Zambia Ex-President Is Dead

Published

4 years ago

March 11, 2022

Zambia’s former president Rupiah Banda died on Friday at the age of 85 after a long battle with colon cancer, his son Andrew told AFP.

“He is gone”, Andrew Banda told an AFP correspondent in Lusaka.

The southern African country’s fourth leader since independence from Britain served for three years from 2008 — a term remembered for economic growth and corruption allegations.

Banda was vice-president when his predecessor Levy Mwanawasa unexpectedly succumbed to a stroke, propelling him into the top job.

But the veteran diplomat was defeated in the 2011 elections, despite overseeing major economic growth during his tenure.

Zambia’s economy expanded during Banda’s brief presidency, mainly on the back of rising copper prices and a surge in Chinese investment.

He pursued a construction spree started under Mwanawasa, building much-needed roads, hospitals and schools.

Zambia recorded a 7.6 percent increase in growth for 2011, up from 6.4 percent the previous year, for which Banda took credit.

He had hoped the economic uptick would convince voters to keep him in power.

Most of Zambia’s 17.9 million inhabitants, however, did not reap the benefits of mining and constructions booms.

Wealth accumulated in the hands of a few as corruption allegations surfaced, marring his reputation.

In September 2011, he was heavily defeated by opposition leader Michael Sata.

– ‘Man of the land’ –

Banda was born on February 19, 1937 in the small town of Gwanda in neighbouring Zimbabwe, then the British colony of Southern Rhodesia.

His parents had moved from neighbouring Zambia, formerly Northern Rhodesia, to seek work.

Banda returned to his country of origin and later pursued his studies in Ethiopia and Sweden, earning a degree in economics.

In the early 1960s, Banda started a diplomatic career in Europe. He was subsequently appointed ambassador to Egypt, the United States, and the United Nations.

Domestic politics caught up with Banda in 1975, when he briefly served as foreign minister and then mines minister for Zambia’s first president Kenneth Kaunda.

A long-time member of Kaunda’s United National Independence Party (UNIP), Banda was also a prominent businessman and an ardent football fan.

He led several state-run companies under Kaunda and was the owner of KB Davis, a company that supplied mining equipment in Zambia’s north-central copper-belt region.

He also dabbled in sports and at one time served as vice-president to the Football Association of Zambia.

Despite his achievements, Banda still cast himself as a man of the people.

“In addition to my political experience I am also a farmer, I am a man of the land,” he told AFP in a 2008 interview.

“I know what it is like when the rains are late and when a crop fails.”

– ‘Friend of thieves’ –

Banda had planned to retire from politics and end years of active engagement with UNIP to settle on a farm in eastern Zambia’s Chipata district.

But Mwanawasa dragged him back, naming Banda vice-president shortly after his 2006 election victory against Sata.

When Mwanawasa died two years later, Banda out-manoeuvered a dozen other candidates from the now ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) party to fill in for the late head of state.

He was soon accused of awarding government contracts to his children and slacking on Mwanawasa’s anti-graft crusade.

In 2009, Banda refused to appeal the acquittal of former president Frederick Chiluba, tried for alleged embezzlement under his predecessor.

He then disbanded Mwanawasa’s corruption task force, prompting Sata to blast him as a “friend of thieves”.

Banda announced he had been diagnosed with colon cancer in 2020.

Long before, he had re-married with Thandiwe Banda, a political science teacher almost 40 years his junior.

When Banda took office, she became the youngest first lady in Zambia’s history.

US Congressman Accuses Kwankwaso Of Complicity In ‘Death Of Christians’

Published

18 hours ago

November 3, 2025

Editor

United States Congressman Representing West Virginia’s 2nd District, Rep Riley Moore, has accused ex-presidential candidate and former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, of “complicity in the death of Christians” in Nigeria.

This was after Kwankwaso criticised US President Donald Trump for designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern because Christians are allegedly being killed in “record numbers.”

The former governor stated that it is important to emphasise that Nigeria is a sovereign nation whose people face different threats from outlaws across the country. “The insecurity we face does not distinguish based on religious, ethnic, or political beliefs,” he said.

He called on the US to assist Nigeria with better cutting-edge technology to tackle these problems, rather than posing a threat that could further polarise the country.

“The Nigerian government should also consider appointing special envoys from its distinguished diplomats to engage the American government. Additionally, it is necessary to appoint permanent ambassadors to represent Nigeria’s interests on the international stage.

“To my fellow countrymen, this is an important moment where we should emphasise unity of belonging over division,” he said in a statement on his official X account.

Reacting, Rep Moore reminded Kwankwaso of how, during his tenure as Governor of Kano State, he instituted Sharia Law, which made blasphemy punishable by death.

He said on X, “Governor – do you care to comment on your own complicity in the death of Christians? You instituted Sharia law. You signed the law that makes so-called blasphemy punishable by death.”

He said this a few days after US Senator Ted Cruz said he is pushing legislation that will target those who implement blasphemy and Sharia laws in Nigeria.

He said, “I am deeply gratified to President Trump for making this determination. I have fought for years to counter the slaughter and persecution of Christians in Nigeria, and this year introduced legislation that will lock in the designation made today.

“Today’s designation is a critical step in holding accountable and changing the behaviour of Nigerian officials who have facilitated and created an environment conducive to the outrages in Nigeria. My legislation implements additional steps, including targeting those who implement blasphemy and sharia laws in Nigeria, and I am committed to working with the administration and my colleagues to advance my bill and implement these necessary measures. Today’s decision by President Trump is a great one, and I thank him for his strong leadership.”

Headline

Trump To Receive Full Menu Of Options To Stop Nigeria Genocide – US Rep, Moore

Published

18 hours ago

November 3, 2025

Editor

United States representative for West Virginia’s 2nd congressional district, Riley Moore, has revealed that President Donald Trump would receive a full menu of options that he can use to try to stop the alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria.

Speaking to Fox News, Moore stated that Trump would be presented with a range of policy options on how to address the situation.

“We are going to get right to work and get to the bottom of what is happening and give President Trump a full menu of options that we can use to try to stop these killings,” Moore said.

Moore’s comment is coming as Trump hinted at possible military action against Nigeria.

Recall that the US leader had over the weekend warned that he could order US military action if the purported genocide in Nigeria continues

Meanwhile, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is expected to meet with Trump in the coming days.

Headline

VIDEO: Again, Trump Insists On Christian Killings In ‘Record Numbers In Nigeria’

Published

1 day ago

November 3, 2025

Editor

United States President, Donald Trump, has again insisted on his condemnation of alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria, reiterating that Christians are being killed in record numbers in the West African nation.

Contents
Christian Genocide Saga
Country of Particular Concern
Tinubu fires back at Trump
Trump’s Guns-a-blazing threat

Trump, who spoke to journalists aboard his Air Force One aircraft while returning to White House on Sunday following a weekend trip to Florida, said the United States is not going to allow the “killings” to continue.

“They’re killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria… They’re killing the Christians and killing them in large numbers. We’re not going to allow that to happen,” Trump said in a short CNN video sighted by Tribune Online.

Christian Genocide Saga

While allegations of Christian genocide are not new, the saga began again recently after a US comedian and HBO host, Bill Maher, accused Islamist groups of carrying out a genocide against Christians in Nigeria.

“I’m not a Christian, but they are systematically killing the Christians in Nigeria. They’ve killed over a hundred thousand since 2009. They’ve burnt 18,000 churches. These are the Islamists, Boko Haram. This is so much more of a genocide attempt than what is going on in Gaza.

“They are literally attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country,” Maher said.

Similarly, US Senator Ted Cruz claimed that Nigerian government officials were “ignoring and even facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadists.”

Cruz also lamented that Christians in the country were being targeted for their faith by terrorist groups and “are being forced to submit to sharia law and blasphemy laws across Nigeria.”

He said it was “long past time to impose real costs on the Nigerian officials who facilitate these activities,” adding that he had introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act to the US Senate to sanction such officials.

In the same vein, Riley Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd District in the US Congress, wrote to the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, urging him to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.

Moore also called for a suspension of arms sales and technical support to Nigeria until the government demonstrates commitment to ending what he described as “a reign of persecution and slaughter against Christians.”

However, the Nigerian government, alongside Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), rejected these claims, describing the allegation as a harmful misrepresentation of the country’s complex realities.

Country of Particular Concern

While the controversy surrounding Christian genocide claim was already winding down, the US President’s post on his Truth Social account on Saturday, accusing the Nigerian government of allowing what he described as “killing of Christians” brought the issue again to global attention.

Trump, in the post, alleged that Christianity in Nigeria faces an existential threat from radical Islamist groups who he claimed have been targeting Christian communities in different parts of Nigeria, and announced the designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern.

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a “COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN” — But that is the least of it.

“When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done! I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter, and report back to me.

“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!”

Tinubu fires back at Trump

Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a statement on Saturday, responded to the allegations from the US President, stating that the country guarantees religious freedom for all.

“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” the president wrote in a reaction he personally signed on Saturday and posted on his X handle, @officialABAT.

Trump’s Guns-a-blazing threat

Barely 24 hours after his first comment, President Donald Trump doubled down on the claim, announcing a stop to all aid to Nigeria and ordering his Department of War to prepare for possible action in Nigeria.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the military intervention from the U.S. will “completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”

He wrote, “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may very well go into that now disgraced country, “guns-a-blazing,” to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.

“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”

Confirming the development, US War Secretary, Pete Hegseth, announced that the department is preparing for military operations in Nigeria, giving the Nigerian government two options.