A Zambian soldier, Sergeant Alick Banda, has died while serving on an international peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

In a statement issued on Friday, Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma said Sergeant Banda died in the line of duty while deployed under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). The Minister described the fallen soldier as disciplined and dedicated, noting that his death occurred during official operations aimed at stabilising conflict-affected areas and protecting civilians.

Mr. Lufuma said Sergeant Banda was part of a Zambian contingent assigned to peacekeeping duties following Zambia’s commitment to international security efforts under the United Nations framework. Zambia has, over the years, contributed troops to various UN missions, particularly across Africa, as part of its defence and foreign policy obligations.

The Minister conveyed condolences to the bereaved family on behalf of the government and the people of Zambia, stating that the country had lost a soldier who served with professionalism and courage. He added that the Zambia Army and the Ministry of Defence would provide the necessary support to the family during the period of mourning.

According to the statement, arrangements are underway to repatriate Sergeant Banda’s remains in line with military procedures and United Nations protocols. Burial details, the Minister said, would be announced after consultations with the family and relevant authorities are concluded.

Sergeant Banda’s death adds to the number of Zambian soldiers who have lost their lives while serving on international peacekeeping assignments. Zambia remains one of the African countries that consistently contribute troops to UN missions in regions affected by armed conflict and political instability.

Mr. Lufuma said the sacrifice made by Sergeant Banda reflects Zambia’s continued commitment to global peace and regional stability, adding that the late soldier’s service would be remembered as part of the country’s long-standing contribution to international peacekeeping.

Source: News Diggers, Friday, January 9, 2026
Section: Local News / Defence
Clarification: This report concerns Zambia Army Sergeant Alick Banda and is unrelated to the separate, ongoing matter involving Archbishop Alick Banda.

Chishimba warns UPND is engineering its own political collapse

United Progressive Party President Saviour Chishimba has warned that the ruling United Party for National Development is hastening its own political downfall through what he described as misplaced priorities, selective application of the law, and the misuse of state investigative institutions.

Speaking this week, Chishimba focused his criticism on the decision by the Drug Enforcement Commission to summon Alick Banda over a motor vehicle allegedly linked to the disposal of assets by the Zambia Revenue Authority. He said the matter, reportedly involving a vehicle estimated at about K50,000, stood in stark contrast to what he described as the government’s failure to confront far larger financial crimes.

Chishimba said it was difficult to justify the mobilisation of anti-money-laundering mechanisms against a sitting Archbishop while cases involving alleged illicit financial flows amounting to billions of dollars have not attracted comparable investigative urgency. He argued that such an approach reflects distorted priorities and damages public confidence in institutions tasked with enforcing the law.

He described the summoning of the Archbishop as legally weak and morally troubling, stating that religious leaders in Zambia routinely receive gifts from congregants, including vehicles, without such acts constituting criminal conduct. According to Chishimba, the Archbishop had no role in the disposal of public assets and therefore could not reasonably be linked to wrongdoing arising from the original sale process.

The UPP leader said the use of the Drug Enforcement Commission in the matter was particularly concerning, given the commission’s mandate to address serious crimes such as narcotics trafficking and major financial offences. He warned that stretching that mandate to cover what he described as a minor and symbolic case risked undermining the credibility of the institution itself.

Chishimba further accused the government of using investigative bodies to intimidate critics and institutions that have taken moral positions on national governance. He said the Catholic Church has historically played a significant role in Zambia’s public life, particularly during periods of political tension, and that actions perceived as targeting church leadership could have far-reaching consequences.

In outlining his concerns, Chishimba cited figures he said pointed to extensive illicit financial outflows since 2021. He claimed that between 2021 and 2024, Zambia lost more than US$15.6 billion through illicit channels, including losses of US$9.3 billion in 2021, US$2.8 billion in 2023, and US$3.5 billion in 2024. He also referenced alleged misappropriations amounting to ZMW105 billion in 2022. He questioned why cases of that magnitude had not resulted in visible high-level investigations or prosecutions.

According to Chishimba, the contrast between those figures and the attention devoted to the Archbishop Banda matter feeds perceptions of selective justice. He argued that the law must be applied proportionally and consistently if it is to command respect.

Chishimba rejected assertions that the Archbishop was summoned purely in a personal capacity, stating that such distinctions carry little weight in public perception. He said a Bishop remains a spiritual and moral leader regardless of context, and actions against such figures inevitably resonate beyond the legal details of a case.

He warned that what he described as a “divide and rule” approach would ultimately backfire politically. In his view, the government risks alienating citizens who are already under pressure from high living costs, increased taxation, and economic hardship.

Chishimba said elections are often lost not because of opposition strength, but because governments misread public sentiment and undermine trust through their own actions. He urged the UPND to refocus on addressing major economic crimes and improving living conditions, rather than pursuing cases that, in his words, create division without delivering justice.

Minister of Information and Media Cornelius Mweetwa has publicly accused former Patriotic Front figures Makebi Zulu, Brian Mundubile, and Emmanuel Mwamba of corruption, declaring that they must never be allowed to govern Zambia again.

Mweetwa made the remarks during a United Party for National Development rally in Choma. Speaking to a large crowd, the minister departed from metaphorical language used earlier in the programme and directly named the individuals he said represented what he described as predatory politics.

“Mr President, Honourable Nyambose, you spoke about ba Chimbwi, hyenas, and you did not give them names,” Mweetwa told the gathering. “I will name them because I know them, and I know who you were referring to. You were talking about Mundubile, you were talking about Makebi Zulu, you were talking about Emmanuel Mwamba.”

He accused the trio of abusing public office during their time in government and of diverting resources intended for development. Mweetwa referred to Constituency Development Fund allocations in Chasefu, contrasting past and present funding levels to underline his point.

“Since Honourable Nyambose was elected, K156 million has been disbursed to Chasefu for people to benefit,” he said, partly in Tonga. “The fund thieves and swine stole.”

His remarks followed earlier comments by Independent Chasefu Member of Parliament Misheck Nyambose, who used an analogy to caution voters against returning former PF leaders to positions of authority. Nyambose compared the situation to a farmer allowing a hyena to guard goats, warning that promises of reform should not erase past conduct.

“The same hyena today comes back and wants work in the goats’ shelter, claiming it is now a vegetarian,” Nyambose said. “Would you accept that?”

Nyambose praised the increase in CDF allocations to Chasefu, noting that funding had risen from K1.6 million under the previous PF administration to K156 million under the current government. He urged voters to support President Hichilema for a second term, portraying him as a leader focused on equitable development rather than political or ethnic division.

“Hakainde Hichilema is a blessing to Zambia,” Nyambose said. “This is a President who does not choose people and does not segregate. Much of the criticism against him comes from jealousy.”

Mweetwa’s intervention marked a clear escalation in campaign rhetoric as Zambia moves closer to the August 13, 2026 general elections. By naming individual opposition figures and linking them directly to alleged misuse of public funds, the ruling party signalled an intention to frame the election around accountability and governance records rather than broad policy themes alone.

The Choma rally, held in the President’s Southern Province political base, combined messages of development delivery with warnings against political regression. Senior government officials and local leaders attended, reflecting the strategic importance of the event within the UPND’s mobilisation efforts.

By the end of the rally, the tone had been firmly set. The governing party’s message was explicit: the choice facing voters in 2026 will centre on whether Zambia continues on its current path or risks a return to leaders the government accuses of having abused public trust in the past.