in the big shoes of two Heads of State.
The Cost-of-living Crisis continued to escalate with the monthly food basket now standing at K11,763.00
The June 2025 Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB), data revealed a continued upward trend in the cost of living, particularly driven by sharp increases in non-food essentials.
From January to June 2025, Lusaka’s BNNB rose by ZMW 962.81—surpassing the increase recorded over the same period in 2024.
Similarly, the exchange rate market returned to its known sharp volatility as the Kwacha continued to lose value and slip to K25 to a $1 after making dramatic gains two weeks ago that saw it stand at K22.9 in 3 years!
Until next week, this is your letter from the USA.
The Four-Headed Monster: How Youth Unemployment, Nepotism, Tribalism, and Cronyism Are Crushing an Entire Generation
By Thandiwe Ketiš Ngoma
Under the UPND government, Zambia’s young people are staring down a brutal and unforgiving reality. Jobs are scarce, opportunities are few, and the system is rigged against them. What they face is not just an economic crisis; it is a structural betrayal. At the heart of this betrayal lies a four-headed monster: youth unemployment, nepotism, tribalism, and cronyism. Together, these forces are undermining the present and crushing the future. This is more than bad governance. It is the systemic exclusion of a generation that should be building Zambia’s tomorrow.
The Lost Generation
On one hand, an entire population of young people is stuck. They are qualified but jobless, ambitious and hardworking but blocked. With youth unemployment soaring, these young people roam the streets, clutching their hopes like expired passports to a country that no longer exists.
On the other hand are the tribally connected and political loyalists who enter a job market that now functions like an exclusive club. If you are not in favor or not from the right region, you are not on the list. You are left out in the cold.
Nepotism, the employment of relatives, tribesmen, and women, and cronyism, the employment of party and political loyalists, have become institutionalized under the UPND government. For example, VJ’s son is in diplomatic service in Sweden. Nevers Mumba’s son is in diplomatic service in South Africa. Lesley Mbula’s son now heads the Emoluments Commission. Mapili’s daughter is at the Zambia Development Agency. Gary Nkombo’s sister is in diplomatic service in Morocco. The list is endless.
Jobs go to the connected. Contracts go to the inner circle. Appointments are based on who you know, not what you know.
Fellow Zambians, Mufumbwe is the tragedy that exposes this rot. The recent events there, where a confrontation involving illegal mining activities turned deadly, show what happens when access to opportunity is engineered for the few and denied to the many. When public jobs, contracts, and empowerment programs are distributed not based on merit but on loyalty, tribe, and connection, disaster follows.
The results are clear. First, the poor remain poor, the hopeful become hopeless, and the excluded explode with frustration. Second, we see a strangled economy, an underperforming civil service, and a public sector that serves the party instead of the people.
Lessons from History: Andrew Jackson’s America
In 1829, U.S. President Andrew Jackson created a toxic system of governance that rewarded loyalty over competence. His infamous “spoils system” hollowed out American institutions, replacing experienced professionals with party loyalists, friends, and family. The result was corruption, inefficiency, and an erosion of professionalism in public service.
Sound familiar?
Jackson’s cronyism weakened institutions and normalized a culture where public jobs were rewards, not responsibilities. After Jackson, it took President Theodore Roosevelt decades later to confront the rot and clean up the American civil service. Roosevelt cracked down on corruption, broke up elite monopolies, and restored integrity to public institutions.
After five years of the UPND government, Zambia needs its own Roosevelt in 2026—a reformer who understands that loyalty, cronyism, and tribalism cannot replace competence. Public service must serve the public, and the future must belong to all Zambians, not just the connected few.
Reform or Ruin
Therefore, the choice before us in 2026 is clear and urgent. Another five years of this visionless and exclusionary leadership, and Zambia risks losing an entire generation. Not just their jobs, but their hope, their trust, and their belief in the promise of their own country.
The four-headed monster of unemployment, nepotism, tribalism, and cronyism must be defeated in 2026. If we do not change government in 2026, the damage will be irreversible.
In 2026, when you enter the ballot booth, you have two choices: reform or ruin.
Truth Must Be Told, Hon. Binwell Mpundu Has No Moral Authority to Preach About Fiscal Discipline
By ; Tobbius Chilembo Hamunkoyo LLB, 07/07/25
Hon. Binwell Mpundu’s criticism of the UPND government’s fiscal policies is not only misleading but deeply hypocritical. It must be stated clearly that he was part of the previous PF government that brought the country into economic crisis through reckless borrowing, misuse of public funds, and poor financial planning.
He cannot now speak as though he was not involved in creating this economic mess. Truth be told, he has nothing new to offer the Zambian people. The UPND government inherited this crisis and is working tirelessly to fix it through legal and transparent processes.
When the UPND took office, Zambia was already in a debt default position because the PF government had borrowed excessively and failed to pay. This destroyed the country’s credibility with lenders and scared away investors.
The current government had to fight for debt restructuring under the G20 Common Framework, which was not an easy process. Through this restructuring, Zambia managed to push back payment deadlines and reduce the burden, creating space in the national budget for development. Without these efforts, there would be no room to build schools, pay retirees, or fund agriculture. The UPND government made the hard but necessary choices to restore order to public finance.
Hon. Mpundu’s silence during the PF era is deafening. He now complains about borrowing and taxes, yet he never raised his voice when PF carders were literally dancing on money in the streets, building mansions overnight, and looting public resources. Even former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu publicly declared, “ubomba mwibala alya mwibala, but he should not finish the seed”, which implied that those in power could eat from government resources as long as they left something behind.
This statement, made in the public domain, captured the culture of entitlement and abuse that thrived under PF leadership.
Now that the UPND government is trying to clean up that mess, Hon. Mpundu wants to pretend he is on the side of the people. But he fails to explain how public funds were used under PF, or how most of the borrowed money disappeared without any visible results. It is a notorious fact in public finance that when one government misuses borrowed funds, the next government suffers.
Debt repayments remain, projects stall, and ordinary people feel the pressure. This is the situation the UPND government is trying to recover from. It will take years of discipline and reform to cover the gap left behind.
On taxation, Hon. Mpundu is wrong to say that the poor are being punished. The taxes introduced in the supplementary budget are mostly on luxury items, like alcohol, cigarettes, and betting, which do not affect basic goods like mealie meal or medicine.
These taxes are also used worldwide as responsible ways to raise money and promote healthier lifestyles. More importantly, the revenue from these taxes is going into essential services like free education, teacher and health worker recruitment, social protection, and infrastructure development. The new Minimum Alternative Tax ensures big businesses pay their fair share.
On Mufumbwe, we must be careful not to politicize tragedy. The police were responding to illegal and dangerous mining activities, and although some lives were sadly lost, reports show that officers acted under lawful authority.
The Police Act allows for minimum force when public safety is under threat. Investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, the government is working to formalize youth participation in mining through licensing, training, and cooperatives, unlike the lawless regime that empowered cadres to control mineral sites for political gain. Zambia needs honest leadership rooted in truth, not recycled blame and political drama
UNILUS STUDENT IN COURT FOR ENROLLING INTO UNIVERSITY WITH FORGED PAPERS, BURSARY SCAMS
AT the age of 23, a man in Lusaka is already in the cooking pot of a hot legal soup for forging his school credentials to enroll in the university and is fingered to be a mastermind behind a scam offering bursaries abroad.
23 year old John Nedziwe of Lusaka’s Kasisi Village is accused of soliciting over K60,000 from parents and students that he would obtain 100 percent bursary and scholarship for them abroad when in fact not.
Nedziwe is charged with 11 counts of forgery, obtaining registration by false pretence, uttering false documents and obtaining Money by false pretence, the charges he denied.
It is alleged that Nedziwe on dates unknown but between January 1, 2021 and 31 March 2021 in Lusaka, with intent to defraud or deceive obtained registration by enrolling into the University of Lusaka using a Grade 12 School Certificate under the names of Andrew Mwanza purporting it to his.
The accused also forged national registration card (NRC) bearing the name Andrew Mwanza and uttered it to Airtel Zambia Network officials.
Nedziwe obtained amounts ranging from K400 to K30,000 from students and parents that he would obtain 100 percen bursaries for them to Germany and Canada but later disappeared with the money.
Court documents also revealed that Nedziwe on dates unknown but between January 1, 2022 and May 29, 2022 in Lusaka with intent to defraud or deceive obtained K17, 820 from Lydia Nedziwe by purporting that he would obtain 100 percent bursary for her daughter to a University in Canada when in fact not.
Further allegations are that the accused on the same dates also obtained K30,000 from Precious Nedziwe that he could offer her a bursary scholarship in Canada when not.
He also obtained money from Gift Phiri, Martha Chilala, Webster Banda, Baldwin Mweemba, Christopher Mwanza, Felix Hachosa among others.
Nedziwe appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Trevor Kasanda on Friday at the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court.
CHOMA HUSBAND ATTACKS 7-MONTHS PREGNANT WIFE, LEAVES HER CRITICALLY INJURED
A 22-year-old woman, identified as Nchimunya Namuswa of Shibinda Village in Choma District, Southern Province, has been left critically injured after being attacked with an axe by her estranged husband.
According to a police report, the suspect, Lushomo Mabulo, whose age is unknown but hails from the same village, reportedly assaulted his wife, from whom he had separated. The victim had returned to live with her parents following the separation.
While performing household chores, the suspect allegedly arrived unprovoked and attacked Nchimunya with an axe, striking her multiple times on the head and stomach.
Southern Province Police Commissioner Auxensio Daka also revealed that a knife is also believed to have been used during the brutal assault on the woman, who is seven months pregnant.
The suspect fled the scene immediately after the attack and the victim was rushed to Choma Central Police Station, where the incident was reported, and a medical report form was issued and is currently admitted to Choma General Hospital in serious condition.
PF MPS DEMAND CONSISTENCY IN PARLIAMENT, QUESTION SPEAKER’S RULINGS AND OPPOSITION LEADERSHIP
By: Sun FM TV Reporter
Patriotic Front members of Parliament have reaffirmed commitment to civility, reasonableness, and adherence to the Constitution and parliamentary procedures, provided that presiding officers uphold consistency in line with the law and standing orders.
Lukashya Member of Parliament, George Chisanga, expressed disappointment with Speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti, for what he described as an inconsistent application of parliamentary rules.
He criticized the Speaker’s refusal to recognize Miles Sampa as Leader of the Opposition on grounds that the matter is before the courts, despite having previously allowed the removal of Mr. Brian Mundubile under similar circumstances.
Mr. Chisanga, who is also a legal practitioner, argued that the Speaker’s decision lacked consistency and undermined the credibility of the House.
He further criticized the current Leader of the Opposition, Robert Chabinga, accusing him of failing to provide effective leadership since assuming office.
He alleged that Mr. Chabinga’s perceived alignment with the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) has weakened the opposition’s role in Parliament.
….Ugandan Pastor Surprises Petauke Couple with K350,000 in Wedding Blessings
Petauke District, Zambia – July 7, 2025
What began as an ordinary wedding celebration in Petauke District turned into a heart-stirring testimony of kindness, divine favor, and unexpected reward.
At the wedding of Mr. Joseph Phiri and Mrs. Bridget Mwanza held on Saturday, 5th July 2025, at Alpha Lodge, guests were left speechless when a man of God and engineer by profession, Pastor Ronald Ddumba from Uganda, gifted the newlyweds K50,000 cash and a brand-new vehicle worth K200,000.
But the story behind this generous gesture is what has touched the hearts of many across the Eastern Province.
In 2019, Pastor Ddumba first arrived in Lusaka, Zambia, as a struggling man. He had no place to stay and was in desperate search of work and clients for his engineering services. It was then that a young student from Petauke, Joseph Phiri, opened his heart and his small boarding room to the Ugandan visitor.
Despite limited space, Joseph and his roommate accommodated the stranger—offering him shelter, meals, and friendship. That simple act of compassion would unknowingly shape both of their futures.
Years passed. Joseph completed his training as a Clinical Officer General and returned to Petauke, where he volunteered in local health facilities before being officially deployed by the Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, Pastor Ddumba’s life took a divine turn—receiving major contracts and blessings that transformed him into a successful engineer and preacher.
Though miles apart, the two men kept in touch. When Joseph began planning his wedding in 2025, he extended a special invitation to his old friend, who had once been a stranger. Pastor Ddumba accepted—and came bearing more than just good wishes.
During his remarks at the wedding reception, Pastor Ddumba announced an overwhelming gift of K50,000 and a car worth K200,000 to the couple. But his generosity didn’t end there. He also:
Gifted K100,000 to Joseph’s former roommate who had helped accommodate him back in 2019,
Presented K100,000 to Joseph’s parents as a token of gratitude,
Donated K10,000 to the church that officiated the marriage blessings,
And gave K2,000 each to the officiating Reverend and the Master of Ceremony.
The crowd erupted in shock and applause as the man who was once a struggling stranger returned as a millionaire and servant of God, pouring blessings on those who had once supported him.
Speaking after the ceremony, Pastor Ddumba shared, “I came to Zambia with nothing but faith. Joseph and his friend treated me with dignity and love when I had nothing to offer. Today, it’s my joy to honor that kindness.”
Mr. Phiri, visibly emotional, said, “I’m still trying to believe what happened. We never expected anything like this. I just wanted to celebrate our love—but God added His own miracle.”
The story has since gone viral on social media and across local communities, with many praising the power of humility, kindness, and divine favor.
Indeed, as the saying goes, ‘Be kind to everyone—for you never know who you’re helping.’
50 Cent’s ex-girlfriend, Jamira “Cuban Link” Haines, has made headlines with claims about her breakup with rapper and mogul Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
According to Haines, the relationship ended after she requested $10,000, a request she says 50 Cent refused, highlighting what she describes as his stingy nature.
In posts circulating on social media, Cuban Link claimed the relationship dissolved after her financial request, which she says triggered the split.
“Ladies, think twice before dating someone like 50 Cent. He never gave me a dollar. The only gift was a wig, which he wanted back when we broke up. It wasn’t even worth $100,” Cuban wrote on her social media.
These remarks were shared in various reports, including one from TheCityCeleb on June 30, 2025, which noted her comments about receiving only a low-value wig during their time together, which 50 Cent allegedly demanded be returned post-breakup.
The couple, who began dating in 2019 had previously been seen as a strong pair, with Haines calling 50 Cent her “favorite person” on Instagram.
In 2023, they sparked engagement rumors after being spotted with a large ring. However, signs of trouble emerged earlier in 2024 when 50 Cent announced on Instagram that he was practicing abstinence to focus on a “new idea.”
By September 2024, he confirmed his single status on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, stating, “I’m here, man. I’m free, I’ve made some mistakes — just not that one.”
A tragic car accident on the A-52 motorway in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora, Spain, claimed the lives of Liverpool FC forward Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother André Silva, 26, in the early hours of Thursday, July 3, 2025.
The Spanish Guardia Civil, alongside local emergency services, has released preliminary findings from the ongoing investigation into the incident, which occurred at approximately 12:30 AM local time (11:30 PM BST).
Below is a detailed account of the investigation’s findings based on official statements and reports from authorities.
Preliminary Investigation Findings The accident took place at kilometer 65 of the A-52 motorway, a major highway connecting the regions near the Spain-Portugal border, approximately 35 kilometers from the border town of Sanabria.
The vehicle involved was a Lamborghini, a high-performance supercar valued at approximately £200,000, carrying Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, a professional footballer for Penafiel in Portugal’s second division.
According to the Guardia Civil, the vehicle veered off the road and caught fire, resulting in the deaths of both occupants at the scene. The blaze also spread to nearby vegetation, complicating initial response efforts.
The Spanish Guardia Civil’s preliminary investigation points to a tire blowout as the primary cause of the accident.
The vehicle was reportedly attempting to overtake another car at the time of the incident, a maneuver that may have been compromised by the sudden failure of one of the Lamborghini’s tires.
The high speed typical of such vehicles, combined with the tire blowout, likely caused the driver to lose control, leading the car to leave the roadway. The subsequent impact and fire were catastrophic, with the vehicle becoming fully engulfed in flames.
The Guardia Civil’s statement to BBC Sport and other outlets noted: “A vehicle left the road and everything indicates a tyre burst while overtaking. As a result of the accident, the car caught fire and both people were killed.”
Forensic tests are still pending to confirm the identities of the deceased, though authorities have identified the victims as Diogo Jota and André Silva based on preliminary evidence.
The fued between President Trump and Elon Musk seem to be gaining its stance again as they are back jabbing each other on the social media.
Trump backlashed at Elon while reigniting his stance against electric vehicle (EV) mandates via a post on social media.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump asserts that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, was aware of his opposition to EV mandates before endorsing him for President.
According to Trunp it was “ridiculous” that Musk overlooked it mandate which was a key component of his campaign platform.
He emphasized that while he finds electric cars acceptable, he believes individuals should not be forced to own them.
The post criticizes Musk, suggesting that he has received more subsidies than any individual in history. He argues that without these subsidies “Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”
He listed potential consequences, including the cessation of rocket launches, satellite deployments, and electric car production, which he claims would save the country a significant amount of money.
Concluding his post, Trump suggested that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was previously headed by Musl, should “take a good, hard look at this” due to the potential financial savings.
Experts and former officials have sharply criticized an email sent by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) praising President Donald Trump’s newly signed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” as containing “blatant misinformation.”
The email, circulated shortly after Trump signed the sweeping tax and spending legislation into law on July 4, 2025, has been called out for misleading claims about the bill’s impact on federal taxes and Social Security benefits.
The SSA email, claimed the bill “eliminates federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for most beneficiaries, providing relief to individuals and couples.” However, experts assert this is false.
According to a report by The Guardian, the legislation does not eliminate federal taxes on Social Security benefits due to constraints in the reconciliation process used to pass the bill.
Instead, it provides temporary tax deductions of up to $6,000 for individuals aged 65 and older and $12,000 for married seniors, with benefits phasing out for those with incomes above $75,000 for individuals or $150,000 for couples.
The bill, passed by a narrow 218-214 vote in the House and a 51-50 Senate vote with Vice President JD Vance casting the tiebreaker, has sparked controversy for its $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, significant reductions to Medicaid and SNAP, and a $5 trillion debt ceiling increase.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates it will add $3.3 trillion to the federal deficit over a decade and leave millions without health coverage.
New Jersey Representative Frank Pallone, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, condemned the SSA email on X, declaring, “Every word of the SSA’s email on Thursday is a lie. This big, ugly bill doesn’t change that.”
Critics argue the email’s framing misleads seniors into believing the bill offers broader tax relief than it does.
The White House has defended the legislation, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt calling it a “victory” that delivers “the largest middle-class tax cut in history” and strengthens border security.
A Nigerian woman has taken to social media to recount a disturbing yet bizarre experience with a male friend who attempted to initiate intimacy with her just hours after his father’s passing.
The incident, which the woman described as both shocking and darkly humorous, has sparked widespread reactions online.
According to the woman, identified as @reennee124 on TikTok, she received a tearful call from her friend informing her of his father’s death. Moved by concern, she immediately visited his home to offer condolences.
Upon arrival, she found her friend on the phone with his mother, while his younger sister was visibly distraught and crying over the loss.
The woman noted that her friend was also sobbing, stating, “Men hardly cry, so for him to be in that state, it really broke me.” She offered comfort by allowing him to rest his head on her shoulder.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn when her friend’s behavior became inappropriate. While consoling him, she noticed him holding her “in a very funny way,” which made her uncomfortable.To her shock, she observed he had an erection.
According to her, she was able to escape after texting a friend to call her immediately which the friend did.
Despite the somber context, he went further, asking her to spend the night, reportedly saying, “I thought you were going to spend the night.”
Stunned and repulsed, the woman responded, “You dey find wetin you go pour grief on top of? Even if I ever wanted anything with you, not now. Your papa never even reach 24 hours for mortuary.”
She promptly left his home and blocked his contact on all platforms, expressing frustration and disbelief at his actions.
A 45-year-old man in Afghanistan’s Helmand province has sparked outrage after marrying a 6-year-old girl as his third wife, prompting intervention from local Taliban authorities.
The marriage, which took place in the Marjah district on June 27, 2025, was reportedly arranged after the girl’s father exchanged her for money, according to local media outlet Amu.tv and Hasht-e Subh Daily.
The man, who already has two wives, was set to take the child to his home when the Taliban stepped in, arresting both him and the girl’s father.
A haunting photograph of the man standing beside the young girl drew widespread horror, even prompting action from the Taliban, who have not issued an official condemnation but have barred the man from taking the child until she reaches the age of 9.
No formal charges have been filed against either man, a decision that has drawn criticism from human rights advocates who argue it reflects the Taliban’s lenient stance on child marriages.
The incident highlights a growing crisis in Afghanistan, where child marriages have surged by 25% since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover and the subsequent ban on girls’ education, according to UN Women.
Economic desperation, worsened by a collapsing economy and frozen international aid, has driven families to sell daughters as young as 20 days old for future marriages, with a 45% increase in childbearing reported across the country.
In 2021, a similar case gained international attention when 9-year-old Parwana Malik was rescued by a charity after being sold to a 55-year-old man for $2,200 in land, sheep, and cash.
NASA’s is currently on an ambitious mission to study the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, valued at an estimated $10 quintillion ($10,000,000,000,000,000,000) due to its vast reserves of gold, nickel, and iron.
In October 2013, NASA launched a spacecraft to towards the asteroid. The spacecraft still continues its 2.2-billion-mile journey.
The asteroid, located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, is believed to be the exposed core of a protoplanet, offering clues to planetary formation.
However, experts and social media users warn that any attempt to mine or bring its resources to Earth could trigger catastrophic economic and environmental consequences.
The Psyche spacecraft, traveling at speeds up to 124,000 mph, is set to reach the 140-mile-wide asteroid in July 2029, where it will orbit for 26 months to map its surface and study its composition, estimated to be 30-60% metal.
NASA emphasizes that the mission is purely scientific, aimed at understanding planetary cores, with no plans to harvest the asteroid’s resources.
“By studying asteroid Psyche, we hope to better understand our universe and our place in it,” said Nicola Fox, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate associate administrator.
Despite these assurances, concerns have surfaced about the potential impacts of exploiting 16 Psyche’s wealth.
Economists and commentators warn that flooding Earth’s markets with its metals could collapse global economies, rendering precious metals like gold nearly worthless due to oversupply.
More alarmingly, some fear that altering the asteroid’s orbit or mining it could pose catastrophic risks.
A miscalculation could send fragments toward Earth, with even a 300-meter fragment potentially causing regional devastation, as seen in historical impacts like the 66-million-year-old Chicxulub event that wiped out the dinosaurs.
The mission, propelled by SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, will use a Mars flyby in 2026 to slingshot toward Psyche.
Scientists like Lindy Elkins-Tanton, leading the mission, stress its goal is to unlock secrets of the solar system’s formation, not to mine the asteroid.
However, the private sector’s growing interest in asteroid mining, with technology only 5-10 years from viability, raises questions about future risks.
“The technologies need to be advanced, but what’s lacking is funding,” said planetary physicist Philip Metzger.
MK Party demands arrest of police minister and deputy commissioner after General Mkhwanazi ‘s explosive claims
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has issued a bold and urgent call for the arrest of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, following damning allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
In a strongly worded statement, the MK Party applauded Mkhwanazi for what it described as his “relentless commitment to truth and justice.”
The party maintains that Mkhwanazi’s revelations expose a high-level criminal syndicate within the police ranks, implicating both Mchunu and Sibiya in what it claims amounts to a deliberate sabotage of the Political Killings Task Team.
According to Mkhwanazi’s explosive press briefing, over 120 sensitive dockets were removed from the task team under suspicious circumstances, allegedly on orders from senior leadership.
The MK Party insists that this constitutes obstruction of justice and demands that criminal charges be brought against both Mchunu and Sibiya within 24 hours. Failure to act, they warn, will further erode public confidence and reinforce perceptions of political interference within SAPS.
“The nation cannot afford to look away while the very people entrusted with ensuring justice are accused of shielding killers and collapsing investigations,” the party’s statement read.
It also placed pressure on National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola and Mkhwanazi himself to act decisively, stating that the integrity of the entire criminal justice system is now at stake.
The MK Party’s stance adds to the intensifying political fallout following Mkhwanazi’s allegations, which have already prompted calls for a parliamentary inquiry and stoked fierce debate over the politicisation of police operations.
Renowned forensic consultant Paul O’Sullivan has called for the immediate removal of KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, accusing him of undermining the stability of South Africa’s police leadership.
Speaking during a live interview on Newzroom Afrika on Sunday, 6 July, O’Sullivan did not hold back, saying, “I want to see that man fall, the sooner the better.”
His comments come just hours after Mkhwanazi made explosive claims at a media briefing, accusing senior government officials of interfering with investigations into political killings.
Mkhwanazi alleged that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya were among those who disrupted the work of the Political Killings Task Team.
According to the commissioner, more than 120 case dockets were removed earlier this year, compromising investigations into politically linked murders in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. He claimed that high-profile suspects were being shielded from justice, suggesting that there was a coordinated effort to collapse the task team’s work.
O’Sullivan, known for his anti-corruption advocacy, questioned Mkhwanazi’s motives and criticised the manner in which he went public with his claims. He described the commissioner’s briefing in which Mkhwanazi wore Special Task Force fatigues and was flanked by armed officers as an alarming display, suggesting it could be interpreted as a threat to constitutional order.
While some viewers interpreted O’Sullivan’s remarks as accusing Mkhwanazi of plotting a coup, he did not directly make such a claim. However, he warned that the optics of the briefing raised red flags and warranted serious scrutiny.
The dramatic standoff between the two high-profile figures has added to growing public concern over instability within the SAPS.
Minister Mchunu has since dismissed the allegations as baseless and “irresponsible,” while President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office has acknowledged the matter as one of “grave national security concern.”.
Mbalula blasts KZN police chief for “reckless” public allegations
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has lashed out at KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for taking internal grievances into the public domain.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with eNCA, Mbalula described Mkhwanazi’s recent press briefing where he accused senior officials, including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, of interfering in investigations as “bordering on lawlessness” and a serious breach of police discipline.
Mbalula argued that the commissioner’s public approach to such sensitive claims undermines the integrity and credibility of the South African Police Service. “This is not how you handle matters of this nature,” he said, emphasising that while the substance of Mkhwanazi’s allegations may warrant investigation, the method in which they were aired was reckless and improper. He stressed that such matters should be addressed through formal, internal structures, not media briefings.
The backlash comes after Mkhwanazi alleged that over 120 political killings case dockets had been removed from a dedicated task team, claiming high-level interference.
Social media platform was abuzz following Mbalula’s interview, with many users backing his call for internal accountability, while others questioned whether the ANC is more concerned about optics than justice. Speculation is also mounting over whether Mkhwanazi could face suspension for what some view as insubordination.
The controversy has brought longstanding tensions between political leadership and the police into sharp focus, exposing deep divisions over how law enforcement interacts with political oversight.
