All posts by : Felistas

KALUNGA MWAPE GOVERNANCE expert Dr. Charity Musamba has called on the government to withdraw from World Bank programs, arguing that such initiatives have not helped improve Zambia’s economic standing. Dr. Musamba noted that despite being under World Bank-supported programs, Zambia remains economically vulnerable, with little to show in terms of sustainable development. She criticized the […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted de novo authorization to CLAIRITY BREAST, a first-in-class, image-based platform that can help predict a woman’s risk for breast cancer.

BARNABAS ZULU THE Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has joined the nation in mourning the death of Zambia’s Sixth Republican President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who died in South Africa on June 5, 2025. In a solemn letter addressed to President Hakainde Hichilema and released to the media, the bishops expressed their sorrow and solidarity […]

BARNABAS ZULU LUSAKA lawyer Dickson Jere says former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is state property who should be accorded a dignified state funeral with full military honours, despite the current standoff between his family and the government. In an interview following his reflections on Zambia’s past presidential funerals, Jere emphasized that Lungu’s status as former […]

GIDEON NYENDWA

TWO days after the government announced that the official funeral gathering for the late President Edgar Lungu would be held at Belvedere Lodge in Lusaka’s Kabulonga area, the venue has remained largely deserted, raising questions about coordination and public sentiment.

A check at Belvedere Lodge between 11:00 and 16:00 hours yesterday revealed a quiet atmosphere with no one coming to the venue.

While gazebos and chairs had been set up in preparation for mourners, only journalists were present, waiting in vain for any government official to arrive and sign the book of condolence.

In stark contrast, hundreds of mourners continued to gather at the Patriotic Front (PF) Secretariat, where activity has remained consistent since the announcement of President Lungu’s death.

The Secretariat has emerged as the de facto mourning ground for Lungu’s supporters and former party members.

A visit to the PF secretariat on the same day found several opposition leaders and former PF officials present, including Zambia Must Prosper president Kelvin Bwalya (KBF), New Congress Party president Peter Chanda, and former PF Secretary General Davies Mwila.

The atmosphere was solemn yet energized, with political discussions and tributes flowing throughout the day.

The contrasting scenes at Belvedere Lodge and the PF Secretariat reflect ongoing tensions between the government and the Lungu family over funeral arrangements.

Reports suggest a push-and-pull dynamic, with some family members and PF officials expressing discontent over the government’s handling of the funeral.

Sources close to the family have indicated a preference for the PF Secretariat as the central mourning venue, citing it as a more symbolic and meaningful location for party loyalists.

Meanwhile, the government insists that Belvedere Lodge is the official site for public mourning, as declared by President Hakainde Hichilema.

The division has stirred public debate, with some accusing the government of politicizing the funeral, while others urge unity during the national mourning period.

As Zambia prepares for the late president’s burial, the lack of consensus on the mourning venue underscores deeper political rifts that continue to shape the legacy of Edgar Lungu even in death.

BARNABAS ZULU CATHOLIC priest Father Martin Mwango has praised the decision by the Mansa Diocese to reject a K800, 000 donation pledged by President Hakainde Hichilema, saying the Church must remain independent and free from political entanglements. Fr Mwango, a Catholic priest based in Italy has accused President Hichilema and the UPND of having embarked […]

It turns out when teens on TikTok say, “Get ready with me,” it can be more harmful than they might realize.

Measles is on the rise in Canada and poses serious risks to pregnant people and their newborns, yet discussion about how to protect this vulnerable group is notably lacking.

Taking antipsychotic medications as prescribed lowers the risk of a car crash for drivers with schizophrenia, according to new research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Infants born very preterm spend weeks or even months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) while their immature brains are still developing.