🇿🇲 MORNING WIRE | State House Fires at Civil Society as NRPUP Dumps Mundubile
State House has launched a blistering attack on 24 civil society organisations questioning Emmanuel Jay Jay Banda’s capture in Mozambique, accusing them of selective morality and attempting to turn a fugitive into a victim.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka challenged the organisations for condemning alleged lawlessness without first establishing whether Banda’s capture violated the law.
“That is a verdict that precedes evidence,” Hamasaka said.
State House accused the organisations of downplaying Banda’s broadcasts, which allegedly included calls for President Hakainde Hichilema’s assassination and the elimination of the Tonga ethnic community. Hamasaka argued that describing such conduct as merely vulgar failed to recognise the seriousness of the allegations.
“If authenticated, they require explicit condemnation and urgent investigation,” the statement said.
The organisations, which include Zambian and regional human rights groups, have themselves condemned Banda’s language but want both governments to explain the legal basis of his transfer. State House maintains that cross-border cooperation to return fugitives is legitimate and has promised Banda medical care, legal representation, family access and a court appearance.
The confrontation leaves two questions requiring answers: whether Banda committed criminal offences through his broadcasts and whether the authorities followed the law in bringing him back. Neither question cancels the other.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s opposition has undergone a significant parliamentary realignment after Speaker Nelly Mutti recognised National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) president Ezra Tembo as Leader of the Opposition.
Tembo, the Dag Hammarskjöld MP, has reclaimed the political platform that Brian Mundubile used to contest August’s elections under the Tonse Alliance. The party now commands more than 50 MPs, alongside councillors, mayors and council chairpersons across the country.
The shift has angered sections of Mundubile’s support base, who feel abandoned while their leader remains behind bars. Political sources also describe NRPUP as increasingly receptive to working relations with the ruling UPND, although no formal arrangement has been announced.
The battle for parliamentary leadership had already divided the party. In September, NRPUP secretary-general Nonde Mubanga said 34 MPs had backed Tembo’s selection, rejecting a rival claim involving Shiwang’andu MP Stephen Kampyongo.
Speaker Mutti has now also recognised Milenge MP Gystave Chonde as Party Whip and Nyimba North MP Paul Lungu as Deputy Party Whip.
For Mundubile, the political setback coincides with a crucial court appearance. The Lusaka High Court is expected to resume hearing the constitutional bail application involving him, Makebi Zulu and 16 co-accused today.
Defence lawyer Sakwiba Sikota said Monday’s proceedings were adjourned after the State requested more time to prepare its documents.
“As you know, today we were making our application for constitutional bail for the 18-treason accused. However, the state said they were not ready,” Sikota explained.
Beyond the courtroom, the immediate political question is whether Mundubile can retain the loyalty of the parliamentary bloc assembled around his presidential bid now that Tembo controls the party’s recognised leadership.
In health, the University Teaching Hospitals in Lusaka is treating about 150 men aged between 30 and 55 for erectile dysfunction every month, according to consultant urologist Victor Mapulanga.
Mapulanga identified stress, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, low testosterone and prostate cancer among contributing conditions.
The disclosure puts a figure on a problem often concealed by embarrassment and social stigma. It also raises questions about how many men are living with untreated conditions that can contribute to sexual dysfunction. The UTH figures reflect patients seeking treatment at the hospital, not the national prevalence of the condition.
And in Chilanga, President Hichilema has broken ground on United Capital Fertilizer’s US$1.6 billion Phase II expansion, projecting that the investment will raise direct employment from 7,400 to 10,000 jobs.
The President said the expanded facility would become Africa’s second-largest fertiliser plant and strengthen Zambia’s position as a regional exporter.
“None of this is achievable without a reliable supply of affordable fertiliser, made in Zambia,” Hichilema said, referring to national targets for maize, soya beans, wheat and sugar production.
The bigger test will be whether increased domestic production translates into lower fertiliser costs for Zambian farmers. Manufacturing capacity alone will not deliver the agricultural targets unless farmers can afford the inputs.
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The People’s Brief | Ollus R. Ndomu
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