Why Has President Hakainde Decided to Stay at His Private Residence Instead of State House?
By Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma
For some time, many Zambians have been wondering why President Hakainde Hichilema has chosen to live in his private residence, known as “Community House,” instead of moving into State House—the official and traditional residence for Zambia’s sitting presidents. State House is not just a residence; it stands as a historical and symbolic home for Zambia’s leaders, a reminder of continuity, accountability, and unity. So, what is it about President Hakainde’s situation that makes him feel he should bypass this national legacy? Could this decision be interpreted as disregard for the symbolism and trust associated with the office? And, crucially, what does this choice mean for citizens who now find themselves funding the security for a private residence?
What is State House, and Why Does It Matter?
State House holds a special place in Zambia’s identity. It’s not simply an address; it’s a national institution, a public asset, and a symbol of democratic leadership. It’s where presidents have traditionally carried out their duties, hosted national events, and engaged with the public. Every Zambian citizen, regardless of their background, knows that State House represents the highest office in the land—a place where their president resides to conduct the business of the people.
By opting to stay at Community House, President Hichilema raises concerns about what this departure from tradition signifies. State House has long been equipped and maintained specifically for the president’s security, comfort, and official responsibilities. So, what makes the president bypass it for his private home? Is this decision an instance of personal preference taking priority over the integrity of the office? Many are left wondering if this move truly honors the office and respects the people of Zambia.
Who Bears the Cost of Securing Community House?
The choice to live outside State House raises an immediate question of security and financial responsibility. State House is a secure, fortified location, optimized over decades for the president’s safety. But with President Hichilema staying at Community House, significant resources must now be diverted to secure a private residence. This includes deploying additional security personnel, potentially upgrading infrastructure, and even extending monitoring measures in the surrounding neighborhood to meet security standards.
But here’s the key question: should Zambian citizens bear the cost of securing a private residence when a perfectly secure and official one is readily available? At a time when many citizens are facing economic challenges, allocating state funds to secure a private home feels like an undue burden on taxpayers—one that many argue could easily be avoided by using State House, which is already secured and budgeted for.
Is This Setting a New Precedent?
President Hichilema’s decision could set a worrying precedent for future leaders. If the current president can live at a private residence and still demand state-funded security, what prevents future leaders from doing the same? This could result in each successive president claiming separate security arrangements for their own private homes, which would be neither sustainable nor financially responsible.
If this becomes standard practice, it could lead to a fragmentation of executive security and resources, weakening the institution of the presidency and potentially diluting the symbolic power of State House. State House exists as a centralized place for the president to govern, but if that tradition erodes, so too could the sense of stability and unity it represents.
The Need for Transparency and Accountability
Zambians deserve to know the reasoning behind this unconventional choice, particularly when it moves away from long-standing tradition. Transparency in governance is critical, and this includes explaining major decisions that impact public resources and national symbols. While any president might have personal preferences, public service requires a commitment to the responsibilities and traditions that come with the role.
When a leader makes a choice that affects the nation as a whole, citizens deserve a clear explanation. Staying outside of State House might come across as a personal preference that overlooks the symbolic and practical functions of the office. By residing at State House, a president not only upholds tradition but also reinforces their commitment to serving the people with full transparency, accessibility, and respect for the office.
Does This Reflect a Disregard for National Symbols?
State House is more than a grand building; it is an emblem of Zambia’s democratic journey, a place that unites the country under one leader. By choosing not to reside there, President Hichilema might unintentionally suggest that he holds this national institution in low regard. State House was not created simply for convenience—it was established as an enduring symbol of our shared leadership and national unity.
When a president chooses a private home over State House, it may prompt citizens to question what other elements of Zambian heritage and responsibility could be overlooked. Symbols matter, and when a leader resides in the people’s house, they show respect not only for tradition but for the Zambian people themselves.
A Call for Consideration and Clarity
The choice of residence for any sitting president is more than a matter of personal comfort; it’s a public decision with implications for security, national unity, and financial responsibility. President Hichilema’s decision may have valid reasons, but it is crucial that he communicates these to the public. Clarity on this issue would affirm his commitment to transparency and ensure citizens understand the implications of such a significant choice.
In the end, while personal comfort is understandable, a president’s duty to the office and the people must take precedence. Residing in State House not only aligns with the dignity and respect of the office but also symbolizes the unity and trust between the president and the nation. State House is not merely a place to live—it is a national asset, a home for every sitting president, and a place that belongs to all Zambians.
Why Has President Hakainde Decided to Stay at His Private Residence Instead of State House?- Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma
Lusaka woman kicks out lazy hubby who couldn’t pay rent
Lusaka woman kicks out lazy hubby who couldn’t pay rent
WITH the bible assigning a man as a provider of the home, a 42-year-old woman of Chaisa compund in Lusaka was forced to kick out her lazy and playful husband who started failing to pay rentals in their matrimonial home.
Magret Zulu was dragged to the the Matero Local Court by her husband of 19 years, Lameck Zulu, 45 for divorce on grounds that she chased him out of their home in 2022.
The couple has been married since 2005, blessed with three children, and have been on separation for two years.
In his statement, Lameck said the couple only lived well together for 12 years of their marriage, and started having marital disputes that led to their separation.
“We started having problems until she chased me in March 2022 from our house because I was not able to pay rentals. But after I left, she still continued to follow me where I shifted to shout at me. I’m here to get a divorce so she can leave me in peace,” said Lameck.
But in her defence, Magaret said the fall of the couple’s marriage started in 2018 after Lameck, who is a truck driver got a job that would allow him to cross borders from Zambia to Malawi.
She narrated that instead of using the job to better his family’s wellbeing, Lameck used the opportunity to play around at the border, forcing his employers to fail to pay him.
“His boss called and told me that my husband just plays around at the border so he was not getting paid and that affected our living. I had to take up the responsibility of paying rentals until I also started failing. My landlord ended up calling me a crook because I would always give him excuses that my husband would pay, and he never.
She said that later on, she heard that lazy Lameck had married another woman. This forced her to chase him from the house where she was forced to keep their three children alone.
“He later came and got our first daughter who is 14 without my permission and started living with her in a one roomed house where he lives with his new wife. My daughter is writing her grade seven exams and I do not think such an environment is healthy for her,” Margaret complained.
And in passing judgement, Magistrate Harriet Mulenga did not delay as both parties said they no longer loved each other or none wanted to be reconciled.
“Divorce granted. Plaintiff to compensate the defendant with K10,000. The custody of all the three children had been granted to the mother and shall be maintained by the father with K1,000, subject to review yearly,” said Magistrate Mulenga..
By Buumba Mwitumwa
Kalemba November 5, 2024
UPND WILL PROTECT TANKER DRIVERS, VOWS MWIINDE
UPND WILL PROTECT TANKER DRIVERS, VOWS MWIINDE
The UPND has and will always keep working towards the protection of the interests and promotion of the welfare of tanker and dangerous goods drivers, UPND deputy Youth Chairperson for Political Affairs, Trevor Mwiinde has assured the Zambia Union of Tanker Drivers Association and Allied Workers-ZUTADAW.
Shortly after a round table engagement with a contingent of the rank and file from the association, Mr Mwiinde said the UPND, having been ushered into office on the premise of, among others, the welfare of tanker drivers, remains committed to actualizing its promise.
Mwiinde said he was aware of the various challenges that tanker drivers were facing and that his office would ensure that such issues were conclusively addressed.
“We as the UPND remains committed and resolved to uphold the promises that we made during the 2021 general elections campaigns when we assured tanker drivers of our unwavering support. We are aware of the various challenges that truck drivers face. One of the major challenges tanker drivers and drivers of dangerous goods face is one were foreign nationals are employed by oil marketing companies at the expense of experienced tanker drivers. We are also alive to heightened abuse of tanker drivers in the work places,” remarked Mwiinde.
He said in order to address the issues bordering on foreign nationals being accorded preferential treatment at the expense of Zambian tanker drivers, Mr Mwiinde said his office would engage the Immigration Department and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“We are also aware that some companies have been formulating prohibitive conditions of service for their workers. These conditions have made it very difficult for most tanker drivers to earn a decent wage. This too, will be looked into conclusively. And because we understand the stress that Zambian tanker drivers go through as a result of these unfavourable conditions of service, we will ensure that they are treated with dignity,” assured Mwiinde.
He warned foreign investors to desist from using their investment as a vehicle to abuse and maltreat Zambian drivers.
“We wish to warn foreigners who are in the habit of using their investment as a weapon for mistreating Zambians. Much as we appreciate the investment, the same should not be used to abuse and mistreat or abuse Zambians,” warned Mwiinde.
UPND MEDIA TEAM
A Bad Carpenter Always Blames His Tools: A Case of President Hakainde Hichilema’s Search for Truth Amid Zambia’s Challenges
A Bad Carpenter Always Blames His Tools: A Case of President Hakainde Hichilema’s Search for Truth Amid Zambia’s Challenges
By Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma
President Hakainde Hichilema’s recent approach to leadership has left Zambians with more questions than answers. As he moves from one traditional ceremony to another, he claims that these visits are his way of “connecting with the people” to hear their concerns directly. This assertion implies that those in Lusaka—his advisors and officials—are failing to communicate the nation’s hardships truthfully. But increasingly, Zambians are seeing this narrative as a diversion tactic, a way to sidestep responsibility for the country’s pressing challenges.
The proverb “a bad carpenter blames his tools” perfectly encapsulates this strategy. By suggesting that his team is withholding the “truth,” President Hichilema is shifting accountability from himself to others. True leadership demands that a president confront issues head-on, acknowledge mistakes, and make difficult decisions. Instead, President Hichilema seems to imply that his administration’s missteps are not his responsibility but rather the fault of his advisors. But governance is not about passing blame—it’s about owning responsibility.
Governance Demands Strong Leadership, Not Excuses
At the core of effective governance is a leader’s ability to make bold, decisive choices based on reliable information. President Hichilema’s statements raise serious concerns about his trust in his own team—the very people he appointed to help him steer Zambia toward progress. If he feels that he cannot rely on his officials, then the dysfunction runs much deeper than just communication; it reveals a breakdown in the very structure of his administration.
As the Commander-in-Chief, President Hichilema has the power to demand accurate, timely information. Advisors, ministries, and government departments are all at his disposal. If his “pipeline of truth” is broken, it’s up to him—not his officials—to address it. Real leadership means holding the reins, not sitting back while passing blame down the line. Deflecting responsibility only highlights weak leadership and erodes public confidence in the government’s capacity to act.
Symbolism Cannot Replace Action
While attending traditional ceremonies might be seen as goodwill gestures, goodwill is not a substitute for action. The people of Zambia do not need symbolic gestures; they need concrete policies to address the clear issues they face daily—rising costs of living, unemployment, limited healthcare access, and economic instability. These issues have been known for years. They do not require endless listening tours; they require real solutions.
By framing his ceremonial appearances as a search for “truth,” President Hichilema risks turning these events into mere political theater. His duty is to the Zambian people, not to craft an image of a leader in touch with their struggles while failing to address those struggles. Leaders who are committed to action do not rely on endless rounds of listening sessions; they address the issues, apply solutions, and hold their teams accountable. Without real follow-up, this “engagement” feels hollow and risks being seen as little more than an attempt to buy time or divert attention.
True Accountability Begins at the Top
Real leadership begins with owning responsibility, even when the path is difficult. When things go wrong, a leader does not scapegoat his team; he steps up and corrects course. By repeatedly implying that his team in Lusaka is at fault for the administration’s lack of progress, President Hichilema risks appearing more interested in political maneuvering than in solving the problems facing Zambia.
Zambians need a leader who is willing to confront the hard truths, accept accountability, and drive change. Instead of blaming his team, the President should focus on empowering them to act swiftly and effectively on behalf of the nation. Leaders earn respect by taking responsibility, not by shifting it. Passing the buck may protect a leader’s image in the short term, but it only serves to erode public trust in the long run. Zambia deserves a leader who takes action and drives results, not one who blames his inner circle.
Conclusion: Moving from Rhetoric to Tangible Results
The President’s “listening tour” from one ceremony to the next raises serious questions about his administration’s commitment to actual progress. If President Hichilema truly wanted to address the people’s struggles, he would not need to move from ceremony to ceremony searching for the “truth.” Zambians are clear about their challenges; they don’t need to keep repeating them. What they need is action, policy, and leadership that delivers.
Blaming his team in Lusaka not only falls short of the standards of genuine leadership but also weakens the administration’s credibility. Zambians deserve a leader who does not hide behind excuses but instead uses every resource at his disposal to bring about meaningful change. Leadership is about solving problems, not shirking responsibility.
The tools to address Zambia’s challenges are within the President’s reach. Rather than casting blame, he should wield them with purpose and resolve. Zambia needs a president who builds solutions, not excuses. It’s time to leave symbolic gestures behind and commit to the hard work of governing—a task that demands strength, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to the people.
ECONOMIC DECLINE AND POLITICAL UPHEAVAL: LESSONS FROM BOTSWANA FOR ZAMBIA’S 2026 GENERAL ELECTIONS
ECONOMIC DECLINE AND POLITICAL UPHEAVAL: LESSONS FROM BOTSWANA FOR ZAMBIA’S 2026 GENERAL ELECTIONS
Botswana’s recent political shift serves as a stark example of how economic challenges can dramatically alter a country’s political landscape, offering important lessons for nations like Zambia as they approach critical elections amid economic turmoil.
BOTSWANA’S ECONOMIC DECLINE AND POLITICAL UPHEAVAL
Botswana, long considered an African success story, has recently experienced a significant economic downturn that culminated in a surprising political transition. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which had ruled since independence in 1966, lost its parliamentary majority in the 2024 elections, marking the end of one of Africa’s longest continuous rules by a single party.
ECONOMIC FACTORS BEHIND THE SHIFT
- Diamond Market Contraction: Botswana’s economy, heavily reliant on diamond exports, faced a severe slowdown due to a global diamond market downturn. Diamond exports, which account for nearly 90% of goods exports, declined by a third in 2023[9].
- GDP Growth Deceleration: Economic growth slowed from 5.5% in 2022 to 2.7% in 2023, falling below the long-run potential growth of 4%.
- Unemployment: The unemployment rate surged to over 27%, with even higher rates among youth.
- Inflation: While inflation had declined to 3% in the second quarter of 2024, down from 6.1% in the same period of 2023, the overall economic situation remained challenging.
- Foreign Exchange Reserves: Despite lower diamond exports, foreign exchange reserves increased in 2023, supported by higher customs union receipts. However, they were estimated at P62 billion in June 2024, a 6.2% decrease from June 2023.
ZAMBIA’S ECONOMIC PREDICAMENT
Zambia is currently facing severe economic challenges that mirror some of Botswana’s recent experiences:
- GDP Growth: Zambia’s economic growth is projected at just 1.2% for 2024, down from an earlier estimate of 2.3%.
- Inflation: The country is experiencing increasing inflation due to currency depreciation, rising food and fuel prices, and hikes in administrative prices.
- Debt Burden: Zambia is grappling with a high public debt, limiting fiscal space and increasing vulnerability to external shocks.
- Unemployment: The unemployment rate in Zambia has surged to nearly 28%, with rates for young people approaching 38%.
- Currency Depreciation: The Zambian Kwacha fell 10.9% against the US dollar between January and August 2024.
LESSONS FOR ZAMBIA’S 2026 GENERAL ELECTIONS
The Botswana case study offers several key lessons for Zambia as it approaches its 2026 elections:
- Economic Performance as a Political Determinant: The BDP’s loss in Botswana demonstrates that even long-standing ruling parties can be ousted if they fail to address economic challenges effectively.
- Importance of Economic Diversification: Botswana’s over-reliance on the diamond sector contributed to its economic vulnerabilities. Zambia, heavily dependent on copper exports, faces similar risks and needs to prioritize economic diversification.
- Youth Unemployment as a Critical Issue: High youth unemployment was a significant factor in Botswana’s political shift. With Zambia facing similar challenges, addressing youth employment could be crucial for political stability.
- Public Perception of Economic Management: The Botswana electorate’s dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of economic challenges played a key role in the election outcome. Zambian politicians will need to present credible economic plans to win voter confidence.
- Impact of Global Economic Trends: Both Botswana and Zambia’s economies are vulnerable to global commodity price fluctuations. The ability to navigate these external pressures could be a key factor in the 2026 Zambian elections.
CONCLUSION
The Botswana case demonstrates how economic degradation can lead to significant political change, even in countries with long-standing political stability. As Zambia approaches its 2026 elections, the government and opposition parties alike must recognize the critical importance of addressing economic challenges to maintain political support. The outcome of Zambia’s upcoming election may well hinge on which party can present the most convincing plan for economic recovery and diversification.
Zambian policymakers and political leaders would do well to heed the lessons from Botswana, recognizing that economic performance can be a decisive factor in shaping electoral outcomes. As Zambia grapples with its economic challenges, the ability to offer concrete solutions to issues like unemployment, inflation, and economic diversification may prove crucial in determining the country’s political future.
Sources
[1] IMF Executive Board Concludes 2024 Article IV Consultation with … https://www.imf.org/…/pr-24321-botswana-imf-executive…
[2] Botswana Voters Hand Governing Party a Stunning Rebuke https://www.nytimes.com/…/botswana-election-results.html
[3] Botswana Country Report 2024 – BTI Transformation Index https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/BWA
[4] Zambia Economy – October 2024 Update | ZambiaInvest https://www.zambiainvest.com/economy/
[5] [PDF] Monetary Policy Report – August 2024 – Bank of Botswana https://www.bankofbotswana.bw/…/Monetary%20Policy…
[6] [PDF] 2024 Zambia Budget Bulletin Final 12:58.pptx – PwC https://www.pwc.com/…/pwc-zambia-budget-bulletin-2024.pdf
[7] How Masisi’s party misread Botswana mood and lost ‘massively’ https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/…/how-masisi-s-party…
[8] IMF Staff Completes Mission to Zambia https://www.imf.org/…/pr24374-zambia-imf-staff…
[9] Botswana: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release and Staff … https://www.elibrary.imf.org/…/286/article-A001-en.xml
Zambezi East MP Brian Kambita reports Bowman Lusambo to Police for obtaining K850,000 on the pretense of selling a house
Lusambo tricks Zambezi east MP into paying K850,000 for seized house
IT seems former Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo is sinking deeper and deeper into troubled legal waters courtesy of dubious dealings.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/FTi4kkLdk2W6o5Xe/?mibextid=oFDknk
Lusambo or the Bulldozer as he is known in the political circles has ploughed himself into a sticky situation after allegedly tricking Zambezi East UPND MP Brian Kambita into paying K850,000 for a house that was already seized by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
He reportedly pocketed the money but failed to deliver the title deeds and keys to the house in Silverest, instead offering excuses.
However, when his stories ran out, Lusambo confessed to Kambita that the house had indeed been seized by the ACC.
Kambita, understandably angry, reported Lusambo to the authorities, and the Zambia Police Service has confirmed receiving a report of obtaining money on false pretenses against Lusambo.
According to Rae Hamoonga, the Zambia Police Service spokesperson, Kambita lodged a complaint against Lusambo at Woodlands Police Station on October 15, 2024, for swindling him out of K850, 000 on the pretext that he had a house for sale in Silverest gardens, Plot No. 28473/M, Subdivision A288.
The alleged transaction occurred between August 23, 2024, around 12:00 hours, and September 12, 2024, around 14:00 hours in Lusaka.
It is reported that that Lusambo decided to beat ACC at a game of seizure by luring the law maker into purchasing the property.
Lusambo enticed the law maker to purchase his house which has modern fittings prized at K850, 000, and showed him beautiful pictures of the property which were in the photo gallery of his mobile phone.
Kambita who marveled at the pictures of the house proposed that he views the house and Lusambo gladly took him there.
Upon reaching Silverest, Kambita only had sight of the exterior appearance and design and when he requested to see the interior, Lusambo claimed the house was occupied by his older brother who had locked it, as he was on the Copperbelt.
In disregard of media reports that Lusambo’s houses in Silverest were under Seizure by the ACC who suspect that they are proceeds of crime, Kambita made a down payment of K400, 000 on August 23, 2024 to secure the property.
Six weeks ago the law maker completed the transaction and paid Lusambo the final installment of K450,000.00 on September 12, 2024, and subsequently a contract of sale was drafted, and Kambita was assured that the title of ownership would be transferred to his name in due course.
Despite several reminders to have the property transferred into his name Kambita was informed that the property was not cleared of graft suspicion by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and could not be legally sold, as it was a subject of criminal proceedings before the Economic and Financial Crimes Court.
To soften Kambita, the Bulldozer gave him two tittle deeds which did not bear Kambita’s name.
In the pursuit of having the property transferred to him Kambita discovered that Lusambo had cheated him, as he had sold the property to another member of parliament in a similar manner which led him to bring the matter to the public by reporting Lusambo to the police.
Hamoonga said a docket had been opened and investigations have been instituted in the case.
“The Zambia Police Service wishes to remind the public to exercise caution in all property transactions and to ensure that proper due diligence and verification of ownership are conducted before making any financial commitments,” said Hamoonga.
Recently the Lusaka High Court ordered Lusambo to repay another land client James Kayula whom he defrauded K560, 000, claiming he had to pieces of land for sale.
By Mwaka Ndawa
Kalemba November 4, 2024.
CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS MR THOMAS SIADUNKA WHO LOST 23 ANIMALS BY THE RAINS IN KALOMO DISTRICT.
CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS MR THOMAS SIADUNKA WHO LOST 23 ANIMALS BY THE RAINS IN KALOMO DISTRICT.
1. Hon Smart Muwele = 1 cow
2. Eugine Hamatowe= K40
3. Misheck Kabika= K50
4. Daniel Siatwinda= K20
5. Mwansa Muleya= K50
6. Mudzime Kakompe= K50
7. Lyness Mukalatie= K53
8. Pamela Ncube= K50
9. Midia Muloongo= K40
10. Mainza Syazyombo = K10.
11. Ernest Chibwelu=K 105
12. Getrude Bwalya= K25
13. Crody Nsimbi= K100
14. Hon Edgar Siakachoma = K2,500
15. Rodwell Chembo= K20
16. Himoonga Mungolo= K30
17. Botty Mwaanga= K50
18. Rayton Munengo= K100
19. Robert Mukuwa= K30
20. Choonga Carister= K100
21. Cray Siangandu= K500
22. Munyumbwe Maxwell= K105
23. Caroline Mbanga=K70
24. Boswel Siakasuke= K50
25. Chilima Hamuyube= K30
26. Janet Tembo=K100
27. Obby Matambo= K50
28. Client Siamungwebe= K30
29. Osward Malumo= K35
30. Lucky Mudenda=K50
31. Lewis Chisengele=K100
32. Peter Chidakwani= K100
33. Bobby Hangoma= K100
34. Maybin Mudenda= K50
35. Lent Samende= K23
36. Francis Phiri= K20
37. Isaac Mwape=K50
38. Chantry Mweemba= K500
39. Ethel Mbandama= K25
40. Daniel Sisamu= K50
41. Bowen Mooya= K15
42. Pirate Siakalyamali=K 30
43. Even Simasiku = K25
44. Lushomo Syulikwa= K15
45. Lavein Miyanda= K25
46. Joe Simonze= K30
47. Malambo Fines= K1000
48. Patrick Milambo= K100
49. Brian Jolezya= K53
50. Kelly Mujuku= K50
51. Innocent Gandula= K22
52. Maambo Maluba(Mweebo farm)= K500
53. Mrs Kalatambala= K50
54. Beauty Musokotwani= K30
55. Aulsen Siamaimbo= K50
56. Humphry Chilima= K22.50
57. Alias Senke= K50
58. Mrs Sibwaalu= K100
59. Claytone Mungaila=K 10
60. Mrs Sitimela=K50
61. Tobias Mazai =K50
62. Honest Siamalonda= K50
63. Rebeck Sibalwa= K20
64. Hazele Nabweengwa= K30
65. Webter Hamoonga= K50
66. Kalanje Mapenzi=K20
67. Mostern Dibula=K30
68. Happy Munkombwe =K50
69. Daniel Mafwabo=K100
70. Emmanuel Phiri= K50
71. Israel Meenda= K20
72. Fines Chinkusu= K100
73. Trust Muvwanga=K100
74. Doubt Simuchenje =K50
75. Jackson Hamoonga=K50
76. Angela Chipako=K40
77. Linah Mukokili=K100
78. Edward Moonga=K200
79. Purity Sikayamba= K20
80. Clara Mukwanka=K100
81. Milimo Simachenya=K100
82. Lillian Munkombwe=K50
83. Berry Mudenda=K105
84. Joe Masongozi= K150
85. Jack Hachoombwe= K100
Let us keep on contributing and the number to use is 0979206866 Clay Mweetwa. God bless you.
Cassie’s Lawyer Says Diddy’s Request For Gag Order Is ‘Inappropriate’
Diddy and his lawyers have been pushing for a gag order against both his alleged victims and their attorneys in the mogul’s federal sex trafficking and racketeering case, and now they have opposition from not just the government, but also the attorney for Cassie Ventura.
Cassie, whose lawsuit against Diddy in November of last year kickstarted a slew of lawsuits and a federal investigation against him, was represented in that suit by Douglas H. Wigdor. On Friday (November 1), Judge Arun Subramanian received a letter from Wigdor that he had written just days before.
In his letter, Wigdor says that Diddy’s motion, which would “prohibit[] further extrajudicial statements from prospective witnesses and their lawyers” — meaning anyone who accuses Diddy of sexual misconduct, as it is at least possible they could become a witness in the criminal case — would “inappropriately silence victims.”
“To now order our clients to be completely silent about what they experienced would be an affront to their bravery and would be detrimental to other victims of sexual violence who remain afraid to come forward,” wrote Wigdor, who, in addition to leading the charge for Ventura last year, currently represents one anonymous accuser who claims she was attacked by Diddy in 2003.
The attorney goes on to say that requesting potential witnesses stay silent is “particularly inappropriate” given public statements made by Diddy’s family and lawyers. He cites, among other statements, an Instagram post last month by Diddy’s family that said: “Many have judged both him and us based on accusations, conspiracy theories, and false narratives.”
HipHopDX reached out to Diddy’s representatives for comment about Wigdor’s letter, but they were not immediately available.
Cassie’s suit against Diddy last year accused the Bad Boy mogul of a long list of crimes, including rape, sex trafficking, and physical abuse.
The filing also claimed that he “forced Ms. Ventura to engage in sex acts with male sex workers while masturbating and filming the encounters,” as well as forced her to carry a handgun even though she felt uncomfortable with doing so. Finally, she claimed that Diddy plied her with drugs and alcohol, triggering a substance abuse problem.
Cassie claimed the aforementioned acts took place over the course of their nearly decade-long relationship, with the violence continuing to escalate with each passing year.
Amongst the myriad of accusations was Cassie’s accusation that Diddy (real name Sean Combs) allegedly blew up Kid Cudi‘s car during Paris Fashion Week. According to Cassie, she briefly had an affair with the “Day ‘n’ Nite” rapper in 2011, when she and Diddy were going through what she called a “rough patch.”
When the pair reunited, Diddy allegedly found some emails between Kid Cudi and Cassie, and grew progressively angry about the prospect, until things came to a violent end.
“In February 2012, during Paris Fashion Week, Mr. Combs told Ms. Ventura that he was going to blow up Kid Cudi’s car, and that he wanted to ensure that Kid Cudi was home with his friends when it happened. Around that time, Kid Cudi’s car exploded in his driveway,” page 20 of the filing alleged.
Botswana’s politician who did the unthinkable
Confident and well-mannered, Botswana’s new President Duma Boko carries the traits of a highly trained human rights lawyer.
The 54-year-old’s thoughtful, fluent sentences speak of his legal education first in Botswana and then at Harvard Law School in the US.
And despite being humble in victory, the fact that he won the presidency at the third time of asking reveals a single-minded ambition.
For more than 50 years opposition politicians have dreamt of unseating the mighty Botswana Democratic Party, but only Boko has made that a reality.
The crushing manner of the victory of his Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) party came as a surprise, including it seems to Boko himself, who admitted being shocked by the numbers.
But, dressed in his signature dark blue suit, he did not gloat or celebrate wildly in his first comments to the media on Friday when the scale of his win became clear.
“I can only pledge to [the people] that I will do my very best. Where I fail and fault, I will look to them for guidance,” he said.
Boko captivated the nation going through difficult economic times with promises of change, employment and government stipends.
“People fell in love with him and this is the result,” journalist Innocent Selatlhwa told the BBC’s Focus on Africa podcast.
Throughout his campaign, at rallies Boko would ask supporters to come closer and listen to their grievances in a way that made him appealing to young people, the journalist added. Boko was serious, but always engaging and friendly.
He also ruled out running as a member of parliament and put all his efforts into becoming president – a bold move, according to Selatlhwa.
Born in 1969, in the country’s Central District, in the small town of Mahalapye, Boko always had a sense of respect, according to relatives.
“He was so fixated with doing the right thing. His sense of justice ran deep,” his aunt told a local newspaper.
During his time in school, he was elected president of the student council.
In his legal career, he emerged as one of the country’s top lawyers, according to political analyst Lesole Machacha.
Passionate about knowledge and education, Boko always has a strong grasp on current affairs and issues in Botswana, Mr Machacha told the BBC.
“He is serious about fixing the country,” he added.
He became the leader of the Botswana National Front (BNF) in 2010, which used to have more “communist ideals”, said Mr Machaha, but the party has since tacked towards the centre.
But frustrated by the years of opposition defeat, Boko pioneered the creation of an alliance of the parties opposed to the government and the UDC was born.
He came under fire over a decade ago when he described the academic staff at the University of Botswana as “useless”, despite being a former lecturer.
Many people took this as a dig at the country’s education system.
When he was confronted about this by a journalist on the South African news channel eNCA he responded: “The truth hurts.”
Earlier this month, his wife Kaone Boko told the Mmegi newspaper that her husband was principled to the point of stubbornness.
“He does not back down from a fight; no matter how big the enemy is,” she said.
A clue perhaps to how he managed to stay the course and see off one of Africa’s most successful political parties.
Citizens throw mud on King and Queen of Spain and call them “k!llers” following de@dly floods
A mob of angry flood victims hurled handfuls of mud and rocks at the king and queen of Spain on Sunday, Nov. 3, as the pair visited a region ravaged by the nation’s deadliest natural disaster in memory.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were attacked while traveling to Valencia, the epicenter of last week’s nightmarish flash floods that left at least 205 dead.
“K!llers!” the crowd shouted at the royals in the town of Paiporta, incensed at what they say has been too slow and too little of a government response to the disaster.
“Get out! Get out!” they screamed.
Citizens throw mud on King and Queen of Spain and call them “k!llers” following de@dly floods (video)
Bodyguards opened umbrellas to protect the royals and other officials from the mud thrown at them. Cops had to step in, several on horseback, to keep back the crowd of several dozen, some wielding shovels and poles.
Two of the official group’s bodyguards were injured, including one seen gushing blood from his forehead, according to Spain’s national broadcaster.
King Felipe, with flecks of mud on his face, still insisted on trying to speak with people. He patted two young men on their backs and shared a quick embrace, with mud stains on his black raincoat.
Citizens throw mud on King and Queen of Spain and call them “k!llers” following de@dly floods (video)
The queen had small glops of mud on her hands and arms as she spoke to women.
“We don´t have any water,” one woman told her. Queen Letizia broke into tears sympathetically after speaking to several people, including a woman who wept in her arms.
Citizens throw mud on King and Queen of Spain and call them “k!llers” following de@dly floods (video)
Officials rushed Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez from the violent scene.
The monarchs and officials called off another stop Sunday at a second hard-hit village, Chiva, about half an hour to the east of Valencia city.
The natural disaster killed at least 205 people in eastern Spain.
The deluge of debris tossed at the monarchs came as Spaniards have been lashing out against their government, which appears overwhelmed and unable to meet the needs of its more than 48 million people.
Citizens throw mud on King and Queen of Spain and call them “k!llers” following de@dly floods (video)
Angry residents shouting at the king
In addition to the debris attacks, a woman smacked an official car with an umbrella and another kicked it before it sped off. Many people still don’t have drinking water five days after the floods struck. Internet and mobile phone coverage remains patchy. Most people only got power back on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Iran student str!ps and walks around in underwear in apparent protest of strict hijab laws
A female college student was arrested in Iran this weekend for stripping down and strutting around campus in her underwear in apparent protest over allegedly being assaulted for not wearing a hijab.
A now-viral video shows the young woman in a bra and panties in the courtyard of Tehran’s Azad University.
Other footage released later shows her being shoved by men into a car and being driven away.
The unidentified student was protesting security forces who had ripped her clothing earlier while confronting her for not wearing a headscarf, which Iranian law demands for all women in public, Iran International reported.
After the woman stripped in protest, she was filmed from above sitting on a wall — with one man approaching her and making a phone call before casually walking away as bemused students looked on.
Iran student str!ps and walks around in underwear in apparent protest of strict hijab laws before being arrested
A university rep said, “Campus security intervened and handed the individual over to law enforcement authorities,” blaming the incident on “an indecent act by a student.”
An online student group claimed the woman also was ass@ulted during her arrest by plainclothes security forces, leaving her bleeding heavily after her head was struck, possibly against a pillar or the door of the car.
Iran student str!ps and walks around in underwear in apparent protest of strict hijab laws before being arrested
“Blood stains from the student were reportedly seen on the car’s tires,” the online groups said, according to Iran International.
She was taken to a police station and then admitted to a mental health facility, the report said.
The underwear-clad protester has already become an icon for those decrying the Islamic Republic’s brutal treatment of those defying its rules.
A key UN official shared concerns about the student’s arrest.
“I will be monitoring this incident closely, including the authorities’ response,” Mai Sato, the UN special monitor on human rights, wrote on X alongside a video of the incident.
Iranian law demands all women, Muslim or not, wear headscarves in public, and the government has ramped up enforcement of such laws since 2022, when Mahsa Amini died in custody after being arrested for hijab violations, sparking protests in which security forces killed more than 550 people and arrested thousands
NEVERS MUMBA HAS DEFECTED TO THE UPND…describes him as a liability to UPND – Gaston Sichilima
NEVERS MUMBA HAS DEFECTED TO THE UPND – SICHILIMA
…describes him as a liability to UPND….
…Nevers Mumba’s term as President expired in 2022…
Sunday 3rd Nov. 2024. Operation Save MMD leader Gaston Sichilima says New Hope MMD faction leader Dr. Nevers Mumba has only defected to the ruling UPND as there is no agreement signed between the two parties.
On Wednesday the UPND signed what they termed as an MOU with the New Hope MMD faction led by Dr. Mumba in Lusaka.
The signing in ceremony was attended by UPND President who is also Republican President, Hakainde Hichilema, and New Hope MMD faction leader Pastor Nevers Mumba among others.
Appearing on “The Pulse Nation” program on Millennium TV on Wednesday, Mr. Sichilima said that Pastor Mumba has no right to take the MMD anywhere because he is not the party leader and there is no provision in MMD Constitution for ‘wamuyayaya’ (enternity) or third term for the Party President.
“We as the genuine MMD would like to clarify that Pastor Mumba has no right whatsoever to take the MMD anywhere or represent it because he is not MMD President. He was elected in 2012 and his two terms ended on 25 May, 2022. To us in the MMD, he is a former party President”, Mr. Sichilima said.
The Operation Save MMD leader noted that “it is unfortunate that His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, the President of Republic of Zambia and the UPND allowed himself to be exposed in such a manner by trying to legalize the illegality of Dr. Mumba and ignoring loud voices of the majority genuine MMD members countrywide including the senior NEC members in Pastor Mumba’s faction who has petitioned the party to call for all inclusive free, fair and democratic intraparty elections up to the National Convention”.
He added that the MMD has a solid democratic constitution which cannot be amended in a boardroom meeting and President Hichilema should respect that.
“As far as we are concerned, it is only the National Convention or a full NEC meeting that can mandate the party to go into any MOU or alliance. This is so because that decision of MOU was made by our former party president, without input of the convention or full NEC meeting. So, we consider it null and void and brand it as a defection of Dr. Mumba together with his 7 supporters who are just opportunists seeking personal benefits from President Hichilema,” Mr. Sichilima added.
Mr. Sichilima affirmed that now the focus of the MMD was to organize it’s party Convention.
“Since the one who was a liability and blocking the growth of the party is gone into the UPND, we can now organize the long awaited convention so that we can rightfully claim our space as a party in Zambian politics to give proper checks and balances to the government”, Mr. Sichilima said.
He further called on President Hakainde Hichilema and UPND operatives to stop interfering in MMD affairs by using the Police force to disturb the party mobilization programs now that the UPND have openly taken and accepted Nevers Mumba as their member.
UPND, NEVERS MoU, HICHILEMA ASSURES NALUMANGO HER SEAT IS SAFE
UPND, NEVERS MoU, HICHILEMA ASSURES NALUMANGO HER SEAT IS SAFE
President Hakainde Hichilema has assured his Vice president Mutale Nalumango that she remains safe despite the coming in of Nevers Mumba.
The UPND today signed a political MoU with the Nevers Mumba led MMD.
Addressing the event which Nalumango and UPND Alliance partners attended, President Hichilema repeatedly said there was room for everybody. He said Nalumango must not worry as Dr Mumba will have a role he will play.
President Hichilema also assured MDC leader Felix Mutati who is also Minister of Science and Technology that his role was intact.
He appealed for calm and asked Nalumango, UPND members and Alliance partners to welcome Dr Mumba and his members.
There has been speculations that Hichilema is looking for a strong politician from the Northern part of the country who would run with him in 2026.
Sources say Nalumango has not been impressive such that he is not even usually delegated to represent the President instead Mulambo Haimbe do so.
Nalumango who is seen as loyal party member who has been with the party for a long time seems to be running out of steam. He can however not be dropped as he was elected as a running mate.
Zambian Eye Analyst says its very unlikely Hichilema will run with her in 2026. Hichilema has started his campaign for 2026 and is repositioning the people to help win his second term.
The situation however does not look good for him on the ground and he has been told. He really need some influential voice from the north.
Dr Mumba not only is he ambitious and strong which trait Hichilema does not like. He doesn’t like a person who could be of his level or better.
But Hichilema is in a desperate situation now like he was in 2016 where he opted to run with Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba leaving out his loyal long time Vice president Dr Canisius Banda hoping the former was going to help him amass votes in the north.
Zambian Eye,
‘We Are Reduced to Beggars’: Zimbabwean MPs Go Nine Months Without Basic Allowances
‘We Are Reduced to Beggars’: Zimbabwean MPs Go Nine Months Without Basic Allowances
Zimbabwean legislators have raised concerns about going nine months without receiving fuel and other allowances from the government, a situation they claim is leading to increased absenteeism in the National Assembly.
MPs Struggling Without Basic Allowances
During a Parliament session on Thursday, Rushinga MP Tendai Nyabani expressed frustration, saying members feel “reduced to beggars” due to the lack of allowances.
“We must not be begging as Members of Parliament,” he said, adding, “If we were promised to be given something, then it must come right on time.
Impact on Constituency Outreach
Nyabani shared that he couldn’t recall the last time he received travel or fuel allowances.
“For example, if we are getting travelling allowances, fuel, I cannot remember when we last received those allowances,” he added.
He emphasized how the delay in allowances is impacting their work.
“We are talking about allowances which allow us to go to our constituencies to reach out to our people. Should we continue begging!” he said.
Nyabani also mentioned that MPs have yet to receive their Constituency Development Funds (CDF), which are meant to support local projects.
“We want the whole country to know that the CDF amounting to US$50,000 that we were told and which we were supposed to be given has not yet been received,” he said.
Zimbabwean MPs Go Nine Months Without Basic Allowances
Marondera Central MP Caston Matewu echoed Nyabani’s concerns, noting that many MPs are skipping parliamentary sessions due to unpaid allowances.
“I want to stress that it has been nine months since we got our allowances. I am not sure about you (deputy speaker) but the Members of Parliament in this House have had nine months without any allowance. That is why you see this House is half empty. It is half empty because sometimes most of us are now going into business, which is really killing the work of this parliament because we need to survive and our families also need to survive,” Matewu said.
Deputy Speaker Tsitsi Gezi deferred her response, saying she would consult with the relevant offices before addressing the matter.
Man Steals Rental Car And Lies It Was Stolen With His Lobola Money
A Beitbridge man is in trouble after allegedly stealing a rental car and lying that it was stolen together with his lobola money.
Douglas Chinoona, 24, is facing serious charges after allegedly staging the elaborate heist to ship the whiteToyota Hilux GD6 out of the country.
Man Steals Rental Car And Lies It was Stolen With His Lobola Money
He had rented the pickup truck from Good To Go Car Rental for what he claimed was a lobola ceremony He told H-Metro that he left US$2,400 in the vehicle while spending a night at a Mabelreign lodge on his way to Murehwa, where he was supposedly set to pay bride price.
Chinoona claimed that he was jolted awake by a lodge staff member who informed him that two men had arrived, claiming to be sent by the car rental agency to retrieve the vehicle. After contacting the police, he reported the car as stolen, saying the thieves had made off with both the Toyota Hilux and his lobola money.
Good To Go Sets The Record Straight
Good To Go Car Rental issued a statement refuting Chinoona’s claims, accusing him of concocting the story to cover up a fraudulent scheme.
“Our attention has been drawn to an article where Chinoona alleges that our Toyota Hilux and his lobola money were stolen. In reality, Chinoona had devised a plan to sell the vehicle abroad. Our investigations, along with police from the Vehicle Theft Squad (VTS), reveal he staged the entire robbery and attempted to smuggle the car to Lusaka, Zambia.”
Further investigations revealed Chinoona, who had no actual lobola ceremony planned, had connived with a friend to illegally smuggle the car to Zambia, where it was to be sold.
Chinoona, who has since been arrested and remains in police custody, is now facing charges of vehicle theft and lying to police officials. The rental company condemned his actions, saying he intended to scam both them and law enforcement by fabricating an elaborate story involving the lobola ritual.
“Chinoona had neither money for lobola nor any plans for a ceremony,” the rental company confirmed. “This was a ploy to deceive us and the authorities.”
Mnangagwa’s third term chances legally “almost impossible” says Madhuku
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bid for a third term in office is facing “almost impossible” legal and political obstacles, according to renowned constitutional law expert Professor Lovemore Madhuku.
Mnangagwa’s current term ends in 2028, and his attempts to extend his rule have been met with resistance from various quarters, including Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is reportedly the frontrunner in the race to replace Mnangagwa.
In a recent media interview, Madhuku stated that while it is legally possible to pursue a third term, the process is extremely challenging.
It would require publishing a bill to amend the constitution, followed by a 90-day debate period for Zimbabweans to discuss and debate the proposal.
The bill would then need to secure a two-thirds majority in both the National Assembly and Senate, and finally, a national referendum would require a majority vote in favour.
This complex process makes it “almost impossible” for Mnangagwa to succeed in his third-term ambitions, Madhuku noted.
“It is almost impossible. Legally, yes, you can go through the steps. But once you know what those steps are, you realise that it is almost impossible,” Madhuku said.
“The steps will require a publication of the first bill where they seek to amend the constitution. You give Zimbabweans, generally 90 days to debate it. So, ordinary people will have to be debating it and saying it and so on within 90 day period.
“Thereafter, take it to parliament, it must get two thirds majority both in the National Assembly and Senate and thereafter there must be a referendum which we then vote a yes with a majority. Now, that also tells you that it will be very difficult.”
The push for a third term has already sparked intense debate and infighting within Zanu-PF, with some officials allegedly backing Chiwenga’s presidential aspirations.
The party’s recent conference in Bulawayo exposed deep divisions, with Mnangagwa loyalists forcing through a resolution calling for constitutional amendments to remove term limits.
However, Mnangagwa has publicly stated that he will not accept the recommendation, citing his role in drafting the constitution and his commitment to upholding its provisions.
The situation remains fluid, with many observing that the outcome will depend on negotiations among key stakeholders, including the military, which has significant influence in Zimbabwean politics.
Zanu-PF to splash cash on 174 cars
ZANU-PF, Zimbabwe’s ruling party, is set to make a significant investment in its transportation fleet, planning to purchase 174 new twin and single cab vehicles. This move, revealed in the party’s 2024 central committee report, comes at a time when Zimbabwe’s economy is facing severe challenges, and many citizens are experiencing escalating poverty.
The decision to expand the vehicle fleet follows a pattern of substantial spending by the party, particularly ahead of the contentious August 2023 elections, during which ZANU-PF reportedly acquired hundreds of vehicles and distributed at least 210 all-terrain cars to its parliamentary candidates. Sources indicate that the party has spent an astonishing US$200 million on luxury vehicles and related regalia, raising questions about the legitimacy and sustainability of its funding sources amid claims of financial instability within the party.
In the central committee report presented at its recent annual conference in Bulawayo, ZANU-PF outlined the need to refresh its vehicle fleet, stating, “The department of transport and social welfare submitted budgets for the acquisition of 175 new motor vehicles to the office of the secretary general for further perusal and action.” This acquisition aims to enhance the party’s operational capabilities and fulfill vehicle allocations for key members, including politburo members, provincial party officials, and the party’s various wings such as the women’s and youth leagues.
The report further notes that ZANU-PF will reallocate 54 recalled constituency vehicles to meet urgent requests from party provinces and other entities, following by-elections triggered by the recall of opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) lawmakers. ZANU-PF successfully regained a two-thirds majority in these by-elections.
As part of the planned updates to the fleet, the report recommends the disposal of 498 party vehicles, including 483 acquired between 2017 and 2018 and 15 Isuzu double cab vehicles from 2019. Notably, between October 2022 and August 2023, ZANU-PF received a total of 264 new vehicles, including luxury SUVs and double cabs, which were allocated to various party leaders.
The vehicle fleet has seen significant growth over the years, expanding from just 45 vehicles in 2017 to a total of 531 by last year, thanks in part to generous donations from party leadership, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who contributed 30 double cab vehicles in late 2021.
Critics of the party have raised concerns about the timing and scale of this new vehicle acquisition, especially as Zimbabwe grapples with economic decline and widespread hardship among its citizens. The ruling party’s focus on enhancing its transport capacity has sparked debates about priorities in governance, especially in light of pressing socio-economic challenges facing the nation.
Source – the standard
Floyd Mayweather risks losing his Bugatti, Ferrari due to breach of contract with a Nigerian company
A California court has ordered legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather to pay $2.4 million to Nigerian company Zzini Media Concept Limited after ruling that he breached an agreement to conduct promotional visits to various African countries, including Nigeria.
According to several reports from Nigerian media, the California Court of Appeal also found Mayweather guilty of fraud.
The case revolves around a contract that required Mayweather to make multiple trips to Africa, starting with a visit to Nigeria in June 2017. However, he did not fulfill his obligations, prompting Zzini Media Concept to seek legal recourse for reimbursement.
Mayweather’s legal team contended that since Zzini Media Concept is not based in the U.S., it did not have the authority to enforce payment. Nonetheless, the company successfully filed a lawsuit in a lower court.
The court ruled in favor of Zzini Media Concept, ordering Mayweather to pay $1,638,542 in damages, $721,881.32 in prejudgment interest, $16,270 in attorney fees, and $285 in court costs.
Despite Mayweather’s attempt to appeal the decision, the California Court of Appeal upheld the lower court’s ruling on August 27, 2024.
Following the court’s verdict, Alex Nwankwo, an executive at Zzini Media Concept, remarked that the company’s success was due to a solid case.
He explained, “After several unsuccessful attempts to recover the appearance fees, the company filed a legal action against Mayweather in 2018, alleging breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and fraud.”
“We are grateful that two courts have granted Zzini Media Ltd’s request to impose sanctions against Mayweather,” the statement continued.
Mayweather has reportedly refused to pay the amount, prompting the court to issue a fresh order targeting his assets, specifically his 2015 Bugatti GSV or his 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta.
The company’s statement further noted, “We have already defeated Mayweather and his attorneys numerous times in these proceedings, so the enforcement of the judgment will proceed. Our forensic investigators have also uncovered substantial assets indicating that Mayweather has been overstating his net worth.”
Sexyy Red Reveals She’s Voted For Kamala Harris Despite Previously Supporting Donald Trump
Sexyy Red has already cast her ballot in the upcoming presidential election and has apparently voted for Kamala Harris after some controversies over past statements in support of Donald Trump.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday (November 1), the St. Louis native shared a pair of “I Voted” stickers in a very on-brand pose, as proof that she is among the over 68 million Americans who participated in the early voting process ahead of next week’s election.
She voiced her support for Vice President Harris in her caption, which reads: “I just voted!!! Don’t tell us what to do with our coochies!! #Kamala4President.” Harris has put reproductive rights at the center of her campaign.
The rapper’s official endorsement comes after a series of incidents over the past year or so during which she came under scrutiny for her once-vocal support of the former president.
In October 2023, Sexyy Red revealed that she was a huge fan of former president Donald Trump — but her comments didn’t go down well on social media.
The “SkeeYee” rapper talked about her affinity for Trump during an interview on comedian Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast, where she claimed that the hood loves Trump due to him freeing Black people from prison and providing stimulus checks during the pandemic
“I like Trump,” she said. “Yeah, they support him in the hood. At first I don’t think people was fucking with him. They thought he was racist, saying little shit against women.
“But once he started getting Black people out of jail and giving people that free money. Aww baby, we love Trump. We need him back in office. We need him back because, baby, them checks. Them stimulus checks. Trump, we miss you.”
Sexyy Red swiftly received backlash on social media for her outspoken support of Donald Trump, whose presidency was plagued by accusations of racism, misogyny and election interference. In August of last year, he was indicted for alleged attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state of Georgia.
“Clearly some people don’t know how the stimulus checks worked, who’s money it actually was/is and how it go distributed… People believe anything,” Hot 97 and Apple Music’s Ebro Darden wrote on X.
By June of this year, however, she had started to change her tone, making it clear that she would not be endorsing Donald Trump – or any presidential candidate, for that matter.
In a post to X on June 3, the “Get It Sexyy” rapper distanced herself from getting behind any politician – aside from her own presidential aspirations, of course.
“It’s Sexyy Red 4 President [American flag emoji] I’m my own candidate I’m not endorsing anybody period [kiss emoji],” she wrote.
The post followed mixed reactions she received after performing with a giant MAGA hat during her set at the 2024 Roots Picnic over the weekend. While the hat did read “Make America Sexyy Again” as opposed to Trump’s signature phrase, many fans weren’t feeling her seemingly endorsing the controversial figure.
Diddy Grand Jury Interviews New Potential Witness Who Claims To Have Kim Porter’s Diary
Diddy‘s federal racketeering and sex trafficking case has taken yet another turn, as the grand jury has interviewed a man who claims to have physical evidence that could impact the case.
On Thursday (October 31), TMZ spoke with Courtney Burgess and his attorney Ariel Mitchell outside of the federal courthouse in New York City, just minutes after Burgess testified in a closed session.
According to Mitchell, Burgess was originally subpoenaed by the Department of Homeland Security. Sources told the outlet that “the subpoena from federal prosecutors asked Burgess to turn over all records, including thumb drives, hard drives, electronic storage devices, or devices containing videos and/or other files depicting Diddy.”
Burgess — who has reportedly done several interviews about his knowledge of Diddy’s more unsavory past — claims to be in possession of video footage from the disgraced Bad Boy mogul’s so-called “freak-offs,” as well as an unedited version of Diddy’s ex Kim Porter’s diary.
Following the initial hearing on Thursday, Burgess and Mitchell told a TMZ photographer that they were in route to another hearing, where a decision would be made as to what physical evidence he would need to turn over to the grand jury.
While this latest witness could prove to be a great asset to the prosecution in this case, Diddy also recently scored a minor victory in his attempt to be freed from jail as his bail appeal was put on hold while he awaits a new bail hearing in U.S. District Court.
On October 24, independent reporter Meghann Cuniff shared information on the evolving situation, around the same time that the request was granted despite the objection of prosecutors.
“Prosecutors have filed opposition to Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ bail appeal with 2nd Circuit,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “In arguing that Judge Carter erred, Combs entirely ignores the serious and violent nature of the charges against him, and the strength of the evidence against him.”
In a second tweet, Cuniff added: “HOWEVER, Combs’ lawyers want the appeal put on hold while they pursue a new bail hearing in U.S. District Court.
“The renewed request is based on changed circumstances warranting a new bail hearing, which the district court is best suited to consider in the first instance.’”
A Diddy rape accuser has been forced to publicly reveal their identity or else their lawsuit against the Bad Boy Records founder will be dropped.
According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, an anonymous woman who claims Puffy sexually assaulted her 20 years ago has been told by a district court judge that she must use her real name if her lawsuit is to proceed.
“So Who Can Make Such a Promise That We Will Put the Exchange Rate at 8 Kwacha?”- Mkaika Member of Parliament Hon. Peter Phiri
“So Who Can Make Such a Promise That We Will Put the Exchange Rate at 8 Kwacha?”
….as he questions Government’s Claims on Economic Promises….
Lusaka, Zambia 2nd November, 2024
Mkaika Member of Parliament Hon. Peter Phiri yesterday raised a series of pointed questions concerning the government’s progress on campaign promises. At the center of Hon. Phiri’s questioning was the government’s economic performance, particularly the high exchange rate, currently around K27 to the dollar, despite earlier promises to stabilize it.
Hon. Phiri began by asking, “Your Honour, you are on record claiming your government has fulfilled 80% of the promises to the Zambian people. But I ask, when we look at major promises like the exchange rate, how can you say 80% is fulfilled? The exchange rate is still high at 27. Was it not promised to the people that by 14 hours on the day of inauguration, the exchange rate would fall to K10? What is it, then, that you have delivered to achieve this claimed 80% when Zambians are still waiting for these promises to materialize?”
“What about the cost of mealie meal? How does that factor into this 80% fulfillment? And if we’re still facing high costs in essential goods and services, what does that mean for the average Zambian family?” he pressed.
In response, the Vice President Nalumango countered by questioning the interpretation of these campaign promises. “Honorable Member for Mkaika,” she began, “where in our manifesto did we commit to bringing the exchange rate to K10 or any specific figure?
“Let us face this thing, maybe what I’ll do is bring my manifesto and then we start ticking together. But then why are you referring to not reaching 80%? Because it’s 80% of our promises. And the example you have given, number one, it could be one of the 20%, but this, the example you have given, Honorable Member for Mkaika, was never in our manifesto. It was never in our manifesto. You can never, it doesn’t matter how upset you get, you can never stand here anywhere and say the exchange rate will be two kwacha or 10 kwacha. That is always fluctuating ask him, including yourself, I ask you. It fluctuates”
“So who can make such a promise and say we will put it at 8 kwacha?”
Prior to the August 2021 elections President Hichilema, promised Zambians that immediately after being sworn in at 10:00 a.m., the exchange rate would drop significantly by 14:00?
More trouble for Lusambo as Court orders Lusambo to refund K560,000
More trouble for Lusambo as Court orders Lusambo to refund K560,000
A DAY after being pulled out from a ceiling where he was hiding to evade justice, more legal troubles have located former Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/DtehYSojwmNYMZXN/?mibextid=oFDknk
This time, the Lusaka High Court has order the once-wealthy Lusambo to refund a whooping K560, 000 to a client he defrauded over two pieces of land.
High Court judge Bonaventure Mbewe entered a judgment in default of appearance and defense against Lusambo ordering him to pay back K510, 000 for the land he never delivered.
The recent court judgement piles up on the many troubles on Lusambo’s plate, as he has to deplete the Zambia Correctional Service’s daily soche pack to source for money from his associates whilst behind bars, following his conviction in absentia on Thursday for unlawful wounding by the Luanshya magistrates court.
Lusambo was yesterday put into custody by Police after he was brought down from the ceiling where he was found hiding at his Chamba valley home.
The police went to effect the warrant of arrest issued against him by the Court for his mitigation and sentencing.
However Judge Mbewe ordered that Lusambo should refund his client whom he defrauded.
In this matter Kayula sued Lusambo in the Lusaka High Court seeking a refund of his money, after the Bulldozer failed to hand over the land.
In his statement of claim Kayula said on August 28, 2023, he entered into a contract of sale with Lusambo over two pieces of land in Ngwerere and Meanwood Ibex respectively.
He said he advanced a K560, 000 towards the purchase of the said pieces of land.
Kayula said, Lusambo neglected and or refused to yield vacant posession of the said property to him.
“After protracted engagements by the parties, it was agreed that Lusambo would refund the plaintiff K560, 000, which he paid towards the pursuance in the contract of sale of the property in question,”he stated.
“To formalize the refund agreement on or about July 14, 2024, the plaintiff and the defendant executed a debt acknowledgement and settlement agreement where the defendant accepted owing the plaintiff the sum of K560, 000 and agreed to settle the said debt in installments.”
K200, 000 was to be paid on or before July 31, 2024, K200,000 on or before August 31, 2024, K160, 000 on or before September 30, 2024 as final installment.
Kayula said Lusambo has only paid K50, 000 to date.
He stated that despite several reminders, Lusambo has neglected to settle the debt as per agreement in the debt acknowledgement and settlement agreement, and as a result he has suffered financial loss.
The plaintiff is demanding payment of K510, 000 as dues under the Debt Acknowledgment and Settlement Agreement.
Kayula also demanded damages for breach of contract.
On October 28 when the matter came up for hearing Lusambo was not present neither was there written communication from him justifying his non attendance, neither did he file defence.
Kayula requested that judgment in default be entrusted in default of appearance against Lusambo.
Judge Mbewe granted the application and directed that Kayula recovers K510, 000 from Lusambo, including damages for breach of contract to be assessed by the Court.
By Mwaka Ndawa
Kalemba November 2, 2024.
Botswana’s ruling party, the Botswana Democratic Party, and its historic loss, what happened?
Botswana’s ruling party, the Botswana Democratic Party, and its historic loss, what happened?
Botswana’s out-going ruling party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) suffered a historic electoral loss of untold proportions, securing only four parliamentary seats out of 61.
The BDP has ruled Botswana for 58 uninterrupted years until today when it met its political waterloo moment.
The winning opposition and incoming ruling party, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) won a majority with 35 seats, signalling a massive tectonic shift in Botswana’s political landscape.
The Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), supported by former President Seretse Khama Ian Khama, won five parliamentary seats, while the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) gained 14.
The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is a coalition of three opposition political parties, they are the Botswana National Front (BNF) which is the main ingredient in the alliance, it is led by the incoming president, Duma Gideon Boko.
The other two coalition partners in the UDC are Botswana People’s Party (BPP) and Alliance for Progressives (AP).
So to understand what happened in this historic election resulting in a massively shocking result, we have to look at what happened before it, and this is what I am going to try and do with this article but not necessarily in an exhaustive way, but to give the reader a better understanding of the substantive issues.
I received a call from a South African journalist, and a trusted friend of mine for many years, in March last year, informing me that former Botswana president Ian Khama was waiting for me at his Johannesburg home.
I arrived mid morning on 14 March and was welcomed by his aides, who escorted me to the drawing room of this massively imposing but beautiful home.
The former president walked in, and we greeted, and he made me feel comfortable with small talk before we ploughed into the heavy weight political issues that we both knew were the reason for our meeting.
We talked about many things, including his time in power, his regrets, and his aspirations for Botswana and the Southern African region.
I then asked him if he thought he had exercised poor judgement in appointing President Mokgweetsi Masisi as his successor when he first appointed him as his Vice President in 2014, replacing the previous Vice President, Ponatshego Kedililwe, who was retired on health grounds.
The tradition in Botswana has always been for the President to appoint a Vice President who then becomes the next president, so in that sense, Masisi became the accidental president because without Kedililwe retiring, he would not have become president in 2018.
After asking former president Ian Khama whether he agreed that he had displayed poor judgement in appointing Masisi, and in typical Ian Khama fashion, he did not beat about the bush, he took the blame and acknowledged that he, too, had been deceived, as Masisi was not what he had initially believed him to be.
As a former military man, Khama is known for his straightforwardness, he is a retired army general who was once Commander of Botswana’s defence forces before he was appointed Vice-President by former president Festus Mogae whom he succeeded in 2008.
Khama admitted to regretting the appointment of Masisi, and he expressed dismay at how Masisi had persecuted him and many others using state power to settle scores, he vowed to work towards rectifying his mistake that led him to being a refuge in South Africa.
I looked him in the eye and asked if he thought the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) would lose power.
He met my gaze and said, “Yes, it will, and it shall lose power.”
I thought of it as a rhetoric response from a disappointed man than a real possibility that could happen 19 months later after that warm and sunny day in Johannesburg, he was right, the BDP is now history, and it might go the same way of Zambia’s UNIP and Kenya’s KANU, they lost power and died.
The first president of the BDP and of Botswana was Seretse Goitsebeng Maphiri Khama, Ian Khama’s father, who led the country from 1966 until his death in 1980, the year the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was formed and headquartered in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana.
Since then, Botswana has had four presidents after its founding father: Quett Masire (1980–1998), Festus Mogae (1998–2008), Ian Khama (2008–2018), and Mokgweetsi Masisi, who led from 2018 until today, when his party was resoundingly rejected by the voters of Botswana, securing only four parliamentary seats and finishing fourth in a four-party race.
Ian Khama also comes from royalty stock, from the Bangwato clan, and he holds the title of Kgosi, which means Chief.
President Masisi is the first Botswana president to persecute his predecessor through state institutions such as the courts and police, while also misusing security services like intelligence agents.
Ian Khama eventually fled Botswana and sought refuge in South Africa, fearing for his life due to Masisi’s vindictiveness and continued harassment through lawfare.
As Khama revealed to me, the true nature of Masisi was not apparent to him, but most importantly, it was also not apparent to the region.
However, one man did know him very well, his friend Emmerson Mnangagwa, now president of Zimbabwe, an equally ruthless and tyrannical ruler lacking Masisi’s restraint as we saw today when he conceded defeat, something the Zimbabwean tyrant would not do unless forced by mass action or the military.
Masisi used to visit Mnangagwa before either of them became president, it was under the radar, and the Zimbabwean media never wrote about it, maybe because they didn’t know, or because they didn’t see the need to.
To keep these visits discreet, Masisi would stay with John Bredenkamp, a white businessman and ZANUPF supporter who died in 2020, rather than with Mnangagwa directly.
So, the association between Masisi and Mnangagwa was not new, it predated their presidencies and it became apparent as the two men took turns to support each other publicly.
It was a painful bromance to watch for both Zimbabweans and Tswanas because both countries were being destroyed by these men as they violated many democratic principles and they would do so with reckless abandon especially when pursuing perceived enemies.
This perhaps explains Masisi’s arrogance, his abuse of state power, and his persecution of political adversaries, mirroring his friend Mnangagwa’s actions in Harare where all his real political enemies and critics have been jailed countless times.
Like the Zimbabwean tyrant, Masisi became a rogue political actor, driven by ego, desire to control everything, and wait for it, corruption.
The feud between Masisi and Khama was one of the structural reasons for the BDP’s massive election loss, like how Jacob Zuma’s conflict with Cyril Ramaphosa cost the ANC a simple majority in parliament in May this year, and is likely to punish the ANC again in the 2026 local government elections.
Similarly, in Zimbabwe, opposition leadership disputes have hindered their path to State House, these disputes have been equally hinged on an insatiable appetite for power by average politicians.
Until they grasp the meaning and importance of unity, they will remain politically paralysed failing to stop the rogue ZANUPF party that uses money, power and violence to rig elections.
Masisi, like Mnangagwa, refused to listen, displaying arrogance and dismissing ideas he disliked, even when they served Botswana’s national interest, he simply became an apparent version of Mnangagwa in Botswana, the only difference being his sophistication which Mnanangwa cannot be accused of, and the strong political institutions in Botswana.
His relationship with Mnangagwa became very public and conspicuous and perhaps for the Botswana people, his arrogance of bringing ZANUPF politicians to help him campaign was the final straw.
Masisi’s behaviour just like Mnangagwa led to his party carrying the baggage of his egoistic rule, where everything became about him and not the party, he became a large than life figure, but not in a complimentary way.
This is happening in ZANUPF too where Mnangagwa’s insatiable thirst for power is destroying his party because of his 2030 project which is misguided and unconstitutional.
It is driven by his desire to stay in power until he is 92 years of age in 2030.
When political parties become about a person instead of ideas and a political vision, the erratic behaviour of that individual can and will sink the whole party with him unless he is extremely intelligent and focused like Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew.
In politics, people should vote for ideas and a vision and not for a person who doesn’t sell any meaningful ideas like the current Malawian President, Lazarus Chakwera
So how did the feud with Khama lead to Masisi’s downfall, or at least contribute to the catastrophic demise of the BDP after it had run Botswana for 58 straight years?
There were constituencies where combining votes from Khama’s BPF and Masisi’s BDP could potentially have changed the election outcome.
This was apparent in constituencies in regions like Serowe, where the BPF has a strong base due to its association with former Ian Khama.
Khama’s support for the BPF influenced voters who might otherwise have supported the BDP, contributing to a split in the vote and allowing opposition parties to gain seats in these areas.
So, the fragmentation of the BDP vote, combined with opposition alliances, played a very significant numbers role in its electoral losses.
The BDP’s reduced seat count in Parliament highlights how this split significantly impacted its ability to secure an electoral majority, while the opposition’s coalition or alliance strategy proved effective in securing seats that could have gone to the BDP under different circumstances if the opposition’s vote had been allowed to be fragmented if they didn’t unite under a political umbrella, hence the Umbrella for Democratic Change, a collation of three political parties.
In the Central Province, the BPF and BDP combined vote was higher than that of the UDC, but the UDC took advantage of the split.
In some regions which were historically dominated by the BDP, the presence of Khama’s BPF led to scenarios where the UDC won with a smaller vote margin than the combined total of the BDP and BPF.
So, the UDC’s victory, while it was bolstered by its own support, it was significantly helped by the split between the BDP and BPF, the Khama element.
This is an important lesson for Zimbabwe’s opposition that Mbimbindoga politics leads to the same outcome of defeat by a more organised and corruptly wealthy ruling party like ZANUPF.
You cannot rely on a single person to win an election, you require a united team of competent individuals who are not paranoid about the competencies of their colleagues, people who are secure in their own skin.
The one man syndrome is often dangerous because politics ceases to be about big ideas and a vision, instead becoming an opportunity for charismatic and opportunistic leaders like Lazarus Chakwera who abuse religion yet delivering nothing under their presidency.
The feud between Khama and Masisi alone doesn’t explain this victory unless I throw some meat tho the bones.
Botswana did well economically under Khama with an average annual GDP growth rate of around 5 percent, he focused beyond relying on diamonds, he promoted tourism and agriculture.
Under Masisi, the economy contracted, he never reached Ian Khama’s growth rates, and he blames Covid-19 for this.
Ian Khama left office with foreign currency reserves of around US$7 billion.
In contrast, Mokgweetsi Masisi is leaving with reserves closer to US$4 billion.
Khama’s campaign not only emphasised the issue of his own persecution, but also highlighted the perceived underperformance of the economy under Masisi’s leadership which was backed by numbers.
Many Tswanas felt that life was better under Khama, so his persecution became personal to them, and they had an opportunity to vent in the voting booth.
Unlike Zimbabwe, Botswana has a professional military that does not interfere in elections or obstruct the transfer of power.
While it is commendable that Masisi is being praised for peacefully handing over power, one might question if we have lowered our standards in Africa so much that performing a legal and expected duty now warrants celebration.
It seems that this is the current state we find ourselves in, the bar is on the floor, and in Zimbabwe it is in the basement
Botswana’s incoming president, at 54, was not yet born when the country gained independence in 1966. He is set to inherit a nation that, while not destroyed like Zimbabwe, still requires work to restore it to the economic standards it achieved under Ian Khama’s leadership.
I wish him and his team well, it is shameful that Mnangagwa did not personally and publicly congratulate the winners, instead sending his foreign affairs ministry to do it, maybe the pain of his friend losing has overwhelmed his common sense abilities.
If you want to engage me about any issue in this article;
Email me at hopewell2@post.harvard.edu
MMD NOT A CARCASS!
MMD NOT A CARCASS!
The MMD takes serious exception to the comment attributed to one Dickson Jeremaking reference to MMD as a carcass split.
We are deeply disappointed in the person who was a well-known advisor to the former Head of State, late RB of blessed memories.
The RB team inherited a living vibrant party and government after the death of late President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa.
The MMD lost power to PF under the watch of Dickson Jere and the team he advised.
They wanted to turn the party into a family affair, where party resources for 2011 campaigns were managed by children and family friends instead of party structures. The party structures did not campaign and Jere’s team lost miserably.
After failing the party that gave them power and responsibilities, Jere retired with our former President RB. The party was resilient and went to a convention to elect their leaders and Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba emerged victorious.
Dr Mumba against all odds fought to keep the party alive, this include the brutality of the PF and their attempts to deregister the MMD through the Registrar of Societies. Dr Mumba raised the money and the then past President of the party and republic was alive with Jere as aide refused to help the party they just made lose power.
The party was put on track again, started to win by elections and mobilized in most of the provinces. Life was injected in the rank and file of the party.
It is regrettable that today I mention the name of our late President in this light, but it is due to an irresponsible statement attributed to a man who should not think he has a moral right to even speak about the party he led down in a very treacherous way.
It is Jere and his side who attempted to return to the helm of the party they abandoned when it so needed help and wanted to do so because the nation had another demise of a sitting President, Sata, may his soul rest in peace.
After their alebwelapo attempt when the party through the courts constitutionally couldn’t allow such a move, the same Jere advising the former President decided to join hands with the ‘enemy’, the PF and Mr Lungu to kill and destroy MMD and Nevers Mumba.
They sponsored people in the party to rise against their own party. They found willing tools like Nakachinda, and they did the damage.
They sponsored an illegal convention that saw Felix Chipota Mutati emerge as president of MMD which later, after four years of legal battles, was determined and pronounced illegal by the high court.
Hon Mutati as a gentleman made peace with the party and formed his MDC and that was the end of any factions in the MMD.
Dickson Jere still holds an illusion that MMD actually died because he worked hard to see it dead and today he wants to call it a carcass.
I am sure the sight of a revived and forward thinking MMD is haunting him.
A carcass is dead meat. I am sure Jere can’t believe his eyes that the MMD is on the rise and strong again.
We retaliate our partnership with our colleagues in the UPND working together with all political parties that mean well and progressive, that includes President Mutati and the MDC.
Jere should get used to it. This is the Zambia you shall see.
These are the politics we embrace. By the way we expected such silly outbursts from haters of democracy and development.
We shall remain focused and no one including Jere shall stand in the way of progress:
Core values and principles not politics of deceit, hate and Kano nine, others no.
Issued By:
Dr. Joshua Mulenga
Deputy National secretary MMD
The Unchecked Power of Zambia’s Police: How President Hichilema’s Silence Speaks Volumes- Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma
The Unchecked Power of Zambia’s Police: How President Hichilema’s Silence Speaks Volumes
By Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma
I watched the response that Vice President W.K. Mutale Nalumango gave in Parliament yesterday, on November 1, 2024, during question time, where she shifted blame to the police for the unlawful and prolonged detentions of citizens without bail. I listened with great sadness. Her assertions that the President remains uninformed about the police’s actions lack credibility and reveal a troubling disregard for the Zambian people’s intelligence.
The buck unequivocally stops with President Hakainde Hichilema. The attempt by Madam Nalumango to absolve the President of responsibility by suggesting he has no control over police actions is an affront to the principles of leadership and accountability. The Inspector General of Police, like all other law enforcement officials, operates under the explicit directives of the Commander-in-Chief. Every action taken by the police ultimately reflects the President’s authority and approval—or his failure to curb overreach.
In recent weeks, Zambians have witnessed a disturbing escalation of police abuse, with unchecked aggression targeting opposition leaders, religious gatherings, and ordinary citizens. These are not isolated incidents. They form a clear pattern of intimidation and suppression aimed at silencing dissent and creating an atmosphere of fear. If President Hichilema truly disapproved of these heavy-handed tactics, we would see decisive action from him. Instead, his silence is deafening, his inaction speaks volumes, and his failure to rein in these abuses is a betrayal of the democratic principles on which he campaigned.
The reality is stark: the Inspector General of Police cannot and would not override the President’s directives. If President Hichilema genuinely opposed the excessive force, unlawful detentions, and suppression of fundamental freedoms that we are witnessing, he would have removed the Inspector General for gross incompetence or complicity by now. His failure to do so sends a clear message that these abuses enjoy the blessing of the highest office in the land.
The consequences of this inaction are devastating for Zambian democracy. Citizens now live under a cloud of fear, where speaking out could mean harassment, detention, or worse. Religious institutions, once sanctuaries of peace and conscience, are disrupted by police forces acting with unchecked authority. Political opposition faces mounting restrictions, deprived of basic rights to assembly. This is not the Zambia that the people envisioned, and it is not the Zambia they were promised.
The absence of accountability in this administration threatens to erode the foundations of our democracy. By failing to hold the police leadership accountable, the President is endorsing a dangerous trend toward authoritarianism that will be hard to reverse. Zambians deserve a leader who will stand by their constitutional rights, not one who stands by as those rights are trampled. It is time for President Hichilema to act—or admit that his administration has chosen control over liberty and fear over freedom.
My children will not work for anyone, jobs must be for those who need them – Hichilema
My children will not work for anyone, jobs must be for those who need them – Hichilema
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has encouraged graduands to take up entrepreneurship, revealing that he told his three biological children not to work for anyone as the trio needs to work hard for themselves in order to employ those in need.
Addressing Mulungushi University students in Kapiri Mposhi yesterday during it’s 16th graduation ceremony, President Hichilema stated this to encourage the student populace to take up the entrepreneurial space after school.
“If I was to start like you, I would start working for myself immediately after graduating and that’s what I have told my three biological children. They will not work for anybody, they must leave the job for someone else who needs it, they just scratch for themselves, employ themselves, and employ somebody along the way.”
“I want to encourage somebody to be entrepreneurial. You better work hard my friends,” said President Hichilema.
He further shared that having started working for himself at the age of 27, some years back has proven to be of great benefit.
“I started working for myself at an early age, I was 27 years old and since then I don’t know what someone’s payslip looks like,” he said.
“Without education, I would have never been your president. The doors have been opened for greater success because of education.”
He added that he believes education is the best equaliser as it doesn’t choose where one comes from, referring to how he came from a poor background and became one of the most successful Zambians.
“One critical thing made me see education in a different way. A child from the village like me and a child from mayadi like some of you and an orphan, once you get through an education, all the differences that you came with, are leveled, are equalised.”
“A child whose parents were well off and the parents die, you will find that five years later, that child may not have anything to his name. That’s why education is the best inheritance, equaliser and investment. If a child enters this university because [of being] a child or a niece of HH and they think they will graduate because of that affiliation, wailasha,” said the Head of State.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, November 2, 2024
We have to pay attention more to the people at the bottom – HH
We have to pay attention more to the people at the bottom – HH
By Fanny Kalonda (The Mast)
IN a country we have to pay attention more to the people at the bottom, says President Hakainde Hichilema.
During the 10th memorial service for former president Michael Sata at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross yesterday, President Hichilema said those in power today have a lot to learn from those who were there before.
“We will continue working on the things that Mr Sata believed in. In line I believe with Mr Sata’s beliefs that in these roles they are not actually easy. People assume that they are easy. There is an assumption out there that what Mr Sata did, what we are doing is easy. It’s not easy. I’m now married to 20 million husbands. I’m their wife, please women don’t misunderstand my expression, frankly speaking it’s not a gender argument since I’m the servant. We, he (Sata) was the servant of the people. We are the servant of the people. It means we’re subservient in the right way to the people of Zambia collectively – all of them: 10 provinces, 116 districts, 156 constituencies. So I must say to you for me standing here I’m aware that whatever we are doing today in public office is because the road, the path, was kept for us,” he said. “Starting with KK, may soul rest in peace, FTJ (Frederick Chiluba) president [Levy] Mwanawasa, his soul rest in peace, president Rupiah Banda, may his soul rest in peace, and our fifth president, president Michael Chilufya Sata, obviously president [Edgar] Lungu, we who are serving today stand on the shoulders of these and the women and the cabinets. We stand on the shoulders of those that came before us and we appreciate that. We thank those that came before us.”
President Hichilema said Zambians have heard him preach the message of unity.
“I think Zambians hear me preach the message of unity – One Zambia One Nation. One nation, one people. There is no substitute to unity. No matter how clever we think we are children of God, made in his in his own image, love is a prerequisite to succeeding in whatever we do. I said to my colleagues in cabinet if you don’t love what you do for the people, don’t even try to work. I said it to [Secretary to Cabinet Patrick] Kangwa there, because it won’t work, so I think we agreed to president Sata’s message of love in diversity, unity in diversity, love, unity and diversity,” he said. “We have a lot to learn from Mr Sata all of us. But we also have a lot to do to get the country on the things you wanted done. If you notice presidents come, do quite a lot of things – each president. Mr. Sata understood local government, he spent years in local government. I believe that’s how Mr [Emmanuel] Chenda and others who became students of Mr Sata politically…”
He said there should not be any unnecessary divisive conversations.
“…so you can see the decisions he was making when he was in the presidency around decentralisation, councils, new districts. Many don’t remember, already people forget quickly, sometimes not all the times, I don’t want to be accused and someone in the media will carry a wrong story that HH said Zambians have no memories no, no, no, no. It is Mr Sata who created 29 districts in his short time in the presidency because he understood local government and its ability to help deliver. We who are in government today will carry on to realise full operations of those districts because that’s our duty. I know we have work to do around those districts. In a country, we have to pay attention more to the people at the bottom. Cash for work, social cash transfer, for the people at the bottom,” said President Hichilema. “So sometimes we come from different angles but actually seeking the same thing. It’s important for us to isolate that this is a… that is good for the country and we can work to make it better so we can make Mr. Sata happier…We must not create unnecessary divisive conversations when it’s really not necessary. Today it is to offer our memories of president Sata, to celebrate his life. I must thank the family for allowing the government, our government, to conduct or to support this service. We all have a story to tell about Mr Sata, because the family have a deeper knowledge of Mr Sata…”
TI-Z to vociferously oppose mining in Lower Zambezi, other protected areas
TI-Z to vociferously oppose mining in Lower Zambezi, other protected areas
By Fanny Kalonda (The Mast)
TRANSPARENCY International Zambia has expressed concern that government has decided to approve large scale exploration licences in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
TI-Z executive director Maurice Nyambe said it is concerning to learn that the Mining Licensing Committee had made a decision to grant two large scale exploration licences in September 2024 in the Lower Zambezi National Park “barely a year after the decision to cancel the previous environmental approval for another mining project”.
“As published on the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development website, the Mining Licensing Committee approved two large-scale exploration licences, namely licences 38439-HQ-LEL and 38572-HQ-LEL located in the Lower Zambezi National Park,” he said.
“TI-Z expresses extreme concern with the Zambian government’s decision to approve large scale exploration licences in the Lower Zambezi National Park. As the public may recall, several environmental defenders, activists and civil society actors spoke out against the previous administration’s decision to grant a mining licence and environmental approval for a mining project in the Lower Zambezi National Park in 2014. It was only after much advocacy and engagement with the relevant government institutions and stakeholders that last year the current administration cancelled the proposed large-scale mining project that was designated in the Lower Zambezi National Park, a decision that was lauded by many environmental defenders, activists and concerned civil society actors including TI-Z.”
Nyambe noted that prospects of mining in other protected areas remain an issue.
“We are alive to the fact that presently there is neither a law nor regulation that expressly bars mining in protected areas such as forest reserves, game reserves and national parks. The current mines and Minerals Development Act 2015 that provides for the application and granting of mining rights and licences, outlines provisions on mining and exploration in environmentally protected and sensitive areas, with required conditions attached to mining rights and licences including obtaining permission to exercise that mining right with the relevant government institutions and or agencies. Among the key requirements is the environmental approval through an Environmental Project Brief and Environmental Impact Statement submitted to Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), in addition to approval from other public institutions such as the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPWL) in this case,” he said. “Learning from the previous public outcry and environmental demerits of the previous proposed mining project, TI-Z had assumed that the issue pertaining to mining in Lower Zambezi National Park was a settled matter, and it is disheartening to see the current administration resurrect the issue and do the exact same thing for which the previous administration was condemned. TI-Z also notes that prospects of mining in other protected areas remain an issue, with the Lower Zambezi being one of the most contentious preproposals in recent years.”
Nyambe added that there is need to ensure regulations that ensure protection and aversion of exploration and mining in ecologically and environmentally sensitive areas are aligned with the administration’s aspiration to espouse development that prioritises environmental sustainability.
“Given this new development, TI-Z will continue to monitor developments with regards to these approvals and will collaborate with other concerned stakeholders to vociferously oppose this and similar decisions relating to mining activities in protected areas. TI-Z’s position remains that explorations and mining licensing and approvals, in addition to being conducted transparently, should not be approved or permitted to occur in protected areas such as national parks and forest reserves,” said Nyambe. “We also reiterate our earlier recommendations on this that regulations that ensure protection and aversion of exploration and mining in ecologically and environmentally sensitive areas be aligned with the administration’s aspiration to espouse development that prioritises environmental sustainability and a green economy. We urge the current administration not to turn a blind eye to this important issue.”
My mother dumped me as a baby, called me akambuma – Super Kena
My mother dumped me as a baby, called me akambuma – Super Kena
“My mother dumped my twin brother and I as babies and left my dad to look after us and her last words when leaving were “Teti ulenfyalisha ifimbuma (you can’t be making me birth midgets).”
This is the story of Super Kena AKA Abatalali who came on the music scene through Y Celeb a few years ago.
Many are the times that mothers are depicted as angels as they are known to be more human than the other gender but in Super Kena’s story, you realise that bad mothers actually do exist.
It’s also rare that we hear of mothers abandoning their own babies and unfortunately, this was the case for 14 year old Kenan Kaunda popularly known as Super Kena.
In the highly anticipated debut album “Man of the Match” with 15 tracks, the 14 year old boy opens with the song “True Story” where he tells us how he has always lacked motherly love since childhood.
Kenan disclosed in the song that he was born in 2010 with his twin brother who later died in Kitwe on the Copperbelt and suffered from Hydrocephalus (having excess fluids in the brain).
This, he cited, led the mother to two new babies leave her husband because he was only making her birth utumbuma (midgets).
“Afterward, My father remarried so he could be helped. It was my step mother who at that time helped me come back to life after taking me to the hospital by having the excess fluids from my brain removed of which my twin brother couldn’t make it,” he sings in Bemba.
“My stepmother was abusive, she often could whip me even when I had done nothing wrong. My father was never around to intervene.”
The little boy was then forced into Scrap Metal dealings just for survival as he was being denied food by his step mother.
“Ubwali bantana, but imbale nasuka (they could stinge me food but let me wash the dishes). When she discovered I started dealing in metals, She punished me harshly and grounded me for weeks of which my father never came to my aid.”
Super Kena who could dance to Y Celeb’s songs then got noticed by the artiste who got interested in knowing more about him.
“Y Celeb would visit us occasionally and I would have to endure my stepmother’s wrath once he left. If my father wasn’t home, I would sleep outside and sleep on an empty stomach.
“Everyone around me treated me like an outcast, the only person who recognised my worth was Y Celeb. He took an interest in helping me of which my stepmother disapproved of and would attack me whenever he brought me back home,” shares Super Kena in Bemba.
He sings that after the step mother noticed that the little boy’s life would change for the better because of Y Celeb, she accused Celeb of being a satanist.
“She claimed Y Celeb was a bad influence and warned me never to associate with him. In the words of my step mother (Y Celeb is a Satanist, I won’t have what to tell your father when he decides to sell and put you in his Music business),” sang Super Kena.
“When Y Celeb saw my wound, I hesitated to explain out of fear of my stepmother’s attacks thinking she was going to do worse if I told him, but eventually, I opened up to him about everything. This led to Y Celeb taking me from my father’s house to his own, providing me with the safety I desperately needed.”
“True Story” is part of Super Kena’s debut album, a 16 track album dubbed “Man of the Match” released yesterday, attracting many to his work and his story…https://kalemba.news/entertainment/2024/11/02/my-mother-dumped-me-as-a-baby-called-me-akambuma-super-kena/
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, November 2, 2024
“METHODICAL” WILLFUL FAILURE to APPOINT ACC BOARD, BOARD CHAIRPERSON, DG IS DISASTROUS – KASONDE MWENDA
“METHODICAL” WILLFUL FAILURE to APPOINT ACC BOARD, BOARD CHAIRPERSON, DG IS DISASTROUS – KASONDE MWENDA
November 1, 2024.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) express grave concern over President Hakainde Hichilema’s deliberate inaction in failing to appoint a Board, Board Chairperson, and Director General to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for an unprecedented four months. This failure directly undermines the government’s own professed commitment to combat corruption, effectively paralyzing one of the country’s most crucial anti-corruption bodies.
Since the resignation of Mr. Thom Trevor Shamakamba from his position as Director General on July 17, 2024, and the subsequent dissolution of the ACC Board on July 18, 2024, following an urgent appeal from former ACC Commissioner Dr. O’Brien Kaaba, President Hichilema has shown complete disregard for filling these key positions. This calculated negligence renders the ACC essentially defunct, leaving the President himself as the de facto Board, Board Chairperson, and Director General – a position wholly unsustainable in the fight against corruption.
For a President who claims to prioritize integrity and transparency, such willful delay reflects a troubling lack of commitment to rooting out corruption. This stagnation is symptomatic of deeper issues within President Hichilema’s leadership – one that, contrary to his self-praise, appears disorganized and indecisive. If the fight against corruption were a true priority, competent and qualified leadership would have been instated without delay.
The implications of this inaction are profound. Without an appointed Board and Director General, the ACC is crippled, unable to independently address or investigate ongoing cases of corruption. The President’s reluctance to make these appointments creates a vacuum that permits further corruption and diminishes public trust in government institutions.
The EFF hereby demands that President Hichilema immediately appoints a qualified and competent ACC Board and Director General. This must not be a mere symbolic gesture or an exercise in political patronage; rather, it requires the appointment of professionals who possess both integrity and commitment to the rule of law, not political operatives or allies. A handpicked assembly of unqualified individuals will only serve to further erode the ACC’s legitimacy.
The EFF stands resolute in calling for these immediate actions, and we will not waver in holding the Hichilema administration accountable for the integrity and functionality of our institutions. Failure to act is a clear indication that this administration lacks both the will and resolve to tackle corruption, a serious disservice to the Zambian people who deserve a government dedicated to transparency and accountability.
Wherever we want to go our feet will take us there.
Issued by:
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)
President Kasonde Mwenda C
The Political Gods Must Be Crazy: How Masisi’s Ian Khama Obsession Led to the Defeat of Oldest Ruling Party
The Political Gods Must Be Crazy: How Masisi’s Ian Khama Obsession Led to the Defeat of Oldest Ruling Party
By @mwenemavinga on X
In Botswana, the hunter is on his way to becoming the hunted.
For the majority of his over six years in office, lame-duck President Mokgweetsi Masisi has haughtily spoken about and down to former President Ian Khama—his former mentor and Southern African political royalty—using state power to harass and intimidate him.
Masisi orchestrated a campaign to investigate and implicate Khama in alleged misconduct, deploying national security agencies and legal bodies to tarnish his reputation.
Finally, Masisi hounded him out of both the nation into exile and the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), the party Khama’s father, Sir Seretse Khama, the first president of Botswana, founded. At times mocking him, as if he were a common petty criminal, for leaving the county.
Masisi is himself the son of an independence-era party loyalist and long-serving minister in the elder Khama’s government.
As Masisi contemplates the ignominy of presiding over the first electoral defeat since Botswana’s independence for the party he and Khama were born and grew up in , I am struck by the amount of personal prestige and authority he has invested in going after Ian Khama.
That his pursuit was personal is clearly evident. In so obsessively seeking to destroy Ian Khama, he was tragically and thoroughly laying the path for his own political self-destruction and that of the political legacy he inherited.
In trying to understand what drove him to this end, I’m reminded of the classic South African comedic tragedy, The Gods Must Be Crazy. Ian Khama is Masisi’s Coca-Cola bottle—the man who made him politically, who he wanted to emulate.
But somewhere in the learning process, emulation slid into envy, and so the very existence of Khama within Botswana’s politics, like the Coca-Cola bottle among Xi’s Kalahari community, became a source of discord.
In seeking to destroy Khama, Masisi was ultimately crafting his own path to self-destruction. By the time Khama was thrown over the proverbial cliff
But somewhere in the learning process, emulation slid into envy, and so the very existence of Khama within Botswana’s politics, like the Coca-Cola bottle among Xi’s Kalahari San hunter-gatherer community, became a source of discord.
In seeking to destroy Khama, Masisi was ultimately crafting his own path to self-destruction. By the time Khama was thrown over the proverbial cliff and forced to flee Botswana, the job was done. Masisi had gone politically mad, losing touch with the political reality in Botswana.
The politics of scapegoating leave little room for sympathy toward the deflector when, after the drama, vitriol, and sacrifice, the people see no tangible improvement.
Soon enough, they begin to view Masisi as a madman and seek a sober leader who can objectively assess their concerns.
Enter Duma Boko and his Umbrella for Democratic Change, who are on the verge of securing the most dramatic and significant electoral victory for an opposition party in African democratic history.
Botswana, one of the most stable and per-capita richest countries in Africa, has been an upper-middle-income economy since 2004. For over a decade, its people have awaited a leader who can transform their small but organized and resource-wealthy nation into a true high-income economy, focusing on the development of human capital, technology, and media—looking to nations like Singapore, the UAE, and Qatar for inspiration.
In Duma Boko, Batswana will finally have a leader who can refocus priorities on advancing the nation’s interests.
Meanwhile, Masisi’s ill-tempered actions won’t likely be forgotten and may soon face scrutiny.
So, to the question of how he lost this election, my answer would be: when his envy caused him to lose his mind.
Why I Feel Zambia Has Become a Police State- Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma
Why I Feel Zambia Has Become a Police State
By Thandiwe Ketis Ngoma
Zambia is facing a disturbing shift that threatens the basic freedoms its people once took for granted. Evidence of an authoritarian regime is mounting, as civil liberties are eroded, dissent is increasingly stifled, and state machinery is instrumentalized to control rather than serve the public. Known for its democratic ideals, Zambia now exhibits alarming symptoms of a police state. Here are the key reasons why this authoritarian drift is not only concerning—it’s dangerous.
- Suppression of Freedom of Worship
On October 28, 2024, in Lusaka, police officers in full riot gear stormed the Cathedral of Christ the King. Their mission was clear: disrupt and intimidate those attending a peaceful memorial for former President Michael Chilufya Sata, including members of the Patriotic Front (PF). This aggressive intrusion into a place of worship not only violated the sanctity of a religious space but was a blatant infringement on the right to worship freely.
This wasn’t an isolated event. In Kabwe, police barged into a Catholic bishop’s office where former President Dr. Edgar Lungu was meeting with the bishop, justifying their intrusion with the assertion that Dr. Lungu “wasn’t supposed to be there.” These incidents reveal an alarming trend: authorities encroaching upon religious spaces that should be free from interference. When spiritual gatherings are disrupted and religious freedoms trampled, the authoritarian intentions become disturbingly clear.
- Escalating Harassment of Political Opposition
The state’s treatment of opposition parties has crossed into outright repression. The PF has recently been blocked from accessing its own secretariat, obstructed from holding routine meetings, and prevented from laying wreaths at a memorial for their founding leader, President Sata. Such actions are not just suppression—they are a calculated attempt to erase the party’s contributions and silence opposition voices.
This level of interference exemplifies the tactics of authoritarian regimes that seek to consolidate power by suppressing any form of dissent. When a government actively prevents peaceful acts of remembrance and free political assembly, it is enforcing silence, erasing history, and controlling the narrative, all of which are fundamental characteristics of a police state.
- Unlawful Detentions and Misuse of Legal Authority
The state’s misuse of police power extends to arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions, undermining trust in Zambia’s justice system. Investigative journalist Thomas Zgambo was held for 16 days despite meeting bail conditions. Activist Jason Mwanza and his colleagues, detained after a peaceful protest, were held for nearly two weeks after fulfilling their bond requirements. The Kaumba brothers were kept in custody for 26 days without family access, joining a growing list of individuals detained without due process, including political figures like Raphael Nakachinda, Emmanuel Mwamba, Dr. Fred Membe, and Edith Nawakwi.
These actions reveal a dangerous shift from enforcing the law to weaponizing it against the public. Detentions without accountability expose a clear agenda: to silence critics and instill fear. When the rule of law is sacrificed to wield police power as a tool of repression, the integrity of a democratic society collapses.
- Alarming Indifference from Leadership
Recent statements by the Vice President in parliament attempted to deflect blame for police misconduct by claiming that the President cannot be held accountable if police disregard his orders. This excuse is not only weak—it’s profoundly irresponsible. As Commander-in-Chief, the President is responsible for the conduct of law enforcement; any defiance of his directives by police should be met with swift accountability.
If police actions continue to contradict the President’s public statements, it signals a troubling lack of leadership and control within the government. The President’s silence in the face of escalating police overreach suggests complicity or a failure of authority. Accountability must start with the Inspector General of Police, whose unchecked power continues to threaten citizens’ rights and freedoms. Leadership that shirks responsibility for maintaining democracy’s basic safeguards is leadership that paves the way for authoritarian rule.
- Militarization and Intimidation as Tools of Control
Zambia’s police force is becoming increasingly militarized, transforming peaceful assemblies into scenes of intimidation. Armed in full combat gear, police arrive not to manage crowds, but to control and intimidate. This unnecessary show of force at public gatherings discourages citizens from assembling, voicing concerns, and exercising their democratic rights.
In a democracy, citizens must feel secure in expressing their views and protesting peacefully. When the state uses heavy-handed policing to instill fear, it effectively silences the public and stifles any form of lawful protest. This militarization turns Zambia into a space where silence is forced rather than chosen—where fear, not freedom, prevails.
- Intimidation Extending to Journalists and Civil Society
A free press and an active civil society are critical to any democracy. In Zambia, however, journalists and activists now operate under constant surveillance, harassment, and intimidation. Journalists like Thomas Zgambo, detained without just cause, and human rights advocates such as Brebner Changala face threats meant to silence them. When civil society organizations and activists are targeted, Zambia loses its public watchdogs and, with them, a key check on government power.
Without an independent press and a vocal civil society, citizens lose access to truthful, unfiltered information. They are left to rely on narratives controlled by those in power. This suffocation of public discourse and accountability is another clear indicator of a shift towards authoritarian rule.
Conclusion
Zambia stands on the brink of authoritarianism, with unmistakable symptoms of a police state already evident. Suppression of worship, harassment of the opposition, arbitrary detentions, and systemic intimidation paint a grim picture of a regime prioritizing control over democracy.
Zambians deserve a government that respects their rights, values their voices, and upholds the rule of law—not one that manipulates it to instill fear and entrench power. To restore democracy, immediate reforms are needed to establish accountability, protect civil liberties, and rebuild trust in the rule of law. While the path back to democracy will require resilience and determination, it is crucial for Zambia’s future as a just and free society.
Google Adds Chichewa And 14 New African Languages To Voice Search, Gboard, And Translate
Enabling voice input across these products offers approximately 300 million more people across Africa the freedom to interact with the web and communicate with friends and family using the modality that comes most naturally to many people: their voice.
Google already supports typing input with custom keyboards in Gboard for around 200 African languages and varieties, with automatic translation with Translate for over 60 languages spoken in Africa.
Along with the 13 African languages which already enjoy talk-to-text support on Gboard and Voice Search, Google is excited to extend voice input to 12 more languages on these platforms. Google is also extending voice input to 13 more African languages on Google Translate – along with the 9 already supported. Voice input on Translate enables people to dictate to Translate and get translations in other languages – while talk-to-text support on Gboard and Voice Search allows people to type with voice anywhere where Gboard is enabled, or Search on Google using their voice.
Commenting on the announcement, Alex Okosi, Managing Director of Google Africa said: “This technology will make a difference to over 300 million more people across the continent – enabling them to interact with the web with just their voice. With teams in Google Accra working on this, it’s one example of how Google in Africa is building technology for Africans – and for the world”.
Matt Brittin, President of Google in Europe, Middle East and Africa, was in the region for the announcement. Speaking from Kenya and ahead of a visit to Nigeria, he said: “The next decade is set to be Sub-Saharan Africa’s digital decade – with more than half the population accessing the Internet for the first time. Google’s mission is to organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful – and extending Voice Search, voice typing on Gboard and voice input on Translate to 300 million people across Africa is a key landmark in that.”
These languages are spoken by an estimated 300 million people across West, East and Southern Africa. In West Africa, Google now supports Twi, one of the most widely spoken languages in Ghana, as well as 4 major languages of Nigeria, a country with over 500 languages and 218 million people. Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Nigerian Pidgin are spoken by an estimated 129 million people, or around 60% of Nigeria’s population. Google is also expanding its offering on Voice Search and Gboard in Kenya with the addition of Kikuyu, alongside Swahili – as well as for wider East and Southern Africa.
These additions will bring Google’s total to 25 languages with voice support in Africa – and 94 languages total across the world.
This language extension has been made possible by advances in AI, specifically multilingual speech recognition – which converts speech into text. The AI model learns languages in the way a child would – learning to associate certain speech sounds with the specific sequences of character in the written form. Multilingual speech recognition models are trained on data from multiple languages, and then are able to transcribe speech into text in any of those languages.
The next decade is set to be Sub-Saharan Africa’s digital decade. For the first time, over half the population will have access to the Internet, while emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and the cloud could significantly accelerate the continent’s development. Google’s mission to organise the world’s information, making it universally accessible and useful, is therefore particularly relevant to the Sub-Saharan region – especially as it is expected to account for most of the population growth in the 21st century.
In Google’s Product Development Center in Nairobi, Kenya, and AI Research Center in Accra, Ghana, Googlers are building products that aim to solve problems on the continent and around the world. Voice typing & Google translate forms a core part of this work – ensuring that Google can better service this fast-growing region and ensure everyone has access to the benefits of technology.
- In East Africa, you can now voice type, search and translate in Oromo and Tigrinya alongside Amharic in Ethiopia, bringing voice input there to over 85 million people or around 70% of the population. Google is also adding support for Somali and Rundi, major languages of Somalia and Burundi respectively, and is expanding its offering on Voice Search and Gboard in Kenya with the addition of Kikuyu alongside Swahili.
- In Southern Africa, around 65% of the population of Malawi now have voice input capabilities with the addition of Chichewa, and Google is proud to add support for Shona, spoken by an estimated 12 million people including Google’s own SVP of Research, Technology & Society, James Manyika. Google is also excited to bring voice input on Translate to Tswana, South Ndebele and Swati, spoken in Botswana, South Africa and Eswatini.
- New languages on Voice Search and Gboard talk-to-type: Chichewa, Hausa, Igbo, Kikuyu, Nigerian Pidgin, Oromo, Rundi, Shona, Somali, Tigrinya, Twi, Yoruba
- New languages with voice input on Translate: Chichewa, Hausa, Igbo, Oromo, Rundi, Shona, Somali, South Ndebele, Swati, Tigrinya, Tswana, Twi, Yoruba
- African languages already on Voice Search and Gboard talk-to-type include Afrikaans, Amharic, Kinyarwanda, Sepedi, Sesotho, South Ndebele, Swahili, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
- African languages with voice input already available on Translate include Afrikaans, Amharic, Kinyarwanda, Sepedi, Sesotho, Swahili, Tsonga, Xhosa, Zulu
- Google is focused on supporting the African continent to unlock the benefits of the digital economy to everyone. We opened our first office in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2007 (in Nairobi, Kenya) and we’ve been a partner to Africa’s economic and digital transformation ever since – working hand in hand with governments, policymakers, educational bodies and entrepreneurs.
- In 2018, we opened an AI research centre in Accra, Ghana. And in 2022 we announced a Product Development Center in Nairobi, Kenya. In both offices, our teams are using the power of AI to solve problems across the continent and around the world.
Man City Injury Crisis Worrisome-Guardiola
Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola has declared a state of emergency concerning the team’s injury crisis ahead of the clash against Bournemouth.
The defending champions went into Wednesday’s League Cup tie at Tottenham without six first-team players, with Rodri, Oscar Bobb, Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish all injured.
Manuel Akanji suffered a calf injury in the buildup to the encounter, while Savinho was stretchered off in the second half to add to their injury woes.
Guardiola revealed that he had just 13 players available for the clash against Bournemouth on Wednesday.
He has now revealed that due to the numerous injuries, he will be forced to play academy players.
Guardiola said: “We have a lot (of injuries) in certain departments and certain positions, but it is what it is, I am pretty sure, like I have said many times to the team, ‘Guys, try not to feel sorry for ourselves.
“We are not the only team in football to have injuries. We have a lot, but it is what it is. We concern ourselves. The challenge is we will play with 11 players.
“But at certain moments, I remember Liverpool had a lot of injuries and they struggled. But we have to adapt and focus on tomorrow.
“We are using them because we are in an emergency in certain positions, but yes, some of them we trust them, like in the past, to help us.
“That is why the academy is there. Not ideal, but when the situation demands. Yes, we don’t have another option.”
He also confirmed that the club will not go into the transfer market in January because of the injury crisis.
Advertisement
Guardiola said: “When we are all together, the squad is enough,” he said. “It is complete. It is nice. It is top. But then everybody is completely focused and fit.”
Manchester City are currently top the Premier League table with one point ahead of Liverpool.
Garbage truck driver reveals what it was like meeting Trump
The driver of the garbage truck that former US President Donald Trump jumped aboard this week after US President, Joe Biden called Trump’s supporters ‘garbage’ has come out to speak on the moment he met with the politician.
Andrew Bisson, of Norway, Michigan, said he was sitting down to lunch when the family-owned and operated LoadMaster garbage service got a surprising call, according to an interview he gave to Fox News’ The Story.
“I didn’t really believe it at first till I picked up the phone and talked to the guy myself,” Brisson told Fox’s Martha MacCallum, “And then I guess after a little conversation, he knew somebody that I knew within the industry down in the area. I went onto our lot, found a nice-looking garbage truck hopped in it, and started heading down to Green Bay.”
?I didn?t really believe it at first? – Garbage truck driver reveals what it was like meeting Trump
Brisson headed to the Republican candidate’s rally in Wisconsin at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport in a truck decked out in Trump and “Make America Great Again” decals and stickers.
At that rally, Trump jumped aboard Bisson’s truck while wearing an orange workman’s vest.
The truck driver even said he made the Secret Service’s heart skip a beat when the president asked him for a quick little ride along.
“Once they were all done, I started up the truck. I blew the air horn and then he looked over at me and said can you take me for a ride in this thing,” Brisson told MacCallum.
“Yeah, I can do that. And you know, I released the parking brake, put it in drive, and started moving forward. I think, like Trump said, we only moved a foot or two then the Secret Service kind of just started glaring at me and waving their hands and that was the end of this ride,” Brisson said.
Trump donned the orange vest and jumped in the cab of the truck to highlight President Biden’s recent comments in which he labeled Trump supporters as “garbage.”
“How do you like my garbage truck?” Trump asked reporters.
“This is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden.”
President Biden’s comments were in response to a joke told by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who referred to Puerto Rico as a floating island of garbage during the Trump mega-rally last week at Madison Square Garden.
When asked for comment on the insulting statement, Trump said, “Nobody has done more for Puerto Rico than me. I took care of them when they had the big hurricanes. Nobody gets along better with Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican people than me. They love me and I love them.”
“I don’t know anything about the comedian. I don’t know who he is. I heard he made a statement but it’s a statement that he made. He’s a comedian,” Trump added. “What can I tell you? You put comedians up, and I guess he went on early in the show.”
23-year-old Argentinian stabbed to death by girlfriend for greeting another woman on a street
A tragic incident involving a 23-year-old Argentinian man unfolded when he was fatally attacked by his jealous girlfriend after he greeted another woman on the street.
Jealousy, when taken to extremes, can have devastating consequences. The heartbreaking story of Mariano Grinspun from González Catán in Buenos Aires province illustrates this, as he was stabbed to death by his girlfriend, Natacha Palavecino, following a brief exchange with a former schoolmate.
The shocking event took place in the early hours of October 21, near the intersection of Balboa and La Bastilla streets in González Catán.
While walking hand in hand with Palavecino, Grinspun encountered a woman who greeted him and inquired about his well-being. This innocent interaction triggered an uncontrollable reaction from his girlfriend, who drew a concealed knife and attacked.
The woman who greeted Mariano was an old classmate, but this detail meant little to Palavecino. Instead, she saw another woman daring to speak to her boyfriend and believed she had to pay a severe price for it.
In a fit of rage, Palavecino slashed the woman, identified by Argentinian media only as LC, across the armpit.
The victim collapsed but managed to thwart another stab attempt with her hand. Had it not been for an unidentified man who intervened and pulled Palavecino away, the situation could have ended much worse.
Regrettably, Mariano Grinspun was not as fortunate. After failing to kill the woman who provoked her fury, Natacha Palavecino redirected her violence toward him, stabbing him in the chest.
Surveillance cameras captured the couple arguing for several minutes, during which Grinspun fell to the ground multiple times.
At one point, he could not rise, prompting his 32-year-old girlfriend to physically assault him with her bare hands. Eyewitnesses called emergency services, but sadly, they were unable to save his life.
An ongoing investigation has uncovered a violent history associated with Natacha Palavecino.
In 2021, she received a one-year prison sentence for stabbing a former boyfriend in the chest, and even Mariano had previously filed a police report against her for making threats and inflicting physical injuries.
Last July, a restraining order was placed against Natacha, requiring her to have no contact with the victim. Nevertheless, when the order expired, he chose to rekindle their relationship.
Now, Palavecino, aged 32, faces the possibility of spending many years behind bars for the murder of her boyfriend and the attempted murder of the woman who merely greeted him on the street.
Kenya’s Kithure Kindiki sworn in as deputy president after court challenge
Kithure Kindiki has been sworn in as Kenya’s new deputy president after a court lifted orders barring his inauguration following legal challenges by his predecessor, who was impeached by parliament.
On Friday, Kindiki took his oath before the chief registrar following weeks of legal tussles after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua challenged his appointment in court.
President William Ruto, who nominated Kindiki as his deputy, as well as diplomats and more than 100,000 people attended the event at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in the capital, Nairobi.
Friday was declared a public holiday for Kindiki’s inauguration.
The senate removed Gachagua from office in October on charges of gross violation of the constitution and stirring ethnic hatred – accusations that he rejected and described as politically motivated.
Ruto named Kindiki, then the interior minister, as Gachagua’s successor within hours of the impeachment.
The high court had put a hold on his inauguration after Gachagua and his supporters filed more than 30 legal challenges to prevent his firing and replacement.
But the stay order was lifted on Thursday, with judges saying that, according to the constitution, the position of deputy president should not remain vacant. Kindiki’s nomination was confirmed by parliament on October 18.
Ruto appointed Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi as interior minister late on Thursday.
Gachagua’s legal battles extended months of political turbulence in East Africa’s largest economy, which began with nationwide protests against unpopular tax hikes in June.
In response to the deadly protests, Ruto added opposition members to his cabinet to create what he called a unity government in July, easing some of the tensions after demonstrators stormed parliament.
The political realignment sidelined Gachagua, who had been a valuable running mate for Ruto during his election campaign, and helped secure a large block of votes from the populous Mount Kenya region.
Gachagua’s impeachment highlighted divisions within the governing United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and friction between him and Ruto. He had been accused of insubordination when he opposed the government’s policy of forced evictions during heavy rains that caused flooding and deaths.
Kindiki was also one of the top contenders to be Ruto’s running mate during the 2022 election, but was eventually appointed to the interior ministry after the president took office in September that year.
Before becoming interior minister, the 52-year-old former law professor served as a senator from the vote-rich Mount Kenya region.
Russia fines Google $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 000,000,000,000
Russia has fined Google an eye-popping 20 undecillion rubles ($2.5 decillion) for removing Russian state-run and government YouTube channels in the wake of the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In other words, Google faces a $2.5 trillion trillion trillion bill from the country. Typed out in full, that figure is $2,500,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.
Russian news agency TASS reported that Google owes Russia a 36-figure sum for violating the country’s administrative offenses code by banning YouTube channels.
The report added that if Google fails to pay the fine within nine months, it will double every day thereafter, with no upper limit to the final figure. Google will be locked out of Russia until it pays the fine.
Russian news outlet RBC first reported on Tuesday that a Russian judge was considering “a case in which there are many, many zeros” after calculating the value of claims brought by 17 YouTube channels against the tech giant.
In its Q2 2024 report, Google acknowledged the pressures it had faced from Russian authorities.
“For example, civil judgments that include compounding penalties have been imposed upon us in connection with disputes regarding the termination of accounts, including those of sanctioned parties. We do not believe these ongoing legal matters will have a material adverse effect,” the company said.
A private complaint was placed with authorities in 2021 when the Tsargrad TV channel and RIA FAN were blocked from YouTube owing to U.S. sanctions. However, it became a state matter when Google blocked the Russian state news agencies RT and Sputnik after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Even if it were inclined to accept the dubious judgment from Russian authorities, Google, which has a market value of $2.24 trillion, would obviously be unable to pay even a sliver of the fine. The company generated $73.7 billion in profit globally last year.
Based on those profits, it would take Google 33.8 quintillion years to pay the current fine, a period that will continue to double in length the longer the fine is unpaid.
The fine also dwarfs the entire value of the global economy, which stands at around $105 trillion.
In a post on X, Nigel Gould-Davies, senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, described the sum as “an insane number,” explaining it was equivalent to “1.9 x 10 to the 15 times greater than current global GDP.”
“About 5 x 10 to the 12 days have passed since the start of the universe,” he wrote.
“So even if Google gave Russia everything the world produced this year, every day since the universe began, it would only have paid about 3% of this fine.”
In October 2023, Google’s Russian subsidiary was recognized as bankrupt by a Moscow court. The company had initially filed for bankruptcy in the summer of 2022 after Russian authorities seized its bank account, meaning it couldn’t pay staff or vendors.
The country has put pressure on Google over what Moscow views as illegal content. However, Russia has not yet blocked the use of Google among its citizens.
Zelenskiy blasts allies for ‘zero’ response to Russia’s deployment of North Korean soldiers
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy blasted what he called his allies’ “zero” response to Russia’s deployment of North Korean troops for the war in Ukraine, saying a weak reaction would encourage Russia’s Vladimir Putin to beef up the number of North Korean troops.
In an interview with South Korea’s KBS television channel, Zelenskiy said he believed Moscow was already trying to agree for North Korea to send engineering troops and a “large number of civilians” to work at Russian military plants.
“Putin is checking the reaction of the West … And I believe that after all these reactions, Putin will decide and increase the contingent … The reaction that is there today is nothing, it is zero,” Zelenskiy said.
Zelenskiy began publicly warning of North Korean involvement in the war on October 13 and even though Western allies have since described the move as a major escalation, they have not announced retaliatory measures or said they are preparing to implement any.
South Korea has offered intelligence assistance and wider cooperation on the matter, and it is considering sending a team of military monitors to Ukraine, according to South Korean officials.
In prepared remarks to the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, Ukraine’s delegation named three North Korean generals it says are accompanying thousands of Korean People’s Army troops deployed to Russia in aid of Moscow’s war in Ukraine. The direct tone of Zelenskiy’s rhetoric pointed to mounting Ukrainian frustration over the extent of Western support for Kyiv at a critical time in the war with Russia, with the clock counting down to Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election.
Russian troops have been slowly advancing for months in eastern Ukraine and Kyiv’s outgunned and outnumbered forces have struggled to find a way to hold them back.
Russia has not denied the involvement of North Korean troops in the war. North Korea initially denied involvement, but has since defended the idea of deploying troops as being in line with international law.
Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood told the Security Council on Thursday that Washington had received information indicating that “right now” there are 8,000 North Korean troops in Russia’s southern Kursk region, which borders on northeastern Ukraine.
In his comments, Zelenskiy said he was surprised by the “silence” out of China, the world’s second economy, over the troop deployment.
“The Russian Federation discussed this issue with the West and confirmed that yes, there are military personnel from North Korea who will fight against Ukraine,” he said.
Morocco: Economist arrested during Macron’s visit
A Moroccan economist known for his human rights work has been detained after criticizing the government in remarks posted on social media during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to the North African kingdom.
Prosecutors arrested Fouad Abdelmoumni in Casablanca on Wednesday and announced that he was being investigated on suspicion of spreading false information and accusing others of crimes on social media, Morocco’s state news agency reported. If charged and convicted, he faces up to five years in prison under cybercrime laws.
“This arbitrary arrest is part of a series of harassments targeting Abdelmoumni, as a reprisal for his bold positions, his opinions and the defence of human rights,” the Moroccan Association for the Support of Political Prisoners said in a statement published on Wednesday. “This arrest represents a new escalation in the authorities’ policy of repression against political and human rights activists in the country.”
Mr. Abdelmoumni, a former political prisoner, is the coordinator of the association.
As Mr Macron visited Rabat with Moroccan leaders including King Mohammed VI, the activist claimed in a post that Morocco was trying to “blackmail” France using methods such as spying and refusing to cooperate in managing illegal immigration.
Abdelmoumni has not yet been formally charged. When he appears in court on Friday, he will likely be charged with crimes related to the article, said one of his lawyers, Souad Brahma.
In Morocco, authorities can detain people under investigation for 48 hours without charging them.
Ms. Brahma said Mr. Abdelmoumni was arrested for expressing his opinion and called his detention a violation of his right to freedom of expression. She said she was denied the opportunity to visit him on Thursday, despite having received permission from the court. The authorities have not responded to allegations that the arrest was politically motivated.
Throughout his visit, Mr. Macron spoke of opening a new chapter in relations between France and Morocco, after years of tensions.
Amnesty International and the Paris-based nonprofit group Forbidden Stories published a report alleging that Moroccan authorities used Israeli software Pegagus to infiltrate the electronic devices of human rights activists, including Mr. Abdelmoumni, and politicians, including Mr. Macron.
Morocco has vigorously denied the allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit.
Mr. Abdelmoumni, 66, has been a prominent human rights advocate since his arrest and torture along with other left-wing activists during King Hassan II ’s era of repression, known as the “Years of Lead .” He has publicly supported pro-democracy efforts in the country, including during the Arab Spring and the “Hirak” movement. Morocco’s 2017
After the Pegagus software investigation, Abdelmoumni was among the activists profiled in a Human Rights Watch report 2022
The report states that an anonymous person released a video of him and his partner (now his wife) having sex, likely captured by a hidden camera inside the air conditioner in his home. In Morocco, sex outside marriage is a crime, and information about their relationship was later published in pro-government media, in an operation that Mr. Abdelmoumni said was aimed at intimidating him.
This week, he took part in a vigil demanding justice for a Moroccan nationalist who disappeared in France in 1965 and appeared at the court where Morocco’s former human rights minister was being tried. He was on his way to a meeting of the Moroccan Association for the Support of Political Prisoners when he was arrested.
Mr Macron’s political party helped push through a resolution in 2023 condemning human rights abuses in Morocco in the European Parliament. However, the two countries have recently strengthened their political and economic ties. This week, they announced economic deals and lucrative contracts on projects ranging from transport to desalination infrastructure. Mr Macron also reiterated his support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. .
During his three-day visit, Mr Macron did not mention human rights in speeches he gave at a business forum, to the country’s French community or to the country’s parliament.
Source: Africanews