As I walked along the rain-soaked Lumumba Road in Lusaka, the waterlogged streets mirrored the growing despair of daily life in Zambia. Each step demanded careful negotiation of the flooded pathway until a scene unfolded before me—sheer and haunting—an economic tale of countless trials faced by masses under the Hakainde Hichilema (HH) regime.

An elderly woman, her gnarled hands carrying a battered plastic container of scones, suddenly lost her balance and tumbled to the ground. The precious pastries, representing her modest earnings, splattered into the murky water—an all-too-cruel fate for her daily labor. This moment symbolized more than mere misfortune; it optimized the cruel plight of ordinary Zambians. In tears, she watched over her scones as the crowd looked in dead silence, seemingly torn between the instinct to retrieve them and the stern thought that they had become tainted, destined to poison any unsuspecting consumer.

Yet, amidst her despair, something extraordinary unfolded. A young woman, approached and pressed a crisp hundred kwacha note into her hands. “Mulundepo,” she softly said—a phrase rich with empathy that translates to “you can use this to start again, mom.” In that moment, the woman rose, enveloping her benefactor in a heartfelt embrace, her sobs a cathartic release for both.

Soon after, a soldier in uniform stepped forward, offering a handful of twenty kwacha notes, and the tears continued to flow—this time accompanied by a glimmer of hope. “Zikomo,” she whispered, gratitude filled in every syllable. Another man joined the scene, pressing three K100 notes into her palms after inquiring about the value of her scones. “Yaciba ya K250,” she replied through her tears—just over ten dollars for her dignity, her livelihood now sullied in both water and shame.

As she walked away empty-handed, weary but unbroken, the atmosphere shifted ominously. A throng of onlookers descended upon the discarded scones like vultures drawn to carrion, undeterred by the fetid water surrounding them. What ensued was a striking spectacle, reminiscent of desperate scavengers—a fight over remnants with little regard for the rising cholera cases in Lusaka. Within moments, every morsel had vanished, consumed by hunger that eclipsed sanitation.

Later, as I pondered this heart-wrenching scene, I recalled the Sunday interview I had watched the previous week featuring disgraced UPND spokesperson Elvis Nkandu. He touted how Zambians are supposedly thriving under President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration, boasting of hollow achievements that seemed to ring false against the grim realities of daily life. Are we to believe that the country is flourishing while the elderly scramble in floodwaters for sustenance? Do the lost scones symbolize mere collateral in a grand narrative of progress?

Is Nkandu so ensnared in party rhetoric that he cannot see how dangerously disconnected it is from the lived experiences of the common person? In an era when scrounging through rubbish was once relegated to the mentally ill, ordinary citizens now find themselves sifting for scraps—desensitized to adversity while political elites bask in luxury, flaunting lifestyles that reveal the misuse of state resources. How can he, cocooned in the comforts of privilege, dismiss the cries of a nation grappling with poverty and desperation?

The billions spent transporting President HH from his private residence, the funds allocated for modifications and security, and the personnel costs exemplify a profound disconnect from the struggles of everyday Zambians.

It is essential to confront a difficult truth: the struggles of the Zambian people cannot be hidden behind empty promises or scapegoating past administrations. Blaming former President Edgar Lungu for the current plight is merely a deflection of responsibility. The suffering we witness today stems from institutional negligence and misguided policies. It’s time for the HH administration to recognize its own failures and transition from finger-pointing to genuine accountability.

Enough is enough. Though the scones may have been tainted by filth, the hunger of the Zambian people is undeniable—empty words and broken promises don’t fill stomachs. As a nation, we must tackle these challenges by uniting. As demonstrated by the woman on Lumumba Road, the Zambian spirit cannot be broken by one regime. We will rise together, embracing each other’s struggles in a quest to reclaim our dignity, confront the tide of poverty, and pursue solutions that uplift all Zambians—not just the privileged few. must tackle these challenges by uniting. As proved by the woman on Lumumba Road, the Zambian spirit cannot be broken by one regime; we will surely rise together, embracing each other’s struggles in a quest to reclaim our dignity, confront the tide of poverty, and pursue solutions that uplift all Zambians—not just the privileged few.

By Kapya Kaoma

Socialist Party (S.P) Copperbelt Provincial Spokesperson Reagan Kashinga has said Zambians must unite and reject the planned constitution amendment being championed less than two years before the 2026 General Elections.

Mr. Kashinga said there is neither consensus reached with the majority of the Zambians nor wide consultation to warrant the amendment of the constitution.

Mr. Kashinga said the Socialist Party agrees with other political parties, the Church and civil society who have called for the postponement of the amendment process until after elections.

He added that constitutional amendment is a noble process that needs people’s views and must be done in a clear manner.

“The Socialist Party in the Copperbelt Province joins the voices of many Zambians rejecting the UPND regime’s maneuver to amend the Republican Constitution in a hurried and haphazard manner. We agree that at some point the Republican Constitution which is the supreme law of the land can be amended but we totally disagree with the timing and the selfish motive behind the UPND’s appetite to change the constitution,” Mr. Kashinga said.

Mr. Kashinga continued:”There is no road map provided, no wide consultation, no public sitting and no consensus reached with the people of Zambia to warrant Constitutional Amendments. Major stakeholders such as political parties, the Church and civil society are all in the dark over the proposed constitutional amendment being championed by the UPND and their minions. We can’t allow a secretive constitutional amendment to go ahead in a democratic country. Constitutional amendments must be people driven and not UPND driven.”

Mr. Kashinga charged that the UPND administration is championing the constitution amendment agenda to dubiously stay in power.

“We wish to emphasize that there is a lot the UPND is hiding in their draft constitution as they try to conceal it in the name of delimitation, youth, women and persons with disabilities representation enhancement. We refuse to be cheated again, how many youths, women or persons with disabilities has President Hakainde Hichilema appointed in key leadership positions? If President Hichilema wanted more youths, women and persons with disabilities in leadership he should have demonstrated that by nominating them as Members of Parliament.”

He concluded:”The Socialist Party in the Copperbelt Province calls on the people of Zambia from all walks of life to unite and reject this questionable planned constitution amendment just a year before the 2026 general elections. Why the rush? UPND just wants to prolong its stay in power beyond 2026 but they won’t succeed. Zambians have already decided to vote out this government and to replace it with the people’s party Socialist.”

A female court messenger in Chingola District on the Copperbelt Province has been murdered while escorting a suspect to police cells.

Copperbelt Province Police Commanding Officer Peacewell Mweemba has identified the deceased as Prudence Nkomesh and the suspect as Francis Mwamba.

Mr Mweemba has told ZANIS news in a statement that the deceased was murdered by the suspect while escorting him to police cells.

He said the suspect used a bamboo log to hit the deceased causing her to sustain a cut on the head and swollen forehead.

Mr Mweemba says brief facts are that the suspect and the wife had a marital dispute and took the matter to Chingola Local Court where they divorced and he was ordered by the court to be paying a monthly fee of K500.

He explained that the suspect paid for some months but defaulted for a month prompting the wife to report back the matter to the Local Court where a warrant to arrest Mr Mwamba was issued.

“On 18 March 2025 around 09 hours the suspect of contempt was taken to court where the court ordered two female court messengers, the deceased Prudence Nkomesh and Caren Mwansa to take him to Police” Mweemba explained.

He said on the way the suspect got a bamboo log and hit the deceased on the head and she sustained the stated injuries and was rushed to Nchanga North Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Mr Mweemba stated that the matter was reported to Chingola Police station by Alex Chama the workmate to the deceased and that police officers rushed to the hospital, inspected the body and found the said injuries.

He said the body of the deceased has since been deposited in Nchanga North Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem examination.

Mr Mweemba notes that the suspect is on the run and more investigation will follow.

The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has voiced its concerns over the government’s planned constitutional reforms, urging for broad-based stakeholder engagement and national consensus to ensure a legitimate and lasting constitutional order.

The New Dawn Government has signaled its commitment to amending Zambia’s Constitution, with proposed reforms aimed at enhancing proportional representation for women, youths, and disabled individuals in governance institutions. Other suggested changes include the elimination of by-elections and the delimitation of constituencies to improve service delivery. While LAZ acknowledges the potential benefits of these reforms, the association has cautioned the government to approach the process carefully to avoid pitfalls that could compromise the intended benefits.

“Constitutional reform is a complex, time-consuming, and costly exercise that requires extensive stakeholder consultation and agreement—not only on the substance but also on the process,” LAZ stated. “The manner in which the Constitution is developed and amended is just as critical as its content. The process must be inclusive, legitimate, and reflective of the aspirations of the people.”

LAZ further emphasized that constitutional amendments should not be conducted in a piecemeal fashion but should comprehensively address key governance issues, including the expansion of the Bill of Rights to encompass economic and social rights.

As a key stakeholder in constitutional matters, LAZ expressed concern that the government has yet to share its proposed roadmap or draft Constitutional Amendment Bill with stakeholders. The association also warned against initiating constitutional reforms too close to the electoral cycle, as this could undermine the integrity of the process.

“Any constitutional amendment and reform should be initiated outside the electoral cycle to prevent political influences that could dilute the process,” LAZ advised.

The association has called on the government to ensure that all constitutional reforms are based on genuine and broad-based consultations to foster national unity and long-term governance stability. The statement comes amid growing national debate on the direction and scope of the proposed reforms, highlighting the importance of consensus-building in shaping the country’s constitutional future.

As Zambia moves forward with its constitutional review, LAZ’s cautionary stance serves as a reminder of the necessity for inclusivity, transparency, and adherence to democratic principles in governance reforms.