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TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
‘A checkered legacy'': Zambia's former president Edgar Lungu dies aged 68
Former Zambian president Edgar Lungu died on Thursday at the age of 68, six months after an attempted return to politics was thwarted by a court ruling that he could not run for office again. Lungu was the sixth president of the Southern African nation and held office from 2015 to 2021, when he lost an election to long-time opposition leader President Hakainde Hichilema. He was praised during his tenure for a massive road-building programme, but also ran Zambia's finances deeply into the red. The country defaulted on its international debt in 2020, precipitating his election loss. Lungu died on Thursday morning at a medical centre in Pretoria, where he had been receiving specialised treatment, his political party, the Patriotic Front, said in a statement on social media. The party also posted a video on social media of Lungu's daughter Tasila Lungu, a member of Zambia's parliament, announcing his death. "My father had been under medical supervision in recent weeks. The condition was managed with dignity and privacy," she said. Lungu suffered from a rare disorder that caused a narrowing of the food pipe, for which he had been treated in SA before. Shortly after he took office in 2015 he fell ill and underwent a procedure in SA which the presidency said at the time was not available in Zambia. Lungu was born on November 11 1956, in Ndola in the Zambian copper belt. A lawyer by training, he served as justice and defence minister under former president Michael Sata before taking over the presidency when Sata died in 2015. After taking office Lungu quickly embarked on legislative reforms which were seen as progressive, including amending the constitution to reduce the power of the president. He won a presidential election in 2016 that gave him a five-year term in office. But shortly before it ended he tried and failed to reverse the constitutional changes he had made. "The legacy of Edgar Lungu is a checkered," said political analyst Lee Habasonda at the University of Zambia.
The Star
30-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Zambia hosts national final of Chinese language proficiency competition
LUSAKA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute at the University of Zambia on Friday hosted the final round of the Chinese language proficiency competition. The event featured 10 students competing in the final of the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Zambia, and nine students in the 18th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students in Zambia. Participants demonstrated their proficiency in the Chinese language and showcased their knowledge of Chinese culture through poetry recitations and performances of Chinese pop songs. Speaking at the opening of the event, Wang Sheng, minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, said the Chinese Bridge competition serves not only as a platform for language and cultural expression, but also as a bridge connecting China with the rest of the world. He encouraged the students to use the competition as a springboard for continuous personal development and cultural exchange. "I hope that through the Chinese Bridge competition, more and more Zambian youth will develop a passion for the Chinese language, master it, and gain a deeper appreciation of China from a multidimensional and comprehensive perspective," he said. Wang further said China and Zambia are all-weather friends and that cooperation in all sectors, including people-to-people exchanges, has grown, guided by the principles of mutual respect, equality, and common development. He urged young people to embrace the development opportunities brought about by the friendship between the two countries through learning the Chinese language. Felix Masiye, acting vice-chancellor of the University of Zambia, praised the Chinese language for being a vital bridge that connects nations and cultures, facilitates access to technology and business, and fosters people-to-people relationships. Masiye commended the Confucius Institute for its role in promoting the learning of Chinese in Zambia and for training local teachers. He said such efforts would significantly contribute to the widespread teaching and adoption of the language across the country. Mubanga Museba, a student at Kasama Girls Secondary School in northern Zambia, emerged victorious in the secondary school category. She expressed her joy over the victory, noting that the outcome was unexpected given the high level of competition among the contestants. Museba said she began learning Chinese out of love and passion for the language, as well as a desire for self-development.
The Herald Scotland
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Who are Afrikaners? Why Trump is welcoming white South Africans to US.
For decades, South Africa was controlled under apartheid rule by the country's white minority, many of them descendants of Dutch colonists. Apartheid, a system of legalized segregation, deprived the majority of citizens of basic rights and forced many Black South Africans to live in ethnic Bantustans. It ended in 1994. Now many white South Africans, who make up a minority of the population, say they're unfairly targeted by a new law that allows the South African government to seize property for the "public interest," in some cases without compensation. More: First white South Africans classified by Trump as refugees due to arrive in U.S. Trump's backing of the Afrikaners goes back to his first term. But he put his support behind the group during his second term after the land seizure policy, known as the Expropriation Act, became law. Trump accused the South African government of "confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY." More: First white South Africans classified by Trump as refugees due to arrive in U.S. The arrival of the white South Africans in the United States comes after Trump signed an executive order in February to resettle Afrikaners "escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination." The action gave special priority to Afrikaners after Trump effectively halted new refugee admissions when he signed a separate order on day one of his presidency, suspending the decades-old U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. "What's happening in South Africa fits the textbook definition of why the refugee program was created," White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told reporters on May 9. "This is persecution based on a particular characteristic, in this case, race. So this is race-based persecution." Trump adviser and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is from South Africa, has also been openly critical of the Expropriation Act. In February, Trump took action to cut off foreign aid to South Africa. South Africa is home to an estimated 3 million Afrikaners, who are generally of Dutch and Huguenot descent and form a significant portion of the approximately 4 million white people in South Africa. The country has an overall population of 62 million, about 81% of whom are Black. More: Trump stops South Africa aid over land act intended to address apartheid legacy South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has disputed Trump's claims about land confiscation and discrimination against white South Africans. Ramaphosa and other defenders of the Expropriation Act have argued that the policies are needed to reverse the nation's apartheid-era legacy of disparities in land ownership. Although apartheid rule ended more than 30 years ago, the typical Black South African household has just 5% of the wealth of the typical white household, according to a 2024 study by researchers at The Africa Institute and the University of Zambia. "We reiterate that allegations of discrimination are unfounded," South Africa's Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation said in a May 9 statement. "It is most regrettable that it appears that the resettlement of South Africans to the United States under the guise of being 'refugees' is entirely politically motivated," the statement continues, "and designed to question South Africa's constitutional democracy; a country which has in fact suffered true persecution under Apartheid rule and has worked tirelessly to prevent such levels of discrimination from ever occurring again." More: US expels South Africa's ambassador, Rubio calls him 'race-baiting' America hater The Washington Post reported that approximately 60 Afrikaners are set to arrive on May 12 at Dulles International Airport on a State Department-chartered plane, with a ceremonial news conference planned. A State Department spokesperson would not confirm how many South African refugees are expected but told USA TODAY the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, had been conducting interviews and processing applications of individuals who have expressed interest in moving to the United States. Contributing: Francesca Chambers. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
CBS News
24-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Men face charges of practicing witchcraft to try to harm Zambia's president
Two men are on trial in Zambia on charges of practicing witchcraft and possessing charms intended to harm the country's president, in a case that has become a source of fascination in the southern African nation. The interest reflects a belief in forms of magic and supernatural phenomena that remains in parts of southern Africa — and some irritation at a colonial-era law that brands it witchcraft and criminalizes it in Zambia. "I hate that colonial piece of legislation that attempts to outlaw a practice that it does not understand," said Gankhanani Moyo, a cultural heritage lecturer at the University of Zambia. He said it fails to consider the nuances of traditional African beliefs. "Traditional Zambian societies and individuals believe in a strong relationship between the human world and the supernatural," Moyo said. The trial also has a heavy dose of political intrigue. Prosecutors allege the two men were hired by a brother of Emmanuel Banda — a former lawmaker who is now on the run — to curse President Hakainde Hichilema. Some have dismissed it as a stunt by Hichilema, who faces an election next year. The president hasn't commented on the case. "Will the court allow witch doctors and other alleged witches to testify as expert witnesses?" a column in the Lusaka Times newspaper asked with scorn. But some politicians and other public figures in Zambia have said they believe in witchcraft, seeking out supernatural help to make them stronger or more popular. Hichilema himself was accused of using witchcraft as an opposition leader by the late President Michael Sata, who asserted that the magic from his home region was stronger. Hichilema didn't respond to that accusation more than a decade ago. A bottled chameleon, white powder and red cloth Police say the men in the current case were arrested in a hotel room in the capital, Lusaka, in December after a cleaner reported hearing strange noises. They were found in possession of a bottled chameleon and other items including a mysterious white powder, a red cloth and an unidentified animal's tail. The men also face charges of cruelty to animals. Police said one man confessed they had been hired for a curse to kill Hichilema. He testified in court they were promised more than $1 million. The case has captured attention because many Zambians take witchcraft seriously, said Enoch Ngoma, a journalist for more than 30 years who has covered many such trials. Zambia's judiciary had said it would allow this trial to be broadcast live on television, which would have been just the second time that's happened for a trial. But it reversed the decision, citing "stakeholders." Zambia's influential Council of Churches had said it was opposed to a live broadcast. When the trial opened last week, the courtroom was packed. Many traditional beliefs have survived in Zambia alongside its official Christian religion. A study by the Zambia Law Development Commission, which has a mandate to reform laws, found that 79% of Zambians believed in the existence of witchcraft as of 2018. The study was conducted because the Witchcraft Act has been questioned. It was passed in 1914 when Zambia was part of the British "sphere of influence." The act defines practicing witchcraft as pretending to exercise any kind of supernatural power, witchcraft, sorcery or enchantment calculated to cause fear, annoyance or injury. Witchcraft cases have been difficult to prosecute in Zambia, with evidence tricky to collect. The cases are normally heard in traditional courts, and this is a rare one to reach the magistrates court in Lusaka. The penalty for practicing witchcraft is a fine or up to two years in jail, with the possibility of hard labor. "It is so difficult to prove witchcraft" Meanwhile, protecting against witchcraft can be good business. Rodwell Vongo, who goes by the name Dr. Vongo, is a traditional healer and president of the Zambian Traditional Healers Association. He said he would be referred to as a witch doctor under the law but calls that term derogatory. He lives in a plush suburb of Lusaka and said he has a long list of middle-class clients, rejecting the presumption that such beliefs are only held by rural folk. The majority of his customers are women who seek charms and spells for happy marriages, he said, but many others come looking for protection against witchcraft. Wisdom Kaunda, a teacher, said he was closely following the witchcraft trial and believes it can help determine how his country treats the subject in the future. "Personally, I feel people should be punished for planning to cause harm to someone," he said, but added: "It is so difficult to prove witchcraft in the courts of law." Belief in witchcraft is also common in some rural communities in neighboring Angola despite strong opposition from the church in the predominantly Catholic former Portuguese colony. Last year, police said about 50 people died in Angola after being forced to drink an herbal potion to prove they were not sorcerers. In 2013, Bishop Firmino David of Sumbe Diocese in Angola told ACI Africa that socio-economic challenges in the country are forcing some to "resort to the practice of witchcraft because they believe that with witchcraft, they can get what they want and thus free themselves from poverty and get everything they need to survive." shun witchcraft and sorcery.
The Independent
24-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
The witchcraft trial that has captured a southern African nation
Two men in Zambia are accused of practicing witchcraft and possessing charms intended to harm the country's president. The trial has become a source of fascination in the southern African nation which reflects a belief in forms of magic and supernatural phenomena that remains in parts of the continent. Some irritation also exists at a colonial-era law that brands it witchcraft and criminalises it in Zambia. 'I hate that colonial piece of legislation that attempts to outlaw a practice that it does not understand,' said Gankhanani Moyo, a cultural heritage lecturer at the University of Zambia. He said it fails to consider the nuances of traditional African beliefs. 'Traditional Zambian societies and individuals believe in a strong relationship between the human world and the supernatural," Moyo said. The trial also has a heavy dose of political intrigue. Prosecutors allege the two men were hired by a brother of Emmanuel Banda — a former lawmaker who is now on the run — to curse President Hakainde Hichilema. Some have dismissed it as a stunt by Hichilema, who faces an election next year. The president hasn't commented on the case. 'Will the court allow witch doctors and other alleged witches to testify as expert witnesses?' a column in the Lusaka Times newspaper asked with scorn. But some politicians and other public figures in Zambia have said they believe in witchcraft, seeking out supernatural help to make them stronger or more popular. Hichilema himself was accused of using witchcraft as an opposition leader by the late President Michael Sata, who asserted that the magic from his home region was stronger. Hichilema didn't respond to that accusation more than a decade ago. Police say the men in the current case were arrested in a hotel room in the capital, Lusaka, in December after a cleaner reported hearing strange noises. They were found in possession of a bottled chameleon and other items including a mysterious white powder, a red cloth and an unidentified animal's tail. The men also face charges of cruelty to animals. Police said one man confessed they had been hired for a curse to kill Hichilema. He testified in court they were promised more than U$1 million. The case has captured attention because many Zambians take witchcraft seriously, said Enoch Ngoma, a journalist for more than 30 years who has covered many such trials. Zambia's judiciary had said it would allow this trial to be broadcast live on television, which would have been just the second time that's happened for a trial. But it reversed the decision, citing 'stakeholders.' Zambia's influential Council of Churches had said it was opposed to a live broadcast. When the trial opened last week, the courtroom was packed. Many traditional beliefs have survived in Zambia alongside its official Christian religion. A study by the Zambia Law Development Commission, which has a mandate to reform laws, found that 79 per cent of Zambians believed in the existence of witchcraft as of 2018. The study was conducted because the Witchcraft Act has been questioned. It was passed in 1914 when Zambia was part of the British 'sphere of influence.' The act defines practicing witchcraft as pretending to exercise any kind of supernatural power, witchcraft, sorcery or enchantment calculated to cause fear, annoyance or injury. Witchcraft cases have been difficult to prosecute in Zambia, with evidence tricky to collect. The cases are normally heard in traditional courts, and this is a rare one to reach the magistrates court in Lusaka. The penalty for practicing witchcraft is a fine or up to two years in jail, with the possibility of hard labor. Meanwhile, protecting against witchcraft can be good business. Rodwell Vongo, who goes by the name Dr. Vongo, is a traditional healer and president of the Zambian Traditional Healers Association. He said he would be referred to as a witch doctor under the law but calls that term derogatory. He lives in a plush suburb of Lusaka and said he has a long list of middle-class clients, rejecting the presumption that such beliefs are only held by rural folk. The majority of his customers are women who seek charms and spells for happy marriages, he said, but many others come looking for protection against witchcraft. Wisdom Kaunda, a teacher, said he was closely following the witchcraft trial and believes it can help determine how his country treats the subject in the future. 'Personally, I feel people should be punished for planning to cause harm to someone,' he said, but added: "It is so difficult to prove witchcraft in the courts of law."
