Mic Connect Zed

20/05/2026

Ministry of Education Director dies while delivering speech

"It was shocking for me and difficult to believe. I saw the man collapse and gasp for breath on the floor while I was covering the dissemination of the contextualised School-Based In-Service Teacher Training (SITT) tools," says Journalist John Chaambwa.

Ministry of Education Director of Teachers Education and Specialised Services (TESS), Dr Sydney Nalube collapsed while delivering a speech at the Teaching Council of Zambia today around 14:00. He was thereafter pronounced dead at UTH.

JOHN CHAAMBWA / DAILY MAIL

20/05/2026

PATROITS FOR ECONOMIC PROGRESS LEADER CHANDA KATOTOBWE AND HIS RUNNING MATE SEAN TEMBO FAILED TO FILE IN DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS AND WHERE SEEN LEAVING THE PREMISES TO ATTEND TO AN AGENT ISSUE REQUIRING THEIR ATTENTION.

20/05/2026

Chishimba Kambwili has been duly nominated to contest the Roan Parliamentary seat under the Citizens First banner.

20/05/2026

20/05/2026

CURRENT AND ACTIVE MEMBERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES CANNOT LEGALLY STAND AS INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IN THE FORTHCOMING 2026 GENERAL ELECTIONS
By Shalala Oliver Sepiso

According to the current Zambian constitution and current electoral laws, a person must formally relinquish their political party membership at least two months before the nomination date to qualify as a candidate for elections in the general elections as an independent candidate for the National Assembly.

There are some key requirements for independent candidates and one of them is for them to meet the two-month rule, which clearly states that you cannot have been a member of any political party for at least 60 days immediately preceding the nomination.

For the upcoming 2026 general elections, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has reaffirmed that candidates seeking independent status must ensure they are not affiliated with any party well before nomination dates.

The requirements for independent candidates are primarily established in the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025 and the Electoral Process (Amendment) Act of 2026 revised Article 51 to change the calculation of the "cooling-off" period for independent candidates from the election date to the nomination date. Article 51 (as amended in 2025) says: "A person is eligible for election as an independent candidate for a constituency-based seat if that person—(a) has not been a member of a political party for at least two months immediately before the date for nominations."

Since nominations for parliament are starting today, 20th May 2026, candidates for Independent MP seats must have resigned from their political parties by 20th March 2026. By implication, this would mean that, for a person that was an active MP and an active member of a political party, they would then have lost their status as an MP. It is clear that if a sitting Member of Parliament (MP) was to resign from their party in order to prepare for t

20/05/2026

Lusaka woman charged with murder after allegedly killing woman she found with her husband!

A 44-year-old Lusaka housewife, Ruth Mwanza, has been committed to the High Court for plea and possible trial in a matter in which she is accused of murdering 29-year-old Maureen Mweemba.

Mwanza, a resident of Lusaka’s Twinpalm area, is alleged to have assaulted Mweemba after reportedly finding her in the company of her husband inside their matrimonial home.

According to court documents, the incident occurred between January 29 and 31, 2026, in Lusaka.

It is alleged that on the material day, Mwanza left her residence around 17:00 hours with her two children and returned around 22:00 hours, only to find the house locked.

After allegedly forcing the door open, she reportedly found her husband together with the now-deceased inside the house.

The accused is said to have forcibly dragged Mweemba outside before assaulting her.

The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has since committed Mwanza to the High Court for plea and possible trial on a charge of murder.

20/05/2026

PRESIDENT HH CALLS FOR THE ARREST OF THOSE WHO ATTACKED GARRY IN MAZABUKA

President Hakainde Hichilema has strongly condemned the violence that erupted in Mazabuka during the filing of nominations by independent parliamentary candidate Garry Nkombo.

In a strongly worded statement, President Hichilema described the actions of individuals who attempted to block the lawful filing of nominations as “unacceptable, undemocratic, and a direct violation of the rule of law.”

The Head of State warned that electoral violence and lawlessness would not be tolerated, regardless of the political affiliation or status of those involved. He called on law enforcement agencies to swiftly arrest all perpetrators captured in videos circulating on social media.

Mr Hichilema further stated that Zambia is governed by laws and not intimidation, violence, or mob conduct, adding that the Government would act firmly and decisively against anyone seeking to disrupt peace and order during the electoral process.

The remarks come after Garry Nkombo alleged that he was physically attacked by suspected UPND cadres while filing his nomination in Mazabuka Central.

20/05/2026

Why is he trending 👇

20/05/2026

UPND's Thomas Sipalo aka Difikoti is currently filing in his nomination for the Munali Parliamentary Election.

20/05/2026

Fellow citizens,

A few days ago, I made it clear that electoral lawlessness will not be tolerated and that all perpetrators, regardless of political affiliation or social standing, would face the full force of the law. That position remains firm and unchanged.

The scenes circulating on social and other media of individuals attempting to prevent the lawful filing of nominations are unacceptable, undemocratic, and a direct violation of the rule of law.

I therefore expect law enforcement agencies to move swiftly and professionally to arrest all those responsible. Zambia is governed by laws, not intimidation, violence, or mob conduct.

Let me be unequivocal: those who wish to test this Government’s resolve to maintain law and order are entirely on their own. The State will act firmly and decisively against all forms of electoral violence and disorder.

Hakainde Hichilema,
President of the Republic of Zambia.

20/05/2026

The elections will be very peaceful indeed