Monday, August 10, 2026
Zambians hope for peaceful elections, economic change as vote nears
By Our Correspondent, LUSAKA Zambia
Zambians vote Thursday in a closely watched presidential election that will test whether recent economic gains can offset frustration over the high cost of living in one of Africa's most stable democracies.
Incumbent Hakainde Hichilema faces Brian Mundubile, a former ally of late president Edgar Lungu, who surged to the front of a fragmented opposition after being backed by a coalition of rival parties.
Up to 8.7 million voters -- a majority of them women -- will decide whether Hichilema's economic reforms deserve another term or whether the opposition can turn widespread discontent into a comeback.
Hichilema, leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), won the presidency in 2021 on his sixth attempt, inheriting a country in sovereign default after years of heavy borrowing under Lungu.
His victory marked a rare peaceful transfer of power to an opposition party through the ballot box in Africa.
The government has since secured a landmark debt restructuring agreement, restored an International Monetary Fund programme and returned the economy to growth, winning praise from international lenders and investors.
But many Zambians say the benefits have been slow to reach ordinary citizens. Rising food prices, unemployment and persistent poverty remain dominant concerns in a country where more than 70 percent of the population lives on less than three dollars a day, according to World Bank data.
"Worldwide there has been recognition that we are doing well but he needs to bring it home," medical student Semi Malama, 26, told AFP.
Zambia is Africa's second-largest copper producer and the government has set an ambitious target of tripling production by 2031.
Chinese companies are major players in the mining sector, underscoring Beijing's outsized economic influence in the country.
The opposition has sought to exploit the squeeze on household finances, arguing that reforms have failed to improve livelihoods despite signs of recovery.
Until the opposition coalesced behind Mundubile, re-election had looked all but certain for the 64-year-old Hichilema, widely known as "HH".
Although 14 candidates are on the ballot, analysts say the race has narrowed into a two-horse contest between Hichilema and Mundubile, a 55-year-old former minister.
"The opposition alliance is bringing energy to their rallies and appealing to youth, women, and rural voters," Joseph Siegle, director of research at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, told AFP.
Mundubile's challenge is built around "mopping up" the support base of Lungu's Patriotic Front, particularly in the north and east, where the former ruling party has historically held sway, political analyst Louw Nel said.
But his relatively late entry into the race and association with the Lungu era could limit his ability to expand beyond that base, he said.
Nearly half of registered voters are aged between 18 and 35, making young people a potentially pivotal bloc.
"Ultimately, the election will hinge on whether voters believe continuity offers the best chance of consolidating recent economic reforms, or whether they conclude that change is needed to address immediate economic pressures," Institute for Security Studies researcher Zenge Simakoloyi told AFP.
The campaign has been marked by pockets of violence and allegations of intimidation.
Police have used tear gas to disperse clashes between rival supporters, while Mundubile's National Republican Party (NRPUP) has accused authorities of restricting its campaign activities.
The opposition leader last week alleged that snipers were deployed at a campaign event in Mongu, about 580 kilometres west of Lusaka, calling the tear gas "just the tip of the iceberg."
Polling stations open Thursday at 0600 local time (0400 GMT) and close 12 hours later.
Zambians will also elect an expanded parliament, with directly elected members of parliament rising to 226 from 156.
Presidential results are due August 17, according to the electoral commission's calendar. A candidate needs more than 50 percent of valid votes to win outright; otherwise, the top contenders face a run-off.
The outcome could hinge on "relatively small swings" in support across Zambia's 10 provinces, Simakoloyi said.
The vote will also test Zambia's reputation for political stability amid growing concerns over restrictions on dissent and a narrowing political space.
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Israel rejects Donald Trump’s 15-point plan to end Gaza war
TEL AVIV, Israel
Israel on Sunday rejected US President Donald Trump's 15-point Gaza Peace Plan saying it would not withdraw from the Palestinian enclave until Hamas fully disarms.
“I want to clarify this. Israel rejects the 15-point document. I have heard people saying, ‘You didn’t say that.’ So here I am saying it again,” prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting.
Trump, who last month touted a breakthrough in his Gaza peace plan, said that Hamas has agreed to lay down arms.
However, his Board of Peace’s proposal calls for a phased withdrawal of Israel’s troops from Gaza alongside the disarmament of Hamas.
Netanyahu said that Israeli military would not be leaving until the militant group completely disarmed first.
“When I say Hamas must be disarmed, I mean heavy weapons, lighter weapons, all weapons. We are talking about genuine disarmament, not a fictitious one,” he said.
The announcement marks a rare display of public friction with the US administration.
"We are talking with the Americans about this issue. They have ideas, some of which are acceptable to us, and some are not. We know how to stand up to these things,” Netanyahu said.
He also said the Israeli army would continue “to thwart threats against our forces and citizens”.
“Once again, the existence of Israel and the security of all Israeli citizens is not up for negotiation. We stand firm on these interests."
Netanyahu also said there would be no Palestinian state in Gaza or the West Bank, as long was Israel’s leader.
The Israeli military has continued carrying out strikes on the enclave since agreeing to the ceasefire in October last year.
Palestinian officials say around 1,200 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli strikes since then.
Iran makes new demands around Strait of Hormuz
TEHRAN, Iran
Iran issued dramatic new demands around the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the United Arab Emirates said one of its ships was targeted by an Iranian missile.
Yemen’s military attacked the country’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. And Turkey’s Kurdish peace bill won approval in parliament.
Iran’s politburo-like body known as the Supreme National Security Council said the Strait of Hormuz will not open until the United States “corrects its behavior,” issuing new demands that could shake up talks on a deal to manage the waterway.
Iran’s state broadcaster published the statement by the council’s secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who is also a commander in the powerful Revolutionary Guard.
The United States must never threaten Iran again, the statement said, and must permanently end the war with Iran and its armed allies in the region.
The U.S. must lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports and withdraw its military from the area. It must “completely compensate” Iran for war damage, lift sanctions and “unconditionally” release frozen assets.
The U.S., which has wanted an acceptable deal first on the strait before ending the blockade, had no immediate comment.
According to the interim deal signed in June, a schedule to end sanctions and plan on compensation would be part of the final deal, and negotiations would address frozen assets.
Iran has said it was close to reaching a separate deal with Oman to manage the strait, which runs between the two countries.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier Saturday said they were close to reaching an agreement on navigation. But the waterway’s reopening is contingent on other conditions, he said in remarks shared on social media, and blamed the situation on what he called the U.S. violation of the interim deal.
Oman, a mediator Gulf Arab country which has said relatively little on the talks, said in a statement discussions were ongoing “in a positive and constructive atmosphere,” and condemned attacks on ships on the strait.
Saturday, August 8, 2026
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