Tag Archives: Edgar Lungu

27Oct/26

Political Erasure and the Case for Structural Reform in Zambian State Media

October 27, 2026MediaAfrica, Airtel, Beavan Saluseki, Censorship, Context, Corporate governance, Countries, Daily Mail, Edgar C. Lungu, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Edgar Lungu, Election law, Electoral Commission, Freedom of information laws by country, Governance, Government, Hakainde Hichilema, Instagram, IT law, Jackson Sitengu, Leadership, Media, Media in Zambia, Musonda, NRCs, Regulatory agency, Sitengu, Statutory corporation, Statutory instrument, The Industrial Development Corporation, Zambia, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporationadmin

The Glass Cliff at Zambia Daily Mail: Historic Female Appointment Overshadowed by Newsroom Subversion

Mon, July 26 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The Zambia Daily Mail Independence Day publication scandal erupted on October 23, 2026, when a special commemorative feature chronicling Zambia’s political history and presidential lineage systematically excised the country’s sixth Republican President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu. While portraits and historical narratives for all other post-independence heads of state were published, Dr. Lungu’s complete omission sparked immediate national outcry, political backlash from opposition quarters, and severe displeasure from both State House and the Ministry of Information. Subsequent internal forensic investigations revealed that Chief Sub-Editor Jackson Sitengu unilaterally deleted Dr. Lungu’s portrait and textual references prior to transmitting press-ready files. Sitengu acted independently without approval from senior management, later explaining that he felt Dr. Lungu should be omitted due to ongoing political controversies surrounding his legacy and an unforced desire to align the publication with perceived state preferences. Continue reading →

24Oct/26

Zambia Erases Former President Edgar Lungu

October 24, 2026PoliticsAfrica, Countries, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Edgar Lungu, Hakainde Hichilema, Ngwira, Presidents of Zambia, Thabo Kawana, Zambiaadmin

Labour Activist Calls for Professionalism and National Unity Following Independence Day Controversy

Sat Oct. 24, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Labour activist and salary wages advocate Trust Ngwira has questioned Permanent Secretary for Information Thabo Kawana and the Zambia Daily Mail regarding the omission of Zambia’s sixth President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, from an Independence Day publication. Describing the incident as deeply unfortunate, Ngwira highlighted that Independence Day is a national occasion meant to symbolise love, peace, unity, and respect for the country’s history. He urged individuals in positions of responsibility to carefully weigh the consequences of their actions and statements to avoid creating unnecessary public controversy that could put Republican President Hakainde Hichilema in an embarrassing position. Continue reading →

18Oct/26

How Zambian Music Became the New Parliament

October 18, 2026PoliticsAfrica, Alec Mugala, amnesty international, Angola, Callen, Choklet Roy Kazembe, Countries, Danny Kaya, Daputsa Nkhata, Dawson Lupunga, Edgar Lungu, Frank Talk, Frederick Chiluba, FreePalestine, Fumba Chama, In the Ghetto, Levy Mwanawasa, Lungu Anabwela, Lusaka, Mad President, Maiko Zulu, Michael Somanje Zulu, Monk Square Revolution, Mozambique, Mulenga Kapwepwe, Mutinta Mwanza, Mwanajiti, Mwiza Zulu, Nashil Pitchen Kazembe, PilAto, Presidents of Zambia, Pressure, Roy Clarke, South Africa, the southern african development community, TheRevolutionWontBeTelevised, Thomas Muchimba, Thomas Muchimba Buttenschøn, Tyler Q. Rosen, Uganda, Wezi Mhone, Zambia, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, Zuluadmin

Sun Oct. 18, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Maiko Zulu has used conscious reggae music, public demonstrations, institutional leadership, and independent political campaigns to challenge political authority and demand structural justice in Zambia. Continue reading →

27Sep/26

Can Hichilema Run Zambia Like a Startup

September 27, 2026PoliticsAfrica, Chiyeso Katete, Countries, Edgar Lungu, Esther Lungu, Faith Musonda, Hakainde Hichilema, John Musantu, Konkola Copper Mines, Kuso Kamwambi, Livingstone, Lusaka, Milingo Lungu, Muchende, Ndola, O'Brien Kaaba, Thom Shamakamba, Zambiaadmin

Decoding the 10-10-5-3-3-1-1-1 Formula: Zambia’s Quantifiable Economic Transformation

Sun 27 Sept 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The GROW ZAMBIA Agenda represents President Hakainde Hichilema’s strategic economic framework designed to transition the country from post-debt-restructuring macroeconomic stabilization toward rapid, production-led growth. Designed to translate national fiscal gains into visible, household-level economic improvements, the strategy sets out to double national GDP and triple the overall size of the Zambian economy over his second term. This shift moves public sector operations away from routine administration toward an output-oriented delivery model anchored in wealth creation, expanded formal employment, and export expansion across SADC, COMESA, and continental markets. Continue reading →

05Sep/26

Emmanuel Mwamba from statecraft to sedition

September 5, 2026PoliticsAddis Ababa, African Union, Antony Kasandwe, Beijing, China, Edgar Lungu, Emmanuel Mwamba, Emmanuel Mwamba Verified, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Frederick Chiluba, Hakainde Hichilema, Isaias Afwerki, Jacob Zuma, Janet Yellen, Kalalwe Mukosa, Lesotho, Levy Mwanawasa, Liu Yuxi, Lusaka, Madagascar, Michael Sata, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Mwamba, Patriotic Front, Phoenix, Presidents of Zambia, Pretoria, Qfm, Returning, Simvula, South Africa, Tanzania, transparency international, Zambia, Zambia National Commercial Bankadmin

Diplomacy, Dissidence, and Digital Resistance: The Life and Career of Emmanuel Mwamba

Sat Sep 05 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Emmanuel Mwamba was born on April 18, 1971, in the mining hub of Luanshya within the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. He completed his secondary education at Roan Antelope Secondary School and subsequently earned a Diploma in Journalism and Public Relations from Evelyn Hone College. He expanded his qualifications globally, obtaining a Master of Business Administration from Edith Cowan University in Australia and a Master in Peace Studies from the Institute of Peace & Security Studies at Addis Ababa University. After initial employment at the Zambia National Commercial Bank, he entered the political arena as the administrative secretary and spokesperson for Zambia’s second president, Frederick Chiluba. During this time, Mwamba aggressively defended Chiluba against state-directed corruption prosecutions. This loyalty caused friction with the administration of Levy Mwanawasa, resulting in the termination of Mwamba’s probationary contract in October 2004, though he continued serving Chiluba in a private capacity. Following the reconciliation of Chiluba and Michael Sata in 2005, Mwamba transitioned his allegiance to the Patriotic Front (PF). Continue reading →

28Aug/26

Zambia’s Padlocked Courts and Treason Charges

August 28, 2026Politicsamnesty international, Arnold Kaluba, Brian Mundubile, Edgar Lungu, Elections in Zambia, Forum for Democracy and Development, Francis Mulenga, George Chisanga, Hakainde Hichilema, Lusaka, Makebi Zulu, Mumba Malila, Mutotwe Kafwaya, Presidents of Zambia, Simon Phiri, Tonse Alliance, Trevor Mwamba, United Party for National Development, Zambia, Zambian general electionadmin

A Fragile Stability Shaken: Suspicious Raid, Court Blockade, and Treason Charges Roil Zambia

Fri Aug 27 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The 2026 Zambian general election, held on August 13, resulted in the re-election of incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND) with 60.49% of the vote, defeating his primary challenger Brian Mundubile of the Tonse Alliance’s National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP), who received 37.87%. While the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) declared Hichilema the winner, the contest was conducted on a deeply uneven playing field due to late-stage constitutional and legislative overhauls that structurally favored the ruling party. These included the Constitutional Amendment Act No. 13 of 2025 and the subsequent Electoral Processes Act No. 12 of 2026, which were passed in May 2026 during the week parliament dissolved, just three months prior to the election. This late enactment, combined with an opaque boundary delimitation exercise completed on April 16, 2026, which added 70 new constituencies largely favoring rural areas traditionally leaning toward the UPND, left minimal time for public education and structurally altered the legislative balance. Furthermore, international and domestic observer missions, including the European Union and the Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG), raised serious concerns over the misuse of state resources, selective enforcement of campaign schedules, and parallel vote count discrepancies suggesting vote inflation in several constituencies. Continue reading →

24Aug/26

Zambia’s election petition hits a padlocked court

August 24, 2026PoliticsArnold Kaluba, Brian Mundubile, Dan Pule, Edgar Lungu, Elections in Zambia, Forum for Democracy and Development, Francis Mulenga, George Chisanga, Given Lubinda, Hakainde Hichilema, Lovemore Chishima, Lusaka, Makebi Zulu, Mutotwe Kafwaya, Patrick Kangwa, Patriotic Front, Presidents of Zambia, Richard Banda, Simon Phiri, Tanzania, Tonse Alliance, Trevor Mwamba, United Party for National Development, Xavier Franklin Chungu, Zambia, Zambian general electionadmin

Separation of Powers Fractured: Armed Forces Lock Down Zambian Courts as Inauguration Looms

Mon, Aug 24 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The general election in Zambia on August 13, 2026, concluded with the Electoral Commission of Zambia declaring incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND) the winner with 60.49% of the vote, securing a second term over his chief opponent, Brian Mundubile of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP), who received 37.87%. Mundubile immediately rejected these results, citing serious irregularities, vote fraud, and significant ballot count discrepancies, which were echoed by independent parallel vote tabulations and international observer reports. Concerns were heightened by a temporary suspension of vote counting on August 14 and subsequent heavy military deployment at tallying centers, which observers noted compromised the transparency of the results process. Continue reading →

20Aug/26

Zambia’s Landslide Victory and Opposition Crackdown

August 20, 2026Politicsamnesty international, Bill, Brian Mundubile, Christon Tembo, Edgar Lungu, Frederick Chiluba, George Chisanga, Godfrey Miyanda, Hakainde, Hakainde Hichilema, Hichilema, Jean Kapata, Levy Mwanawasa, Lusaka, Makebi Zulu, Mukuka, Mutotwe Kafwaya, Patrick Matibini, Patrick Mwansa, Presidency of Hakainde Hichilema, Presidents of Zambia, Thomas Allan Zgambo, Trevor Mwamba, Volker Türk, Zambiaadmin

From Democratic Beacon to Shadow State — President Hichilema’s Co-option of the Judiciary and Post-Election Security Crackdowns

Thu, Aug 20 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Zambia’s standing as a historically resilient multiparty democracy in Southern Africa has been severely tested by the events surrounding the August 13, 2026, general election, which critics argue represent a systematic campaign by President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration to dismantle the country’s democratic framework. Although Hichilema came to power in 2021 on a reformist “New Dawn” platform pledging to restore the rule of law and depoliticize the civil service, his administration has increasingly co-opted state institutions to eliminate political opposition and consolidate executive hegemony, fueling fears of an engineered “life presidency”. The run-up to the election was marked by rising authoritarianism, including the weaponization of the Cyber Crimes Act of 2025 to arrest independent journalists like MacPherson Mukuka and Thomas Allan Zgambo, as well as a proposed Non-Governmental Organizations Bill designed to grant the government excessive control over civil society groups. Tensions escalated further following the death of former President Edgar Lungu in June 2025, which fragmented the opposition, and the Constitutional Court’s retroactive disqualification of Lungu from contesting the 2026 elections. Continue reading →

07Aug/26

From Zamrock to Internet Kill-Switches

August 7, 2026MusicBemba, Chinsali, Cyril Ramaphosa, Daddy Zemus, Edgar Lungu, Ethiopia, Hakainde Hichilema, Honduras, Katembula, Kaunda, Kenneth Kaunda, Lozi, Lusaka, Macky II, Miriam Makeba, Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, Mozambique, Music of Zambia, Namibia, Nina Simone, Presidents of Zambia, Simon Kapwepwe, Slap Dee, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Uganda, United States, Zambia, Zamrock, Zimbabweadmin

The Rise of Zed Beats and the Digital Music Revolution

Fri , Aug 0& 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Zed Beats, which takes its name from the letter “Z” in Zambia, represents a dynamic hybrid music genre that emerged in the late 1980s. Young, self-taught producers began using affordable computer software to blend indigenous Zambian elements with popular global sounds like R&B, reggae, rap, hip-hop, Jamaican dancehall, Afrobeats, and amapiano. The rise of this digital movement was catalyzed by a major cultural void in the late 1980s and 1990s, when the devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic claimed the lives of a generation of veteran musicians who had anchored traditional live genres like Kalindula and Zamrock. To fill this void, which had left radio and television heavily dominated by foreign music, young enthusiasts utilized newly accessible computer technology to resurrect local music and forge a modern urban identity. Continue reading →

04Aug/26

Bond Rallies and Blackouts in Zambia

August 4, 2026PoliticsBrian Mundubile, Edgar Lungu, Edgar Lungu.However, Fred M'membe, Given Katuta, Hakainde Hichilema, JOHANNESBURG, London, Lusaka, Makebi Zulu, Makozo Chikote, Miles Sampa, Nigeria, Presidency of Hakainde Hichilema, Presidents of Zambia, South Africa, United Party for National Development, UPND Alliance, Zambia, Zambian general electionadmin

Zambia’s 2026 Election: A High-Stakes Two-Horse Race Decided by Economic Squeeze and Drought

Tue , Aug 04 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Zambia’s general election on August 13, 2026, represents a pivotal, alliance-driven contest that will test the country’s democratic resilience and economic direction. Although fourteen presidential candidates are officially cleared to run, the election is fundamentally a two-horse race between incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND) and opposition challenger Brian Mundubile. Hichilema enters the race backed by an expanded 15-party UPND Alliance, leveraging the power of incumbency. His challenger, Mundubile—a 55-year-old lawyer, accountant, and former government chief whip—is running under the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) banner after unifying a highly fractured opposition under the Tonse–Pamodzi Alliance. Continue reading →