…..that Mopani Copper Mines will be handed over to the investor by the end of this month
Lusaka… Friday January 2, 2024 (SMART EAGLES)
The Zambians for Unity Peace and Development (ZUPED) says the revelation by the Minister of Finance and National Planning Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane that Mopani Copper Mines will be handed over to the investor by the end of this month is gratifying.
ZUPED President Ronnie Jere tells Smart Eagles via telephone that the handing over will mean that there will be inflow of foreign currency in the country.
Speaking at a 2023 Budget Review Dr. Musokotwane said Zambia’s foreign exchange performance is poised to improve as the two major mines namely Mopani and Konkola Copper Mines begin production.
“This is the news that we want to hear because like he has mentioned, the handing over will mean that there will be inflow of foreign currency in the country. This will also mean that our kwacha will stabilize. As you maybe aware, our kwacha is running at K27 to a single US dollar and it has been depreciating for quiet some time,” said Mr Jere.
“We are also happy that he (Dr Musokotwane) has mentioned that for the past two weeks Mopani Cooper Mine pumped in over US$80 million to pay the local creditors. We hope that now that they are paying creditors, this will help cushion on the depreciation of the kwacha.”
He was also elated upon hearing that the Minister mentioned another US$50 million that will be pumped in the next weeks to come by Mopani mine.
“This will mean that all altogether it will come to over US$130 million pumped in Zambia. We hope this money will help cushion the depreciation of the kwacha,” he added.
“We are grateful to hear about Konkola Copper Mines also being on the ladder and the Minister is confident that within week’s depending on the creditors and Vedanta agreeing in the courts, Vedanta Resources will also be pumping in over US$220 million. This is great and we will continue to monitor.”
Mr Jere indicated that the Minister of Finance from his mouth has mentioned that February month-end, they should be handing over Mopani to it’s investors.
He emphasized that his organization will monitor this progress.
“Because in the past government would say this and do the opposite. A good example is the issue surrounding KCM. They had said that they will finalize the handing over of KCM to Vedanta within three months and today we are in the firth month without any action. We hope that this is not just a talk show, the economic symposium is a very important platform and people should not politic at that level of fora,” he concluded.
“We hope that the Minister is serious about what he is saying and we will be able to know whether that is true or not by the end of the month.”
The war in Russia has changed everything in Kharkiv, including how children live.
Missiles are being shot at Ukraine’s second city from Russia. The border is very close, so there is only a short amount of time to stop them.
If they are targeting Kharkiv, it is likely that they will hit the city and it will be hard to find a safe place to hide.
Schools and kindergartens have been closed for nearly two years because of safety concerns, and the playgrounds are empty.
Now, as the big war continues for almost three years, some parts of life in Kharkiv are happening underground.
In the subway, there are specially built classrooms next to the platform at five stations.
A few months ago, the local government started to give school lessons under the streets of the city.
Preschool classes are now available on the weekends.
Nika’s story
Six-year-old Nika Bondarenko gets to play with other kids again and have fun.
After studying online for two years, she happily walks to the nearby metro station wearing bright pink rubber boots.
She walks past destroyed military offices from the invasion, near her house. There are broken glass and damaged buildings everywhere from shrapnel.
But when Nika is on the train going to class, her mother doesn’t have to worry anymore.
“Parents can feel sure that their child will be safe, and the child can keep living their regular life,” says Olha Bondarenko.
“The bad guys can’t reach us in this place. ”
She says Nika didn’t do well in kindergarten.
“It’s really important. ” If there are no kids outside and the air raid sirens keep going off, a child won’t be able to play with other kids.
Kharkiv now has about 700 spaces for kids up to six years old in underground kindergartens. Three times as many children go to school in the same room.
Some children lost their parents in the fighting or lived in areas that were attacked a lot. They need extra help from the psychologists and teachers.
When we visited, there was music, people dancing, and a lot of laughing. Some kids are pretending to be doctors and nurses, and others are singing and playing with plastic bricks.
Attempting to blend in and act regular.
The workers worked really hard to make things as normal as they could.
Next to the colorful pictures of flowers and big caterpillars on the walls, there are posters warning about the danger of mines. But when the sirens sound to warn of missiles coming, no one has to go anywhere.
The Bondarenko family left their town because there was a war happening and Russian soldiers were trying to take over Kharkiv. There were a lot of explosions happening all the time.
Many families lived in the metro at that time. In March 2022, I saw elderly women sleeping in train cars and babies on the train platforms with their parents.
In September, when the Russian forces moved away, the city felt relieved and Olha and her children returned home.
Her husband is in the army, and staying in Kharkiv meant being near him.
I asked Nika’s sister if she is afraid of the air raids, but Viktoria shook her head.
The siren tells us that a missile could be coming, but it’s not for sure. It’s half and half. Just believe that everything will be okay.
The plans are being changed.
The main problem in Kharkiv is where it is located, because it is only 40km (25 miles) away from the Russian border.
We need new and improved ways to defend against attacks from the air. “If the missiles are hitting now, it means we don’t have enough,” Mayor Ihor Terekhov says.
But even the newest Western systems would have a hard time at such a short distance.
Air attacks have been happening more often since December and more kids are starting to go to the metro school.
So the city is starting to build more permanent underground structures.
In the Industrialny district, a new school is being built under a sports field that was badly damaged by missile strikes.
The classrooms will be built five meters underground and can hold 900 students at different times of the day.
Right now, it’s a long and curved shell with workers welding, putting plaster, and hitting with a hammer in every direction you look.
The head builder says his company made a nice new zoo and changed a park before the attack. “I don’t care,” he says, lifting his shoulders.
It makes him think of the underground shelters that were built in Soviet factories during the Cold War.
“I don’t want us to go underground. ” The mayor says it is a safety rule that has to be followed during a site check.
The school should be ready by the end of March, but that might be too optimistic.
The teachers
In another part of town, at the metro school, Olha Bondarenko talks a lot about standing up to challenges and being strong. This city is called unbreakable.
“In Kharkiv, there was an airstrike. You feel worried for a little while, but then you wipe away your tears and continue on. ” “The mother of two says this is how everyone lives here. ”
But here, the difference between life and death can happen in just a few seconds or a short distance.
Olha has bad dreams about being stuck under the broken house with her kids.
“I am really frightened of that. ” I get really scared when I think about being trapped under a pile of rocks or debris.
The schools that are hidden underground are about adjusting and staying alive.
“Sure, it’s weird, but what other choice do we have. We want our kids to grow up here in our country. ” In Ukraine, Natalia Bilohryshchenko tells me. In Ukraine, Natalia tells me.
She leads the preschool education department for the city council. She says teachers are very happy to be back at work.
They had shiny eyes. They did not see the kids.
All of a sudden, Natalia begins to cry.
“When things are calm, come see our regular kindergartens,” she says with tears in her eyes.
“Everything is very sad. But it’s okay. ” Everything will be alright.
A teacher in east London almost died when he was stabbed by a group of kids outside the school.
The teacher who wasn’t named, got stabbed in the back by students at Forest Gate School. He then went to a pharmacy for help. It happened on Tuesday afternoon.
The teacher, who is in his 40s, told the staff that he had only been working at the school for about two weeks when they rushed over to help him.
He said that some of the people who attacked him were wearing school uniforms and he knew some of them, but not all.
Gulzarin Iqbal, who is 27 years old and works as a physician’s assistant at the nearby Lord Lister Health Centre, said he heard people fighting outside and then heard someone scream.
“He said it sounded like a man and some younger people. ”
“Their voices were loud, but I thought it could just be a regular fight – it’s east London after all. ”
“I heard a scream, so I quickly went outside to find out what was going on. ”
At that time, the group had left, but I could still see people in the pharmacy. I ran to the other side of the road and saw a man laying on the ground with his face down.
‘There was a large amount of blood. ‘ or ‘There was a massive bleeding. ‘
A lady who works at Sharman’s Pharmacy and wants to stay anonymous, said: “He came in and asked for help. He said, ‘I’m a teacher at the school and I’ve been stabbed. ‘”
âThere was a lot of blood on the floor. He got a knife in his back.
We called the police and the ambulance right away, and a man from the health center across the street came to assist.
âThe helpers came very quickly and they took him somewhere else. â
Dr Parvesh Patel, a pharmacist at Mansons Pharmacy, said: “I think he thought a pharmacy was the safest place to be. ”
“He said someone stabbed him with a big knife, but I didn’t see it. ”
I quickly put pressure on the cut on his back.
“People can die from bleeding after a stabbing, so it’s always a concern. ” You never know what will happen.
The pharmacy workers called for help, and when the police arrived, I asked them to put pressure on my wound so I could go to the health center for supplies.
My arms had a lot of blood on them.
‘I brought a defibrillator and a heart monitor to keep an eye on his heart just in case. ‘
âThe ambulance came five minutes after that. â
The police said the man’s injuries are not bad enough to threaten his life.
China killed a man and a woman who threw two children out of a window and caused their deaths.
Zhang Bo and Ye Chengchen were found guilty of killing a two-year-old girl and one-year-old boy in 2020. Zhang Bo is the father of the children.
Zhang started cheating on his wife with Ye. After that, he divorced his wife and planned to kill his children.
China’s highest court said the couples were very mean and used cruel methods.
The couple was killed in the city of Chongqing on Wednesday. It’s not known how the person was put to death, but in China, most death sentences are carried out by lethal injection or a firing squad.
Zhang started a relationship with Ye without telling her that he was married or had kids. Despite finding out the truth, Ye still chose to be with him, according to the court.
After Zhang ended his marriage with his wife in February 2020, Ye still thought of their two children as something that made it difficult for her to marry Zhang and as a problem for their future life together.
Ye kept telling Zhang that they would kill someone, and they planned to make it look like an accident. The court found out about this. On November 2, 2020, Zhang dropped his children from the 15th floor of his apartment.
The news that they were killed spread quickly on a popular Chinese social media site called Weibo, getting hundreds of millions of people to look at it.
“One Weibo comment, which got more than 30 thousand likes, said that they deserve it for their crime. ”
“I hope the kids have a happy and peaceful next life,” another person writes.
Chen Meilin, the mother of the two kids, said on Thursday evening that “a bad dream that bothered our family for over three years is finally gone”.
More news came on the same day about Wu Xieyu, a student from a top university who was executed for killing his mother with a dumbbell in 2015.
The ex-leader of Malaysia, Najib Razak, was given a 6-year jail sentence for being corrupt instead of his original 12-year sentence by the country’s pardons board.
Najib was put in prison in 2022 for stealing money from Malaysia’s government fund called 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
The board lowered the fine for him to 50 million ringgit (8. 3 million pounds; 10. 5 million dollars) from the original 210 million ringgit.
Najib has to pay all of it to be let go in August 2028.
If he doesn’t pay, he will have to stay in prison for another year until 2029.
He was found guilty in 2020 after trying for two years to prove he was not guilty in court.
The arrest of a very important leader in Asian politics at that time caused big problems in South East Asia. It was seen as a rare case of being responsible in a place where those in charge often don’t have to explain their actions.
But on Tuesday, it was reported that Malaysia’s pardons board had met on the last day of the King’s time in office to discuss Najib’s request to be released. Malaysia has a monarchy where the king changes every now and then. King Abdullah Ahmad Shah gave his role to Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar on Wednesday.
James Chin, a professor at the University of Tasmania, said that the shorter sentence shows that leaders in South East Asia do whatever they want without punishment.
“If you become successful in your career, nothing bad can happen to you,” Prof Chin told the BBC.
He said that the information about the pardons board’s decision seems like they wanted to control how the public might feel about it.
Najib’s political party, UMNO, used to be in charge of Malaysia. Now they are trying to get a pardon from the king after trying other ways to appeal their case.
Two weeks ago, Najib was taken from prison by guards to go to a court in Kuala Lumpur to hear his new legal challenge. He and his wife Rosmah Mansor still have a lot of other charges against them.
Even though Najib’s reputation was hurt a lot by the 1MDB scandal and his involvement in it, he is still liked by regular UMNO supporters. This is because he gave a lot of help to ethnic Malay communities while he was in charge. He built more support for himself with a clever advertising campaign, even after he was accused, using the slogan Bossku (Your Boss).
No UMNO leaders who took over for him are as well-liked, so they had to make it look like they were trying to remove him. Najib’s party is not as strong as it used to be, but it is still one of the biggest parties in Malaysia. It is also part of the government group led by his old enemy Anwar Ibrahim. It’s not surprising to see its wishes being met.
The 1MDB scheme is a big scam that involved stealing money from public projects in Malaysia and putting it into private pockets, including Najib’s.
Jho Low, a runaway money man, is thought to have planned the scam and is wanted by Malaysian officials. Last year, the country’s anti-corruption organization said they think he is in Macau.
The case is about a fund called 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) that was started in 2009 while Najib was the prime minister.
Sovereign wealth funds are like piggy banks that belong to the government and are used to help the country grow economically. Constructed using money earned by the state, such as profits from selling oil and other products, they have a lot of cash to invest and a lot of power in other countries.
In 2015, people were worried about what 1MBD was doing when it didn’t pay the money it owed to banks and people who had bought its bonds.
Malaysian and US governments say that $4. 5 billion was taken from the fund unfairly and put into people’s own pockets.
The stolen money was used to buy fancy houses, a private airplane, paintings by Van Gogh and Monet, and even to fund a big movie called The Wolf of Wall Street. Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the movie.
Last week, the US bank Goldman Sachs agreed to pay $3. 9 billion to the Malaysian government for its involvement in a large corruption scheme.
The agreement settles accusations in Malaysia that the bank deceived investors while assisting in raising $6. 5 billion for 1MDB.
“My worst performance was far much better than the best for HH so far”, says ECL: But Lungu is wrong here
By Dr. Chris ZUMANI Zimba
1. Introduction
Yesterday, l was closely following the ‘Opposition Parties Joint Press Briefing’ on Prime TV and Smart Eagles comparatively. My personal take away message was simply one statement from the PF leader, Forner President Edgar Chagwa Lungu. He said that “my worst performance as president was far much better than the best performance for President HH so far”, end of my paraphrased quote from ECL. Certainly, I don’t agree with him and we shall discuss why very soon.
I will empirically discuss 20 key points to compare and contrast between the 7 years rule of Former President Lungu and the three years rule of Sitting President Hakainde Hichilema in terms of performance and quickly conclude to justify why l don’t agree with president ECL’s statement above.
2. 20 Factual Reasons why l believe ECL’s statement above is incorrect and wrong
When Donald Trump announced his intentions to contest the 2024 Presidential Elections last year, many American political analysts, legal experts, journalists and economists immediately started to compare President Joe Biden’s performance in power against the performance of One Trump at White House then.
This scientific trend has continued until now even amidst all legal and political battles against Donald Trump. This is the approach l have decided to take and run with here so that we don’t allow subjective views and biased comparisons by identifying and discussing only 20 key areas and hot issues between ECL in power and our sitting president, One Bally, HH himself as shown below:
1. Lungu at his worst ruled Zambia and left the pump price of fuel at K15 per liter in August 2021. Our HH at his best now in 2024 has just pushed the pump price of fuel to K34.5 per liter. HH’s pump price today is the highest as well as the worst since 24th October, 1964 at independence. In fact, it is the total opposite of what Bally promised before coming into State House;
2. Lungu at his worst performance in office in 2021 left the price of mealie meal, Zambia’s staple food at K85 lowest and K120 highest. HH at his best in office in 2024 has soared the price of mealie meal to K260 lowest for ZNS subsidized’GMO’ to K450 highest with Zambia’s staple food now becoming so rare and scarce like digging deep ocean oil and natural gas;
3. Under Lungu at his worst performance in 2019 or 2020, Zambians had bumper harvests, adequate food supply and FRA had food reserves in excess of 1.5 million metric tons: Zambia was a food basket for the region indeed. Under HH at his best performance in 2024, Zambia is in staple food crisis, citizens are dying of hunger, starvation is rampant and FRA is dry with no maize reserves;
4. During Lungu’s worst years in power, the agricultural sector was blossoming with more than 1 million farming citizens enjoying to receive a minimum of two bags of FISP fertilizers and other farming inputs. Under HH’s best rule as of 2023/2024, Zambians farmers are sharing one bag of fertilizer by four or six people, FISP has gone only to UPND cadres while the agricultural sector has sunk into chaos;
5. Under Lungu’s worst reign in power, yes there was some elements of political tribalism practiced with some handful civil servants ( less than 25) packed at cabinet office’s PSMD on various disciplinary grounds or retired in national interest. Lungu’s tribalism at his worst had a face of “One Zambia, One Nation” as seen by his state house and cabinet teams where Zambezi regions had visible known faces;
6. Under HH’s best reign in power, tribalism and regionalism is the official signature of running government in all sectors and public life from state house, cabinet, parastatals, etc. From recruitment, promotions to capacity building trainings, HH’s teams stubbornly look at ethic and regional lines. Today, PSMD is believed to have more than 403 civil servants punitively packed on political punishment and regional discrimination with ZNBC Brian MWALE being the latest victim at a Tonga dominated ZEMA. Those transferred, demoted and even retired in national interest are also countless;
7. At his worst, Lungu managed to contain a global pandemic outbreak and cholera epidemic with proper multsectoral response and thereby reduced citizens death and prevented mass mournings in 2020. At his best, Hichilema has pathetically failed to coordinate and contain a simple cholera outbreak in Lusaka and other few provinces as death rates grow and disease infections keep on abnormally spreading among Zambians in 2024; Today, our health sector is in paralysis with no key medicines for Zambians as HH considers to promote Hon. Silvia Masebo to be Foreign Affairs Minister;
8. This ECL at his worst built KK International Conference centre; Kazungula Bridge, High rise bridged roads in Lusaka, dual to four ways carriage roads, Levy Hospital plus multiple modern hospitals, mini hospitals and clinics, universities and colleges, schools, police/army/ZNS/prison and ZAF housing units and barracks, new prison facilities, Kalabo long way suspended bridge, modern hydro power stations, ZNS solar milling plants, opened economic zones and farming schemes everywhere, created IDC for mass industrialization, etc.
9. These ECL infrastructures are visible everywhere in Zambia. I know Lungu at his worst in office because l directly worked with him and accompanied him to launch or inspect many infrastructure projects countrywide. ECL at his worst managed to build KKIA, an aw award winning international modem airport in Africa, New Ndola International Airport and many other modernized airports we all know in Zambia;
10. For HH at his best in office, he has birthed many three by one classroom blocks and simple renovations of rural clinics using CDF money, buildings that are already cracking, falling down and some being blown off by dry winds in many places. HH at his best has showered cheap township roads, drainage systems and bridges using CDF money, so poor workmanship that many are already being washed away by first rains like in Kalingalinga and Mutendere here in Lusaka; some HH’s CDF bridges are being swept away in Eastern, Muchinga and Luapula provinces;
11. During ECL’s worst years in office, the JCTR Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB) for January 2019 was at K 5,395.35 for a family of five people in Lusaka while the national average was at K3, 620.23 in December 2019. This means that the cost of living under Lungu was both affordable and bearable especially that there was constant or routine circulation and oiling of money in the economy;
12. In January 2023 under HH’s best rulership, the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB), the cost of living for a family of 5 in Lusaka stood at KK9, 003.21; double the average monthly income in the nation stands at K4, 393.00. This means that the cost of living has plummeted to harshest levels while majority Zambians do not have money in their pocket to live for another day, week or month;
13. Under Lungu at his worst performance, yes there was corruption indeed but many people had money in their pockets to buy basic commodities: life was bearable and many people were generally happy across Zambia. Under ECL, this evil called corruption had some visible positive effects on many Zambians as citizens had more money to spend, build, buy, eat, drink and dance around;
14. To the contrary, HH’s best rule in his three years, we have seen the systematic and widespread escalation of corruption and plundering of public resources to formal kleptocracy (rule by theft) as factually submitted by the Swedish ambassador to Zambia and repeatedly explained by Dr. Fred M’membe, Sean Tembo, Edith Nawakwi, Archbishop T Mpundu, Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa, Transparency International Zambia and many others;
15. Under HH’s rule at his best in 2024, our accredited diplomats are telling us that many foreign investors from their countries are now shunning Zambia due to abnormal looting, cruel embezzlement and heavy corruption by ruling party cadres and state officials: a formal confirmation of the birth and existence of kleptocracy under UPND;
16. At his worst, Lungu allowed all political players to have political rallies anywhere, citizens could match and protest, conduct press briefings, mobilize their political parties and the state respected citizens for their rights and freedoms. During his entire seven years rule, ECL arrested less 15 political rivals, scholars and activists for providing divergent views and criticisms;
17. At his best in less than 3 years, HH has imposed sanctions on the opposition leaders, no one can have political rallies anywhere, no press conferences anyhow, and no political party can mobilize their supporters anywhere in Zambia apart from himself and UPND. In addition, the three years reign of HH has witnessed more than 84 incidents of brutal police arrests countrywide, malicious litigations and imprisonment of political rivals and critics of his rule;
18. At his worst, ECL respected the constitution, rule of law and separation of powers to the extent that he willingly conceded defeat and happily handed over power to HH at Heroes Stadium in 2021. At his best so far, HH does not respect the rule of law with his ‘mingalato’ formula: he appoints people into public office without any regards for the constitution like his Auditor General, ECZ chairperson, some ECZ commissioners, etc and he does not assure anyone that he will concede defeat and willingly handover in 2026;
19. At his worst during his seven years rule, Lungu made less than 40 foreign trips and HH repeatedly mocked him as ‘kamwedo munjila’ (a person who always travels). At his best in less than three years, Hichilema has become the new Vasco Dagama with more than 70 foreign trips as Republican President to his name and thereby beating all past presidents; and
20. At his worst in power, Lungu left Zambian Kwacha at K15 per 1 U$ dollar. Today at his best in power, HH has taken the Kwacha to K27 per 1U$ dollar (the highest in Zambian history) while our national currency is deemed to be among the top two weakest currencies in the world as we speak. Today, HH is the only president who is cunningly boosting of being in the “champions league” when his country is sinking in all sectors and citizens are dying like bees.
3. Conclusion
In 2015 and 2016, Lungu told Zambians that he only came to fulfill Micheal Sata’s vision, not his own. HH satanically laughed at ECL and brutally called him as “chimbwe no plan”. But Lungu at his worst when he was leaving office, he left the health, education, energy, agriculture, mining, civil service, democratic, infrastructure and all key sectors standing with signatures of “sonta, upowabomba” (show us what you have done);
For HH, he pompously set the parameters of performance for himself before he was elected into power in 2021. Under “Bally will Fix it”, HH campaigned as an angle and promised paradise for all Zambians which he has terribly failed to deliver and fulfill. So far, he has delivered below average in all key sectors; the very sectors ECL scored credits, merits and distinctions at his worst level.
So the captioned statement by ECL is factually incorrect and wrong because there is no basis of comparison whatsoever between Lungu and Hichilema. While Lungu delivered to the expectations of Zambians in all key sectors, this Bally has totally failed especially that people voted him into power out of his sweet talk, paradise campaign promises and Adolf Hitler’s style of political rhetorics. People just wanted change, the very change HH promised them.
On 13th July, 2020 President HH as lead opposition leader then wrote on his Facebook page and said: “When the government fails to change the lives of people, the people must change the government “. Why HH is not officially resigning his position to his Vice President or call for early elections to allow Zambians to change his failed government?
Yes, both man on earth and God in heaven knows that HH has completely failed and change of government is the only alternative as prescribed by himself in 2020. Lungu at his worst in 2021 was a full chicken for Zambians to eat while HH at his best in 2024 is still an egg showing signs of rotting without hope to eaten or become a chick. How then do we compare these two political folks?
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.
The Cost of Living Index (excluding rent) serves as a measure of the relative prices of essential consumer goods, encompassing groceries, dining, transportation, and utilities within a given location. This index provides an estimate of the overall affordability of everyday items, excluding accommodation expenses like rent or mortgage.
For example, a city with a Cost of Living Index of 120 is considered to be approximately 20% more expensive than New York City, excluding housing costs. This metric allows for a comprehensive evaluation of the economic landscape, offering insights into the comparative expenses associated with daily essentials in different regions while isolating the impact of accommodation costs.
BusinessDay reported, that Inflation in Africa remains high, driven by agricultural supply shocks and imported inflation due to weakened local currencies and elevated commodity prices. This contrasts with global improvements, highlighting challenges in monetary policy transmission and structural weaknesses across the continent stated by the African Development Bank (AfDB), and further emphasizes the divergent inflation trends between Africa and advanced economies.
According to Numbeo, Here are ten countries with an expensive cost of living in 2024.
Mozambique – Cost of Living Index: 45.2, Global Rank: 63rd
Mozambique takes the lead as the African country with the highest cost of living in 2024. With its rich natural resources, Mozambique faces challenges such as high inflation, economic instability, and the aftermath of natural disasters. These factors contribute to the increased cost of living for its residents.
Senegal – Cost of Living Index: 45.1, Global Rank: 65th
Senegal closely follows Mozambique in the rankings. While Senegal has made strides in economic development, the cost of living remains high due to factors such as urbanization, rising housing costs, and inflation. The government’s efforts to address these challenges are ongoing, but the impact on the cost of living persists.
Ivory Coast – Cost of Living Index: 44.7, Global Rank: 66th
Ivory Coast, a West African nation known for its cocoa production, faces economic challenges that contribute to its high cost of living. Despite its efforts to diversify the economy, external factors like global commodity prices and internal issues such as infrastructure gaps contribute to the country’s ranking.
Ethiopia – Cost of Living Index: 43.1, Global Rank: 72nd
Ethiopia, with its rapidly growing economy, still struggles with the challenge of a high cost of living. The country’s focus on industrialization and infrastructure development has led to increased urbanization and rising living expenses. Inflation and currency depreciation also play a role in the overall cost of living for Ethiopians.
Mauritius – Cost of Living Index: 41.1, Global Rank: 79th
Mauritius, often considered a haven for tourists, faces a comparatively high cost of living for its residents. The island nation’s reliance on imports, limited natural resources, and the impact of global economic fluctuations contribute to the elevated living expenses experienced by its population.
Zambia – Cost of Living Index: 39.8, Global Rank: 80th
Zambia, with its dependence on copper exports, faces economic challenges that impact the cost of living. Fluctuations in commodity prices, coupled with external debt burdens, contribute to the financial strain experienced by Zambians.
Cameroon – Cost of Living Index: 39.6, Global Rank: 81st
Cameroon, with significant agricultural and natural resources, still faces economic challenges that result in a high cost of living. Factors such as political instability, corruption, and insufficient infrastructure contribute to the financial strain on its residents.
Zimbabwe – Cost of Living Index: 36.8, Global Rank: 93rd
Zimbabwe, known for its tumultuous economic history, continues to tussle with inflation and economic instability. While efforts to stabilize the economy are ongoing, the cost of living remains high, impacting the daily lives of Zimbabweans.
South Africa – Cost of Living Index: 33.4, Global Rank: 104th
South Africa, a major economic player on the continent, faces challenges such as high unemployment and income inequality. Even though being ranked lower globally compared to other African countries on this list, the cost of living in South Africa remains a concern for many citizens.
Uganda – Cost of Living Index: 30.7, Global Rank: 114th
Uganda rounds off the list, indicating that even with a relatively lower cost of living compared to other countries on this list, economic challenges persist. Factors such as high inflation, political uncertainties, and limited infrastructure development contribute to the overall cost of living for Ugandans.
DON’T WAIT TO BE FIRED IF INTERNS ARE NOT PAID BY NEXT WEEK, NKANDU WARNS MINISTRY OFFICIALS
By Oliver Chisenga
YOUTH, Sport and Arts minister Elvis Nkandu has told accounting officials at the ministry to resign if interns and volunteers engaged under the IVAG programme are not paid by next week.
The youths who are part of the National Youth Internship, Volunteer, Apprenticeship and Graduates (IVAG) programme, sought an audience with Nkandu and permanent secretary for administration Kangwa Chileshe over the non-payment of interns’ wages.
After hearing the challenges that have caused the non-payment and part payment of the wages, Nkandu warned that the officers responsible should not wait to be fired if the status quo continues next week.
Addressing the chief accountant, interns and volunteers at the ministry, Nkandu told the accounting officials to “just fire yourselves or hand in your resignation” if payments are not made by next week.
“Everyone should be paid. Nga nkomfwekofye ati tamulalipila (If I hear that you have not paid), ba (Mr) Mulaisho and your group, I should not tell you to vacate your offices, just go on your own. I have made it very, very clear. I should not hear that they are not paid,” he said.
Nkandu told the interns to inform him directly if they are not paid by next week and not through social media.
“Come to the PS office or mine so that you see how we will act on these people who don’t want to do their work,” Nkandu said. “Please pay these people… I am giving you one week because that’s the maximum I can give. They can even pay you in a day or two if everything is just okay. We don’t want to come and sit in here again.”
He further warned Kangwa to do his job and not “tarnish the image” of the ministry.
“Yes, we are friends but when it comes to work, the story changes, so please just work and if you don’t want to work, tell me. You can even bring your resignation letter on my table. These interns are also looking for jobs. Some are accountants, so they can easily replace you, so let’s do our job,” he said. “I am not the controlling officer, he [Kangwa] is. I provide policy and it’s policy of the government that whoever is working should be paid. We don’t want to get back to PF days where council workers were being kept for 17 months without pay.”
Nkandu also warned the officials to discard the PF “software” of not promptly paying workers.
“If you have no money that’s another case but when you have the money, why shouldn’t you pay? Our interns, the one week I have given I believe all should be paid without problems. Like I have said, if they don’t, please come back,” said Nkandu. “As you join the mainstream employment bracket, please don’t change this attitude you have shown us as interns of working hard. That is why we need to appreciate you, because when you go in these health posts, clinic, the people that are working are interns and volunteers. We have noted that those that have been employed by the government do relax, so I don’t want you to act the same when you get that job.”
On January 4, 2023, the ministry released an advert in the Times of Zambia on the (IVAG) programme, inviting applications from youths in all the 10 provinces of the country.
And on February 6, 2023, a committee began the selection process of successful applicants for the programme and a total number of 2,000 youths were shortlisted.
On June 7, 2023, the ministry released the names of the 2,000 successful applicants in various print media.
In July of the same year, the ministry held an induction programme for the shortlisted candidates in the respective provincial centres.
It’s painful to witness someone who led a corrupt violent administration mocking you even in opposition, as in the case of ECL.
How does ECL interpret the enormous debt we are struggling with? Who borrowed this money? An uneducated population is easily manipulated. What truly bothers my mind is that we, the so-called Christians, cheer such rantings. This is a man who led a government of thugs, for the thugs, with the thugs.
A man who allowed hate speech to be propagated. A man who encouraged his top officials in government and party levels to steal.
This is a man who allowed thugs to ambush and terrorize Zambians who did not agree with his government. Zambians died under his watch through political violence, yet today, he has the freedom to stand before the congregation and mislead those who call themselves Christians. It is at this point that I question the moral fiber of us Christians in Zambia. Because we accept being misguided by individuals whose hands are stained with people’s blood, whose lips are full of hate, and whose brains easily forget. At the end of the day, all this nonsense is happening because the UPND government has allowed it.
Let people with integrity criticize, and I will not have a problem. This is why, no matter what people like Bishop Mpundu say, I will not be aggressive towards him because when we were in trouble, he stood firm and denounced the PF Lungu-led violent and brutal administration.
Some of us who experienced firsthand the brutality of PF-sponsored violence feel our hearts ache when we see what is going on. I know some of you in the UPND government are very comfortable now that you fail to assist the president in stopping this nonsense we see. But I want to remind you all that some people died under Lungu’s administration for you to have that position through President HH. You can’t even open your mouth to defend your president’s efforts simply because your mouth is full of food. But for how long? Anyway, because in Zambia, some of you are used to changing political parties like underwear, that is why you don’t care.
My argument here is that ECL messed up this country. By the time he was voted out, Zambia had already started defaulting on loans, and there are financial consequences.
We are subjected to all these harsh economic austerity measures by the current administration for the mess created by ECL. Who is he today to tell us that our economy can be better under him again? We have also heard about the money saga were former bank of Zambia ordered staff at the Bank to give the likes of Faith Musonda to keep in their homes. My question is did president Edgar Lungu know about this? Yes he and what did he do? Absolutely nothing.
THE State has now gone for the nine fully furnished apartments and luxurious house allegedly belonging to former ZAF commander Lieutenant General Eric Chimese barely months after a magistrate declared that they did not belong to him but his best friend.
Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri has moved a motion before the Economic and Financial Crimes Court to have Lt. Gen Chimese’s properties confiscated on reasons that He failed to account for the properties worth K91.4 million suspected to be tainted.
Among the properties to be forfeited are Subdivision of Subdivision F/2303/Q 4th Street Ibex Hill which houses the apartments and a single storey house, Farm 4302/313 Eureka Baobab Area Musekese Drive in Lusaka, Part of property no.F/181a/C/1 Mungwi road Lusaka West, 10 x 49 inch Samsung TV sets, K138, 458, US$10, 107,100 pounds and 1Yen.
In an affidavit in support of originating notice of motion for an application for Non-Conviction Based forfeiture order of tainted property sworn by Drug Enforcement Commission director Lillian Mubialelwa under the Anti-momey laundering investigations unit (AMLIU) on behalf of the DPP said in 2018 she received classified information that Gen. Chimese had illegally amassed wealth.
“I visited Subdivision F/2303/Q 4th street in Ibex Hill lusaka where I found that there was a luxurious house, nine fully furnished apartments, a gym, a guest wing a swimming pool and a semi- detached cottage,”Mubialelwa said.
She said a search at the Ministry of Lands revealed that the properties were still under a parent registered title deed of the proposed subdivisions.
Mubialelwa stated that she obtained a customer application form for electricity supply at ZESCO from Kennedy Mwansa, a supply inquiry and notice of commencement form, a copy of an NRC, sketch plan, nine quotations and payment receipts for the nine apartments, the single storey building and a semi-detached guest wing developed at the subject property.
She said the documents were in Gen. Chimese’s name as the landlord of the subject property.
“I was informed by Mr Chilanga Sahani that he was surprised when he heard James Chungu claiming to be the owner of the subject proposed property when he knew the owner to be Lt Gen Chimese.”Mubialelwa said.
She stated that Stephen Mbewe, who was a relief guard at the properties disclosed that vehicles belonging to the Zambia Air Force ZAF would deliver building material at the premises.
“I conducted a search at Air house where Lt Gen Chimese was residing with his wife, Sharon Gray at the time and I seized from Lt Gen 10×49 inches Samsung full HD TV sets, K90,000 and US$10,000 and from the wife,I seized K48,458, 100.00 pounds ,US$107.00 dollars and 1 yen,” she stated.
“I seized the subject cited properties on reasonable suspicion that they were proceeds of crime after both Lt Gen Chimese and Sharon Gray failed to account for the said seized properties.”
Mubialelwa said the estimated market value for proposed Subdivision of subdivision F/2303/Q 4th Street Ibex Hill in Lusaka is K46,600,000, farm 4301/313 Eureka Baobab Area Musekese Drive in Lusaka is valued at K22,300,000.
She said the market value for part of property F/181a/C1 Mungwi road in Lusaka west is K22,500,000 bringing the total market value of assets to K91, 400, 000.
“I found that Lt Gen Chimese and James Chungu were on May 22,2023 acquitted by the Subordinate Court on all counts of money laundering and concealing property suspected to be proceeds of crime,”Mubialelwa said.
“The cited properties are reasonably suspected to br proceeds of crime and liable for forefeiture to the State. The offences in Sections 21(1)(a)(b) and 36(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act no.3 of 2012 of the Laws of Zambia and Sections 71 of the forfeiture of proceeds of crimes are serious offences.”
She added that the case was fit for the Court to issue an order of forfeiture for the properties suspected to be tainted.
MOTORS BOSS IN ZAMBIAN COURT, ALSO WANTED BY INTERPOL FOR HUMAN SMUGGLING RELATED ALLEGATIONS
STAR motors proprietor Wahdat Hussain has been dragged to court in connection with possession of several cars suspected of being proceeds of crime and the State has urged the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court not to grant him bail pending trial because he is a flight risk.
The State further submitted yesterday that the suspect also has eight passports and that he is also wanted by Interpol wanted.
Anti-Corruption Commission(ACC) assistant director-legal Gloria Muyunda told Lusaka magistrate Trevor Kasanda that ACC has information that Mr Hussain is wanted in South Africa and Botswana for alleged human trafficking and money laundering,” Ms Muyunda told magistrate Trevor Kasanda.
The accused, who allegedly uses two different names, is appearing before magistrate Kasanda charged with possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime.
Between January 1,2021 and 27, 2024, Hussain did possesses a grey Toyota Fortuner, white Toyota Hilux, BMW X5, White Toyota Fortuner, Land cruiser Prado VX and two black and maroon Range Rovers, all cars are reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
When the case came up for plea, defence lawyers, among them Emmanuel Phiri, applied for bail pending trial for his client, who is of fixed abode capable of raising sureties.
“He will meet the conditions that the court will impose. The spirit behind bail pending trial is that the accused is innocent until proven guilty,” Mr Phiri said.
But the State objected to the application because the accused was is a flight risk.
However, another defence lawyer Nkula Botha argued that his client cannot flee because the State seized his travel documents, adding that he is “a man with investments in Zambia and is of fixed abode,” Mr Botha.
There was also an argument that there was no documentary evidence concerning alleged cases the accused is alleged to have committed in other countries.
To prove their submission, the State produced evidence showing that Mr Hussain was on a wanted list among them an Interpol report for the accused which was last updated on April 12, 2022 and his South African passport under the names, Wajid Ahmed.
“This is the passport that he first used to enter Zambia in 2018. We also have his application for the temporary employment permit under the name Wajid Ahmed which he applied for on February 20, 2018,” Ms Muyunda said.
She said the Interpol report also shows that he goes by name of Hussain Wahdat, Ahmed Wajid, and a nickname, Ali.
“The report shows that he is of Pakistan nationality with eight different passports from Pakistan and South Africa. The report also shows that he is wanted in South Africa over human smuggling related charges, corruption, and fraud. The report says the main suspect is involved in smuggling humans seeking asylum,” Ms Muyunda said, adding that it has been difficult to apprehend Mr Hussain since he uses two different names, including a nick name.
The court will next week decided whether to grant bail to the accused.
Kevin Kangethe, the Massachusetts man who immediately fled to Kenya after he allegedly killed his girlfriend and left her body in a car at Boston airport garage, was on Monday arrested at a nightclub in the East African nation.
In a statement, the Massachusetts State Police said that the 41-year-old suspect was arrested in the capital, Nairobi, by Kenyan authorities. Kangethe is said to have fled to Kenya after 31-year-old Margaret Mbitu’s body was found in a car at a garage at Boston Logan International Airport on November 1, 2023, NBC 10 Boston reported at the time. That was two days after she was reported missing.
Authorities said Mbitu suffered large slash wounds on her face and neck area as well as a puncture on her side. Kangethe is said to have checked into a flight to Kenya after he obtained airline tickets on November 2.
After Mbitu’s body was found, authorities in the statement said that State Police Detectives “obtained a warrant charging KANGETHE with Ms. Mbitu’s homicide and began working with the State Department DSS, Interpol, and Kenyan authorities to locate him in Kenya.”
“Law enforcement officials in Kenya had tracked KANGETHE’s whereabouts while state and federal authorities here coordinated his apprehension,” the statement added.
Authorities said the 41-year-old suspect is set to appear at a preliminary court hearing in Kenya in the coming days, adding that the process to extradite him to Boston for prosecution has been initiated.
In a statement, Mbitu’s family said they were “overjoyed by the news” of Kangethe’s arrest, Boston 25 reported.
“The long hand of the law is finally catching up with Maggie’s murder suspect. We have confirmed with law enforcement and the DA of the arrest of Mr. Kangethe in Kenya and are waiting on the next step of extradition and eventual prosecution,” the statement added.
“We want to thank our friends, law enforcement here in the US and in Kenya, and the community at large for the efforts in the capture of Mr. Kangethe. We are confident that the truth will prevail and that justice for Maggie will be achieved.”
In a recent interview with The Sun, Manchester City star and England international Kyle Walker said he solely blames himself for his wife’s decision to part ways with him after he was exposed for having secret children while they were married.
Walker’s wife, Annie, initially took him back after he got model Lauryn Goodman pregnant. The model also confirmed the 33-year-old right-back was her son’s father after she gave birth in April 2020. But Annie decided to part ways with Walker after he got Goodman pregnant for the second time.
“What I’ve done is horrible and I take full responsibility,” he said. “I made idiot choices and idiot decisions. I can’t begin to think or imagine what Annie is going through. I’ve tried to ask her but there’s pain and hurt.”
“The man that’s meant to love, care and be there for her, did this,” he added. “There have been days in this ordeal where I’ve just wanted to curl up in a ball and go to sleep.
“The only person to blame is me. I have roles and responsibilities that I’m aware of and I’ve made stupid choices. But I need to own up to my mistakes — I owe it to everyone. My actions have caused a lot of pain to a lot of people. I’m sorry because, as a family, this isn’t meant to happen.”
Walker and Annie share three children and are expecting another child. The 33-year-old moved out of their matrimonial home in the wake of the revelation that he had fathered a second child with Goodman.
“I am a private man but I accept that I am a public figure and I need to address what I’ve done,” said Walker. “It hasn’t helped that it has been played out in the media. But I’ve chosen to speak now in the hope that I can at least explain myself and enable my wife and children to have the privacy they so desperately need and deserve.”
He added: “When I met Annie at 17, I never envisaged my private life being like this. I never thought I would be a father of six.
“In football I’ve achieved more than what I ever thought I would achieve. But to personally hurt what I truly believe is my best friend, that’s what hurts a lot.
“How could I hurt someone I love so much? That’s something I need to find in myself. I need to find out why I have done this and why situations have occurred. I am human and I’ve made mistakes on and off the field.
“The ones off the field are definitely more damaging and have been more hurtful to me. Football has been my life since I was six but my family comes before anything on this planet. At the moment, they’re hurting enormously.”
An emotional Walker also spoke about his son, saying, “My little boy goes to sleep with me every night and to not have him . . . I’m used to being away for long periods of time with England.
“We say goodnight on FaceTime. But to know that I’m not with him because of my mistake — mistake is probably the wrong word, my choices — that’s what pains me.”
LUSAMBO SHUTS OUT JOURNALISTS FROM COVERING GRAFT CASE AT PREMISES
FORMER Lusaka province minister Bowman Lusambo yesterday barred the media from attending a court session which was held at one of his premises housing six incomplete flats in Chamba Valley.
Yesterday, Lusaka chief resident magistrate Davies Chibwili moved to one of Lusambo’s establishments suspected to be a product of grand corruption for a site visit and cross examination of a State witness.
However media personnel including those from the Anti-graft body could not attend the cross examination as they were stopped from entering the yard by Lusambo’s ruffians who were dotted on the road leading to the property in question which is 20 metres from Chalo Trust school.
Despite explaining to the cadres that the court was having a brief session from the said premises Lusambo’s henchmen indicated that there were stringent instructions not to allow the media gain access to the property.
His personal assistant who prodded the conduct by Lusambo’s boys claimed that before the media could arrive at the premises Lawyer Makebi Zulu had made an application that the media should not be present during the site visit and the court granted the request.
Reporters and the ACC media team who harbored suspicion about the false application preventing them from covering the Court proceedings gave no attention to Lusambo’s assistant and cadres as they went past them to avoid disrupting the proceedings.
Immediately they reached the yard one of Lusambo’s boys locked up the gate claiming he was acting under instructions from his boss not to allow the press in.
Media personnel ended up missing the brief session which was held at the site.
Upon inquiring from Court officials on whether an application was made to stop them from attending the Court proceedings at Lusambo’s incomplete flats the Court officials denied.
“There was no such application that was made. The Court did not grant any request to stop the media from attending the proceedings that is false,” said one of the Court officials.
“The witness has been cross examined from the scene and the matter has been adjourned to March.”
Earlier in Court Kapasa Mukonge a civil engineer informed the Economic and Financial Crimes Court that he was approached by Lusambo for the purchase of property at plot F/609/E/50 where he resides.
“I declined the offer of purchase and then he requested that I lease the land to him. We entered into a lease agreement and he signed the lease agreement for a piece of land which was 1, 800 square metres on October 1, 2018,”Kapasa said.
He said the land was leased to the former Lusaka province minister for five years and he built 6 flats.
Following the examination in chief , the State made an application for the Court to move to the site.
In this case Lusambo is charged with two counts of possessing property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
AWISI TASILA AND THE WAILERS HAVE NO ECONOMIC TURN AROUND PLAN. TRUST THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK.
By: Cheelo Katambo
Yesterday, a group of opposition political parties without representation in both the National Assembly and local Government met to address the nation on what they termed as falling democratic and civil space in the country under the reign of President Hakainde Hichilema and his UPND administration.
I followed (from my dear Samsung handset) the grand press briefing of the so called 8 opposition political parties that had been ably advertised the previous day and the presence of Awisi Tasila was of greater interest to me knowing how his brain switches off whenever he sees a microphone.
I knew that something interesting would come out.
All the 8 led by my near politically extinct cousin Sakwiba Sikota of the ULP party spoke their lungs out. I didn’t know that the man still exists politically because the last time he was ever mentioned was before 2011 when he was MP for Livingstone and had notoriously decided to lead a break away party from the UPND after a heavy intra party election defeat by current Republican President Hakainde Hichilema in 2006.
Post 2011, the man was only in court as an Attorney. We wait for the Registrar of Societies to tell us whether the man is still an office bearer. Lol
Of course, the whole circus was about how the UPND and President Hichilema have shrunk the democratic space, how civil liberties had been ruined (story for another day), how the economy is badly performing without taking stock of the genesis of the bad economy (of course without offering solutions, typical of Zambian opposition political parties).
Awisi Tasila who was the star of the opera led the wailing mourners with the cream of Zambian media watching in awe. I got bored and immediately started watching the trailer for yesterday’s MPALI episode. At least uncle Patrick’s theatrics with Tombi made some measurable sense than the comedy of errors the politicians were subjecting me to.
But somehow, I was forced against my own will and conscious to check what else was happening at the presser. My oh my: Moved by the courage of Ellen G White, a journalist from Hope TV, a Seventh Day Adventist Church run channel asked Awisi Tasila a very candid and direct question on the huge debt contraction in his seven years of rule (nothing to do with the number of years King Nebuchadnezzar ate grass) and how if still in power they would have dismantled the debt.
His response left me and of course the entire country (except his gullible supporters) wondering why God could have unjustly given us this man to rule over this beautiful land of work and joy for Seven unbroken years. In the first place his speech was not audible enough as he continued spitting all over. I hope my cousin Saki did not get wet.
Then the response did not only make me sit up onto the edge of my seat but I had to hold my mouth in my hands lest my heart could skip out. In my heart, I said this is what I was waiting for. The real Edgar has been unleashed and has seen the branded microphones.
The man literary failed to give even a basic response to the question apart from saying its not me who is in State House. The man literary failed to grab that split second advantage to convince us the gullible critiques that we made a mistake to remove him from the sweet office as he had a masterplan. But no, he goes ahead to reinforce a globally known position that he is incapacitated to make any sound economic recovery plan for the debt he contracted leaving the country at near bankruptcy.
I have always known that the man’s level of decency and shame was at ZERO but at least I thought he would do it for the camera. Aweh Mwandi!
If Zambians want to continue politicking at the expense of economic recovery and stability, I present to you AWISI TASILA and the WAILERS. No economic turn around plan, no debt restructuring plan, no economic diplomacy, completely nothing except being vulgar and temperamental.
I then realized this group without any representation doesn’t mean well. Ask them how they intend to reduce the price of fuel or stabilize the kwacha. No politics attached, just economic plans.
But if it is economic recovery that Zambians want for now and the future, my biased advice is hanging onto Papa Hakainde Hichilema and his team.
Things might look gloomy for now with the cost of living, inflation and kwacha seemingly running away, there is hope of a better tomorrow because the team is working and has put fundamentals rightfully in their place.
Not all is rosy for now as some people expected, but the ray of light is visible in the horizon. Let us manage our expectations. It is darker before dawn.
The international community believes in us again. Mopani and KCM are starting to pay. Dollars will be on the streets soon again. FQM is back investing, Luanshya mine is coughing back to life after more than 20 years, a huge mine to open soon. The Smelters on the Copperbelt will soon cough and KOPALA will become KOPALA again. The farmer is smiling with high maize prices and expectant of his bumper harvest. Tanzania is buying maize at $500 per ton. The sun will soon shine on the land of work and joy.
But trusting Awisi Tasila and his band of WAILERS to save this country from collapsing is trusting the Devil himself to rid the world of all sins.
TIME TO ASK HONEST QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC MESS
By Clayson Hamasaka Chief Communications Specialist State House
The press conference, led by former President Edgar Lungu and attended by a consortium of opposition leaders, showcases the current peaceful and tolerant atmosphere created by the UPND Government under President Hakainde Hichilema.
Less than two and a half years ago, such a press conference would have been disrupted by PF slogan-chanting, machete-wielding thugs, resulting in bloodshed. Yesterday’s event, however, highlighted the prevailing peace, ultimately benefiting the Zambian citizens—a cause for which we fought.
The primary loser in the press conference was Edgar Lungu. Wherever the former President appears is now potentially designated as a disaster area. It’s time for Mr. Lungu to act like an honest, grown-up man, showing remorse and shame for his actions. He must cease being paranoid when questioned about his party’s criminal past.
Mr. Lungu should refrain from insulting the collective intelligence of Zambians by urging them to ‘move on.’ This advice is inappropriate in the aftermath of a criminally contracted debt that has stifled economic development. Instead of focusing on rebuilding the economy, President Hichilema, due to PF and Mr. Lungu’s reckless borrowing, has spent two years untangling the country from this unsustainable debt through global networking.
It is crucial to ask honest questions about who led us to our current situation. These are the same individuals loudly complaining about the high cost of living while gleefully mocking the slow resolution of the debt they accumulated.
Former President Lungu’s insinuation about attacking the character of his successor’s upbringing is regrettable. President Hakainde Hichilema holds an office on behalf of twenty million Zambians and deserves respect.
For the benefit of our citizens and the kind of debts created by Mr. Lungu, in the energy sector alone, Zambia currently has a local debt of US$1 billion owed to the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). What Edgar Lungu and his criminal enterprise were doing was telling OMCs to just bring in petroleum products on credit which they were not ready to pay. Now President Hakainde Hichilema and his UPND government has to pay.
In the infrastructure projects, the Zambian government is owing contractors US$8 billion as local debt. And most of these are projects that were being given to PF cadres without any experience in construction and there is nothing to show on the ground. And Mr Lungu and his cohorts today wants the country to just ‘move on’ without referring to his previous regime.
What Mr. Lungu is advising the current government is to just ignore all those nkongoles by not paying the people owed and just ‘move on’. From this reckless statement of just ‘move on’, one can see the typical PF mentality leadership in government. It was like “bane kabiyeni musende fye inkongole fikaisova. We shall just ignore the debts”.
Edgar Lungu’s reasoning is a typical tarven mentality of ‘mpeleniko tubili nalelo kalipila mailo’. And when tomorrow comes ‘ati ibaleniko fye naiwe’, just move on.
2026 ELECTIONS WILL NOT BE FREE AND FAIR, M’MEMBE TELLS EU DELEGATION
Leader of the opposition Socialist Party Zambia has met the European Union Delegation.
Dr M’membe during a meeting at his party’s Headquarters in Garden Compound in Lusaka said the forthcoming election in Zambia will not be free and fair.
M’MEMBE BRIEFS EU DELEGATION ON ZAMBIA’S ‘UNPRECEDENTED SHRINKING’ DEMOCRATIC SPACE
Lusaka, Wednesday (January 31, 2024) MEDIA STATEMENT
Socialist Party – SP President Fred M’membe has hosted a delegation of the European Union Elections Follow-up Mission which is meeting stakeholders ahead of the 2026 General Election.
Addressing the delegation at SP Secretariat in Lusaka’s Garden Compound, Dr. M’membe said the 2026 General Election will not be free and fair because of shrinking democratic space.
“The EU observed the 2021 General Election. I was worried about the conduct of the UPND in those elections. In areas where they were strong, it is not a secret, there were serious malpractices. They drove out Polling Agents from other political parties in Southern, Western and North Western Provinces and Southern part of Central Province. They were remaining themselves alone. When former President Edgar Lungu said elections were rigged, no body took him serious. But indeed there was some serious malpractices by the UPND. I understand that it was difficult to operate under the PF and some of the measures the UPND took could have been justified at that time but my worry was, are they going to carry those practices into Government? And indeed they have done so,” he said.
Dr. M’membe said from the first by elections UPND Administration conducted in 2021, violence and other malpractices continued.
“To this day such things are deepening. And if we continue on this path, it will be impossible to hold free and fair elections in 2026. It is not possible even now to hold free and fair by-elections. I have been a participant campaigning in those elections myself. This is not the atmosphere under which you can hold free and fair elections.
The SP President said it is worrying that the institutions of governance such as the Judiciary, Police and the Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ, are losing credibility.
Dr. M’membe said Zambia and his party in particular is ready to work with the EU to maintain peace.
“If elections become less and less credible, people will turn to themselves. Elections are not the only way of choosing leaders,” he said.
The Opposition Leader said people can choose leaders in many other ways if elections lose extreme credibility but that his party sincerely believes that the best way to choose leaders is through elections.
“All other forms of choosing leaders are not sustainable and do not lead to stability. All the time, they lead to instability. Those who want a peaceful world cannot be opposed to free, fair and peaceful elections. We do not want you to send us aid because we are paralyzed by instability. We want you to help us to hold free and fair elections that are peaceful,” he said.
Dr. M’membe said the clear path Zambia has taken will lead to serious problems in the 2026 General Election as opposition are not allowed to hold meetings.
“You cannot have a situation where opposition political parties cannot even hold the smallest of meetings. And you want them to participate in an election? It’s like in a soccer competition where you do not allow other teams to train but you just want them to come and enter the tournament while the other team is training,” he said.
The SP President said President Hakainde Hichilema has been holding meetings and rallies from the time he ascended to power in 2021 while no opposition leaders are allowed to do so.
“Hichilema is campaigning for 2026 but we are not allowed to do the same,” he said.
Dr. M’membe said the UPND has perpetrated violence against the opposition political parties but that they are not allowed to defend themselves.
“Again when all these institutions fail, people will turn to themselves and look at what they can do for themselves. That is not a recipe for good governance and stability. It’s a recipe for instability,” he said.
The Opposition Leader said his party took the European Union Elections Follow-up Mission seriously.
“We highly welcome your presence in our country and much more so your visit to our office. The last time I met your delegation, I asked that why do you summon us to your offices? Come to our little huts also and meet us in our own offices. I am grateful that request has been responded to favorably,” he.
This is contained in a statement issued by SP Director Media Brian Hapunda.
PARAMOUNT CHIEF CHITIMUKULU ADVISES POLITICIANS TO STOP TRIBAL REMARKS
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people of Kasama District of Northern Province has called on politicians to stop using tribal remarks.
And the Paramount Chief has also dispelled misleading statements that the Northern Province is a no go area for the ruling government.
He says politicians who are in the habit of misleading the country with such tribal remarks should stop.
ZANIS reports that the traditional leader said this when Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Elijah Muchima, paid a courtesy call on him in Kasama.
He noted that chiefs in the country support the government of the day, saying it is sad if some people should use that to divide the nation.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu further urged that politicians should be promoting peace and unity unlike causing unnecessary division.
He said it is not right for the opposition political parties to react to anything that the government does.
The Chief advised that the opposition should instead be giving checks and balances and offer solutions to the challenges the country is faced with unlike wasting time on reactions.
And Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Elijah Muchima, said he is happy that he has been received well by all the chiefs.
Dr Muchima said this is contrary to reports he has been hearing that some places are not supposed to be accessed by certain tribes including the ruling government.
He noted that this is encouraging adding that it is always important for individuals to take responsibility and find out the truth rather than believing in hearsay.
Dr Muchima added that government will continue working with the chiefs and also improve their living standards through the construction of chief’s palaces across the country.
“I have been in Muchinga Province visiting chiefs on land related issues and now I’m here. What you are saying is what I have been hearing from these other chiefs.
“Let’s continue working together, we shall come here again with the Vice President,” Dr Muchima said.
The parents of Courtney Clenney, the OnlyFans model charged with killing her boyfriend, have been accused of trying to conceal evidence linked to her case. As previously reported by Face2Face Africa, Clenney fatally stabbed her then-boyfriend Christian Obumseli during a domestic dispute at their luxury apartment in Miami on April 3, 2022.
Her parents, identified as Deborah Clenney, 57, and 60-year-old Kim Clenney, were on Tuesday arrested in connection with the case, WPLG Local 10 reported. The pair are currently being held on an out-of-state felony warrant after they were arrested in Texas.
Police sources informed the news outlet that Clenney’s parents allegedly tried to conceal evidence when they cleaned her apartment in the wake of the fatal incident. The sources said that Clenney’s father had found something that was deemed to be evidence after police allowed the couple access to their daughter’s apartment. He, however, did not quickly hand it over to authorities.
Obumseli’s laptop was said to be inside his girlfriend’s apartment, but police did not take it. Kim Clenney is said to have later found the laptop and tried to access it, WPLG Local 10 reported. The sources also said he later gave the device to his lawyers.
Clenney is facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with her boyfriend’s killing. Her lawyers, however, claim that she acted in self-defense – though the deceased victim’s family said they were convinced he did not pose a threat.
Friends of the couple reportedly told an ABC affiliate that the two usually got into serious arguments, while neighbors also said Clenney and Obumseli usually got into domestic disputes that frequently required local police intervention.
In the wake of her parent’s arrest, Clenney’s attorney released a statement saying that were “extremely surprised and very concerned” about their arrest.
“This could be an example of prosecutorial overreach and misconduct. It appears excessive in that the family is now confined in jail awaiting an extradition hearing on what may be an attempt to manipulate media headlines and discredit them before Thursday’s scheduled hearing on a gag order in the case. The Clenneys have quite a story and it’s a story the State of Florida may does not want the public to hear,” the statement said.
It added: “We believe the Clenney family has been targeted with some trumped up charges to discredit them in the press and make their lives miserable. It stinks of a power play by prosecutors to control the narrative. This Thursday, the State is seeking a gag order in the case. Now they’ve gone after Courtney’s Mom and Dad in such a way that requires them to spend considerable time in jail without bond. Had they done this in Florida, the charge has a $5,000 bond, i.e., $500 to a bondsman, and that’s it. It appears the prosecutors are going for media mileage in this one with little or no evidence as we have yet to know what the true accusations are. It’s unnecessary and distasteful. All they had to do was a phone call and we would have been in court. It’s so inexcusable.”
All 27 leaders of the European Union agreed to give Ukraine a €50 billion aid package after Hungary had initially stopped the agreement.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, is happy about the new money. He thinks it will make the country stronger financially.
Ukraine’s economy ministry said it thinks it will get the first part of the money in March.
People were worried that the Prime Minister of Hungary would once again stop the deal, like he did at a meeting in Europe last December. Viktor Orban, who is a close friend of the Russian president Vladimir Putin in the European Union, said he wants to make the EU change its policy towards Ukraine. He also questioned the idea of giving money to Kyiv for the next four years.
The package will give money to cover pensions, salaries, and other expenses for the next four years. The US Congress is delaying military help for Ukraine.
They announced the agreement shortly after the meeting started. This surprised many people because they thought the discussions would take a long time, as Mr. Orban and the other EU leaders had very different opinions.
A source who works in diplomacy told Reuters that the new agreement includes talking about it every year and checking it again in two years, if necessary.
Mr Orban wanted to vote on the package every year. But this could have allowed Hungary to stop the deal every year.
“A good day for Europe,” said Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, on X.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the leaders of the European Union. He mentioned that the decision was made by all 27 leaders. He also said that the package would help make Ukraine’s economy and money more stable for a long time.
The money was really important for Ukraine’s finances, and it also needs Europe to keep supporting it.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Europe needs to invest in its own security. He said that Ukraine is standing up to Russia for everyone – stopping Vladimir Putin from trying to change the world by using force.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk didn’t like how Mr. Orban was acting, and said on X that maybe Viktor Orban could be convinced to change his mind. “Let’s”
Mr Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND’s continuous claims that they’ve ended cadreism are pure lies and propaganda.
UPND cadres are viciously present in markets, at bus stops, and in other public spaces where citizens are being forced to pay money to buy their peace and trading spaces. This vice has not been eradicated as is being claimed by the authorities and the UPND.
Our people are still being harassed and threatened with violence by UPND cadres as police turn a blind eye.
However, what is even worse is this government’s decision to secretly load the civil service with party cadres who are not even fit for the roles or duties they have been assigned. This has greatly affected the output and productivity levels in many government ministries, departments, and agencies.
In fact, there is an overload of staff incompetence, which has resulted in a lack of coordination among government ministries, departments, and agencies. The majority of the cadres being recruited do not possess the necessary qualifications and skill sets to perform their tasks.
Currently, there are more UPND cadres in the civil service, parastatals, and other government departments and institutions, than there are in markets, at bus stops and in other public facilities.
Government ministries, agencies, departments, parastatals, and quasi-government institutions are filled to the brim with party cadres who are willing to do anything in order to advance the UPND’s corruption, tribalism and puppetry agenda.
This irresponsible administrative act has demoralised many technocrats and career civil servants, and has caused many to question the wisdom, credibility, and integrity of the current regime and its leadership.
At the rate they are destroying the civil service, this country will not have any professional and ethical public servants in a few years’ time. What we will have is a highly incompetent and compromised civil service that is deep in tribalism, ethnic bigotry, and grand corruption. All skilled professionals will have left the public service.
This government has recklessly destroyed the civil service, state systems, and institutions, and things cannot be allowed to continue in this manner.
Let Mr Hichilema and the UPND continue to deceive themselves. They will soon meet their Waterloo. Their activities have a predictable effect and ending.
Mayangwa blames Lungu’s theatrics on UPND softness
A LUSAKA-based political commentator, Dillon Mayangwa has attributed former president Edgar Lungu’s outbursts on the softness that the UPND has treated him with since removing him from power in 2021.
This afternoon, Lungu rounded up leaders of several tiny political political to providing backing vocals sang praises for himself saying his leadership was far much better than that of President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND.
Although his own government was responsible for plunging the country into its current debt crisis which it defaulted in 2020, Lungu mocked the the government for the glitches its facing in resolving the crisis.
Cheered on by his opposition comrades as he spoke, Lungu demanded that President Hichilema calls for early elections as he had taken over the people who financed the UPND victory.
Lungu’s presser has attracted sharp reactions form various quarters including Mayangwa who feels the UPND is to blame for what he sees as political arrogance.
Mayangwa likens Lungu to an abusive stepmother who seeks to return in the house she was hounded out on account of her wickedness to children.
He said the UPND continued to treat Lungu with kids gloves while he had exhibited apparent bitterness with an agenda to return to power and punish those he thought had taken away his birth right of ruling Zambia forever.
Mayangwa lamented the UPND’s inability to effectively manage the civil service, a crucial component of governance.
He said the party’s perceived casual approach to politics and reliance on past successes were drawbacks .
Expressing disbelief, Mayangwa noted the absence of imprisonment for PF corrupt leaders despite allegations of corruption that contributed to the party losing power.
“People who were supposed to be in prison but with clear-cut bond cases, they are freely standing strong. It’s unbelievable,” he remarked.
“It is unbelievable that almost three years in power no PF leader has been sent to prison when literally it’s a well known fact that PF lost power due to the corruption and illegalities they governed the country with..”
He contended that Lungu, with his leadership track record, cannot be the solution to Zambia’s economic and social challenges, asserting that his past decisions had placed the nation in a difficult situation.
According to Mayangwa, Zambia was on a positive trajectory after Lungu’s departure, but his return would be detrimental to the nation’s economic development.
“Lungu will never be the solution to Zambians’ economical social setbacks for it’s his careless and poor leadership that has put Zambia under such difficult situation before him,” he added.
Mayangwa called out Lungu for lacking remorse and urged him to retire or address the alleged illegal dealings during his reign before considering a return.
Until then, Mayangwa argued that Lungu’s presence would only worsen Zambia’s economic struggles…https://kalemba.news/…/mayangwa-blames-lungus…/
THE FOLLOWING IS THE COMPARISON TO THOSE SAYING ECL WAS BETTER THAN HH
By Ruth Dante
SO YOU MEAN!
1. The K1.5 million CDF allocation to constituencies that only supported the ruling party was BETTER than the K30.6 million allocated and disbursed to all constituencies across the country.
2. Cadres collecting levy from traders and bus stations was BETTER than the mandated money the local government is collecting.
3. Remaining with the unsustainable debt that ECL’s government incurred from wreckless borrowing and later defaulting was BETTER than restructuring and saving funds for critical ministries.
4. It was BETTER for Indeni to remain closed than for HH’s government to reopen it in order to reduce fuel rates and bring back retrenched employees.
5. Employment freeze was BETTER than the HH government, which has so far employed more than 80,000 in the civil service.
6. Retiring civil servants from selected regions for national interest was BETTER than retaining all civil servants, irrespective of their region, including those employed as cadres under the PF constitution.
7. Failure to pay council workers was BETTER than that of HH, who cleared arrears and started paying them regularly.
8. Scrapping off student meal allowances by ECL’s government was BETTER than HH’s government reinstating and extended to over 7 universities.
9. Keeping retirees gratuities unpaid by ECL’s cruel government was BETTER than HH, who cleared them and introduced the 20% partial withdrawal.
10. Paying school fees under ECL’s government was BETTER than that of HH, which has successfully implemented the free education policy.
11. Mopani remaining shut was BETTER than HH finding equity partners for it to become operational.
12. Zambia remaining with debt, which destroyed the economy and caused a loss of investor confidence, was BETTER than HH, who has managed to restructure.
13. ECL’s government failing to properly collect revenue was BETTER than HH’s government, which is prudently collecting over K100 billion.
14. Zambia having panga-carrying cadres who had more authority than civil servants and other ordinary citizens in the name of Boma nil Boma’s was BETTER than HH stopping CADRELISM.
15. According to their constitution, qualifications did not matter, but membership was BETTER than HH’s public job advertisements, and academic qualifications are once again becoming important.
16. The high number of unemployed teachers and health worker graduates was BETTER than the employment created by HH and its government.
17. Failing to attract FDI under ECL’s government was BETTER than UPND bringing over $3.8 billion. 18. Kasama remaining with an airstrip under ECL’s government was BETTER than Kasama having an airport.
19. Paying K700 million to ghost workers by PF was BETTER than HH saving the resources for other critical ministries.
20. Failing to run fisheries by ECL’s government was BETTER than the restocking and production of more than 4 million fingerlings by HH’s government.
21. Running an unbalanced cabinet with a few selected regions by PF was BETTER than running an all-inclusive balanced cabinet by UPND.
22. FAILURE to manage debt they incurred because of wreckless borrowing under ECL’s government IS BETTER than restructuring it and enacting Debt Management Act No. 15. of 2022.
23. Lack of bursaries and skills training for youths in constituencies under CDF was BETTER than HH’s introduction of bursaries, grants, and loans under CDF to train and empower youths and women.
24. Closing media houses and suspending some was BETTER than ‘HH’s government, which has enacted FOI Ubill into law.
25. You killed citizens through politics like Nsama, Mapenzi, Kasongo, Lawrence, etc.; UPND has brought sanity.
26. Failure to pay off 258,000 farmers under ECL’s government was BETTER than HH’s government, which has paid all of them.
27. Failure to pay retirees in government TAZAMA and TAZARA workers under ECL’s government was BETTER than HH clearing all their dues. 28. Stealing social cash transfers under ECL’s government was BETTER than UPND, which has increased the number of beneficiaries.
29. Failure to take advantage of DRC opportunities was BETTER than establishing an electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant.
30. Importing fertilizer was BETTER than enabling a local manufacturing plant at $138 million, which has not only reduced the price of the vital commodity but also created employment for the local people.
31. Failure to take advantage of ZNS to grow the economy was BETTER than UPND purchasing 10 milling plants and reopening farm blocks to improve agriculture.
32. Cadres burning and splashing money under ECL’s government were BETTER than channeling money to the country’s important developments.
My best pic and event of today. Thank you for visiting Dr Guy Scott Mr President.
He may not be a member of PF currently but we in PF will always hold Dr Guy Scott in high esteem, true love and appreciation. Without him as a close friend to Michael Sata (MHSRIEP) while PF was in Oppostion, Sata and PF would have never formed government in 2011. For PF 10 years in opposition, Dr Scott gave Sata the then much needed moral and emotional support.
Dr Scott was PF Secretary General (SG) while PF was in opposition and then later party Vice President. He would then became the Republican Vice President when PF formed government in 2011 and then acting President Republican President in 2014 when Sata died. The rest is history.
” Sikoti leta ubwembya tume ishilu…” (PF Opposition pre 2011 Campaign song)
Miles B. Sampa, MP Patriotic Front (PF) President January 31st, 2024
The burned remains of a Jackie Robinson statue were found in a trash can by officials after it was reported stolen from a Little League baseball field in Wichita, Kansas, on January 25. As previously reported by Face2Face Africa, the life-sized bronze statue in honor of the Black baseball legend was erected after the League 42 nonprofit raised over $50,000 for the initiative.
Authorities had initially shared photos of the crime scene after the theft. The images showed that the only part that remained of the stolen statue was its ankle area.
In the wake of the theft, the Kansas Crimestoppers organization offered a $5,000 reward for information that could lead to the recovery of the statue. Another $2,500 reward was also offered for information that could lead to an arrest.
But CNN reported that the burned remains of the stolen statue were found in another park on Tuesday. Wichita Police Department spokesperson Andrew Ford said the discovery was made after officers went to the location to investigate a report about a trash can fire.
“Shortly after extinguishing the fire, the fire department saw what appeared to be pieces of the Jackie Robinson statue, which is not salvageable at this time,” Ford said at a news conference on Tuesday.
Police on Monday also announced that they had found a truck suspected to be linked to the theft. “There will be an arrest but we’re going to make sure that when we do, we will have a solid case,” Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said.
League 42, which is named in honor of Robinson, is a “youth baseball league comprised primarily of urban children ages 5 – 14,” its website states. Robinson, who was the first Black player in Major League Baseball, wore number 42 during his professional career.
Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson had told CNN on Sunday that the statue of the baseball legend and Civil Rights activist “was a symbol of hope” in the city.
“I hate to see that the statue was not in one piece,” Johnson on Tuesday said in reference to what had been left of the statue. “I do want everyone to know we are undeterred to make sure that statue gets rebuilt and put back there for our community, for League 42, for young people, that symbol of hope will be only gone for a short time.”
A GoFundMe has since been set up to help raise funds to erect another statue of the baseball legend. The theft is also currently under investigation.
“If it turns out it was racially motivated, then obviously that is a deeper societal issue and it certainly would make this a much more concerning theft,” Bob Lutz, who is the Executive Director of the Little League nonprofit, said, per The Associated Press. “We’ll wait and see what this turns out to be.”
In a fiery address at the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) Lekgotla, former ANC President Thabo Mbeki did not mince words as he launched a scathing attack on his successor, Jacob Zuma. The NEC had recently resolved to summarily suspend Zuma for violating the party’s constitution, leading to Mbeki’s condemnation of Zuma’s term of office as both Head of State and party President.
Mbeki, addressing the ANC’s elections commission at the NEC Lekgotla in Boksburg, characterized Zuma’s years in power as “counter-revolutionary,” asserting that they had resulted in failure and disaster for the ANC.
“It is counter-revolution that produced failure and disaster for the ANC,” Mbeki declared, emphasizing the detrimental impact of Zuma’s leadership on the party. Mbeki specifically pointed to the ten years of Zuma’s presidency as a period marked by a deliberate attempt to dismantle crucial institutions, citing the South African Revenue Service (SARS) as a primary target.
“He was directly involved in capturing and taking over SARS and subsequently Eskom,” Mbeki accused, laying blame on Zuma for the aggressive takeover of key government entities, particularly implicating him and Tom Moyane in the process of destruction.
Mbeki argued that these actions by Zuma have significantly contributed to the negative narrative surrounding the ANC government today, asserting that the capture of SARS and Eskom has played a substantial role in the country’s current challenges.
Speaking before the elections commission, Mbeki contextualized the ANC’s electoral fortunes by highlighting the stark contrast in the country’s economic performance over the years. He noted that between 1994 and 2007, there was positive economic growth, a thriving GDP, and a decrease in crime. However, he contended that from 2008 to the present, there has been a dramatic shift for the worse.
“He took over the process of destruction, him and Tom Moyane aggressively so,” Mbeki stated, blaming Zuma for the decline in economic indicators and the rise in challenges faced by the ANC government.
Thabo Mbeki’s strong condemnation adds another layer of tension within the ANC, as the party grapples with internal divisions and attempts to regain public trust ahead of upcoming elections.
Tems, Wizkid snubbed as Grammy releases African award winners’ list Popular Nigerian singers, Wizkid and Tems, have been excluded from a list of African Grammy winners by the organisers of the prestigious award show.
The organisers of the prominent Awards put forward a list of African musicians who have gone home with a golden gramophone, a move that was done ahead of the 66th Grammy Awards which will be happening on February 4, 2023.
We confirms that the event would be available to watch live on CBS and later on Paramount Plus.
The late South African singer Miriam Makeba led the list as the first African to win a Grammy for “Best Folk Recording” (together with Harry Belafonte) in 1966. Sade Adu, a pop singer from Nigeria, was the first Nigerian to win the award for “Best New Artist” in 1986.
Burna Boy, who was the 2021 winner of the “Best Global Music Album” award, was the second-to-last name on the list.
However, what shocked many social media users, including Wizkid and Tems’ fans is that, the list of only 10 names did not contain Wizkid and Tems.
recalls that, Wizkid in 2021, won his first-ever Grammy award for his role in Beyonce’s 2019 ‘Brown Skin Girl’, in the ‘Best Music Video’ category while in 2022, Tems won her first-ever Grammy award in the ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance’ category for her role in ‘Wait for U’, the hit song by Future featuring Drake.
See full list as released by Grammy below:
Miriam Makeba (South Africa) — Best Folk Recording (with Harry Belafonte) – 1966
Sade Adu (Nigeria/UK) — Best New Artist – 1986
Ali Farka Touré (Mali) — Best World Music Album – 1994
Cesária Évora (Cape Verde) — Best Contemporary World Music Album – 2004
Youssou N’Dour (Senegal) — Best Contemporary World Music Album – 2005
Angélique Kidjo (Benin/France) — Best Contemporary World Music Album – 2008
RedOne (Morocco) — Best Dance/Electronic Album – 2010
Tinariwen (Mali/Algeria/Libya) — Best World Music Album – 2012
Burna Boy (Nigeria) — Best Global Music Album – 2021
Black Coffee (South Africa) – Best Dance/ Electronic Album — 2022
“Femi Kuti, King Sunny Adé, Babatunde Olatunji, and his rival WizKid had all received GRAMMY nods before Burna Boy became the first Nigerian male artist to grab a golden gramophone for original work. The Afrobeats megastar earned the prize for Best World Music Album in 2021 for his album Twice as Tall.” The award organisers wrote about Nigeria’s Burna Boy.
A group from Iraq that is supported by Iran and is suspected of attacking with a drone in Jordan and killing three US soldiers, has stopped fighting against US forces.
Kataib Hezbollah, a group that is part of a larger organization, said they attacked to stop the Iraqi government from feeling ashamed.
The US defense department said: “Actions are more important than just saying things. ”
US President Joe Biden said he has a plan to respond to the attack, but he didn’t explain what it is.
Iran said it would fight back if anyone attacks what they care about.
Before, it said it did not do the attack that the US and Britain accused it of doing.
The US has suggested that they might use force in different stages.
Kataib Hezbollah leader Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi said on Tuesday that they will stop attacking the occupation forces to avoid causing problems for the Iraqi government. However, they will still support the people in Gaza in different ways.
Three American soldiers were killed at a base near the border between Jordan and Syria by a type of Shahed drone. The drones were given to Russia by Iran and are designed for one-way attacks. This information was shared by a US official with CBS News, the BBC’s partner in the United States.
Many soldiers were hurt in the attack on Tower 22 while US forces were sleeping.
The US says Iran-backed groups are responsible, but they’re not sure if Kataib Hezbollah did it.
A Pentagon spokeswoman said it showed signs of the group’s involvement.
“Pat Ryder told reporters that what people do is more important than what they say, after the group put out their statement. ”
“He said there will be bad results. ”
At the same time, the US is making Tower 22 more secure. Around 350 US soldiers are there to fight against the Islamic State (IS) group.
More air defences are being sent to the base, a US official told CBS News on Tuesday. This includes a system made to stop drones.
What can the US do in response to the attack in Jordan.
“Iran is responsible for the attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement against ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner told media.
“He said we need to reply in a way that shows we’re not just going to keep defending. ”
He said that the US response will make Iran realize that the conflict will affect them directly.
MrBiden is thinking about different ways to get back at Iran, like attacking militia bases and leaders.
The US might also attack top leaders of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iraq or Syria.
The US might also attack inside Iran. This would be the most serious action Mr. Biden could take.
In New York, the person representing Iran at the UN said that Iran will strongly react if attacked, no matter the reason. Iran’s news agency Irna reported this.
He also said that there were no messages sent between the US and Iran through other people in the last two days.
Iran has created a big group of friends who have weapons and help them in different countries in the Middle East. They all don’t like Israel and the US, and they call themselves the “Axis of Resistance”. But it’s not clear how much control Iran has over them.
The US says the IRGC and its Quds Force control co-ordination. The US calls both of them terrorist groups, also some other regional armed groups like Kataib Hezbollah.
The groups have increased their attacks on Israel, US forces, and other related targets since the war between Israel and Hamas began in Gaza in October. They say they are doing this to show support for the Palestinian people.
A lot of drone, rocket, and missile attacks have happened at US bases in Iraq and Syria since October 17. A group of Iran-backed militias called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed responsibility for many of these attacks.
The US attacked groups associated with the IRGC, including Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba and Asaib Ahl al-Haq.
The attack on Sunday was the first time US troops were killed in the region since the Gaza war started, and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for it.
Last month, the US bombed groups connected to Iran after three US soldiers were hurt in a drone attack on a base in northern Iraq. One soldier was hurt badly.
In January, a US attack in Baghdad took out a leader of Harakat al-Nujaba who was blamed for attacking US people.
Last week, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the attacks on three buildings in Iraq owned by Kataib Hezbollah and other groups were a direct response to a series of escalating attacks on US and other international forces in Iraq and Syria.
A lawyer for Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian who opposes the government, says he has been taken to a different prison in Siberia’s Omsk region.
Worry about his safety had increased after the Russian-British man, who was found guilty of treason for speaking out against the war in Ukraine, disappeared from prison.
Transferring prisoners in Russia is kept a secret and can take a long time.
Previously, the UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron asked for clear information about where Mr Kara-Murza is.
First, people asked the prison in Omsk where he was kept, and they said he was not there anymore.
On Tuesday, his lawyers said he was moved to a new prison in the same area, according to the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta Europe.
In a letter to his lawyers, Mr Kara-Murza said he was moved as a punishment for not getting up when a guard told him to stand.
He said the guards thought that this was a mean breaking of prison rules.
“I’m goodI have clothes, shoes, food, and warmth. The people here are doing well too,” he said.
Mr Kara-Murza said he was put in a small room by himself and was told he might be moved after four months.
The wife of the activist, Evgenia Kara-Murza, shared the letter on Tuesday.
“I am very worried about Mr. Kara-Murza, who is a British citizen being held in Russia for speaking out against the invasion of Ukraine,” Lord Cameron wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) on January 29th.
Mrs Kara-Murza found out on Monday that he has been taken from a punishment cell to somewhere else in the penal colony where he has been held since September 2023.
“He doesn’t have a reason to be moved, and that is very scary because the people who tried to kill him in 2015 and 2017 are the ones who have him now,” she said, talking about two times when he almost died after being poisoned.
The British foreign secretary said, “I support his wife. ”
Mr Kara-Murza got 25 years in jail in April for sharing wrong information about the Russian army and being part of a group that the government doesn’t like.
The person who used to be a journalist and a politician, and is now 42 years old, said that the accusations against him are not true.
For many years, he has been speaking against Russian President Vladimir Putin and has criticized the government’s actions against people who disagree with them, as well as the war in Ukraine.
He also helped convince Western governments to punish Russian officials for treating people unfairly and being dishonest.
Just before he was punished, he said online: “I believe that one day our country will become better. ”
The UK government didn’t like what he said, so they asked Russia’s ambassador to come in for a talk. They also said they would take action against the people who were responsible for his arrest and treatment.
The US state department said that Mr Kara-Murza is another person targeted by the Russian government’s increasing campaign of repression.
Mr Kara-Murza’s family was well-known for speaking out against the Soviet government. He got British citizenship when he moved to the UK as a teenager with his mother.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has been in jail since 2021 for reasons many people think are politically based, was moved to a different part of the prison in December. During this time, he was unable to communicate with his supporters for almost three weeks.
YouTube has terminated the official channel of ‘disgraced’ Nigerian televangelist TB Joshua’s megachurch for violating its hate speech policies.
It comes weeks after an investigation by the BBC and openDemocracy uncovered evidence of widespread sexual abuse and torture by the late preacher.
Emmanuel TV played a key role in his rise from a local pastor to global star.
TB Joshua died in 2021, but his Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan) is now run by his wife Evelyn Joshua.
The church has not commented on the removal, but has said previous allegations of wrongdoing have been “unfounded”.
Emmanuel TV had more than half a million followers on YouTube and hundreds of millions of views.
This is the second time in three years that its YouTube channel has been suspended, following previous breaches of the platform’s community guidelines.
As part of the investigation with the BBC, openDemocracy analysed Emmanuel TV’s online presence, finding at least 50 “abusive” videos on YouTube.
Their team reported the videos to YouTube and the account was suspended on January 29.
In a comment to the BBC, the Google-owned video-sharing platform said Emmanuel TV had been “terminated for violating… hate speech policies”.
TB Joshua was famed for his “healing” ministries and filmed hundreds of services that claimed to show him curing the physically disabled and chronically ill, which multiple former church members have subsequently debunked.
The content openDemocracy reported included Emmanuel TV footage of people with mental health issues being kept in chains, cases of medical misinformation and examples of smear campaigns against women who spoke out about TB Joshua’s sexual abuse.
Emmanuel TV’s satellite channel was dropped on 17 January by MultiChoice, a South African company that runs popular satellite services DStv and GOTv.
For many years, the channel was one of the most successful Christian networks in the world, broadcasting to millions all over the world.
Following the publication of the BBC’s investigation into TB Joshua, a number of contributors have been trolled by the church and Emmanuel TV affiliated accounts online. These accounts were also reported to YouTube by openDemocracy, but they have not been removed.
YouTube and other social media platforms have come under intense scrutiny in recent years over their online safety policies.
Kenya is going to push ahead with plans to lead a UN-approved security mission to Haiti, despite a court in Nairobi last week blocking the deployment, Kenyan President William Ruto told Reuters on Tuesday.
The international force is aimed at tackling rampant gang violence in the Caribbean nation, which killed nearly 5,000 people last year and is due to be initially financed by the United States.
The mission was thrown into doubt after the Kenyan court ruled that it would be unconstitutional to deploy officers abroad unless there was a “reciprocal arrangement” in place with the host government.
Ruto said Haiti had asked for help months ago, and he expected a request would come shortly that would satisfy the demands of the court.
“So that mission can go ahead as soon as next week if all the paperwork is done between Kenya and Haiti on the bilateral route that has been suggested by the court,” Ruto said following an Italian-Africa summit in Rome.
Asked if discussions were underway with Haiti to get the necessary request, Ruto said: “Absolutely. Haiti has actually written formally, not today, several months ago.”
Haiti first sought help in 2022 as gang violence surged but was unable to find anyone willing to take charge, with many foreign governments wary of supporting the impoverished country’s unelected administration.
Kenya, which has a long history of taking part in international peace-keeping operations, stepped forward last July and committed 1,000 police officers, saying it was doing so in solidarity with a brother nation.
The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, and Jamaica subsequently said they were willing to help, with the United States pledging $200 million to get the deployment off the ground.
“The mission is on course. The mission is a bigger calling to humanity,” Ruto said, stressing that it was a police rather than a military operation.
The United Nations said last week that it had documented 4,789 people killed by gang violence in Haiti last year, an increase of 119 percent from 2022 and that another 3,000 people had been kidnapped.
Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to 14 years in prison, which is the second sentence given to the former prime minister of Pakistan in two days.
The two sentences were said a week before the South Asian country’s election, where he cannot run for office.
Khan was removed as Prime Minister in 2022 and is now in jail for three years for being corrupt.
He believes that the many lawsuits against him are because of politics.
On Wednesday, he was in court for getting presents from the state while he was in charge, and his wife got them too. On Tuesday, he was in court for sharing secret government papers and got 10 years in prison. It is believed that the two sentences will happen at the same time, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet.
The court told the couple to pay a 1. 5 billion rupee fine (which is about 4. 2 million pounds or 5. 3 million dollars)
Khan’s PTI party said that their leader is banned from doing political work for 10 years. He also can’t hold a public office.
Khan’s lawyers said they will ask Pakistan’s High Court to review both cases.
The ex-prime minister and cricket player has been in jail since August when he was arrested. He has been in Adiala jail in Rawalpindi for most of the time.
His wife Bushra Bibi, who had been released from custody, turned herself in at the jail on Wednesday. She usually stayed out of the public eye while they were in office. They got married in 2018, a few months before Khan became prime minister.
Both of them said they didn’t do what Pakistan’s anti-corruption group said they did. They denied selling or keeping state gifts for their own gain. The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia gave a jewellery set as a gift.
The PTI says the cases against Khan are fake. They think the trials happened in unfair courts where things happened too quickly. The case on Wednesday was called a “sad day in our judicial system history” and the judiciary is being “dismantled”.
“You cannot ask any more questions, no final arguments can be made, and the decision seems to have already been made,” it claimed.
Khan’s lawyers also said he didn’t have a chance to defend himself in a trial that went faster than they thought it would. The judge said the decisions when Khan, Bibi, and their lawyers were not in the room, according to reporters.
At the same time, Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, said to the media outside Adiala jail that they were not sure what time the case was supposed to begin.
Khan has not said anything about the decision on Wednesday. The decision came after a judge found him guilty of sharing a secret document and hurting relationships between countries. Khan told his supporters to vote on February 8 and seek revenge for any wrongs in a peaceful way. He said this in a message on his social media account.
Even before the sentences were given, people were already doubting if the election next Thursday can be trusted because Khan and his party have been ignored a lot.
The government says they didn’t crackdown on PTI, but many of its leaders are in jail or have left the party. The people running for election are not part of any political party and a lot of them are actively campaigning.
Many of the party’s followers were arrested after protests, some of which turned violent, when Khan was taken into police custody last May.
The party no longer has the cricket bat symbol, which is important for voters who can’t read well to know where to mark their vote.
The person expected to win is Nawaz Sharif, who used to be the prime minister three times before. He came back from living outside his country in the fall. He caused a lot of trouble for the military during his long career and was put in jail for doing bad things before the 2018 election that Imran Khan won.
Many people think that the Pakistan military likes someone else more now, instead of Khan, who they used to like.
Kenya has outlawed the church linked to the Shakahola cult massacre that claimed more than 430 lives.
In a gazette notice issued on Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary for Internal Affairs and National Administration Kithure Kindiki designated the Kilifi-based Good News International Ministries as an organised criminal group, a fortnight after its leader, controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie with others were charged with engaging in organised criminal activity, radicalisation, murder and terrorism, among other offences.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 22(1) of the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration declares Good News International Ministries to be an organised criminal group for the Act,” reads the notice.
Organised crime is a category of transnational, national or local groupings of centralised enterprises engaging in illegal activities, usually for profit.
Good News International Ministries joins 28 other listed gangs in the country, including Al Shabaab, Mungiki, Sokoni Youth, Shymbo 12, criminal groups of boda boda transporters, Chinkororo, Gaza, Young Turks, Wakali Kwanza, Wakali Wao, Wakali Kabisa, Sungusungu and others.
Mackenzie has been charged in the Malindi, Shanzu, Mombasa and Tononoka courts with more than 400 different offences, including murder, terrorism and child neglect.
The suspected cult leader was arrested in April 2023 following the discovery of bodies in mass graves in Shakahola, some of which were said to have starved to death, but he denied the claims.
By the time he was charged on January 16, the bodies of 429 people, including children, had been exhumed in the forest in Malindi, Kilifi County.
Signs of starvation The bodies showed signs of starvation. However, the court was informed that the children may have been strangled.
The Director of Public Prosecutions told the court that Mackenzie allegedly encouraged his congregants to move to the forest and prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.
On January 25, Mackenzie and 38 other defendants denied charges of child cruelty and child rights violations in the Tononoka courts.
Mackenzie and his co-accused, appearing before Principal Magistrate Nelly Chepchirchir, denied 16 counts, including child torture, allegedly committed on various dates between 2020 and 2023 in the Shakahola forest.
The State also accused Mackenzie and the co-accused of beating children as young as 8 and 14 years old with sticks on their legs, causing them bodily harm.
Bail application “This is subjecting children to torture, and it is contrary to the law under the Children Act,” read the magistrate.
They were also charged with violating the children’s right to education contrary to Section 30 (1) (2) read with Section 30 (3) of the Basic Education Act 2013.
The case will come up for mention on February 15 when their bail application will be heard.
Kenya’s President William Ruto has defended his attendance at this week’s Italy-Africa summit, months after he heavily criticised the habit of summoning African leaders to foreign capitals.
In a statement issued after the meeting in Rome, the Kenyan leader walked back some of the criticism, saying instead he supported the pragmatic arrangement of selecting a group of leaders to represent the continent.
“I have previously noted that an invitation extended by one country to all 54 African nations did not necessarily serve Africa’s best interests,” he said in a statement after the meeting in the Madama Palace in Rome.
“But those of us present at this conference, representing our colleagues, find it different and inspiring due to the pragmatic approach you have taken, Madam Prime Minister.”
Ruto joined several other African leaders gathered for Italy’s Africa Summit. But Rome is only the latest capital to host such summits after Beijing, London, Moscow, Brussels, New Delhi, Riyadh and Washington.
As far back as April last year, Ruto said he hated being herded into halls or buses like schoolchildren.
He said he supported the idea of being represented by the African Union. It is the same reason he gave when he skipped the Russia-Africa Summit in July last year.
“It is not intelligent for 54 African Presidents to go and sit before one president from another country for a summit. Sometimes, we are mistreated. We are loaded onto buses like school kids. It is not right,” he argued at the Mo Ibrahim Governance Weekend in Nairobi in April 2023.
“The decision we have made as AU is that going forward, if there is going to be a discussion between Africa and any other country, we would send the chair and the bureau. That is the position I am taking as the president of Kenya.”
In Rome, however, the Nation understands that Ruto travelled as chairman of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).
His statement defended Africa’s right to extract fossil fuels, although he argued that local economies shouldn’t be dependent on them.
“I firmly believe that no African country can be asked to halt the exploration of its natural resources, including fossil fuels,” Ruto said.
“But that does not mean that it makes economic sense to build a dependency on fossil fuels in our economies…true non-predatory cooperation should ensure that African countries are not left with a stranded asset.”
Other leaders attending the Italy-Africa Summit include Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Comoros leader and African Union Chairperson Azali Assoumani, Tunisia’s Kais Saied, Senegal’s Macky Sall and Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Congo-Brazzaville.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, keen to reduce the burden of illegal immigrants from Africa, had rallied the continent’s leaders with an offer, pledging an initial €5.5 billion (Ksh965 billion) and calling it cooperation among equals.
But Italy is also the biggest carrier of migrants from Africa, taking in some 157,000 last year, according to the European Commission. They arrived on risky boats off the coast of North Africa.
The person in charge of home affairs said that the number of people being sent out of the country under the agreement with Rwanda may not be very high, depending on other things.
James Cleverly told members of parliament that the deal with the east African country is just one part of the government’s plan to address illegal migration.
Sending back goods to other countries could also make a big difference in the amount sent, he said.
But, he wouldn’t guess how many people would be sent away.
He said the agreement with Rwanda has no limit on the exact number, it depends on a lot of other things.
People are wondering how much the scheme costs because the UK has paid £240 million to Rwanda, but no one has been sent there yet because of legal problems.
Under the five-year plan, the UK will send some asylum seekers to Rwanda. They can then choose to apply for refugee status in Rwanda or seek asylum in another safe country.
MPs passed a law to bring back the scheme after the Supreme Court said it was against the law. But it’s likely to face a lot of disagreement in the House of Lords.
Even though some people disagree, government officials want to start flights by spring. They hope this will stop people from crossing the Channel in small boats.
At a meeting of a government committee, a high-ranking official said that 33,085 people who are seeking asylum have entered the system since new laws about removing illegal arrivals started last July.
‘Create a signal’
When asked how many people could be sent to Rwanda, Mr. Cleverly told the MPs that nearly that many could be sent, but it depends on the situation.
He said it was possible that many people in that group would go back to their own country. And making deals with other countries could also have a big effect.
“It might be if we manage to make return agreements work, and if things change in other countries, the number could be very small,” he said.
He was asked many times, but he wouldn’t give a specific number of deportations needed to scare off potential migrants. However, he did say that they would need to send a strong message to potential migrants.
Home Office officials have said no to approving the plan because they don’t think it’s worth the money. They say they can’t tell how well it will stop migrants until flights to Rwanda start.
‘Gimmick’ Government leaders say that once the program is functioning, it will save money for taxpayers by decreasing the amount of money the government currently spends on housing migrants in UK hotels, which is currently £8 million per day.
However, the department has found it difficult to send back many of the small boat migrants who have come to the UK in the last few years.
Last month, it was found out that only 1,040 people who arrived in small boats and were not foreign criminals have been sent back to their country or another country in the past three years.
Out of these, only 408 people were not from Albania. The government made an agreement with Albania to send them back quickly in late 2022.
As part of the EU, the UK could send back many migrants every year using the Dublin regulations. But the EU has said no to including this in a new agreement.
Labour said the Rwanda policy is just a trick and they will get rid of it if they win the election later this year.
It also wants to make a new agreement with the EU to send migrants back there.
The party has said it might be OK with allowing a certain number of immigrants to come to the UK, but they haven’t said how many.
The party in Thailand that got the most votes in last year’s election might have to shut down because the court said its main idea is against the law.
Move Forward is not in the government, but it promised to campaign to change the laws about speaking badly about the royal family. The court in Thailand found that this promise goes against the constitution.
Anti-government laws are being used more and more to stop people from criticizing the government, activists say.
The leader of Move Forward might not be allowed to be in politics anymore.
Pita Limjaroenrat is a young politician who went to Harvard. People thought he was a big problem for Thailand’s king and the powerful military group. In 2023, he got a lot of people to vote for him by saying he would control their power.
His efforts to become prime minister were stopped by the Senate, even though he was not chosen by the people.
Last week, he won another court case trying to stop him from being in parliament. However, he and his party did not win the important second case on Wednesday for their main policy platform.
The Constitutional Court said that Move Forward’s promise to change the law about insulting the king was like trying to overthrow the whole government in Thailand.
The decision doesn’t come with a punishment right away, but many people think it will be used to shut down Move Forward and stop its leaders from being involved in politics for a few years.
By making this decision, the court has basically made it impossible for the elected parliament to change the lese majeste law.
Many people think the law in Thailand restricts freedom of speech and is too strict.
Earlier this month, a 30-year-old man in Bangkok was sent to prison for 50 years for saying bad things about the Thai king.
Since November 2020, more than 260 people have been accused of breaking the law. This date marks the start of King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s rule.
The Thai courts said that people are not allowed to talk about the powerful royal family.
Four years ago, Move Forward’s old party, called Future Forward, was also shut down after doing surprisingly well in an election.
The Constitutional Court’s action caused many student protests that lasted for months. The protesters demanded big changes to the monarchy, which had never been asked for before.
Today, many protest leaders are being charged with breaking the lese majeste law and could go to prison for a long time.
The court has also decided if it is legal to ask for a change to lese majeste.
In November 2021, the court decided that three top activists who asked for changes in the monarchy during the protests of 2020 were secretly planning to overthrow the monarchy.
It told them to stop and all three have been charged with many crimes since then.
This new decision says that it’s not okay to propose any changes to the lese majeste law.
Move Forward said it was the job of the elected parliament to check a law in the regular penal code. Thailand’s lese majeste law has been changed two times.
Furthermore, during its election campaign, the party avoided supporting calls to completely get rid of the law, and instead only suggested making some changes to it. It received the most votes compared to other parties, so it had a strong public support for its proposed changes.
The judges decided that Move Forward and its leaders did things that showed they wanted to get rid of Thailand’s democratic government, with the King as the Head of State.
It told them to not do anything that showed they wanted to get rid of the law that protects the king, and they can only change the law in the right way, through the government.
This means that the law could be changed by the government, but people can’t talk about it on social media or in public.
With all the times in Thailand that political parties have been shut down and leaders banned from politics for not very good reasons, there will be a lot of pressure to do the same to Move Forward.
Some people from Thailand will think that this was the main reason for submitting the petition to the court.
The Biden administration was very worried about the deaths of three American soldiers in a drone attack in Jordan on Sunday. Two women and a man from Georgia were killed.
This means the White House has to make a very hard choice about what to do next.
President Biden met with his national security team on Monday, and he has made a decision about what to do after thinking about his options. He had the option to attack places that are friendly with Iran, attack Iran itself, or not attack at all.
Every choice has a lot of danger, especially in a year when the president has to appear powerful but also needs to make sure things don’t get worse.
“We don’t want a big fight with Iran,” said John Kirby, who speaks for the National Security Council, to reporters. “We don’t want the fighting to spread to more countries in the area, but we have to take necessary actions. ”
The Biden administration must think about how to deal with Iran while Israel and Hamas are fighting.
Since October 7th, the most important thing for the US has been to prevent the fighting in Gaza from spreading to other areas. This is what led to the careful American reactions to the earlier attacks on its troops in the area.
This serious attack has made the US feel like it has to hit back hard. However, it is still important to find the right balance.
President Biden needs to figure out a way to send a strong message that will stop bad behavior, without making the situation worse.
Mr Biden’s opponents in politics don’t have to deal with this problem because they are not in power.
Donald Trump, who is ahead in the race to become the Republican presidential candidate, made a strong statement on social media on Sunday night, blaming the president for the situation.
“Another terrible attack on the United States happened because Joe Biden is weak and gives up too easily,” said Mr.
The old president didn’t say what he would do if he was still in charge. He also hasn’t said anything else about it. Other Republicans have also spoken their mind.
Senator Tom Cotton said that we need to strongly fight back with military force against these attacks. He said that if the president did anything less, it would show that he was a coward.
Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, said that Iran should face serious and damaging consequences. Senator Lindsay Graham said America should attack important places inside Iran.
However, most important members of the Democratic party did not take extreme action. They wanted those responsible to be punished and for the US to target groups supported by Iran instead of attacking Iran directly.
Senator Ben Cardin, who leads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that we cannot ignore this attack. “I am in favor of President Biden’s careful and fair reaction. ”
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said the same thing, writing on X that it is very important to have a strong and precise response against forces backed by Iran.
The Biden government has stated that they will not make their decision on how to act based on polls or the upcoming election. “He’s not thinking about politics,” John Kirby told the news.
In an election year, decisions about foreign policy are always influenced by politics within the country. How will American voters see the military’s actions or lack of actions.
Many people think that voters don’t care much about a president’s foreign policy when they decide who to vote for. With problems in the Middle East and Ukraine, more voters think it’s important this year.
By November, people may forget about the specific attack, but they still care about how their country is seen by the world.
I’ve heard people all over the US say they are worried that our country looks weak right now. They like that Donald Trump promises to be a strong leader who will make sure no other country can bully America.
Talking about military strategy and global diplomacy is easier on the campaign trail than in the White House situation room.
Joe Biden has to make a very important decision that could have big effects in the Middle East. However, his answer could also have consequences in a very important election year for our country.
Lungu calls for early elections, says has taken over UPND sponsors
FORMER president Edgar Lungu says he been talking to the people who sponsored the UPND and has since won their confidence.
Lungu has since called for an early election saying President Hakainde Hichilema his party have failed.
Lungu, along with representatives from seven opposition political parties, held a press briefing in Lusaka today, announcing the formation of a what they are calling The People’s Movement.
According the the gathering, the movement that is targets birth an alliance which the consortium believe will give them a guaranteed victory in the 2026 general elections.
“I have been in interaction with the people who helped UPND come into power and all of them have told me, Tefyo twalebeba ifi(this is not what we agreed upon),” Lungu said.
“I won’t mention names but they are part of us here telling us… No no no. Uyu muntu aleya (This person must go).”
Lungu implored citizens to call for early elections because he believed the UPND government have failed.
“It’s for you Zambians to tell us that this Movement should be crying for early elections because it is within your constitution tights to to demand for an early election.”
“..Will this man and his UPND continue up to 2026 or can we put pressure on him to get him to accept that an early election is imparrative in the country.”
He said if Zambians were to demand the president to call for an early election then that’s the root the movement was going to follow.
“It shouldn’t come from us it should come from you,” he added.
Highlighting concerns about the use of power, Lungu compared his past leadership, stating; “The power that gentleman is using is the same power I had, but did you see what you are seeing now? No, because I was well brought up.”
The former president said he was brought up in respect and believing in friends.
He attributed the challenges faced under the new government to a lack of proper handling of power.
Responding to questions about his potential candidacy in the upcoming elections, Lungu asserted, “I cannot impose myself on the people, but if they choose to put me on the ballot paper, who am I to say no?”
He affirmed his commitment to support any chosen leader if the people decide otherwise.
Edgar Lungu will not stand as a president in the year 2026.
Those deceiving him can continue fooling him but will definitely come back to this post later to say but Seer1 said it.
In my live broadcast yesterday, I advised him to become a political godfather.
Edgar Lungu is currently the richest former president that ever ruled the nation of Zambia with bank accounts in China, Dubai and billions stack in Swaziland, thanks to the billions that he looted while in power and thanks to His Holiness, Rev, Bishop Hakainde Hichilema for his methodical heavenly and most Holiness approach towards the fight against corruption.
If Edgar Lungu is serious with life, let him let go off PF and from among the faithful, let him anoint a person as a president of a newly registered political party and mobilize in readiness for an alliance in the year 2025.
It’s too late for the PF, PF died because of the greediness of Mr Lungu, had he allowed a convention and supported the winning candidate which he would in turn become a godfather to, PF would be mighty and ready for the 2026 elections.
Edgar Lungu should have learnt something from his godfather Late Rupiah Banda, Barrack Obama and so on.
There’s more you gain being a godfather than being a president.
Let him step aside.
The same group of people that deceived him when he was a president have surrounded him to deceive him the more and unfortunately he has given in to their ill advice and will cry the second time soon.
Leave the stage now. Leave PF too, PF has died with Miles Sampa.
Take the advice that I have given to you or cry later.
And for those of you shouting ECL 2026, you can continue, I aswell expect alot of insults in the comment section from you. I have seen it before, I have been there before but the movie will end the way it has always ended.
8 POLITICAL PARTIES FORM ALLIANCE AHEAD OF THE 2026 ELECTIONS
By KBN TV Staff Reporter
Eight political parties, among them, the Patriotic Front and Citizens First, have come together in a long-anticipated alliance that shares a common goal to moot a plan that responds to numerous citizen’s concerns.
In a joint statement released today at the New Heritage Party Secretariat and read by United Liberation Party President Sakwiba Sikota, the Alliance said it was abundantly clear that the country faces challenges that require an immediate alternative plan.
A myriad reason cited for their emergency national rescue plan includes shrinking democratic space, corruption, gagging of citizens, chaotic management of the health sector which has led to the disruption of supply chains for medical supplies, breakdown of life-saving medical equipment and failure to manage the cholera outbreak since October last year.
Other matters of great concern to the alliance are the unprecedented rise in the cost of living that is well beyond the reach of ordinary Zambians, a high cost of fuel, foreign exchange that is in freefall and now at an all-time high, shortage of mealie meal creating a hunger situation and high prices and breaking the law to import Genetically Modified Foods.
The alliance says the mining sector has not been spared from the alleged chaos leading to reduced taxes payable by these mining houses with the net effect of reduced income to the Government while Zambians, who earn very little were being highly taxed to sustain a struggling economy.
“It is very clear to us that no one Political Party, no one messianic individual, no matter how well-endowed, educationally, financially and otherwise, can sincerely purport to resolve the magnitude of problems that we have just outlined. It would be self-deception, delusional and down-right dishonest.”
“Therefore, the leaders gathered here have therefore resolved to come together and join hands in a political alliance in order to save Zambia through unity of purpose and a pragmatic national redemption action program involving all Zambians.”
The alliance has appealed to other Political Parties, the Church, Traditional Leaders, NGOs, Students in institutions of Higher learning, researchers, Academics and all Zambians of like mind in and out of the country, to rally this national rescue plan.
The alliance has been formed by Citizens First represented by Harry Kalaba, Forum for Democracy and Development represented by Edith Nawakwi, Golden Party of Zambia represented by Jackson Silavwe, National Democratic Congress represented by Saboi Imboela, New Heritage Party represented by Chishala Kateka, Patriotic Front represented by former Head of State, Edgar Chagwa Lungu and United Liberation Party represented by lawyer, Sakwiba Sikota.
