All posts by : Felistas

We fully understand the anger, resentment, and political bitterness that may exist between the family of the late President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and the current the Hakainde Hichilema-led administration.

We witnessed the humiliation and inhumane treatment he suffered, being forced to disembark from an aircraft as he sought to travel out of the country. We are equally aware of the correspondence denying him authority and therefore medical support as he sought to travel to South Africa for treatment. We are aware that his penultimate trip before his death was a matter of guile.

Yes we are indeed aware that his party was taken from him in the most irregular manner. We are even aware, just as the nation is, of the constitutional court partisan conduct in his eligibility matter.

However we feel that the nation must rise above partisanship- death demands dignity—and for a former Head of State, it demands honour of the highest national order. That honour is a State Funeral, and his rightful place of burial is Embassy Park. Anything less would mark a blemish on the conscience of the Republic—one that history will not forgive, and future generations will not understand.

Zambia’s sixth President did not merely occupy an office; he embodied it. The moment Edgar Lungu was sworn in, he ceased to be a private citizen. He became, as former Secretary to Cabinet Leslie Mbula aptly put it, “State property”—an instrument of national service, subject to the highest scrutiny, and deserving of the highest respect upon his passing.

Mr. Mbula’s remarks are not sentimental; they are constitutional and moral truths. Zambia’s legal and political traditions accord a State Funeral to all who have served as Republican President. To suggest otherwise, to reduce his final rites to a private affair, is not only a violation of protocol—it is an insult to the institution of the presidency itself.

President Lungu may have had his critics—and rightly so in a democracy—but criticism does not erase the record of service. He led the nation, made difficult decisions, commanded the armed forces, and bore the burden of national leadership. If former ministers and senior civil servants are honoured with official funerals, how then can we deny the same to a former Head of State?

To politicize the funeral of a former President is to desecrate the very idea of national unity in grief. Zambia has always prided itself on peaceful transitions of power and national decorum during periods of mourning. Even when leaders have fallen out of favour, the country has never descended into petty revenge at the grave.

The refusal to grant Lungu a State Funeral would be unprecedented—and unwarranted.

Moreover, the burial of President Lungu anywhere other than Embassy Park, where his predecessors rest, would be a symbolic exile in death. It would send a message that political disagreements can override national decency, that vendettas can be carried into eternity. This is not the Zambia we claim to be. We are a Republic founded on unity, civility, and institutional memory.

This is a moment for the state to rise above itself. The family must accept the honour the nation accorded Edgar Lungu to lead. It is a rare hononour more so that it was constitutionally conferred and nationally accepted. Let us not allow present grievances to rob the past of its honour or the future of its integrity.

A State Funeral is not about Edgar Lungu. It is about Zambia—and whether we choose dignity or decline.

GIDEON NYENDWA INONGE Wina, Zambia’s first female Vice President yesterday broke down at the Patriotic Front (PF) secretariat that her emotions over the passing of Zambia’s Sixth President could not allow her to say anything. Mrs Wina, with heavy tears rolling over her cheeks wept uncontrollably when she visted the PF secretariat where the funeral […]

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema campaigned on the promise of restoring democratic values, upholding human rights, and protecting the freedoms of Zambians.

His victory was a breath of fresh air for many who had grown weary of repression and state surveillance. But today, that hard-won hope stands on the brink of betrayal with the looming passage of new cyber security laws that threaten to turn Zambia into a surveillance state.

The legislation, under the guise of improving national security and combating cybercrime, contains vague and broad provisions that give the government sweeping powers to monitor online activity, control digital communications, and punish dissent.

Under these laws, a simple social media post criticising the government could be interpreted as a threat to national security.

Journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens risk being muzzled simply for speaking their minds.

Cybersecurity is undoubtedly important, but it must not come at the cost of basic human rights. The country already has enough legal frameworks to deal with criminal conduct online.

What we do not need is a digital leash on free expression, disguised as protection. Freedom of speech is not just a constitutional right – it is the cornerstone of any functioning democracy. Once eroded, it is incredibly hard to regain.

President Hichilema, history will remember the choices you make now. Do not allow your administration to mirror the oppressive tactics of the past.

Let us not criminalise criticism. Let us not police thought. Let us instead build systems that encourage responsible digital engagement, protect privacy, and uphold justice without silencing the people.

A government that fears its people’s opinions has already lost their trust.

President Hichilema must uphold his commitment to democracy not just with words, but with actions.

Mr. President, do not allow Zambia to take a dangerous detour into digital authoritarianism. Let your legacy be one of courage, transparency, and principled leadership.

KENNEDY YONA.

11th November 1956–05 June 2025

Amb. Anthony Mukwita wrote

LUSAKA—Today, I write not with the ink of a journalist or the pen of a diplomat, but with the heaviness of a broken heart.

The sixth President of the Republic of Zambia, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has died.

And with him, a part of our nation’s soul seems to have been ripped away.

It is a moment of unspeakable sorrow. A moment I hoped never to witness—yet it has come like a thief in the night, stealing from us a man we called father, brother, leader, and friend.

President Lungu died in Johannesburg, South Africa, after a period of illness. The news was broken to the nation by his daughter, Tasila Lungu Mwansa, but in truth, it shattered us all.

We are devastated. The air feels heavier today in Lusaka and in every corner of this great republic—from the copper hills of Chipata to the plains of Mongu.

The streets are quiet, yet you can hear the grief. People are crying openly. Shopkeepers have downed tools, students are in silent reflection, and churches have flung open their doors for prayer. We are in mourning.

I find myself searching for words to describe the man who once walked these very corridors of power, the man whose easy laughter and commanding presence shaped an era in our country.

A man of unshakable faith, a staunch Christian, a devoted husband, and a loving father and grandfather. He was, above all, a man of the people—humble, approachable, and deeply rooted in the soil of the land that birthed him.

His life was never easy. That’s why I called his story “Against All Odds.” I had the immense honour and privilege of writing his only known autobiography by that title.

That was in 2017, while I served as Zambia’s Deputy Ambassador in Stockholm. Later, under his own hand, I was moved to Berlin as Ambassador.

That’s the kind of man Edgar Lungu was—he didn’t just recognize loyalty; he returned it with grace and kindness.

He was not perfect—no leader is—but his imperfections never overshadowed his integrity, love and kindness.

I remember our long phone calls, sometimes at dawn, sometimes past midnight. He would call to check on how I was doing with my family despite his high office. Not because he needed something. Not because of diplomacy.

Just to say, “Muli shani, mudala ba Tony?” That was ECL, no matter how junior you were, he respected you.

Always reaching out. Always caring. His laugh would light up the line. His calm tone could ease a storm.

And now, that voice is silent.

THE RISE AND RISE OF EDGAR LUNGU

President Lungu rose to power after the untimely death of President Michael Sata, a moment not unlike this one in its national pain.

He led Zambia from 2015, guiding the country through challenging economic tides, political trials, and infrastructural transformation. He left office in 2021 when President Hakainde Hichilema swept the high stakes poll.

Under his leadership, we saw roads paved where there were none. Bridges that connected once isolated communities. Airports and dams that stand today as testaments to his developmental legacy.

His name will forever be engraved in our national consciousness—not just in bricks and mortar, but in the way he made Zambians believe again.

ECL AND THE CONSTITUTION

Let us not forget one of his most powerful legacies: the reintroduction of the 50% plus one clause in Zambia’s constitution. A democratic principle that ensured every President going forward must secure the true majority of the people’s vote.

Ironically, it worked against him politically, but he embraced to the die he died. Because principle mattered more to him than power. That alone tells you what kind of leader we have lost.

Hon. Given Lubinda, his long-time ally and comrade in the Patriotic Front, has called this moment “most unfortunate.” I echo that with a heavy soul.

It is more than unfortunate—it is tragic.

We are not only mourning a former Head of State; we are grieving the passing of an era.

President Lungu was set to turn 69 this coming 11th November. We would have celebrated with him. Today, we weep instead. The Kenneth Kaunda Wing at Mulungushi International Conference Centre still carries his fingerprints.

But it is his warmth, his humility, and his unwavering belief in the Zambian people that remain etched deeper than any concrete.

He leaves behind his wife, the gracious Esther Lungu, his children, grandchildren—and millions of us whose lives he touched, directly or indirectly.

And though his body now lies still, his legacy marches on. In our memories, in our bridges, in our laws, and in the very fabric of this republic.

My heart breaks for Zambia today.

Farewell, Mr. President. Farewell, ECL.

You ran your race with dignity. You led with heart and grit. And though the heavens may have reclaimed you, your story remains with us—forever.

Amb. Anthony Mukwita

Author ñ Against All Odds: Edgar Lunguís Journey to State House

Lusaka, Zambia

Researchers from the Institute of Computing Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with collaborators, have developed a food-oriented large language model (LLM)—FoodSky. The study is published in Patterns.

The MRI shows a brain tumor in an inauspicious location, and a brain biopsy will entail high risks for a patient who had consulted doctors due to double vision. Situations such as this case prompted researchers at Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin to look for new diagnostic procedures. The result is an AI model.

Imagine treating chronic illness not with pills, but with soft, flexible electronic implants seamlessly integrated into the body. The materials for such implants already exist—they just needed a sweet touch.

Brain tumors remain among the most challenging conditions in modern medicine. Due to their complexity and location, many of them are difficult to access, even with the most advanced surgical and therapeutic approaches. Although significant progress has been made in radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical techniques, certain tumors—especially those near critical brain structures—still present considerable risks.

A study analyzed the brain activity of military officer cadets and civilians while they were making moral decisions and concluded that the perception of being the author of our actions and their consequences decreases when we follow orders, whether we are civilians or military.

A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry makes the case that symptom provocation may significantly improve the clinical effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a noninvasive brain stimulation method used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and nicotine dependence.