Category Archives: Politics

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 →

27Aug/26

Restructuring Trump’s Second-Term Immigration Policy

August 27, 2026PoliticsAlcatraz Island, Alligator Alcatraz, Democratic backsliding in the United States, Immigration to the United States, Killing of Renée Good, Kristi Noem, Minneapolis, Ochopee, Operation Metro Surge, Opposition to immigration, Political repression in the United States, Renee Good, Renée Nicole Macklin, Second presidency of Donald Trump, Trump, Ubah, United States, United States Department of Homeland Security, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcementadmin

The High Cost of Silence: Tracing the Economic Fallout and Political Volatilities of America’s New Deportation Model

Thu Aug 27 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The second Trump administration initially launched its restrictive agenda with highly visible, militarized enforcement campaigns like “Operation Metro Surge” to project an uncompromising stance on domestic security. However, this overt, theatrical strategy hit an immediate crisis following a series of fatal enforcement errors, most notably the killing of Renée Nicole Macklin Good—an unarmed thirty-seven-year-old writer, poet, and U.S. citizen—by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026. This tragedy, along with other fatal shootings, sparked nationwide protests, public outrage, and state-led lawsuits, inducing a major shift in public opinion. In response to this mounting political liability, the administration underwent a strategic restructuring: it replaced high-profile enforcers, removed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and privately instructed congressional allies to drop the politically sensitive phrase “mass deportations” in favor of targeting violent criminals. Continue reading →

27Aug/26

Trump’s Silverback Strategy and the Donroe Doctrine

August 27, 2026PoliticsAli Khamenei, Ali Larijani, Ali Vaez, Analysis of the 2026 Iran war, Canada, China, Corina Machado, Cuba, Denmark, Donald Trump, Donroe Doctrine, France, Greenland, Iran, Iran war, Iraq, Jerome Powell, Luis Moreno Ocampo, Maduro, María Corina Machado, Minneapolis, Nicolás Maduro, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Pyongyang, Qatar, Robert Kagan, Second presidency of Donald Trump, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Hormuz crisis, Tehran, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Washingtonadmin

A Weapon of Mass Disruption: Why the 2026 Iran War Exposed the Limits of American Might

Wed, Aug 26 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Donald Trump’s second term has transitioned into a highly volatile era characterized not by a passive “lame duck” status, but by what analysts call the “Silverback Presidency.” This statecraft style mirrors an aging mountain gorilla that, sensing its time is short and its dominance threatened, resorts to aggressive, unpredictable outbursts rather than yielding to institutional gridlock. Operating under a framework of personal grievance, vengeance, and an explicit rejection of the post-war rules-based order, Trump has openly asserted that his executive actions are limited only by his “own mind and morality”. Free from the perceived constraints of international law, the administration has launched high-stakes global maneuvers designed to forcefully project American power and secure a disruptive, nationalist legacy. 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 →

21Aug/26

Blood and Copper in Zambia’s Stolen Election

August 21, 2026PoliticsBrian Mundubile, Context, George Chisanga, Hakainde Hichilema, Lusaka, Maambo Hamaundu, Makebi Zulu, Mutotwe Kafwaya, Presidents of Zambia, Trevor Mwamba, United Party for National Development, United States, Zambiaadmin

Independent Audit Exposes Systematic Tallying Discrepancies in 30 Constituencies of Zambia’s Presidential Vote

Fri, Aug 21 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — On August 18, 2026, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) declared the re-election of incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema (United Party for National Development – UPND) to a second five-year term. The official results indicated that Hichilema won 60.49% of the vote (2,965,326 votes), while his primary challenger, Brian Mundubile of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP)—representing the Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance—secured 37.87% (1,856,222 votes). The ECZ reported an official voter turnout of 57.23% out of 8,786,300 registered voters. Hichilema praised the electorate for their trust, pledging to focus on national unity and development, while the opposition immediately rejected the results, alleging systematic irregularities and promising legal challenges. 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 →

20Aug/26

Military raids and treason in Zambia

August 20, 2026PoliticsBotswana, Brian Mundubile, Elections in Zambia, George Chisanga, Graphel Musamba, Hakainde Hichilema, Lusaka, Makebi Zulu, Mmasekgoa Masire, Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, Mokgweetsi Masisi, Mutotwe Kafwaya, Oxford, Presidents of Zambia, Russia, Thabo Kawana, the southern african development community, Trevor Mwamba, Volker Türk, Zambiaadmin

Democracy in Peril: Military Raid, High-Profile Arrests, and Disputed Ballots Shackle Zambia’s Post-Election Landscape

Thu, Aug 20 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Zambia’s general election, held on August 13, 2026, resulted in the re-election of incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema for a second five-year term. According to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), Hichilema secured 60.49% of the vote, defeating his primary challenger, Brian Mundubile of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP), who received 37.87%. While Hichilema expressed gratitude to voters and committed his second term to national unity, economic expansion, and debt recovery, the electoral process was instantly marred by major disruptions. On August 14, the ECZ temporarily suspended vote counting and results tabulation nationwide, citing localized violence against polling staff and the theft of marked ballots. Although the suspension was lifted the same day, international observer groups, including the European Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), voiced concerns over an uneven playing field, late constitutional and legal reforms, extended pauses in results tabulation, and reports of political intimidation. Continue reading →

17Aug/26

Harriet Tubman led a Civil War raid

August 17, 2026Politicsarmy department, Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Belgium, Bill Russell, Black History Month, Boston, Carter G. Woodson, France, Galveston, Germany, Harriet Tubman, Harriet Tubman Was, Jeffrey L. Littlejohn, Kris Manjapra, Malcolm, Miseducation, Negro, OAKLAND, Sierra Leone, The Mis-Education of the Negro, United States, Woodsonadmin

Reclaiming the Classroom: How Carter G. Woodson Fought the Violence of Miseducation

Mon, Aug 17 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The foundational struggle for racial equality in America is deeply rooted in the preservation and legitimization of Black history as an active tool of resistance. Carter G. Woodson, recognized as the “Father of Black History,” dedicated his life to establishing separate institutional structures like the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915 and Negro History Week in 1926 to counter the “miseducation” of African Americans. Woodson argued in his landmark 1933 book, The Mis-Education of the Negro, that the American educational system culturally indoctrinated Black students to accept an inferior status by white-washing their contributions to world culture and history. He observed that controlling a population’s thinking eliminates the need to police their physical actions, as individuals conditioned to believe they are outcasts will naturally find their way to the “back door”. This early twentieth-century battle to reclaim the narrative highlights that systemic control begins in the classroom, a reality that echoes in modern debates over how race and history are taught in public schools. Continue reading →

17Aug/26

Zambia’s 2026 Election and 22-Hour Blackouts

August 17, 2026PoliticsBrian Mundubile, Elections in Zambia, Forum for Democracy and Development, Hakainde Hichilema, Lusaka, Mokgweetsi Masisi, Presidents of Zambia, Samuel Tembenu, Tonse Alliance, United Democratic Alliance, Zambia, Zambian general electionadmin

The Defining Moments of Zambia’s 2026 Election

Mon, Aug 17 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — These sources provide a comprehensive look at the 2026 Zambian general election, covering the candidates, legal reforms, and shifting political alliances. Incumbent Hakainde Hichilema sought a second term against a fractured opposition, with Brian Mundubile emerging as his primary challenger representing the Tonse Alliance. The reports detail significant constitutional amendments that expanded the National Assembly and introduced a mixed-member proportional representation system. Analysts highlight concerns regarding legislative maneuvering, economic grievances like the high cost of living, and accusations of gerrymandering. Despite reports of isolated violence and a temporary pause in vote counting, the data indicates a high voter turnout among the nearly nine million registered citizens. Ultimately, the records illustrate a tense political landscape defined by regional voting blocks and the ongoing test of Zambia’s democratic institutions. Continue reading →

15Aug/26

Zambia’s 2026 Election in the Dark

August 15, 2026PoliticsBallot, Brian Mundubile, Elections, Elections in Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, Lovemore Chishima, National Assembly of Zambia, Politics of Zambia, Presidents of Zambia, Secret ballot, Tonse Alliance, Zambiaadmin

Zambia Suspends Election Count Amid Violence, Then Resumes

Sat , Aug 15 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Zambia’s Electoral Commission halted result announcements on August 14 after attacks on staff and stolen ballots in some areas, an unprecedented step under the Electoral Process Act. Incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema called for peace amid encouraging early signs, while challenger Brian Mundubile declared victory from his party’s tallies and warned of potential interference. The suspension lasted hours; counting resumed that evening with extra security, and partial results on August 15 showed Hichilema leading in key spots like Southern Province.

Continue reading →