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FUEL PRICE & DEBT UNDER PF AND UPND – THE DIFFERENCE IS IGNORANCE AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

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FUEL PRICE & DEBT UNDER PF AND UPND – THE DIFFERENCE IS IGNORANCE AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY. —————————-

Three years after assuming power, it should be expected that UPND could have understood how fuel was managed under PF. Isn’t it shameful for government that Fred M’membe who has never been in government would account himself to the public more accurately that UPND agents on this matter.

Let me put it very clear – PF government never owed any money to the suppliers of fuel. Go and ask the minister of energy if those in finance have failed to explain this to you.

Government maintained an ESCROW account. This account was maintained by TAZAMA and Ministry of Energy. An ESCROW account is/was not a treasury account. In other words, this account did not belong to government, but it is/was a third party account.

This account used to receive money from OMCs which we’re buying fuel from TAZAMA to their pump stations and using that money to pay suppliers who were supplying fuel to TAZAMA.

The only involvement of Treasury in this operation was to make subsidy contribution as when government refused for suppliers to increase the pump prices.

Now, what about the so called money owed to suppliers?

First of all UPND should reduce on cheating people deliberately, that money you have raised to $700 Million was standing at $480 Million at the time PF left office.

Secondly this was not a debt. This was an ESCROW account differential. As I said earlier, an ESCROW account is not a government account but a third party account. Even if you love taking on debt, this is just too much. The difference of $480 Million arose from two factors; time lag and reconciling items.

The truth of the matter is that there was a time lag between suppliers putting fuel into TAZAMA and OMCs paying for that fuel. This should be a no brainer. There was also several reconciling items whereby some suppliers were double counting and others were even producing fake invoices.

Let us see or hear UPND disputing this fact.

The reconciliations which were done would clearly show this and if UPND is serious, this is very easy to see and explain.

I strongly recommend that UPND should stop misleading people. There was no fuel debt that PF left. The ESCROW account has always been a third party account and it has never belonged to GRZ. The current prices of fuel show the political philosophy of UPND and their negotiation skills for and on behalf of their employers. The Zambian people.

It is utter senselessness to blame PF on current fuel prices –

Restoring EVERYTHING PATRIOTIC.
MK13.05.2024

Pastor and his wife Jailed for 34 years for raping and assaulting church members over 20 year period

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A Nigerian pastor, Michael Oluronbi and his wife Juliana, have been sentenced to jail for 34 years in the UK after Oluronbi was found guilty of sexual offences against six women and a man.

He abused children and adults for over 20 years after convincing the victims to take part in “spiritual bathing to cleanse them of evil spirits.”

Olurnobi was jailed for 34 years for offences of multiple rapes of members of his congregation.

He was convicted of “fifteen counts of rape, seven counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault and at least 88 separate occasions on which he raped his victims.”

Birmingham Crown Court heard that some of the victims became pregnant multiple times, but Olurnobi would take them to abortion clinics, as a cover-up for the abuse.

His wife was jailed for 11 years for three counts of aiding and abetting rape, as she assisted Olurnobi in arranging abortions for the victims.

Both defendants will be required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

Oluronbi was linked to a Christian church in Edgbaston, Birmingham, the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, whose roots were in Nigeria. He had set up his own splinter group at another address and from where he began the “spiritual bathing.” The jury heard how the offences took place in Birmingham and London.

Sentencing “arrogant” Oluronbi on Friday, Judge Buckingham said:

“You claimed that God was instructing you to conduct holy baths. Its real purpose was to fulfil your insatiable sexual appetite. The children feared you and this enabled you to continue your grip. Your offending has had an extreme and severe impact on all of your complainants. Any attempt to suggest otherwise would be without foundation. You abused your position of trust – they trusted you like God.”

The judge continued:

“You did this because you are an arrogant, selfish and vain man. In my judgment, your offending must be one of the worst cases of sexual abuse of multiple children to come before the courts.”

When confronted about his offences, Oluronbi said “The devil made me do it”.

Phil Bradley QC, prosecuting, told the jury:

“The Crown’s case is that Mr Oluronbi used what he called ‘spiritual work’ as a subterfuge for that sexual abuse. The main tactic he employed was to claim that God had instructed him to administer ‘holy baths’ to some of his congregation in order to ‘cleanse’ them and protect them from evil influences. That activity began when his victims were children. There can be no doubt that its real purpose was to serve his sexual gratification.”

He added that for some of the female victims the offending “progressed to repeated rapes, on many occasions leading to unwanted pregnancies and terminations”.

“You will learn that this man, who was revered and feared by his victims, kept a vice-like grip on many of them and continued to abuse them well into adulthood.”

The victims described him as “controlling” and “almost like a king”.

Oluronbi was arrested in May 2023, at Birmingham Airport while trying to leave the UK for Nigeria.

Ludacris doesn’t think there’s been many artists who have had the emotional grip as the late 2pac

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Ludacris doesn’t think there’s been many artists who have had the emotional grip as the late 2pac.

The 46-year-old rapper sat down with Cam Newton for his Funky Friday podcast for an episode published on Friday. The two talked about professionalism in the music industry and who, in Luda’s experience, exemplifies true professionalism despite the subjective nature of the term.

“So this, again, is subjective. But for me, it would be the ones like the Jay Z’s. Like the 2pac’s, may he rest in peace, the [Notorious] B.I.G’s. It would be in the same conversation and category of what we arguably talk about as the greats,” Ludacris said at the 14:45 mark in the video above.

“Why I say that is because you could tell that they eat, breathe, sleep, shit rap music in the studio, like, just giving a heart. And I always say… Tupac, I don’t think there’s any artist that’s ever been that has had that type of emotional impact on human beings,” he added. “The way that he was able to just transfer what was going on in his heart through them damn speakers when you listen to it and affect people the way that he did.”

He continued, “Now, there are some people that came close, but this is just my personal opinion, man that Tupac, sheesh. But that’s what I would say. Those are some of the professionals.”

However, the Atlanta rapper didn’t limit his praise to the greats from yesteryear exclusively.

“I would say today, I will put Future in that category. You could tell like it’s the people … that they stay in the studio because they got something to prove to themselves. The Kendrick Lamar’s, definitely J. Cole, like, these are professionals in my eyes.”

Elsewhere in their conversation, Luda recalled the differences between coming up as an artist back then compared to now and how he hustled his way into mainstream success as an independent artist by investing in himself while also working part-time at a radio station.

“The times change however the foundational elements of getting things done— I don’t think they ever change and what I mean by that is I did the independent route,” said Luda. “So even though I was at that radio station I saved up enough money to put my own album out, mix and master, and pay for it.”

“I want to say it might might have took me $20,000 over for the whole Incognegro album, which later became Back for the First Time. The [album] that everybody knows with ‘What’s Your Fantasy’ on there and [‘Southern Hospitality’] and [‘Ho’] and all that.”

US to maintain its lead over China in the use of AI to pilot military jets

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Two Air Force fighter planes recently fought each other in the air in California. A pilot flew and the other by Artificial Intelligent (AI).

The second jet was flown by a computer system, and the most important civilian in the Air Force was sitting in the front seat. This show was the best example of how much the Air Force has improved in creating a technology that started in the 1950s. But there’s still more advanced technology to come.

The United States is trying to be better than China in using artificial intelligence in weapons. People are worried that in the future, machines with AI might be used in wars to choose and attack targets without human control. Authorities say this will never happen, at least not in the US. However, there are concerns about what an enemy might do, and the military believes there is no other option but to quickly deploy US capabilities.

Admiral said, “Whether you want to call it a race or not, it definitely is. ” Christopher Grady is the second-in-command of the military’s top leaders. “We both know that this will be a very important part of future battles. ” China is working as hard as we are.

A study of how artificial intelligence has been used in the military, what new technologies are coming soon, and how they will be managed.

From teaching computers to do things on their own

AI’s origins in the military come from a mix of machine learning and autonomy. Machine learning happens when a computer looks at data and rules to come up with answers. Autonomy happens when decisions are used to take action without needing more input from humans.

This started in the 1960s and 1970s when the Navy made the Aegis missile defense system. Aegis was taught how to find and stop missiles on its own using a set of rules made by people. It can do this faster than a person can. However, the Aegis system could not improve and its actions were only based on the rules it was given.

Air Force Lt. Col. Christopher Berardi said that if a system uses “if/then” it is probably not machine learning. Machine learning is a type of AI that involves creating systems that learn from data. He is assigned to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to help with the Air Force’s AI development.

In 2012, AI got better because computers were able to start analyzing information and writing their own rules using big data and advanced computing power. AI experts named it AI’s “big bang. ”

The new information made by a computer following instructions is called artificial intelligence. Machines can be programmed to make their own decisions based on rules they’ve been given. This is a type of AI that allows them to act on their own.

Trying out a new way for computers to help us find our way instead of using GPS.

The head of the Air Force, Frank Kendall, got to experience modern warfare this month. He flew in an F-16 fighter jet called Vista, which is controlled by artificial intelligence. They did a practice fight over Edwards Air Force Base in California.

While the jet is the most noticeable sign of the AI work being done, there are many AI projects happening at the Pentagon.

Service members at MIT spent a lot of time organizing pilot conversations to help train artificial intelligence. They wanted the AI to understand the important messages from the less important ones during flights. The aim was for the AI to learn which messages are important to prioritize so that controllers can see them quickly.

The military is making a new way to find your way without using GPS satellites.

In a future war, important GPS satellites could be targeted or disrupted. Losing GPS could make it hard for the US to communicate, find their way and do banking. It could also make it difficult for the military to work together.

Last year, the Air Force used a computer program on a laptop fastened to the floor of a military plane to find a different way to use the Earth’s magnetic fields.

We knew that planes could use the Earth’s magnetic fields to find their way, but it hasn’t been possible because planes make a lot of their own electromagnetic noise. There hasn’t been a good way to filter out the Earth’s signals from all the other signals.

“Magnetometers can detect very small changes,” explained Col Garry Floyd, who leads the Department of Air Force-MIT Artificial Intelligence Accelerator program. “If you switch on the flashing lights on a C-17, we could see it. ”

The AI learned from lots of data and figured out which signals to pay attention to. The results were really impressive, according to Floyd.
“We’re discussing the quality of tactical airdrops. ”

“We believe we have new tools to use if we have to work in a place where GPS doesn’t work. ” “We will do that,” Floyd said.

The AI has only been tested on the C-17 plane. Other planes will be checked to see if they can work without GPS. If they work, the military will have another way to fly if GPS doesn’t work.

US intends to apply significant additional tariffs on Chinese green energy imports – AP

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The Biden government wants to add big new taxes on electric cars, computer chips, solar panels, and medical supplies that come from China. This is according to a US official and someone else who knows about the plan.

Taxes on electric cars might go up four times from 25% to 100%. The people talked about the plan but wanted to stay anonymous because they weren’t allowed to give details before it was officially announced.

The taxes will be revealed on Tuesday. The Democratic administration is upset with China for making too many EVs and other products, which they think is a danger to US jobs and security.

Rich countries like the United States and Europe are worried that a lot of cheap stuff from China will take over their own factories. The US is worried that China’s green energy products will hurt the big investments made in green energy by the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Joe Biden in August 2022.

The extra taxes also have some political power as we head into the November election for president. Both Biden and Trump have said they will be strong when dealing with China, which is the second largest economy in the world and a rising rival to the United States.

Biden wants to compete with China, not fight with them. He wants to use government money to help businesses build new factories and technology, but he also wants to limit what we sell to China.

Trump wants to put big taxes on things from China to make the US sell more to China than it buys from there. He keeps saying that Biden’s support for electric vehicles will make American factory jobs move to China.

Tuesday’s announcement will likely keep some taxes that were put in place during Trump’s time in office on around US$360 billion worth of things from China. The new tax on imports would make products like syringes from China and solar equipment more expensive.

There is a chance that taxes could cause a bigger fight over trading between the two countries as they react to each other’s actions. China wants to be better at using technology and make more money.

China is making fewer lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, cell phones, and other electronic devices. This is happening as China is getting more criticism from Western countries.

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology made a new rule to better manage the lithium-ion battery industry and improve its quality.

A document was put on the ministry’s website for people to give their thoughts on. It says that companies should focus on making better technology, improving quality, and reducing costs instead of making their business bigger.

The draft says that lithium battery plants that are built in farmlands or industrial areas where building is limited should be closed.

Katherine Tai, who represents US trade, is reviewing the tariffs put in place during the Trump administration. Republican lawmakers, Jason Smith and Adrian Smith, are pushing for the review to be finished quickly.

“They wrote a letter to Tai this week saying that if the four year review is not done soon, it could cause big problems for US farmers, manufacturers, innovators, small businesses and workers. ”

Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown tweeted on Friday that tariffs alone are not sufficient. We must stop Chinese electric cars from being sold in the United States. “Full stop”

The Biden government will look into Chinese-made “smart cars” that can collect private information about the people driving them. In February, the Commerce Department said they are investigating if “connected vehicles” from China and other unfriendly countries could be a threat to our national security.

Not many Chinese electric cars are in the US right now. But officials are concerned that cheap models might come into the US soon, even with a 25% tariff.

A new car made by a Chinese company called BYD came out last year. It costs about $12,000 in China. The car’s quality is as good as expensive US-made electric cars, and it’s making the US car industry worried.

The Alliance for American Manufacturing, which is made up of businesses and the US Steelworkers union, shared a report in February. It said that bringing cheap cars from China to the US could seriously hurt the US auto industry. The report also said that the US auto industry makes up 3% of the country’s economy.

Janet Yellen, the person in charge of the money in the US government, visited China in April. She talked about how the Chinese government gives money to companies that make electric cars, their batteries, and solar energy equipment. The US government also wants to help these industries grow in America.

“China is now too big for the rest of the world to handle its large capacity. ” She said that the things China does today can change prices all over the world.

“When a lot of low-cost products from China are sold in the global market, it makes it harder for American and other foreign companies to stay in business. ”

According to Bloomberg News and The Wall Street Journal, there is a plan for new tariffs.

We can’t win with a team with so many injuries – Ten Hag after 0-1 loss to Arsenal

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Following Arsenal’s 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag likened managing the club to “swimming with your hands behind your back.”

The defeat marked United’s record ninth home loss of the season and left them with slim chances of securing European qualification.

Leandro Trossard’s first-half goal propelled Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table ahead of the final week of the season.

Meanwhile, Manchester United, who have only won one of their last nine games across all competitions (against relegated Sheffield United), find themselves in a challenging position.

Ten Hag once again faced defensive challenges, with midfielder Casemiro filling in at centre-back due to an injury crisis. Notable absentees due to injury included Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire, and Mason Mount.

Citing the team’s extensive injury problems, Ten Hag expressed the increasing difficulty of his job. As a former coach of Ajax, he finds himself navigating a challenging season at Manchester United.

“Any manager can always do something better, but I am two years here and I had only one time the full group of players, and you cannot progress a team with so many injuries,” Ten Hag said. “It is like swimming with your hands behind your back. You have to keep your head above water and we are trying to do that.

“It shouldn’t be like this, but I return to all the problems we have and you then analyse the performance. You have to see that we were competitive, but that is not what you want, of course; we have to win, we have to win every game.
“But at the moment, we are not at this position and definitely not this team with the injuries.”

Manchester United have two potential paths to securing qualification for the Europa League. The first is by defeating Manchester City in the upcoming FA Cup final later this month. Alternatively, they could secure a victory against sixth-place Newcastle at Old Trafford on Wednesday, preceding the final weekend.

However, there’s a risk of seventh-place Chelsea overtaking United for the Europa League spot, depending on the results.

Manager Erik ten Hag emphasised the importance of securing European qualification, highlighting the potential consequences of missing out.

It would be a significant blow for United to miss out on European competition altogether, especially considering their consistent participation over the past decade.

“It is very damaging,” he said. “That is the situation we are in, but still we can get there. We have the opportunities to take them and fight, even when the problems are massive, everyone knows this.

“We have to deserve it, especially the fans; they follow us on Monday [at Crystal Palace], and they understand the position we are in. Today they are behind us from the first whistle, they see the team needs backing and support, so we are united and that is very good.”

Leverkusen’s triumph against Bochum seals their 50th unbeaten run

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Bayer Leverkusen, the Bundesliga champions, continued their extraordinary unbeaten streak by thrashing hosts VfL Bochum 5-0 on Sunday.

This victory extended their unbeaten run across all competitions to an impressive 50 consecutive matches this season.

Just days before, Xabi Alonso’s team, eyeing a treble of titles, surpassed Benfica’s long-standing European unbeaten record from 1963 to 1965 with a 2-2 draw against AS Roma, securing their spot in the Europa League final.

Facing Bochum on Saturday, Leverkusen showed no signs of easing off. Bochum, the last team to defeat Leverkusen almost a year ago, proved to be no match for the champions.

Leverkusen asserted their dominance by scoring twice late in the first half against the Bundesliga’s previous season’s top performers, who had previously defeated them.

Patrik Schick put Leverkusen ahead in the 41st minute, while Victor Boniface extended their lead with a penalty in first-half added time. Bochum’s task was made even more difficult when they were reduced to 10 men following Felix Passlack’s straight red card in the 15th minute.

“I think already the Bundesliga—you can’t imagine how much that means for the club or the fans,” Leverkusen midfielder Robert Andrich said. “We’ll lift the trophy next week in our stadium.

It’s going to be very emotional. And then we go to Dublin and then we go to Berlin. We want to get two titles there and then go on vacation with the triple in our backpack.”

Amine Adli extended Bayer Leverkusen’s lead to 3-0 in the 76th minute, followed by Josip Stanisic’s low drive in the 86th minute. Stanisic then provided an assist for Alejandro Grimaldo to score with a tap-in during stoppage time.

With Leverkusen facing Atalanta in the Europa League final and Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final, they currently sit on 87 points with one Bundesliga game remaining this season.

Bayern Munich, who secured a 2-0 victory against VfL Wolfsburg earlier on Sunday, trails in second place by 15 points.

Alonso’s team has the opportunity to make Bundesliga history by becoming the first team to finish a season unbeaten if they avoid defeat against Augsburg at home on Saturday.

Leverkusen’s win over Bochum on Sunday also marked their achievement as only the third team in Bundesliga history to remain unbeaten in every away match of a season.

“After that red card, it was a completely different game for us,” Alonso told a press conference. “I am very satisfied with the result. It was important for us. Now we have a super goal on Saturday to win the title without any defeat. That has never happened before.”

“I didn’t hear any booing” – PSG coach after alleged fan jeers at Mbappe’s home farewell

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Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Luis Enrique stated that he was unaware of the boos directed at Kylian Mbappé by the club’s fans prior to his final game at the Parc des Princes.

Mbappé, the all-time leading scorer for the club, recently announced his departure from the Ligue 1 champions after seven years.

Whistles and jeers could be heard as his name was announced in the lineups before Sunday’s match against Toulouse.

“I didn’t hear any booing,” Luis Enrique said. “I heard lots of support. All I heard was applause, chants and joy, which I think it was what Kylian deserved. The fans were superb, as always.”

As Mbappé ran onto the pitch to warm up before Sunday’s 3-1 defeat, PSG’s ultra supporters displayed a huge banner with a giant image of Mbappé and the message: “Child from the Parisian suburbs, you became a legend of PSG.”

Kylian Mbappé played his last home game for PSG against Toulouse on Sunday. Getty
“I thought it [the tribute] was fantastic and very heartfelt,” Luis Enrique said. “It’s beautiful to recognise the work of a player of his level. He is without a doubt a legend of the club despite his youth. We still have some game left. I wish him the best of luck in his

Mbappé, widely anticipated to join Real Madrid as a free agent this summer, played the full 90 minutes on Sunday and marked his performance with his 27th league goal of the season.

When questioned about his decision not to substitute Mbappé to allow for a standing ovation, Enrique explained, “I chose not to take him off because every time I’ve done so in the past, there’s been considerable attention from the press. So, I opted to keep him on for the entire 90 minutes to avoid any frustration.”

In contrast, Luis Enrique opted not to field Keylor Navas on Sunday, despite the veteran goalkeeper sharing a farewell message to PSG fans on Instagram ahead of what was expected to be his final game at the Parc des Princes.

Navas, 37, whose contract with PSG expires in June, wrote: “Every second spent at the Parc des Princes was wonderful…It was an honour to defend this badge in this incredible stadium. I still have goals to achieve, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to say goodbye to what was my home.”

Asked why he chose to leave Navas on the bench and start Arnau Tenas in goal after resting PSG’s No.1 Gianluigi Donnarumma, Luis Enrique said: “Regarding Keylor, I haven’t had any news that it was his last game at the Parcs des Princes. So I make decisions based on what was best for the team.”

Navas got an ovation from the PSG crowd during the league title celebrations after the game.

Southgate goes mum about England stay

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England manager Gareth Southgate has expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, labeling it as an “amazing tournament.”\

However, he has declined to confirm whether he will extend his tenure beyond this year.

At 53 years old, Southgate’s contract is set to expire in December. Sources close to ESPN indicate that the Football Association is eager for him to continue as manager, potentially leading the Three Lions into the first-ever 48-team World Cup, to be hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Further reports from ESPN suggest that Southgate is being seriously considered as a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag if Manchester United opts to part ways with the Dutch coach in the near future.

Southgate previously deliberated over his future following England’s quarterfinal exit at the 2022 World Cup, ultimately reaching a decision to extend his contract beyond this summer’s European Championship in Germany.

In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Southgate said: “I think ’26 will be an amazing World Cup. I’m old enough to remember ’94 [in the U.S.] I didn’t go and obviously England didn’t qualify.

“But you know that any sporting event the U.S. are involved in hosting — and clearly Mexico ’86 I also remember — that will be an amazing tournament, which will be a different sort of challenge.

“If you think about the travel and the time zones compared to the last World Cup, it couldn’t be more different. Temperature changes, altitude and everything else that you could face. So that would also be an amazing tournament.”
Pushed on whether it would tempt him to stay on, Southgate said: “That will depend on playing well, getting results and wanting to stay. Any number of things would be wrapped up in that. But that’s for after this summer, really.”

There are potential logistical problems if United do try to appoint Southgate this summer. United would ideally want their new manager in early to oversee what is expected to be a summer of significant change under new minority owners INEOS.

However, Southgate has previously branded speculation linking him with the United job as “completely disrespectful” and is adamant he won’t consider his options until after Euro 2024, the final of which takes place on July 14. United travel to Norway to face Trondheim on July 15.

When asked whether he believes he will be in management next season or whether he would need a break from the game if he left England, Southgate said: “I don’t have any vision of what next year will look like because everything for me depends on this summer. Everything is geared towards ‘how do we win this tournament.’

“We’re clearly one of the teams that can win it. There’s big expectation, which is completely understandable given what we’ve done over the last five, six years. We’re very comfortable with that expectation. It’s brilliant that our supporters are excited about the team but it’s pointless to me looking beyond that really.”

Euro 2024 poses a major security test for Germany

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Ensuring the safety of both fans and players presents a daunting challenge for Germany as it prepares to host Euro 2024 this summer, amid a tense global climate marked by significant conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

From the potential threat of hooligans to the risk of terrorist attacks and cyberattacks, the organisers of the European Championship will need to be vigilant against a range of potential dangers.

Security forces will be tasked with safeguarding approximately 2.7 million fans, overseeing the security of 24 team base camps scattered across the country, and protecting the ten stadiums where 51 matches are scheduled to take place from June 14 to July 14.

Additionally, designated fan zones are anticipated to draw in around 12 million visitors, further emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures to mitigate any potential risks.

No leave for police
“Each country knows its troublemakers better than any other, and the foreign experts present in Neuss will be able to identify them more quickly,” Oliver Strudthoff, director of the IPCC, told AFP.

“The size of the delegations will depend on the number of fans and how potentially dangerous they are. England, for example, will have many more representatives than Switzerland,” he said.

During the matches, full staffing will be in effect as police officers are prohibited from taking leave throughout the tournament.

Furthermore, Germany will implement security checks at all nine of its borders.

“On trains and in stations, the federal police will be visibly stepping up their presence,” said a spokesman for the German interior ministry. The same applies to airports.

French gendarmes will assist the German police by conducting joint rail patrols on routes to and from France, as well as providing security at matches involving the French team.

Meanwhile, the British government has announced that over 1,600 English and Welsh supporters who have been issued stadium bans due to past violent behaviour will be prohibited from travelling to Germany for the duration of the tournament.

“Stop asking me” – Xavi loses patience after inquiry into Barcelona’s transfer plans

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Barcelona manager Xavi grew visibly frustrated during a press conference on Sunday, urging reporters to refrain from probing about the club’s transfer plans.

Currently, the Blaugrana are locked in a battle to secure even a second-place finish in La Liga this season. They trail behind Catalan rivals Girona by two points, though Barcelona have played one game fewer.

A victory over Real Sociedad on Monday evening could potentially see them reclaim control of second position.

However, inquiries regarding how a third-place finish might influence Barcelona’s transfer strategy dominated Xavi’s latest press conference. Despite his efforts to address the questions, the persistent probing eventually led him to lose his composure.

“I understand that right now it’s being written that some [players] are transferable or non-transferable, but right now there are no transferables as long as La Liga continues,” Xavi began.

“I don’t think planning depends on [finishing second]. For us, it is important to finish second. But the plan is not going to change. The relief is to win ourselves and the four games we have left.”

Asked whether he had made a decision on the future of Ansu Fati, who will return from his disappointing loan with Brighton & Hove Albion this summer, Xavi said: “Stop asking me about planning because I won’t say any names.”

Barcelona appears to be on the verge of securing their first signing of the summer with Real Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez, a long-standing target set to join on a free transfer as his contract expires.

While the club harbors ambitious aspirations, officials have stressed that formal plans will only materialize once Barcelona’s financial situation becomes clearer.

Vice-president Rafa Yuste emphasized the importance of meeting La Liga’s 1:1 formula, ensuring they have the financial strength to spend €1 for every €1 raised, before delving into transfer discussions.

The future of Ansu Fati is poised to spark genuine debate as he readies himself to return to Camp Nou. The 21-year-old embarked on a loan spell with Brighton last summer in a bid to regain fitness and form.

However, his playing time has been limited, starting just three times in the Premier League and tallying four goals from 25 appearances across all competitions.

Additionally, talks are imminent regarding Vitor Roque, whose agent has expressed intentions of seeking a permanent move away from Barcelona if assurances of increased playing time next season cannot be guaranteed.

https://youtu.be/LO2DCig33zs

Luis Diaz addresses future at Liverpool amid Barcelona, PSG links

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Luis Diaz has expressed contentment with his current situation at Liverpool amidst speculation linking him with a summer departure from Anfield.

The Colombian winger has become a crucial figure in Jurgen Klopp’s squad since his arrival in January 2022. With 13 goals across all competitions this season, Diaz has attracted interest from several top European clubs.

While a move to Paris Saint-Germain has been frequently mentioned, particularly with Kylian Mbappe’s impending departure from the Ligue 1 side, Barcelona’s admiration for Diaz is evident, although financial constraints hinder their pursuit.

Despite the transfer rumours, the 27-year-old seems inclined to prolong his tenure at Anfield. With his existing contract running until 2027, Diaz recently affirmed that he is not currently considering a departure from Liverpool.

In an interview with club media, Diaz said: “I have grown a lot. From the beginning of my career to today, I feel that with the passage of days and years, living each experience in each different team and coming to this great club that is Liverpool leaves you with a lot of learnings.

Liverpool is preparing to usher in a new era under the leadership of incoming manager Arne Slot, as the legendary Jurgen Klopp steps down from his role at the end of the season.

While Klopp’s final season may not have been filled with the usual glory, Diaz remains optimistic, believing that there are still valuable lessons to be gleaned from the campaign.

“You learn more and more to be a professional, to be a better person, to be a good teammate, and to be a good guy. The truth is that I am very happy to be here. Great years are coming for the club; I have no doubt about that.

“Personally, I will always try to do my best, always try to give 100%, to always stand out on the field, which is what I came [here] to do. I’m always grateful to God for every opportunity.”

Liverpool are set to welcome new manager Arne Slot to the team, with legendary boss Klopp stepping down from his position at the end of the season.

Klopp’s final season may have lacked glory, but Diaz believes there are still things to take from the campaign.

“For us, it was crucial to win the league and all the competitions we were in,” Diaz said of Klopp’s farewell. “Unfortunately, the results lately could not be achieved. We fell [behind] as a team, but we had a decent season, both individually and as a group.

“There are many things to improve so we can have a perfect season. But I’m happy and content to be here.”

Liverpool return to action on Monday when they travel to Aston Villa.

Marc Skinner dedicates Women’s FA Cup win to the Man Utd fans

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Man Utd manager Marc Skinner expressed his satisfaction in achieving his initial objectives with the club upon winning the Women’s FA Cup, fulfilling a promise to the fans.

United’s triumph marked a significant milestone as they secured their first major trophy at Wembley, overpowering Tottenham Hotspur with four goals in a remarkable 20-minute spree around half-time.

Since establishing the women’s first-team in 2018, United has been striving for success, buoyed by the unwavering support of their loyal fanbase.

This support was evident with nearly 5,000 fans attending the inaugural home game six years ago, and Wembley was awash in red as a sold-out allocation of 12,000 fans, including many who had been there since the club’s inception, filled the stands.

The presence of United shirts among neutral supporters underscored the club’s widespread appeal.

Ahead of the final, a bustling scene at Warwick Services on the M40 highlighted the fervent anticipation, with fans travelling from all corners to witness the historic moment.

Coachloads departed from Old Trafford at dawn, while many supporters opted to travel a day in advance to ensure they were part of the unforgettable occasion in London.

“I always said when I came here I wanted to deliver trophies for the best fanbase in the world,” Skinner told reporters as he left Wembley on Sunday evening.

“The ones that came out in force and the ones that couldn’t [bet at Wembley]—we dedicate that to you for everything that you give us. We want it to be the start, not the end, so we’ve got to kick on. But I want every Manchester United fan to celebrate and be proud of their contribution.”

For Skinner, who has come under fire from some fans this season, it was also the end of seven years of personal hurt.

He was previously a losing manager at Wembley in 2017, when his Birmingham City side were thrashed by Manchester City. He was then unable to set that right when Chelsea narrowly prevailed over United in last season’s final.

“It’s nice to feel and be in the moment with it,” the United boss explained. “The players have been incredible, and the staff have been incredible. We’re not where we want to be in the league; we have to caveat that.

We want to be higher up, of course. But to add a historic moment to our fantastic club feels great and we should spend a moment appreciating it.”

Skinner admitted that he found it so “lonely” in the technical area towards the end of his first Wembley experience that he had to have an assistant coach stand with him.

He also explained that Carl Green, one of his United backroom team, told him after the final whistle this time: “Take a moment, because in seven years you’ve come a long way.”

Whether the 41-year-old, who succeeded Casey Stoney in 2021, will be United manager next season remains unconfirmed. His contract is due to expire next month and it has been reported that the club has put forward an offer of a new 12-month deal.

“I don’t care about who tells me I can’t do something,” he said. “If anything, that’s my fuel. I want to lead this team into a successful era. Who knows, maybe that will happen. But for now, here, I’ve delivered what I said I would do to the fans, which is a trophy.”

American schools use AI to detect firearms as businesses lobby legislators for public funding

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Kansas might give $5 million to schools for cameras that use artificial intelligence to find people with guns. The governor has to agree to spend the money, and the schools have to meet certain requirements.

The AI software needs to be patented and meet certain security standards. It should also be used in at least 30 states and be able to detect different types of guns with a lot of detail.

Only one company meets all the requirements: the company that told Kansas lawmakers about them. That company, ZeroEyes, is a fast-growing business started by military veterans after the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.

The law that is waiting for the Kansas Governor to decide on. Laura Kelly points out two things. Following many well-known shootings, making schools safer has become a very expensive business worth billions of dollars. In some state capitols, certain companies are convincing lawmakers to make their own business ideas into state laws.

ZeroEyes is the only company allowed to do weapons detection for state programs in Michigan and Utah, and for new laws in Florida and Iowa, and proposed laws in Colorado, Louisiana and Wisconsin.

Last Friday, Missouri passed a law to help schools buy ZeroEyes, a type of software that detects firearms. They are offering $2.5 million in grants to support this.

“We don’t give money to lawmakers to include us in their laws,” explained Sam Alaimo, who is the co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of ZeroEyes. “If they are doing that, it means I believe they are doing their homework and making sure they are choosing a good technology. ”

ZeroEyes uses smart technology with security cameras to find guns that can be seen, and then sends a warning to a team of former police and military members who are always ready to respond. If ZeroEyes staff confirm it’s a real danger, they will send a warning to the school and local police.

Alaimo said the aim is to “take the gun before it’s fired or before it reaches the door. ”

Not many people doubt the technology. But some people wonder about the way laws are made.

The Kansas bill is very strict and requires a company to sell its product in at least 30 states. Jason Stoddard, who works on school safety and security in Maryland, said it’s the worst thing he’s ever seen in a law.

Stoddard is leading a group called the National Council of School Safety Directors. They want to make rules for school safety officials and stop companies from trying to sell their products to lawmakers.

When states spend a lot of money on certain things for schools, there is not enough money for other important safety things like locks on doors, strong windows, communication systems, and security staff.

Stoddard said that the weapons detection driven by artificial intelligence is really great. “But it’s likely not the main thing that 95 percent of schools in the United States need at the moment. ”

Some states are creating programs to give money to help pay for expensive technology. In Florida, the cost of putting ZeroEyes technology in schools in two counties was about $929,000.

Other companies also use surveillance systems that use artificial intelligence to find guns, not just ZeroEyes. One company, Omnilert, changed its focus from emergency alerts to detecting guns a few years ago. They have monitoring centers that work all the time to quickly check for guns using AI and notify local officials if they find any.

Omnilert does not have a patent for its technology yet. The US Department of Homeland Security has not declared it as a technology that helps to stop terrorism under a law from 2002 that protects companies from being sued. It has been requested for both.

Omnilert is used in many schools, but its products are not available in 30 states, according to Mark Franken, who is the vice president of marketing for Omnilert. However, he mentioned that this should not prevent his company from receiving state grants.

Franken has asked the Kansas governor to remove specific criteria from a law, because he thinks it makes it hard for businesses to compete.

In Iowa, a law was changed to give companies more time to get permission from the government to use their weapons detection software in schools. They now have until July 1, 2025. Democratic state Representative Ross Wilburn said that the designation was meant to encourage companies to create new technology.

“It was not made to help or favor any specific company,” Wilburn said during the House discussion.

In February, the chief strategy officer of ZeroEyes talked about their technology to the House K-12 Education Budget Committee in Kansas. The event showed how their AI can detect guns and there were many real pictures of guns found at schools, parking lots and transit stations. The presentation also mentioned that police arrested around twelve people last year because of ZeroEyes alerts.

Kansas state Representative Adam Thomas, who is a member of the Republican party, first suggested adding ZeroEyes to the funding bill by name. The last version took out the name of the company but still kept the rules that only apply to ZeroEyes.

Kristey Williams, a Republican who is in charge of the House K-12 Budget Committee, strongly supported that rule. During a meeting with senators she said that student safety is important and the state can’t wait for a long bidding process. She also praised the company’s technology as special.

“We didn’t think there was any other choice,” Williams said last month.

The $5 million money given may not be enough for all schools, but Thomas thinks it could increase later if ZeroEyes technology works well.

“I hope it works like we saw and stops gun violence in schools,” Thomas said. “I want it to be in every school. “

THE BOOING vs THE CATWALK (Tom and Jerry)

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By Maiko Zulu

THE BOOING vs THE CATWALK (Tom and Jerry)

Two incidents over the last few days made screaming news and here is my personal perspective of each:

1. The alleged booing of the Republican President at a sports event in Lusaka is a bitter but timely reminder that the expectations of the citizens in the ‘new dawn’ era in relation to the campaign promises specifically on the cost of mealie meal and the competitiveness of the Kwacha against other major convertible currencies have not been met. The masses are getting more and frustrated as they grapple with the high cost of fuel and energy with the basic necessity cost for a family of four hitting K10,000 per month.

It was at Independence Stadium where Kenneth Kaunda was booed and pelted with orange peels following the high cost of mealie meal in the early 90’s before losing power to former Trade Unionist FTJ Chiluba. But that was after 27 years of governing.

For the UPND, the booing has unfortunately started too early and is cause for HH and his team to put in double shift for half the salary in order to meet the expectations of an ordinary Zambian citizen who does not understand what debt restructuring is. It is that citizen who is saying “aba beve bakangiwa” who must be convinced that it’s still “Bally will fix it” because as it stands its “Bally will fix you”.

2. ECL’s ‘walk of freedom’ is indeed a sign of Zambia’s growing democracy and a great difference from Lungu’s tenure where opposition leaders were never accorded the freedoms the former President is enjoying. If it’s window shopping, it is well but if it’s with the hope of returning to power then unfortunately that was a walk of shame.

Lungu is at the very helm of the people who grounded the country to where it is today. How can the guy who bewitched you be the one to provide the medication for you. Yes the cost of living under UPND is very, very bad but that will never cleanse ECL’s terrible militia rule of terror and kleptocracy.

The man had all the opportunities to stand on the side of the majority of Zambians who loved him despite having no vision for Zambia but he chose to abuse his authority and diluted the dignity of the youth by creating a political animal which eventually failed to beat the will of the people who said Zambia deserves better.

#TheRevolutionWontBeTelevised

The Fall of Mighty Adolf Hitler and what the 12 wizards of State House in Zambia must learn from him for 2026- Dr. Chris Zumani

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The Fall of Mighty Adolf Hitler and what the 12 wizards of State House in Zambia must learn from him for 2026

By Dr. Chris Zumani Zimba

.….” We won’t be shocked to hear that HH, Christopher Mundia, Levy Ngoma, Cornelius Mwetwa, Jack Mwiimbu, Situmbeko Mudokotwane, Robert Chawinga, Graphel Musamba, Paul Kabuswe, Malambo Haimbe, Miles Sampa, Charles Milupi, Thabo Kawana, Nevers Mumba, etc have faked suicide after 12th August 2026: The end of brutal dictators and their brutal peers is always equally brutal”……

1. By witches or wizards of State House, I mean those who are perceived to be the most powerful people or most politically connected in Zambia today. For me, such include (1) Hakainde Hichilema (HH), (2) Christopher Mundia, (3) Levy Ngoma, (4) Malambo Haimbe, (5) Jack Mwiimbu, (6) Cornelius Mwetwa, (7) Dr. Situmbeko Mudokotwane, (😎 Paul Kabuswe, (9) Chief Mukuni, (10) Graphel Musamba, (11) Gilbert Phiri and (12) Thabo Kawana among many more others. This list is not rigid as it may be different if done by others.

2. Conceptually, a witch or wizard is a person who is believed to have fearsome magical powers to covertly to harm others, cast evil spells, inject pain, sorrow or even death on their targets. In all human societies, these covert powerful witches and wizards are feared, hated and even punished once they are discovered because their magical powers mainly make others suffer evil, disease, pain, mourning and untimely death. By their magical powers, wizards and witches are untouched, feared and can harm anyone as they deem fit or desire.

3. At State House, the President, his advisory aids, his trusted cabinet ministers and some times even his close personal allies or family members may inherit and exercise state powers collectively either directly or indirectly in similar ways as witches and wizards. These fearsome state powers and weaponry in the presidency is what makes himself and those around him to become state house ‘witches and wizards’ if these powers are not ethnically, professionally and legally used. The case of Adolf Hitler of Germany becomes the suitable story for HH and his peers to learn something today.

4. On 30th April, 1945, Soviet or Russian troops entered the heart of Berlin thereby marking the fall of Germany in WW2. The mighty and powerful Adolf Hitler’s eyes turned red, his body was dripping with water unstoppably like a foolish hippo and his heartbeat pumped faster like a broken helicopter’s engine. He desired nothing and no one around him: and all his people had run away from this powerful Hitler. The once upon a time Goliath wizard of Europe was now puffing like a baby and wished he was never born on earth!

5. In the afternoon of that same day, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his underground bunker in Berlin, so did his new wife, Eva Braun. As a chief wizard of WW2, Hitler knew that the people he tormented, tortured, imprisoned and even killed were coming for his life too. Hitler could not face his physical defeat, punishment, humiliation and death at the hands of people he called idiot boys and girls! He commented suicide!

6. Following Hitler’s suicide on 30th April, 1945, and in line with Hitler’s written wishes, Joseph Goebbels, his trusted political strategist as well as Minister of Media and Propaganda succeeded him as Chancellor for Germany. But Joseph Goebbels was not a free or happy too following the fall of Germany. He only served his country in this new capacity for a single day-for less than 24 hours.

7. The following day, 1st May, 1945, this Joseph Goebbels, the notorious minister of propaganda and acting Chancellor of Germany, and his wife, Magda Goebbels, had their six children poisoned to death and then took their own lives too. Berlin had foolishly fallen to the Russians, and so had the most powerful political wizards on earth at that time. The disgraced mighty wizards of Berlin had buried themselves into historic and legendary suicides!

8. This is important warning and timely political lesson for our powerful HH and those helping him to exercise and execute state power. In a democracy, state power does not last forever like kingship system. State power for all politicians is like a wind, it can blow East, West, South or North any day, any time without warning or any respect for human nature. Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels and their powerful colleagues must stand as a key lessons for our state house wizards today.

9. They have Edgar Lungu to ask, there is statesman Dr. Simon Miti to engage. Ask Dickson Jere, George Chellah, Amos Chanda, Freedom Sikazwe, Kaizer Zulu, Isaac Chipanpe or Panji Kaunda for KK. Let Mundia or Ngoma ask me to guide them for free. Let HH, Mundia, Ngoma, etc know that they are not the first or last people to run state house and the presidency! Don’t like Adolf Hitler or Joseph Goebbels. Be professional, be careful and be ethically sober because Adolf Hitler was like you at some point but he ended his life in suicide.

10. When God brings you to state house or around the presidency, you must stand humble, walk with professional insight, run with divine wisdom and make use of your vast political expertise to understand that all the state power of police, army, ZAF, DEC, ACC, courts, prisons, parliament, etc around you is both too temporal and practically fake. With this mind, you surely avoid becoming a political witch or wizard who will be haunted and hunted one day. Don’t bewitch too many people and families using state powers. Trust me, don’t please!

11. Unfortunately, it seems like Mundia, Ngoma, Mwiimbu, Mweetwa, Musamba, Haimbe, Phiri, etc think that political power belongs to HH forever and they are permanently free state witches or wizards who can inflict pain, sorrow and suffering on anyone they deem as a political threat to the throne of King Nebuchadnezzar-HH. You are making the same mistake Adolf Hitler made! In 2026, God will visit you in divine triumph and mob justice through the ballot. HH will fall in defeat! That will be the end of Bally and that will be the end of state powers!

12. In August, 2026 after HH is humiliated and humbled by the owners of state power, the Zambian people, Bally and all his powerful political wizards will feel the horror and pain of losing state power. That day is coming when our powerful wizards and witches will fail to drive freely from Community House to State House and will fail to eat the most delicious meal. On that day, Bally and all his powerful political wizards will start fearing the police officers guarding them with guns, it’s a day when the word GOOD will change meaning to BAD or TERRIBLE.

Trust me, our powerful political witches of state house won’t believe that Babylon has fallen to the people just like Hitler didn’t believe Berlin is captured and gone! On that day, l won’t be shocked to hear that HH, Christopher Mundia, Levy Ngoma, Cornelius Mwetwa, Jack Mwiimbu, Situmbeko Mudokotwane, Robert Chawinga, Graphel Musamba, Paul Kabuswe, Malambo Haimbe, Miles Sampa, Charles Milupi, Thabo Kawana, Nevers Mumba, etc have faked suicide. After 12th August 2026, HH and his powerful associates will understand why Hitler committed suicide! The end of brutal dictators and their brutal peers is always equally brutal. This is a mere political warning, not a political threat to anyone.

Dr Chris ZUMANI Zimba is a Political Scientist, Researcher, Author & Consultant specialized in Comparative Global Governance and Democratic Theories. He holds a PhD, MA, BA and Cert in Political Science. Zimba was President Lungu’s Political Advisor from December 2019 to August 2021. By philosophical approach, Dr. Zimba is a Pan Africanist as well as Afro-Christian by religion.
Email:chriszumaniZimba.cz@gmail.co

UPND WILL NOT WIN THE 2026 ELECTIONS – KALABA

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UPND WILL NOT WIN THE 2026 ELECTIONS – KALABA

… says Zambians want to restore order and dignity in the country.

LUSAKA, MONDAY, MAY, 13, 2024 [SMART EAGLES]

CITIZENS First President Harry Kalaba says the UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema will not win the 2026 general elections.

Speaking when he featured on the ‘Costa’ Programme on Diamond TV yesterday, Mr. Kalaba said Zambians are resolved and want to restore order and dignity that has diminished since the UPND took over power.

Mr. Kalaba said Zambians are also tired of having a few tribalists that want to divide the country.

” Zambians want to give Zambia back to Zambians because currently it is in the hands of foreigners. They are also tired of having a few tribalists who want to divide this country,” Mr. Kalaba said.

Mr. Kalaba said the UPND can win as many by elections as they want, but fate awaits them in 2026.

” The UPND were better off losing the by – elections so that they know where they stand as opposed to them winning, because them winning, they will go into that cocoon thinking that we are safe, we are comfortable, we have beaten all the opposition political parties and yet in real sense they continue losing. They were very violent our people were beaten in Kaonga ward,” he said.

Mr. Kalaba, the former Foreign Affairs Minister said the UPND is a failed project that has failed to put up any substantive project in the country.

” When you look at the UPND, they have been talking about CDF, CDF, the people in the villages can’t see CDF, they can’t feel it. The UPND are in charge of corruption, they are the elders and papa’s of corruption, the PF was a piece of cake, so these people are not honest and because they are not honest, they have reached a level if even being dishonest with themselves, they can say CDF is what is making them win, we will see in 2026,” Mr. Kalaba said.

´HH’s booing is a clear sign of failure´-Mundubile

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´HH´s booing is a clear sign of failure´-Mundubile

…the worst is yet to come as hunger mounts

13.05.24 Smart Eagles

The decision by Zambians to boo President Hakainde Hichilema at Heroes Stadium during a soccer march on Sunday is an ´open and public protest´ from the people saying he has failed as a leader according to hon. Brian Mundubile.

Hon. Mundubile, the leader of opposition in the Zambian parliament also cautioned President Hichilema that ´the worst rejection is yet to come´ emanating from the public rebuke and open contempt at Heroes Stadium.

“The booing signifies a greater rejection of President Hichilema by the people of Zambia,” hon. Mundubile said, “they are saying we are tired of fake and broken promises as we sleep on empty stomachs, the mining sector has failed while agriculture has been impelled back into the stone-age from the gains made under PF and President Lungu…I would be very worried at the booing if I was Mr Hichilema or a member of his team.”

The influential legislator added that the booing and rejection of Mr. Hichilema has come ´too early, even for a man with several spectacular broken promises´ like him.

“It took about 27 years for the late Dr. Kenneth Kaunda to be booed and pelted,” hon. Mundubile said, “it has taken just under three years for President Hichilema to be booed, it’s a national record in the history of Zambia and the winner is Mr Hichilema.”

Hon. Mundubile said in a democracy people often waited for elections to ´boo´ or ´vote out´ a failed leader, “but in the case of President Hichilema it appears Zambians can’t wait for 2026 to publicly reject him they want him out yesterday as the booing showed.´

The legislator also said he suspected the filled up to capacity stadium largely contained a rented crowd that was supposed to ´cheer´ support for Mr Hichilema but the PR stunt ´back-fired´ because ordinary hungry ´none-sponsored´ Zambians out-did the rented crowd hence the mixture of boos and cheers that ensued inside Heroes stadium.

“What needs to be fixed is the high cost of living affecting Zambians, the reversed fortunes of the mining sector and the death of the agro sector made worse by Mr Hichilema selling off all our maize stocks that has now left Zambians in abject poverty as start importing the same corn we exported. It makes no sense.”

Hon. Mundubile said, “if elections were held today President Hichilema would be beaten hands down, he would be trounced, and I challenge him to deny this as the booing continues. He must brace for the worst.”

If UPND thinks Lungu and Mmembe will give up fighting HH simply because he is now President, they are wrong- Romeo Kangombe

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HOW LIARS CREATE THE ‘ ILLUSION OF TRUTH’

By Romeo Kangombe

“Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth” this is the law of propaganda that Fred Mmembe and UKWA clowns are using against the UPND.

Yesterday Hakainde Hichilema received a thunderous welcome at heroes stadium. Jealous of this the opposition creates propaganda using moments when soccer fans would boo at their opponents as it is always the case during football games.

This fake propaganda first posted by UKWA clowns through Emmanuel Mwamba, later it was Mmembe the father of fake propaganda and they kept on repeating the same posts until people started thinking this could be true.

The game plan here is to force the government spokesperson to issue a statement refuting this propaganda and in so doing some people might believe in the story.

“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” George Carlin.

Edgar Lungu, Fred Mmembe and their clowns know very well that they can’t defeat Hakainde Hichilema on the ballot as such they can only get power through the back door. Confusion and anarchy! They first crafted the tribalism agenda against HH, it failed. They tried the privatization scheme, it failed. They tried throwing HH in Prison on treason charges, it failed again. They tried to block Hakainde Hichilema from contesting the 2021 general elections using the Hatembo issues but as usual HH was 10 steps ahead.

If UPND thinks Lungu and Mmembe will give up fighting HH simply because he is now President, they are wrong. Remember the devil became more vicious when he was defeated. “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil has come down unto you, having great wrath” Revelations 12v12

These people hate Hakainde Hichilema with a passion and they will do anything to make people rise against him.

We must not underestimate this evil agenda. It is time for the government and the party to invest in ways of thwarting propaganda. We are aware that these criminals have gone as far sponsoring young people to train abroad on how to destabilize a government. These are not people we can fight with kids gloves.

“Crush your enemy totally. Don’t go halfway with them or give them any options whatsoever. If you leave even one ember smoldering, it will eventually ignite. You can’t afford to be lenient.” 48 laws of power

God bless you

Romeo Kangombe
Sesheke Member of Parliament

IS ZAMBIA IN A SILENT STATE OF EMERGENCY: MALAWI VERSUS ZAMBIA’S DEMOCRACY

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IS ZAMBIA IN A SILENT STATE OF EMERGENCY: MALAWI VERSUS ZAMBIA’S DEMOCRACY

As Malawi heads to the polls next year, former president Professor Arthur Mtharika has declared he is recontesing the Presidency after losing in the last general elections which saw President Lazarus Chakwera emerge victorious.

In a comparison of democratic tolerance between Zambia and Malawi, experts including the international community have questioned why Zambia continues to redress the democratic gains it made after returning to multiparty democracy in 1991.

On the contrary, former president Arthur Mtharika has continued to enjoy the benefits of a former president with state security, an office and motor vehicles. Arthur Mtharika has 10 state security officers and six motor heavy SUV in his motorcade as he traverses the country holding mass rallies in his campaigns countrywide.

Ironically, Zambia’s former president Edgar Lungu is facing the complete opposite. His retirement benefits have been withdrawn, state security withdrawn and he is not allowed to move freely within and outside the country. He has been blocked several times from travelling outside the country for his routine medical check ups.

The main opposition the Patrotic Front have in the last three years of the current Hakainde Hichilema led government, never held a single rally. The democratic space has shrunk to colonial times. The opposition leaders are arrested daily for voicing out dissenting views against those in government.

Former president Edgar Lungu in his recent statement has querried his rivals government Hakainde Hichilema whether Zambia is in a state of emergency. Recently the former president was invited to a charity church service by the Catholic Church to a district on the copperbelt province in Zambia but heavy presence of police had been stationed through out along the great North road in an effort to block him from attending the said events.

Church gathering are cordoned off by police in riot gear soon as politicians attempt to go and pray. The police in Zambia is exercising heavy restraint on any gathering including Church gatherings and are on record threatening citizens from voicing out against the government.

As Zambia goes to the polls in 2026, stakeholders inclusing governance activists Brebner Changala have challenged the international community to call the current government to order in order to prevent chaos and instability ahead of the polls.

Zambia which was highly celebrated in Africa as a shining example of democracy and peace is on the verge of sliding into a fully fledged dictatorship.

By Victor Chaponda
DW-Malawi Correspondent
The author is a Malawian investigative journalist that writes for various international media including CGNTV, Denmark Daily, Euroasia Network etc.

Security top brass endorse Nawa for top Interpol job

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Security top brass endorse Nawa for top Interpol job

TOP security personnel and some eminent Zambians have endorsed the candidature of Mubita Nawa for the position to of Secretary General of International (INTERPOL).

Nawa, the Director of Administration in the Zambia Police Service, sponsored by the government of Zambia with blessings from the Southern African Development Community bloc and the African Union, is up against three candidates from Brazil, the United Kingdom and Pakistan.

While the task is challenging, top military personnel, a former diplomat, a senior government official and high ranking police officers have expressed confidence in the credentials of the Zambia Police Service Deputy Commissioner who they have interacted with at different times.

“I first knew him while I was studying at the University of Zambia. He was a young police student who just showed up from what I would call the blues because I didn’t know him before that and when he appeared, he was a jolly looking young man, eager to learn. We would meet in tutorials,” Inspector-General of Police Graphael Musamba said.

MMusamba told the Zambia News and Information Services that Nawa’s performance was exemplary.

“Outside the school campus, I found him in the field in the police and we linked up,” Musamba said.

From the position he is aspiring for, Musamba said, one can tell he has achieved in his experience as a police officer.

“From lower ranks to his present day rank which is deputy commissioner of police. This hasn’t been without hard work. His been consistent in his output and hence the police authorities thought of upgrading him to the position where he is but over and above that he is one person who has worked abroad as a police officer,” the Inspector-General said of Nawa’s stints with the United Nations peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Sudan.

The high flying Nawa’s other stints include working at the Interpol regional Interpol Bureau in Harare, Zimbabwe where he worked as the head of secretariat for more than six years.

“Our appeal is that we have one sole candidate.
“African states should rally behind us so that we push this candidate who happens to be a historical candidate in that no African candidate has ever vied for the same position. It is our humble appeal that you help our country, our Africa make it to the highest office in Interpol,” Musamba said.

He also appealed to countries beyond Africa, especially third world nations to embrace Nawa.

“We need a candidate who is not going to restrict himself to the needs of rich countries but somebody who is going to take a giant step to cover all third world countries that feel inadequately represented this is our last chance, our last call please acknowledge the candidature Nawa Mubita,” Musamba said.

Zambia Army Commander Sitali Alibuzwi added his voice to Nawa’s candidature.

“He has got massive experience in all the areas he has been engaged. I want to mention that he is a very strong candidate. At the SADC, we even pushed for his candidature and his achievements too numerous to mention here. He came out as a very strong candidate under SADC and for that reason everyone pooled resources and supported his candidature. Locally here he has been involved in many operations. I think his record speaks for itself at the police headquarters, including at the United Nations,” Lieutenant General Alibuzwi said.

The Army boss said Nawa is a person who is very dependable.

“His performance wherever he has been has been of the highest standard making him a very strong candidate for the post. Given a chance to also stand for that position, I would have gone for it because it uplifts the status of the country at the same time his CV will be uplifted, improved to a high state that he can get employment anywhere in the world and in any organization. These are positions where countries fight for because they also bring recognition of the status and performance of a nation when one performs at that high level,” Lt Gen. Alibuzwi said The Army Commander said contesting high profile positions brings about professionalism and proficiency that represents a country.

“I think given a chance he is going to do his best. I have got no doubt that he is going to perform in that appointment,” Lt Gen Alibuzwi said.
He said it is now time to remove the perception that Africans cannot perform.

“He is a professional officer just like the three (other candidates) that have vied for the position. For that reason we want to assure everyone he has the competence and capabilities to perform in that appointment,” the Army Commander said.

He said for Nawa to reach shows that he stood out amongst among his competitors for the same appointment.

” I want to encourage my brother that he has all it takes to perform in that appointment, what we can do now is to rally behind his candidature and make sure that he gets appointed because we have the substance to market out to the rest of the world also. We are professionals,” Gen. Alibuzwi said
Zambia Air Force commander Oscar Nyoni said he first met Nawa in mid 2000 during the joint
meetings with the Zambia Police, Zambia Air Force and the Zambia Army.

“And I also met him several times when we had SADC meetings or other international meetings. I think he’s an eloquent man and brings out good points during discussions. I think he is well suited for this job,” Lieutenant General Nyoni said.

He said the significant benefits to Zambia is that if he is appointed, he will put Zambia on the world map.

“It will be a good indicator to the world that there are Zambians out there who are competent and are able to do what the rest of the world is able to do. He being the first man in Africa for that assignment and so from my point of view I think it then brings out what the competences of Zambians, are especially the Zambian police officers,” he said.

And acknowledging Nawa’s engagement to international duties, former Zambia’s ambassador to Kenya Joyce Kasosa explained how hard working the deputy commissioner of police is.

“I know Mr Mubita Nawa very well. We have worked together at professional level, we have interacted for quite some time now. We knew each other when we worked at headquarters as you may be aware I was also a police officer. I worked up to commissioner of police. But the time we worked closely with Mr Nawa was when I was working as assistant commissioner at headquarters,” Kasosa said.

Lilayi Police College commanding officer Godfrey Mwanza said Mr Nawa has had his own mission experiences in the UN and Interpol regional office in Harare where he performed exceptionally well.

“When he returned we worked together and he continued to encourage others and also to inspire others so that they can take up these positions in the peace keeping missions. One other thing we need to acknowledge is that Mr Nawa held one very important international position – the of Interpol director regional bureau for southern Africa so this position was a high position, ” Mwanza said.

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Permanent Secretary Etambuyu Anamela appealed to other member states to support Nawa’s candidature.

“I am very well acquainted with his work especially in terms of regional policing, international policing and UN security missions where his role was very critical. He has a very solid background. He is the immediate past head of the southern Africa bureau for Interpol. That is a very senior and critical position within the Interpol structure,” Anamela said.

She said Interpol represents the global security architecture.

“Therefore in terms of Zambia’s own position and positioning it brings value added in our profile specifically but more importantly it gives Zambians an opportunity to influence an impact policy at the global security level so this is why it is important for us,” Anamela said.

By Benedict Tembo

Kalemba May 13, 2024

WE STILL INSIST, PRESIDENT HH’S END WOULD BE MORE CATASTROPHIC IF HE DOES NOT MAKE AMENDS-MPNVP

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WE STILL INSIST, PRESIDENT HH’S END WOULD BE MORE CATASTROPHIC IF HE DOES NOT MAKE AMENDS.

MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

We the Movement for Promoting National Values and Principles wish to reiterate our earlier stance that in the event that His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema does not make serious adjustments in his leadership, his ending would be more catastrophic than that of his predecessor!

The writings on the wall are becoming more readable each and every day that the Head of State is loosing popularity each and every new day that comes. What we are seeing are simply glimpses of greater things on the horizon. The indications we are seeing are tips of an iceberg.

Simply get on a public bus and listen to people’s conversations. Visit public places like the Hospitals, pay attention to private conversations of some people be it at places of work or at business premises. It is evident and imminent that many citizens of the Republic of Zambia are becoming more irrational, despondent and dissatisfied with the way things are turning out.

WHY THE UPND LED GOVERNMENT IS LOOSING IT!

It is not true that the decisions being taken by the Government are all wrong. The only reason why the UPND led Government is loosing popularity is that their decisions and policies are lacking PUBLIC APPROVAL hence much of the accomplishments end up unpopular! The Government is very far and aloof to the wishes and aspirations of the people. Lack of thorough consultations and concensusness is also lacking in the New Dawn Administration.

As an Organization, we were thrilled yesterday hearing proclamations from the Republican President at Heroes Stadium where he hinted on the need to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings through amalgamation and peaceful conflict resolutions. This was in reference to the outstanding disputes that has engulfed the Governing Body of Football in Zambia (FAZ). The President insisted that we should avoid using Courts in resolving our problems.

If only His Excellency could apply the same formulae in settling other anomalies among his political contenders and economic quagmires that has engulfed our Country, better results could undoubtedly be achieved.

It is therefore not too late for the Government of the Republic of Zambia changing the current narrative taking place in the Country alas the ending of President Hichilema’s legacy would be worse than that of ECL!

MPNVP – WE CHAMPION GOOD GOVERNANCE & DEMOCRACY!

My message to my brother, friend maybe and President of the Republic Hakainde Hichilema- Dr Moono

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My message to my brother, friend maybe and President of the Republic Hakainde Hichilema …

by Dr Moono.

Your Excellency.

Your attitude towards most freedom fighters or foot soldiers is pathetic.

I dont know where you derive that confidence from when you should be aware that you never voted for yourself to be in that seat.

Your Excellency you have ignored most of us who were with you physically and also in the background with you.

Remember how i coordinated all Seer 1 appearances as a go between as you didn’t want to be seen to be involved? Now you can’t even let Seer 1 fly in and out of Zambia.

As a highly qualified specialist in health you decided to keep NPF appointed Directors like your relative Dr Kennedy Lishimpi, Dr Sylvia Chila, Dr Jellita Chinyonga . Dr George Sinyangwe etc and many more others . Where is your conscious my brother? You have been given alerts of and on different fronts but us seems you dont just care. Do you know the consequences of you lose the election in 2026?

If you move around the Zambia communities including ghettos all that people are talking is that Edgar was far better than you and he is needed back into office. Do you understand the consequences of your abandoning the party? Ask yourself how you got where you are now without the party and poor people that voted en mass not for you but for UPND as a protest against the brutally of NPF under Lungu?

Lungu had promised to arrest, jail and probably kill you on his post immediate victory so Zambians decided to save your life hence voting Lungu out.

So what is this where in your government is just all about nepotism, regionalism persecutions, etc? Why have you decided to betray your own troops and dine with questionable characters.?

Let me inform you sir that not only Lungu but any opposition figure winning elections in Zambia today or any other day God forbid, they wont even respect the Law but will come out guns blazing after you.

I thought you were very analytical until now that i realize there is a very big problem.

Lastly but not least all the NPF people you have kept in embassies denying our people jobs same like in government departments back home willl come to haunt you my boss and you will be on your own. All those corrupt elements around you will vanish in thin air..

I know you don’t like knowledgeable people like Mr Innocent Matyola, Martha Mushipe etc but these are the people that can stand with you. We know u like those money 💰 lovers in your kitchen cabinet. Your position sir is above board an doesn’t need pettiness like when we were in opposition.

Now deal directly with Seer 1 not through me as you have betrayed both and many others . Bye

Dr Moono.

ZESCO RATE HIKE SHOULD BE REVERSED AND MINISTER KOPALA SHOULD RESIGN- UKA

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ZESCO RATE HIKE SHOULD BE REVERSED AND MINISTER KOPALA SHOULD RESIGN

We call upon the UPND to have a heart and give Zambians some relief from the unmanageable cost of living which is being increased by the ZESCO tariffs hike inflicted on the people.

The levels of lying and deceit from the UPND government have reached levels that would make Pinocchio’s nose grow so much that it would go round the world and poke him at the back of his head.

Energy Minister Peter Kapala should resign rather than trying to lie and pass the buck to the Board Chair and ERB Director General. He seems not to know what is happening in the sector that falls under his portfolio.

In April 2024, The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) approved Zesco’s request to increase electricity tariffs by 10 percent effective May 1, 2024. ERB Board Chairperson Reynolds Bowa, in an official statement, repeated that in April, 2023, the board approved Zesco’s multi-year tariffs for a five-year period from 2023 to 2027.

There has been extreme backlash from the public over the increase in domestic tarries by ten percent. The government has been trying to distance itself from the decision and claimed that it was executed without prior notice to themselves.

The Energy Regulation Board has since sent its Director General, Yohane Mukabe, on forced leave allegedly because the recent approval of Zesco tariff increment was done without full consultation and prior notice to the government.

In a meeting held at the beginning of May, the board also passed a vote of no confidence in the board chairman, Reynolds Bowa, over the same issue.

Both Reynolds Bowa and Yohan Mukabe have been made sacrificial lambs and thrown under the bus. The Energy Minister, Peter Kapala, is refusing to take responsibility for decisions made by two boards that he has appointed.

Kapala appointed both the ZESCO and ERB Boards. Both these boards regularly report to him. If they have not reported to him since April last year (2023), he should tell us why this is so. If indeed they have kept him in the dark since last year, why is he not dissolving the ERB and ZESCO Boards?

Before April last year (2023), ZESCO applied to ERB to increase tariffs each year from 2023 to 2027. Upon receiving this request from ZESCO, the ERB Board advertised (in 2023) that the public were being invited to make submissions and let their feelings be known on the tarries.

Minister Peter Kapala is telling us that he was not aware of this notification to the public which was all over the print and electronic media. Kapala and the UPND are claiming that they did not see the statement released last year, on Friday 21st April 2023, by ERB which clearly indicated that the domestic rates would be increased in 2024 to Kwacha KWh from 0.40 to 0.44.

The statement also states that in 2025, 2026 and 2027 the tariff will increase to 0.54, 0.63 and 0.73 respectively. Can Minister Kolala confirm that he had no knowledge of the ERB statement of last year warning everyone of the changes that were provisionally approved.

Kapala is in a Catch 22 situation.

If he did not see the Friday 21st April 2023 ERB statement then he is incompetent and not upto his job. It means he cannot be given the responsibility of overseeing our energy sector. He took his eye off the ball.

If he did see the advert, the question which arises is why he did not do a thing about it? He froze into inaction.

the Energy Regulation Act under Section 7(2) gives the Minister the power to “…give to the Board general or specific directions …. relating to the performance of its functions and the Board shall give effect to those directions.”

Why does the minister not reverse the hikes? Rather than saying the UPND did not know about the increase and just leave things as they are, the UPND should reverse the increase. After all a certain politician said it was ‘foolish’ to raise electricity tariffs whilst there is load shedding.

The truth of the matter is that these increases are part of the conditions pushed onto us to get the debt restructuring. UPND have sold our souls to the World Bank and IMF.

Feigning surprise and lack of knowledge of these ZESCO hikes is just one instance of the long unending line of electric lies from the UPND.

SAKWIBA SIKOTA SC.,
PRESIDENT
UNITED LIBERAL PARTY

CHANGALA BOOING PROPAGANDA , SIGN OF OPPOSITION DESPERATION AND CHEAP POLITICS

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CHANGALA BOOING PROPAGANDA , SIGN OF OPPOSITION DESPERATION AND CHEAP POLITICS

By Mark Simuuwe

The booing PF propaganda by old men like Bredner Changala who may have watched soccer from their bedroom , is cheap politics.

Zambians should forgive Bredner Changala because his appetitie to talk is driven by his stomach . We know him well .

Changala should know that PF is gone and it wil never come back . Just their current internal wrangles go to demonstrate why they failed to run the country.

Changala is pushing an agenda for a dead horse.

What he does not realize is that PF died when they started fighting among themselves the day ECL became president and this is the major destruction that led them to the grave apart from failing to run the country .

PF has been a failed project in which almost 80 percent of the cabinet wanted to be leaders of the party.

Non of the senior officials want to be led by the other . This is a sign of a failed project .

Those who stole public funds and are being caught with money cannot advise us how to run the country . People who closed media houses and killed citizens for merely wanting to assemble cannot tell us about freedom and rights .

Those who gassed citizens, created a debt mountain which has brought us to the mess we see in some sectors cannot tell us how to run the country .

Those who closed Indeni and failed to pay council workers cannot tell us how to run the country.

Those who allowed thuggery behavior and militia to take away peace from bus stations and markets cannot tell us how to run the country.

They ran a government of the corrupt , for the corrupt and by the corrupt.

Coming to soccer at the Heroes Stadium yesterday;

Many of those who watched yesterday’s match have been taken aback at the level of cheap politics and propaganda being driven by the opposition political parties .

PF carders like Bredner Changala ought to know that such type of cheap politics are going to damage the image of the opposition more as those electorates that went to watch soccer do well remember that nothing of the booing sort took place .

Sadly , we have old men like Mr Changala who are desperately wanting to remain financially relevant by preaching propaganda and lies .

As I have said before , lies have short legs . It is important for the PF to realize that creating such narratives does not only defeat the whole idea of practicing clean politics but creates more damage and the little confidence that citizens have in the opposition once citizens discover that such are mere assertions.

To date , the same Changala and the PF have failed to produce even a video to prove the booing . This is how dirty their propaganda is .

They have no sense of shame to lie . It is these lies which made Zambians vote them out of power .

After stealing so much money from citizens , destroyed mines , closed media houses , closed Indeni , failed to pay council workers , failed to recruit youths caught with Ukwa bags of money which is being recovered , caused so much bloodshed and death, and state sponsored terrorism , they have now resorted to preaching lies as a way of campaigning by deceit .

PF are so bitter that it is difficult even for them to make sense .

People who failed to run the country cannot advise us how to run the country.

UPND ASSERTS FOOTPRINTS IN WESTERN PROVINCE AS 600 DEFECT TO RULING PARTY IN LUAMPA DISTRICT

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UPND ASSERTS FOOTPRINTS IN WESTERN PROVINCE AS 600 DEFECT TO RULING PARTY IN LUAMPA DISTRICT.

12/5/24

The ruling UPND has continued asserting its footprints in Western Province as 600 remnants of opposition parties defected to the ruling party in Luampa District in a colourful event this afternoon.

There was jubilation of song and dance as the defectors were received by Provincial Vice Chairman for Politics Mr Austin Muneku, who commended them for choosing UPND which is the party of choice in Western Province.

Mr Muneku who is winding up his tour of all 16 districts in Western Province, is accompanied by Western Province Presidential Campaign Team Chairman Max Kasabi, Provincial Youth Chairman Jack Mwanga, Provincial Vice Chairperson for Strategy and Mobilization Rachel Kuliwa Sinyama and Provincial Trustee Memory Mwangala Mubita.

The thrust of the tour is to mobilize by bringing in more people and growing the party in readiness for 2026, which our hard working and visionary leader President Hakainde Hichilema must win with bigger margins than 2021, the Provincial Vice Chairman for Politics told the jubilant and cheering crowd.

And speaking for the defectors, Smth Tepa Kaunda, who is former PF losing Council Chairperson and acting District Chairman, cited the successes scored by the New Dawn Administration such as peaceful co existence, and massive development being rolled out in all districts of the Province.

Meanwhile former PF District Vice Secretary David Kahalu praised President Hichilema for the recruitment of 37,000 teachers, 11,000 health workers and many who have been recruited in the security wings.

Other senior PF officials who defected at the same meeting are:

Former PF District Youth IPS
Chindumba Kayombo

Former PF Constituency IPS
Davy Zangata

Issued by:

Spuki Mulemwa
UPND Western Province Presidential Campaign Team Spokesperson.

\

South African president labels party’s burning flag campaign Ad as treason

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A campaign video for South Africa’s opposition party showing the country’s flag in flames has stir up tensions just weeks ahead of national elections that are seen as the most pivotal since the end of the apartheid system of racial segregation 30 years ago.

The opposition Democratic Alliance says the ad is a symbolic depiction of what it claims will befall the country if the ruling African National Congress, or ANC, forms a coalition with two other parties to remain in power after the May 29 election.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who leads the ANC, has called the ad “despicable” and “treasonous.”

State broadcaster SABC said on Thursday it would not air the video because of an alleged “outcry from South Africans” and that airing it would only be “fueling the outrage.”

Some say the ad accurately portrays the deep problems of the African continent’s most advanced economy.

In the video, which has been posted on social media and on the Democratic Alliance’s social media pages, a narrator says: “This election is about survival.”

“Unite to rescue South Africa,” the voice adds as the video then plays in reverse and the flag emerges intact, with the caption “VOTE DA” over it.

The Democratic Alliance has come up with controversial ads in past elections but critics say burning the flag — for many a symbol of their liberation from apartheid goes too far, though burning the national flag is not illegal in South Africa.

The multicolored flag was adopted after the first all-race elections that brought the ANC to power under Nelson Mandela in 1994 and officially ended apartheid.

“It is that flag that unites all of us,” Ramaphosa said earlier this week. “It is despicable that a political party, as it seeks to express itself, go and burn this symbol of our unity. The symbol of our existence as a nation. And I think it is treasonous.”

Racial undertones remain in the country, which is still uneasy about its history of brutal segregation. The opposition Democratic Alliance is the only one of South Africa’s main political parties that is led by a white politician and has sometimes been accused of prioritizing the interests of the country’s white minority.

Thuli Madonsela, who helped draft a new democratic constitution following the end of apartheid, said on the social media platform X that she is concerned the ad’s designers may harbour “unconscious rage against our flag.”

DA leader John Steenhuisen said in a campaign speech in the city of Johannesburg on Thursday that the video was “the most successful political advertisement in our democratic history,” claiming more than 4 million people have viewed it online and “millions more” have seen or heard it on other TV and radio stations.

He said Ramaphosa and the ANC’s history of corruption and mismanagement are to blame for the economic crisis that now plagues South Africa, with the official unemployment rate at 32% — the highest in the world. More than 30 million South Africans live in poverty, according to the World Bank.

Analysts predict the election will be a turning point for South Africa and that the ANC will lose its parliamentary majority for the first time, requiring it to form a coalition to stay in power.

Some say the DA’s campaign ad is legitimate. On Wednesday, SABC published an interview with political analyst Solly Moeng, a Black political analyst.

“The country is in turmoil, the country is burning,” said Moeng. “The DA is portraying the country, the symbol of the country, which is in pain, turmoil, burning.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” he said.

– Source: Africanews

Inside the Opulent Paradise: Wicknell Chivayo’s Lavish Mansion Furnished by South African Company Leaves Netizens in Awe

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Wicknell Chivayo Shows Inside Lavish Mansion Furnished by SA Company

Flamboyant businessman Wicknell Chivayo recently took to his social media accounts to share a video tour of his newly furnished luxurious mansion.

Located along Poland Road in the opulent Gletwyn suburb, adjacent to the late Edzai Kasinauyo’s residence, Chivayo’s house exudes grandeur and elegance.

Exquisite Furnishings by Norman Bakos Signature Collection
Captioning the video, Chivayo expressed his gratitude to Norman Bakos Signature Collection for their exquisite work in furnishing his mansion.

“MAKA TANGIRWA NE DARE…🙏🙏🙏🐐🤑💰thank you NORMAN BAKOS SIGNATURE SA you’re the best…👏👏❤️,” Wicknell captioned the video.

The video showcased each room, revealing the impeccable taste and attention to detail in the design. You can watch the video below:

Netizens React As Wicknell Chivayo Shows the Inside of His Lavish Mansion
While many users admired the interior of Wicknell Chivayo’s mansion, some raised concerns about the public display of his personal space. Comparisons were drawn to other prominent figures, such as Sam Holdings, whose downfall was attributed to a lack of discretion. Here are some of the comments:

@ashbutau:

That’s a beautiful home. But I honestly think you need an advisor. You need to learn to make somethings private. Have you heard of Sam Holdings? Just search him and you will see how his downfall came about

@unclebraai:

Tacky and tone deaf. Money can’t buy you class. There’s a reason why we’ve never seen Strives’ home.

@Mapfumontfire:

Great Stuff for socia media and country image. It shows great extend what money can do. Its gud to show Europe and the west that Africa and Zimbabwe is not all poverty as always depicted by varungu. As 4 me ndikawana mari yakadai mese mapinda mabasa vakomana

@TakudzwaJames:

Great is great mukaka haurungwi nemunyu👏🏅. Much respect to our very own BILLIONAIRE
@wicknellchivayo doing it without fear or favor! A Palace with mouthwatering interior & top notch standards. Glory be to you BILLIONAIRE @wicknellchivayo Mbiri kuna baba Jehovah 🤲🏿♥️

@CliffTapi:

That is such a lovely house. Most moneyed people tend to have poor taste when it comes to architecture but this 👏👏👏👏. Well done

DA Condemns ANC’s Recruitment of ZANU-PF for South African Elections

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Main opposition party, DA is accusing the ruling African National Congress (ANC) of violating the Electoral Code of Conduct by enlisting Zimbabwe’s ZANU-PF to aid its campaign for the upcoming May 29 elections in South Africa. According to reports, the ANC has sought assistance from Zimbabwe’s governing party for its final push in the election campaign and to participate as an observer mission during the elections.

In a statement, DA spokesperson Solly Malatsi criticized the ANC’s move, stating it as a desperate attempt to cling to power by any means necessary. Malatsi stated: “The ANC, in its desperate bid to maintain power by any means necessary, is enlisting the help of SADC region’s electoral outcasts – ZANU-PF, to contaminate South Africa’s electoral processes ahead of the May 29 general elections.”

Malatsi argued that the ANC’s invitation to ZANU-PF to participate in their election campaign constitutes political interference in South Africa’s elections, compromising the Electoral Code of Conduct. He emphasized that ZANU-PF, having repeatedly violated Zimbabwe’s electoral laws to stay in power, is unfit to act as an observer in the South African elections.

The DA intends to file an official complaint with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) regarding what it perceives as direct political interference in the election. Malatsi added:

“We will officially lodge a complaint with the IEC regarding this direct political interference and the potential damage it could inflict on the credibility of the election outcome. Allowing a foreign political party to pursue a partisan agenda on behalf of the ANC is unacceptable.”

Malatsi further criticized the ANC’s invitation of ZANU-PF to observe South African elections, suggesting that it demonstrates a lack of commitment to democratic values. He remarked:

“Following Zimbabwe’s disputed elections in August 2023, where ZANU-PF’s Emmerson Mnangagwa controversially claimed a second term, various observer missions, including SADC-EOM, noted serious shortcomings in the electoral process.”

Malatsi highlighted that despite these findings, ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa endorsed Mnangagwa’s ‘re-election’, indicating a predetermined plan to involve ZANU-PF in South Africa’s electoral process.

The DA vows to prevent ZANU-PF from interfering in South Africa’s elections and from playing any role in observing the electoral process on May 29. Malatsi reiterated that ZANU-PF’s history of election rigging in Zimbabwe will not be tolerated in South Africa.

Drake’s $15 Million Texas Home: See Its Acres & Luxury Cottages

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The Chappell Hill property used to be a resort, but Drake bought the mansion in October of 2023 after it went out of business.
Drake may be facing some trespassing problems in his Toronto home, but he’s got a nice mansion near Houston to switch things up if need be. Moreover, new pictures and videos have emerged of his property in Chappell Hill, Texas that he purchased for $15 million from Lifestyle Ranch & Home Group back in October of 2023. The acres used to be a resort, but it went out of business around July of 2022 due to financial problems amid the pandemic. It features a lot of impressive and luxurious amenities that you can see in the video linked below, including cottages for family and friends, a full commercial kitchen, a horse track, and plenty of land for whatever the 6ix God sees fit.

Furthermore, a lot of fans are speculating whether or not Drake will want to move into this property as soon as possible given some horrible security threats back in Toronto. Not only have there been three attempted trespassers in the past few days, but the Bridle Path neighborhood also suffered a shooting that struck an alleged security guard. While outlets indicated that this occurred very near to Drizzy’s home, the situation still remains quite unclear. Hopefully these issues can be resolved soon, as no one should have to suffer through these scary situations.

Meanwhile, a lot of folks tied it to the Kendrick Lamar feud that he recently battled out, although he seemed to wave the white flag on Instagram. Of course, Drake will surely come back at some point with some heat for his fans and the general rap public. In fact, it will be interesting to see just how quickly we forget that this feud happened in the first place. Surely some more hits and plenty of time removed will result in some selective memory.

Speaking of which, there are some out there who still believe the battle is not over, and that Drake could come out on top. Let us know your take on that in the comments section below, but understand that it’s a tough call to make either way. He’s got a lot to process, something that this Texas mansion can perhaps aid in. We’ll see whether the next song we hear from the OVO mogul is something along the lines of “10PM In Chappell Hill.”

Arteta Hails Arsenal Players For Taking Premier League Title Race To Final Day

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Arsenal earned a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford to to take the Premier League title race to the last day of the season.

Leandro Trossard scored the only goal of the encounter to move the Gunners one point clear of second-placed Manchester City having played a game more.

The Gunners were not at their fluent best but Manchester United failed to take advantage of it as they also struggled to make things happen in the game.

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta admitted that the team started to play safe after Trossard’s goal in the first half.

He said: “We needed a result today in a really difficult place. Our history was not in favour of a result today, there was so much at stake and we’re happy with the result.

“We started the game really well and were dominant. We scored the goal and I think the goal led to slightly bad things because we started to play too safe, too sideways, too backwards with not enough structure.

“We started to give the ball away in good areas and that is a danger against them. But we defended well and didn’t concede too much.”

Arsenal finished the season unbeaten against the top teams in the Premier League this season.

The Gunners boss however, praised his players for their phenomenal performance against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Arteta said: “Today we weren’t composed, clean enough, consistent enough and doing the simple things right. That doesn’t give you control of the game.

“Some of the players have not been in this position, they don’t know what is at stake and how you feel emotionally to have to win and win and win from December or January.

“It is a phenomenal thing they are doing.”

Arteta and his team will be relying heavily on Tottenham to get a positive result against Manchester City on Tuesday.

A win for Ange Postecoglou’s side will put the Gunners in the driving seat going into the last day of the season next Sunday.

The season continues to go from bad to worse for Manchester United, they have only won once in their last nine games in all competitions to put pressure on Erik Ten Hag.

The Dutch manager was disappointed with his team’s showing in front of their fans.

Ten Hag said: “Yes, but it’s still disappointing. I want to win, it doesn’t matter who we face on the pitch. We have to win every game and give everything.

He refused to blame Casemiro for the goal that earned his side a second consecutive defeat in the Premier League.

He said: “It’s a small detail, one layer makes a mistake and it opens up. Before that in possession we could have done better in better positions and better options. It’s details.”

Manchester United have a date with Newcastle United on Wednesday at Old Trafford.

LUDACRIS REVEALS WHO HE THINKS WOULD WIN IN RHYME WRITING CONTEST BETWEEN HIMSELF & JAY-Z

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Ludacris has shared who he believes would be the winner if he and JAY-Z were forced to write competing verses.

While taking to Cam Newton on the latest episode of the football star’s Funky Friday podcast, Luda answered a question about what would happen if he and the Brooklyn icon were each given two hours to write a rhyme. He claimed he would come out on top.

“I would have to say, I would win on that one,” he said. “It’s a strong statement to say that, because Hov is definitely one of my favorites.”

He then described how seriously he would take the hypothetical contest.

“In terms of flow, I’m going to kill that shit… [W]hen you put me in a category of, oh shit, I’m going against Hov, every fucking word, every line, every style, every flow, every metaphor — I got to go,” he said.

Luda then reminded Newton that something similar to this imagined scenario had in fact already happened: Luda appeared with both JAY and Nas on the 2008 track “I Do It For Hip Hop.”

You can see Luda’s answer to Newton beginning at the 49:14 mark of the video below.

While Luda hasn’t yet triumphed over Hov in a verse-writing contest, he has won a different major award recently.

Late last month, the ATL rapper received his first-ever Webby for his epic performance during the Atlanta Falcons Hip Hop 50 celebration, and the Atlanta legend was thrilled to pieces about the honor.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday (April 25), the rapper-turned-actor thanked the committee for the honor, and confessed that it was on his agenda to do, with or without the award.

“I just received word that I’ve received a Webby Award — the Internet’s highest honor,” he said in the video. “For rappelling down from the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. I’m blown away, because I wanted to do this shit anyways.”

He continued: “So thank you to the Falcons. And thank you to everybody involved. Everyone who knows me, knows I’m a thrill-seeker, knows I’m an adrenaline junkie. And I think it’s dope to be honored for something I’d do any-damn-way.”

Back in November, as part of Atlanta’s 50th anniversary of Hip Hop celebrations, Luda rappelled from the roof of Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium while rapping his classic hit “Move Bitch.”

“I Got Some Georgia Dome Today,” the rapper and actor joked on Instagram, referencing the Falcons’ previous home while sharing GoPro footage of his theatrical stunt — which impressed not only those in attendance, but a number of his rap peers watching at home.

Ludacris appeared at the end of the third quarter, topping off what was a day of Hip Hop celebrations.

The halftime entertainment came from Jeezy, Cee-Lo Green, Jermaine Dupri, Big Boi, and Quavo, with the Migos rapper paying tribute to his cousin TakeOff who was murdered last year.

T.I. was also in the building and walked the Falcons onto the field while rapping his 2004 hit “Bring Em Out.”

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DRAKE PUTS CALIFORNIA MANSION BACK ON THE MARKET FOR $88 MILLION

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Drake has put his Beverly Hills mansion up for sale again, a year after the first time he tried it.

TMZ broke the news that the rap superstar has re-listed his 25,000 square foot estate at an asking price of $88 million. That’s $13 million more than he paid for it when he bought it from English singer Robbie Williams in 2022.

It’s also the same price Drizzy asked in May 2023, when he first put the house up for sale.

The house’s new listing says that it is “perfectly suited for grand scale entertaining and showcasing world-class art collections.”

“The main house features 7 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, formal living and dining rooms, gourmet kitchen with breakfast room, library, and 2 family rooms – 1 of which doubles as a professional screening room,” it continues, while also pointing out the “3 ensuite bedrooms for staff.

“The latest and greatest amenities including a garage for 11 cars, an elevator, wine cellar, gym, and game room. A pool/guest house with a mosaic-tiled pool and indoor/outdoor kitchen, as well as a hidden tennis court and orchard, complete this estate.”

If he manages to unload his Cali abode, Drake will be left with his (currently very heavily-trafficked by trespassers) Toronto mansion and a new place in Houston.

During a fall 2023 tour stop in H-Town, Champagne Papi revealed he found his home away from home.

“I want to tell you something – I’m excited I get to share this with night two — I had to make it official first. I’ve been looking for a long time trying to figure out, you know, the right place for me to live, where I belong outside of Toronto,” he began in a clip captured by a fan, to an uproar from the crowd.

“And I finally, finally after all these years found me a place in Houston, Texas,” he revealed. Concluding with a country accent he announced, “So ya’ll be seeing me around – yeah.”

A video the star posted to his Instagram at the time revealed that the property is a ranch.

“The sale is made, for sure” he said while offering a tour of his new property in a golf cart. “They said 10 horses belong to the property and four of them are boarding horses,” added Drizzy, explaining people need a “nice place” to board their prized ponies.

Ray J Calls Sexyy Red “One Of The Best Rappers He’s Ever Heard,”

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Ray J just gave a pretty hot but understandable take on the Tronix Network premiere of Love After Hip-Hop, one that Moniece Slaughter was in staunch disagreement with. Moreover, he called Sexyy Red “one of the best rappers he’s ever heard,” and an example of someone who doesn’t need a lot of marketing to establish their hit status. In the clip below, they don’t discuss much else, but the singer and entertainment figure also called her one of the top three female rappers of all time. The spicy assessment sidesteps Sexyy’s shorter time in the limelight, but one can’t deny her massive impact.

Furthermore, she got co-signs from pretty much every corner of the music industry, including a strong collaborative bond with Chief Keef. The St. Louis MC has a couple of hits under her belt already, and with each one, she shows no signs of slowing down or letting up on her prolific craft. Ray J may be putting Sexyy Red on a pretty high pedestal here, but it’s hard not to do so with the context of contemporary hip-hop in mind. It’s a multifaceted beast, but one that she definitely controls a specific corner of alongside similarly impressive and show-stopping femcees.

However, all this praise for Sexyy Red can’t get Ray J out of other pickles in the entertainment industry. For example, Hazel-E recently accused him of setting up a fight between her and Masika Kalysha without letting her know beforehand. It’s unclear exactly what beef transpired between these three individuals, but it still hit the gossip pages as a continuation of previous L&HH disagreements. As the brain behind the Tronix Network enterting a new realm of reality TV, we’re sure that there will be more (but hopefully fewer) disagreements down the road.

Meanwhile, Moniece Slaughter gained recent notoriety for her often controversial and dismissive takes of some femcees today, although she also praises others just the same. Her stark denial of Ray J’s praise of Sexyy Red, though, rings off as particularly negative. Let us know which side you’re on down in the comments section below. Also, drop your theories as to whether the Hood Hottest Princess will eventually reach that top three femcee status.

Mohale Motaung’s Lawyer Requests For Somizi’s Assets To Be Attached To Divorce Bill

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Mohale Motaung’s lawyer is asking the court for Somizi’s assets to be attached to their bill after the media personality failed to settle their bill even after the court’s ruling.

Renowned media figure Somizi Mhlongo reportedly faces challenges in fulfilling his financial obligations to his former spouse, Mohale Motaung’s legal representatives.

Despite publicly committing a year ago to settle Motaung’s legal expenses following their divorce, Mhlongo appears to have faltered on his promise.


Legal Recourse


Sunday World has learned that Motaung’s legal counsel, Mabu Marweshe of Marweshe Attorneys, has resorted to legal action to recover outstanding payments from the well-known Metro FM presenter.

In an interview with Sunday World, Marweshe disclosed that he hadn’t received any payment from Mhlongo despite his repeated attempts.

“We have secured a court order, enabling us to pursue an attachment order to seize his assets and cover the pending expenses,”

Marweshe represented Motaung in their highly publicized divorce case, which unfolded in 2021 after their two-year marital union came to an end.

Somizi’s Failed Settlement of Divorce Bill

Prior to the scheduled court proceedings, Mhlongo withdrew his divorce petition following legal counsel and revelations about the legal status of their marriage at the time of separation.

In a statement issued in March 2023, Mhlongo expressed his intention to withdraw the divorce proceedings and cover Motaung’s legal expenses.

“We initially aimed to resolve our marital issues amicably through negotiations. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find common ground, leading to the withdrawal of the divorce application,”

Consequently, the divorce proceedings were halted, and the matter never proceeded to court.

Despite Mhlongo’s pledge to cover the costs, prolonged pursuit by Motaung’s legal representatives forced them to seek judicial intervention.

Denial and Dispute

When reached for comment, Mhlongo denied any knowledge of Mohale Motaung’s lawyer.

“I’m unfamiliar with that law firm,”

Upon clarification, Mhlongo asserted that the payment referenced in his previous statement was unrelated to legal fees.

THE GAME CONTINUES TO FLAME RICK ROSS OVER DISS SONG SILENCE: ‘YOU CAN’T RUN FROM THIS’

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The Game has continued to ridicule Rick Ross in their recently ignited feud, claiming the MMG mogul is too “scared” to respond to him on wax.

The Compton native took to Instagram on Saturday (May 11) and posted the cover art for his diss song “Freeway’s Revenge,” which contained several flagrant shots at Ross.

The Game used his caption to taunt the “Hustlin’” hitmaker for allegedly ducking a rap battle and instead choosing to flex his not-so-impressive wealth on social media.

“The cereal killer [duck emoji]’n this real smoke. Scared to drop that nursery rhyme you recorded the other night I see lol,” he wrote. “Fuck it, a quick W for the home team & some real rap for the fans playlist.

“Posting very attainable cereal bowls, bottled up dog piss & crouching by cars like that’s gone get you outta this ass whoopin’. IT AINT !!! & for rap fans worldwide.

“Thing about most these rap n-ggas y’all idolize is…. they pick & choose who they diss very carefully. End of the day, ALL the n-ggas in this shit know what I’m capable of especially when it’s time to go bar for bar. The real ‘Rick Ross’ @freewayricky this one was for you big homie.”

The Game then mocked Rozay’s weight, adding: “& as for chicken legs: you can’t whoop my ass or out rap me so… post all the cars, n fake watches you want to.. the real fans see through you & that Widebach Music shit !!! You can’t run from this shit. Shit, you can’t run period… human capri sun pouch body shaped n-gga you.”

The pair’s beef seems to stem from Rick Ross’ recent trolling of Drake, who he has been relentlessly taunting on both social media and his sneering diss song “Champagne Moments.”

After throwing shade at Rozay on social media in defense of Drizzy, The Game ramped things up last week by releasing the aforementioned “Freeway’s Revenge.”

The fiery song not only mocks the mogul’s weight, health issues and past stint as a correctional officer, but includes salacious allegations involving his sex life.

“You 12 lemon pepper wings from a heart attack/ Akademiks, give this n-gga an Ozempic starter pack,” The Game raps, before referencing Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s high-profile feud: “This ain’t the Kendrick beef, my Drac’ [Drake] sings songs/ Shots rings out, the neighbor better have his Ring on.”

He also spits: “Your baby mama told me that you liked to get peed on/ You a C.O., that’s the last time you had keys on/ And we know you treat Gunplay like he a peon/ And he knows some shit that ain’t cool for him to speak on.”

Rick Ross subtly responded by quoting a 50 Cent line from “Hate It or Love It,” his hit 2005 collaboration with The Game, in an Instagram post.

He also posted a video of him belly laughing and saying: “You n-ggas don’t wanna eat? Must not. You n-ggas starving!” while holding up a Louis Vuitton-branded cereal bowl and spoon.

But that only egged on the former Aftermath signee, who wrote back: “He wanted all the smoke a week ago. Chicken legs can’t go bar for bar so we going LV for LV now I guess. I hate these rap n-ggas,” alongside a photo of a punching bag adorned with LV leather.

Prior to their recent back-and-forth, The Game and Rick Ross were semi-frequent collaborators, teaming up for tracks like “Ali Bomaye,” “Heavy Artillery” and, most recently, “Save the Best For Last.”

DRAKE’S TORONTO MANSION TARGETED BY THIRD INTRUDER WHO GETS TACKLED BY SECURITY

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Drake‘s Toronto mansion has been the target of yet another intrusion, marking the third such incident this week.
According to TMZ, the unwanted visitor attempted to make their way onto Drizzy’s property on Saturday (May 11) but were met with a rude awakening from the rapper’s security team.

Police were reportedly summoned to the area at 3:30 p.m. ET after Drake’s private security tackled the man and held him down until officers arrived. The cops then escorted the man off the property after he refused to leave when asked to do so.

The outlet also confirmed that police issued a summons to the man for trespassing, though they didn’t release his identity to the public.

In a tumultuous week for Drake, a drive-by shooting happened outside his Toronto home on Tuesday (May 7), which left a security guard seriously injured and hospitalized with the need for emergency surgery.

Just a day after the shooting, a man was stopped as he attempted to make his way into the rapper’s swanky Bridle Path property that is commonly known as “The Embassy.”

Law enforcement were alerted after the 6 God’s security team stopped the person from entering through the front gate, following which he got into a brief altercation with those who stopped him. The trespasser apparently claimed that he was “here to see Drake.”

The Toronto Police Department later said: “Officers were called after a person attempted to gain access to the property. The person was apprehended under the mental health act.”

Then, a second intruder trespassed onto the rapper’s home on Thursday afternoon (May 9), with police called to investigate the incident.

The culprit allegedly got into an altercation with security before police arrived at the property, with the suspect then taken to hospital.

It was not reported what, if any, injuries the trespasser suffered that required hospital treatment. Video footage uploaded to social media showed an ambulance at Drake’s compound.

It is not known if the four incidents are related to each other or have anything to do with Drake’s various feuds with Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd and A$AP Rocky, among others. It is also not known if Drake was at home at the time of the incidents.

Experts hail Chakwera’s US-Africa Business, Soil health summits

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The country’s social-economic experts have hailed the participation of President Lazarus Chakwera’s at the Unites States (US) Africa Business Summit in Dallas and at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, saying it will help boost the countrys economy and improve the the livelihoods of Malawians.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA), renowned Political and Socio-Economic Commentator, Humphreys Mvula, said the Millennium Challenge Corporation-MCC Compact 2 initiative is likely to transform the transportation sector by constructing roads, which will create a conducive environment in tourism, agriculture, and mining sectors, resulting in job creation for the people.

“The trip taken by President Chakwera looks very promising in the process of amplifying and implementing the ATM strategy, which he is spearheading to revamp the country’s economy.

Through the initiative we should expect a number of both white and blue collar workers to be employed resulting in wealth creation among Malawians” said Mvula

He commended President Chakwera for his continued efforts in mobilising resources to ensure the livelihoods of Malawians are taken care of.

Mvula insisted on the need for Malawians to rally behind President Chakwera to make Malawi a transformative nation through various development initiatives.

Executive Director for the Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT), Willy Kambwandira, expressed his appreciation for the outstanding progress of the project and has urged President Chakwera to ensure that the projects are successfully implemented.

Kambwandira also expressed his optimism for positive results from the trip and said he looks forward to seeing the fruits of their labour.

In his remarks, Minister of Information and Digitalisation, Moses Kunkuyu said Malawi’s recent participation in the US-Africa Business Summit witnessed the launch of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Transportation and Land Compact worth $350 million during MCC’s 20th Anniversary Tribute Dinner.

“The compact, which will focus on the country’s transportation infrastructure and land productivity, aligns with Malawi’s Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM) Strategy and Malawi’s development blueprint, the Malawi 2063 Vision” said kunkuyu.

He stated the compact which will significantly bolster critical infrastructure projects in the country, including road upgrades in key agriculture, tourism and mining areas, is poised to enhance the transportation of goods and services, to boost trade, tourism, investment and economic growth.

He indicated that through the $244,950,000 Accelerated Growth Corridors (AGC) Project, the compact will help Malawi address transportation challenges for agricultural commodities from farm to market.

The project will also help to create a transparent and competitive environment for transporters among other things. This will stimulate more agro-economic activities in these corridors and boost agriculture commercialisation in the country.

He also disclosed that the American Catalyst Facility for Development (ACFD) Project of the compact is also set to bolster investment in the country.

He said the project is designed to facilitate United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) investment in Malawi to catalyse private investment in the country.

Additionally, through the Increased Land Productivity Project worth over 44 million dollars, the compact will support efforts to improve land use and management. The project will help citizens to utilise land efficiently as well as improve agricultural productivity.

Kunkuyu said that Malawian companies will also benefit from the compact for they have the opportunity to participate in the projects. This will both improve local companies’ financial standing and job creation in the country.

He said President Chakwera’s attendance at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Kenya also yielded unprecedented results for agriculture in the country. On the sidelines of the summit, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) assured President Chakwera of 45 million dollars to support agricultural productivity, enhancing fertilizer and soil health. The investment will significantly address Malawi’s food security challenges and boost socioeconomic development.

Kunkuyu further said that the MCC, AGRA and other agreements that Malawi has made during the two summits will have a transformative impact on the country’s development agenda.

The agreements will help Malawi improve its transportation infrastructure and agriculture productivity, springboarding Malawi into a more self-sufficient nation.

On arrival on Friday from the USA and Kenya President Chakwera announced the launch of the US$350 million MCC Compact 2 and various agreements the Malawi delegation made with investors on the sidelines of these two summits.

Families of Congo attack victims mourn their losses

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Families of the victims of last week’s bomb attacks in eastern Congo mourned their loved ones at a ceremony in Goma.

The bombings at Mugunga and Lac Vert camps killed 18 and injured 32. The type of explosives used remains unclear. Most victims were women and children.

Eye witness

Alimeti Kigiho, who survived the attack, had sought shelter from eastern Congo’s long war at the Mugunga displacement camp in February, only to be shaken by explosions while going to fetch water.

He ran back to his tent, where he found the bodies of his wife and two young children, aged 6 and 2, in pieces.

“War has taken everything from me,” Kigiho, 45, told the Associated Press.

Who is to blame?

The Congolese army and a rebel group known as M23 have blamed each other for the bombings. The March 23 Movement, or M23, is a rebel military group mainly made up of ethnic Tutsis that broke away from the Congolese army 12 years ago.

READ ALSO:Coltan: at the heart of DRC-Rwanda tensions [Business Africa]

The decades-long conflict in eastern Congo has produced one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with over 100 armed groups fighting in the region, most for land and control of mines with valuable minerals.

Some are fighting to try to protect their communities. Many groups are accused of carrying out mass killings, rapes and other human rights violations.

Accusations

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi accuses neighbouring Rwanda of destabilizing Congo by backing the M23 rebels. U.N. experts, along with the U.S. State Department, have also accused Rwanda of backing the rebels. Rwanda denies the claims.

Some of the mourners at the ceremony on Monday criticized President Tshisekedi along with the international community for failing to end the long-running conflict.

READ ALSO:UN chief appeals for more attention for eastern DRC

“If he is unable to end this war, he should resign,” Bienfait Bonane, a youth from Goma, told the Associated Press.

The violence has displaced about 7 million people, including thousands living in temporary camps like the ones attacked last week. Many others are beyond the reach of aid.

The attacks have driven some residents in the camp to consider returning to their homes, despite the dangers that caused them to flee in the first place.

IRAN HAS NUCLEAR WEAPONS-DECLARES TEHRAN LAWMAKER

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By CIC International Affairs.

IRAN HAS NUCLEAR WEAPONS-DECLARES TEHRAN LAWMAKER.

Biden faces criticism for failing to impose pressure campaign on Iran as it races toward nuclear weapon

After the head of the United Nation’s atomic watchdog agency warned that Iran has enough uranium to produce “several” nuclear bombs, a firebrand Iranian lawmaker declared on Friday that the Islamic Republic of Iran possesses atomic weapons.
“In my opinion, we have achieved nuclear weapons, but we do not announce it. It means our policy is to possess nuclear bombs, but our declared policy is currently within the framework of the JCPOA,” Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani told the Iran-based outlet Rouydad 24 on Friday, according to an article published by the independent news organization Iran International in London.
The JCPOA is an abbreviation for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the formal name for the Iran nuclear deal. President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA in 2018 because, his administration argued, the accord did not stop Iran’s drive to build atomic weapons.

The JCPOA provides massive economic sanctions relief to Iran in exchange for assurances it will not, within a limited time period, build a nuclear weapon.

Ardestani, who was re-elected to Iran’s quasi-parliament in March, added, “The reason is that when countries want to confront others, their capabilities must be compatible, and Iran’s compatibility with America and Israel means that Iran must have nuclear weapons,”
The Iranian parliament member noted, “In a climate where Russia has attacked Ukraine and Israel has attacked Gaza, and Iran is a staunch supporter of the Resistance Front, it is natural for the containment system to require that Iran possess nuclear bombs. However, whether Iran declares it is another matter.”

Digital press queries have been sent to Iran’s Foreign Ministry in Tehran and its U.N. mission in New York awaiting response on the matter.

Experts on Iran’s illegal nuclear weapons program warned about the seemingly speculative comments made by Ardestani. Jason Brodsky, the policy director of the U.S.-based United Against a Nuclear Iran, told reporters that “Ardestani is only a member of parliament, and he’s not in the inner core of the regime’s nuclear decision-making circle, so while his comments are interesting, I think they have to be weighed properly given his access and standing.”

Just two days before Ardestani’s announcement, the president of the Iranian Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, Kamal Kharrazi, told Al-Jazeera Network Qatar, “I announced two years ago, in an interview with Al-Jazeera TV, that Iran had the absorptive capacity and the capability to produce a nuclear bomb. Iran still has that capability, but we have not made the decision to produce a nuclear bomb. However, if the Iranian interests are threatened in this manner, we may change this doctrine. The military officials in Iran have announced that if our nuclear facilities would be attacked, we may change our military doctrine, with regard to the nuclear facilities.” The U.S.-based Middle East Media Institute (MEMRI) translated and published Kharrazi’s May 8 interview.

Brodsky said, “Kharrazi’s comments are part of an increasingly loud chorus of threats from Iranian officials that they will change Iran’s nuclear doctrine if Israel attacks them. The current advanced state of Iran’s nuclear program provides it with the luxury to make these threats as it hopes to deter Western policymakers from launching pressure campaigns on Tehran.”

Critics of the Biden administration’s Iran policy argue the White House strategy of de-escalation and containment targeting Iran’s atomic program has backfired. Iran’s regime the world’s worst state-sponsor of international terrorism is moving at an astonishingly fast pace to secure an operational nuclear weapon.

Nuclear security alarm bells are ringing over Iran’s illicit atomic program in Europe. Reporters obtained the April intelligence agency report for Germany’s most populous state, Nordrhein-Westfalen.

The German intelligence report notes, “The Islamic Republic’s continued intensive procurement efforts by Iran in Germany continues” for its “nuclear and missile program.” The German experts added “proliferation-relevant activities by Iran to circumvent existing sanctions in favor of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs can still be assumed.” A State Department spokesperson previously told reporters “As the president and the secretary have made clear, the United States will ensure one way or another that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon. We continue to use a variety of tools in pursuit of that goal, and all options remain on the table.”

David Wurmser, a former senior adviser for nonproliferation and Middle East strategy for former Vice President Dick Cheney, Reporters, “The distance from where Iran is purported to be to an actual deliverable device is still a ways away, provided the information that we have in our operating from is correct. And that is quite a proviso. We know that North Koreans have been interacting with the Iranians, and we know relations with North Korea go back many, many years.”

The communist state of North Korea previously aided Syria in building its illicit nuclear reactor. Israel’s air force knocked out the reactor in 2007.

Wurmser warned, “As since intelligence is generally incomplete and is inherently seeking to discover that which is given to being opaque with much hidden, we have to assume surprises. I realize in the Iraq war we imagined there was more there than there actually was and there was more than what is popularly understood but Iraq is actually a very rare circumstance. The Pakistani, the Russian, the Chinese, the Indian, and even the South African programs all were ahead of what we had expected when they were exposed. For that matter, that was the case with Libya as well.”

The non-proliferation expert noted, “So, on balance, I doubt Iran has a nuclear weapon yet, but I also doubt that the program is in a stable state, even a stable state regarding weaponization. I think Iran is pushing ahead and has every intention to go all the way. So time on this may still be there, but it is short and running out fast. And of course, the consequences of an Iranian bomb are catastrophic for the region, for Israel’s survival, and for the status of American power in the globe.”

The recent saber-rattling over Iran’s nuclear weapons program from regime officials and lawmakers coincides with International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi’s May 8 statement that his organization was working “very hard with Iran to prevent nuclear weaponization from happening.”

The Washington D.C. based Institute for the Study of War wrote this suggests “that Iran has already obtained or is close to obtaining the ability to procure nuclear weapons.” The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond the queries.

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