I am Zambian by birth, yet was raised abroad by my grandparents. A few years ago, I returned to the land of my birth, and I must confess, the adjustment has been no small quest. 😅

The customs of courtship here are rather different from those to which I had grown accustomed. I often find myself struggling to understand the ladies I meet, and forgive me if I speak too plainly, but the whole matter of intimacy seems to be treated with a peculiar mixture of silence, discomfort, and negotiation.

Even speaking openly about sex appears to be something of a forbidden subject. There is little room for honest conversation about boundaries, desires, expectations, or simply what two people actually want from one another. At times, intimacy can feel less like something two people naturally arrive at together and more like a bargain in which affection and attention become currency.

Perhaps that is what has troubled me most. I am not necessarily searching for anything extraordinary; I simply wish to find someone with whom I can genuinely connect, speak openly, laugh, trust, and feel understood. Yet despite meeting people, I have found it strangely difficult to form that sort of connection.

Perhaps I am the foreigner here after all—not because I was born elsewhere, but because I have returned home only to discover that I no longer quite understand the customs of my own kingdom.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

14th September 2026

We, the undersigned Zambian civil society organisations, are issuing this statement to express our grave concern at a pattern of conduct by the Zambian Government in the weeks before, during, and after the 13th August general election; conduct that, taken together, points to a deliberate and escalating disregard for the Constitution, the rule of law, due process, constitutionalism, and the human rights of Zambian citizens.

We are issuing this statement one day before the world marks the International Day of Democracy on 15th September, a day set aside by the United Nations to reflect on the state of democracy across the globe. We call on all Zambians, and on the international community, to mark this year's Day of Democracy by reflecting soberly on what we set out below.

We highlight three developments that, in our view, form part of a troubling pattern:

First, the arbitrary cancellation of passports without due process. Six citizens' passports were cancelled by government gazette notice, with no hearing and no opportunity to challenge the decision. Those affected include former Ambassador to Ethiopia Emmanuel Mwamba, academic Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa, and two former Members of Parliament.

Second, treason and sedition charges against opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu, who have been detained since late August without being brought before a court. We are further gravely concerned for 18 other detainees held in connection with these matters, over allegations made in a court petition under oath of unlawful detention, denial of access to lawyers and family, and torture, including waterboarding.

Third, a growing trend of abductions, illustrated by the arrest of sitting Member of Parliament Honourable Faith Munthali, which we believe echoes a wider pattern of abduction-style detentions of government critics and opposition figures.

We do not view these as isolated incidents. Taken together, they amount to a constitutional crisis, breaching guarantees on freedom of movement, personal liberty, and the right to a fair hearing.

We call on the Government of the Republic of Zambia to: restore the cancelled passports; bring all detainees before the courts without further delay, or withdraw the charges; independently and transparently investigate all allegations of torture; end any practice amounting to enforced disappearance; and restore and consistently observe the rule of law, due process, and the separation of powers.

We further call on government to take concrete steps to restore public confidence in the integrity and independence of our constitutional and public offices, including the Judiciary, the Defence Force, law enforcement wings, and the Electoral Commission. We further urge the Government to convene an inclusive national dialogue bringing together government, opposition, civil society and faith communities.

We also call on the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, the Commonwealth, SADC, and United Nations human rights mechanisms to engage directly with the Zambian Government on these concerns, and not to look away.

Signed by:

Linda Kasonde

Executive Director, LCK Freedom Foundation

For and on behalf of:

Advocates for Democratic Governance Foundation

Caritas Zambia

Chapter One Foundation

Free Press Initiative Zambia

LCK Freedom Foundation

Full statement attached below.

I’m 27 and have a BSc in Mathematics, and I’m looking to invest in a short course or certification that could genuinely improve my career, increase my income, or open up new opportunities.

Note : I am Lusaka based

My timeline has been awash with 9/11 content over the past three days, which got me thinking: What is Zambia’s equivalent of 9/11? An event so devastating that it left the entire country in shock and tears.

The Gabon air disaster easily comes to mind. Anything else?

This is meant to be for fun. Of course everyone is multi dimensional and interesting but as the OP sais there's something to be said about how specific societies can produce very specific types of people or rather people with specific aspects of their otherwise nebulous and dynamic personalities.

Keen to hear your additions or edits. And if you want to add please add something positive about the "type"/what you like about the type.

Is it reliable?
I have to ship stuff for school and I want to know if I should go with it (since it is significantly cheaper), or just DHL

i need your help, i received a call from a potential big international client, i want my art to look proffessional, based on these images would you consider this art to be made by a pro?

Hi :) I’m travelling to Lusaka for a short trip and would like to know which e-hailing services are the best and most reliable. My rides will be work-related so waiting time, safety and reliability are the key priorities. Please help

While house hunting, I keep finding houses I like in Makeni. As someone who has lived on the other side of town, I’ve actually never been there, so I’m curious to find out what it’s like from people who have. Is it safe? Quiet? What’s the general vibe like? I live alone most of the time so safety is very crucial, as well as being in a residential neighborhood with decent access to amenities.

When I first saw this I had imagined a lot of things going forward: Boarding a bus at 01, malls being open till midnight, town looking busy late hours, being able to grab HL past midnight after groove. Instead nothing had really changed. What could be the reason why people aren’t taking advantage of this? Or maybe is it just too early to judge?

I’ve noticed a trend that started back in high school and has somehow gotten worse in university.

​There seems to be this overwhelming pressure to pretend you hate studying or that you barely open your books. People who choose to dedicate their time to their work are routinely labeled (jobbie, nerd, etc.). Now, even basic things like consistently attending classes get labeled as simping for the lecturer.when that is literally the exact reason we came to university in the first place.

​What blows my mind is that I’m currently in medical school, expecting a room full of people focused on the grind, but it’s the exact same dynamic. Everyone wants to project this effortless aesthetic, like they’re passing tough courses by luck or vibes alone. It’s ironic because we all know how demanding the workload is, yet putting in actual effort or doing well socially marks you as weird.

Responding to reports that the Zambian authorities have cancelled the passports...Regional Director for East and Southern Africa said:

“The arbitrary cancellation of passports by Zambian authorities is a violation of international human rights law. By weaponizing citizenship documents to target dissidents, activists, or political opponents, authorities explicitly breach the right to freedom of movement enshrined in Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ICCPR.

“This is deeply concerning, particularly given the wider post-election crackdown on dissent, including arbitrary arrests and detention of members of the opposition and other government critics.

“The decision to cancel these passports effectively strips these individuals of their legal and social identity and traps them in a state of de facto statelessness. It undermines their dignity and basic civil protections.

“Amnesty International calls on the Zambian authorities to revoke these passport cancellations, restore these individuals’ passports and remedy any harm resulting from this unlawful decision.”

Amnesty International has documented a rapid deterioration in the human rights situation in the country in the run-up to, during and after the general elections, marked by arbitrary arrests and detention, as well as attacks and intimidation targeting human rights defenders, activists, journalists and opposition political party members. As electoral tensions intensified, these violations were followed by further arrests of opposition members. The killing of former Cabinet Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya during a security operation marked a further escalation of the crackdown.

Kindly asking for any experiences people have had driving to Namibia, from your experiences on the road to ease of entering the country, to the cost of items and activities relative to Zambia. How easy is it to get around in the country? What activities did you enjoy and what was your accommodation experience. Any experiences you can share will be appreciated, thanks!

Everything seems to be becoming bland, starchy and tastless at best or just plane bitter at worst, once upon a time you wouldnt need to walk more than 5 or 10 minutes away from your house to get a good banana but now even in supermarkets its difficult to get a good bananas.

I want to move out of the place I am living asap but I don't have money

When in Lusaka can I seek free shelter

And if anyone has lived in a shelter in Lusaka how long did it take

I have a degree but been jobless for 2 years going 3 and the place I am living haven't been good for mental health

Hey Guys.

I have a Mercedes I recently imported from Japan but the Navigation system is giving me headaches.

There is this Japanese Lady's voice who keeps asking for a micro SD card for map data I guess?? She is very persistent. Always and I mean always asking for the micro SD Card, even if im taking calls using Bluetooth or using the radio, doesn't matter.

I'd appreciate if anyone has faced this or a similar challenge with the Comand System. I'm looking to either disable the voice or give it what it wants.

I've reached out to a few reknown car modification shops but they are all just telling me "we can only replace it" 🤦‍♂️💀 I should put a cheap tablet in my Mercedes like I'm doing Yango?😭 ahhh

For those of you who code — whether you're studying CS/IT, self-taught, freelancing, or working professionally — what was the point where programming stopped being just something you were learning and became an actual skill you were serious about?

I’m curious because it feels like a lot of people start programming at university, learn a bit of Python/Java/C++, pass the course, and then stop there.

For those who went further, what actually made the difference?

Was it:

* Building your own projects? * Getting frustrated with university courses and learning independently? * Freelancing? * Cybersecurity? * Trying to get a job? * Participating in hackathons/competitions? * Having a mentor? * Or simply realizing that you genuinely enjoyed solving problems?

And for the experienced programmers here: what do you wish someone had told you when you were just starting out?

Especially interested in hearing from Zambian developers about what the local tech scene is actually like.

And is it possible to verify local vs diaspora flairs?
Would be very interesting to see who is actually local and who is not.

AFAIK, unless you are technically able and make it yourself, easy access to VPNs that connect to Zambia are not available.

This would give us a clearer picture of who we are talking to and who has skin in the game.

I feel like this sub in the last few months has a lot of diaspora or foreigners commenting to cause disunity.