标签： Africa

Zambia’s parliamentary leadership has officially vacated the parliamentary seat of Tasila Lungu, daughter of late former President Edgar Lungu, following her extended absence during a period of mourning and ongoing legal battles. The decision has ignited fierce political controversy and accusations of governmental hypocrisy.

Ms. Lungu, who represented the Chawama constituency for the opposition Patriotic Front, had been absent from legislative duties since the passing of her father in June. The situation originates from a deeply contentious dispute between the Lungu family and current President Hakainde Hichilema regarding the repatriation and burial arrangements for the former leader.

The parliamentary process unfolded over several months despite initial accommodations. Speaker Nelly Mutti initially granted a 14-day compassionate leave period in July, with expectations that Ms. Lungu would return when parliament reconvened in September. When she failed to resume duties, further extensions were requested as the family continued legal proceedings in South African courts regarding burial arrangements.

The parliamentary Committee on Privileges and Absences attempted to find a compromise by suggesting virtual participation until the burial matter was resolved. However, Speaker Mutti firmly rejected this proposal, asserting that physical representation remains indispensable for parliamentary responsibilities.

The ruling United Party for National Development initiated the action against Ms. Lungu’s seat, with MP Brian Kambita questioning her eligibility due to prolonged absence. The move has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures, including Independent MP Binwell Mpundu, who publicly denounced the government as ‘hypocrites’ for claiming solidarity with the grieving family while simultaneously pursuing legal action against them.

In response to her removal, Ms. Lungu hinted at a potential challenge to the decision, telling constituents in a Facebook message that ‘where there is a will there is a way.’ She expressed gratitude to her local team for maintaining constituency services during her absence.

The vacancy triggers a by-election that must be conducted within 90 days, creating an unexpected electoral contest just months before Zambia’s scheduled general election next August. The decision has divided public opinion, with some arguing for compassion during bereavement while others maintain that constituents deserve active representation.

A Tunisian appeals court has delivered severe prison sentences ranging from four to forty-five years to dozens of opposition leaders, lawyers, and business figures accused of conspiring to overthrow President Kais Saied. The verdicts finalize what human rights organizations have condemned as a politically motivated judicial process targeting dissenters.

Among the most prominent defendants, opposition leader Jawahar Ben Mbarek received a twenty-year prison term alongside party leaders Issam Chebbi and Ghazi Chaouachi. All three have remained in detention since their arrest during the government’s 2023 crackdown on opposition voices. Businessman Kamel Ltaif received the maximum sentence of forty-five years, while opposition politician Khyam Turki was sentenced to thirty-five years.

The trial proceedings have drawn international criticism, with Amnesty International’s deputy regional director Sara Hashash describing the sentences as “unjust” and “an appalling indictment of the Tunisian justice system.” Defense lawyers characterized the trial as a judicial “farce” designed to eliminate political opposition.

Notably, twenty defendants who had fled abroad were sentenced in absentia, including prominent politician and feminist Bochra Belhaj Hmida and French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy. The appeals court unexpectedly acquitted three defendants while increasing sentences for others.

The case has unfolded against a backdrop of democratic backsliding in Tunisia since President Saied suspended parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree. Tunisian authorities maintain the defendants, including former intelligence chief Kamel Guizani, genuinely attempted to destabilize the nation and topple the government.

The sentencing has sparked renewed protests, with thousands marching through Tunis on Saturday accusing Saied of establishing one-man rule through judicial and police powers. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights had previously expressed serious concerns about political motivations behind the trial, urging Tunisia to refrain from using counter-terrorism legislation to silence dissent.

In a significant political development, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, has stepped down from her parliamentary position following allegations of involvement in recruiting citizens for Russian military operations in Ukraine. The resignation was confirmed by her political party, the MK Party, during a Friday press briefing.

National Chairman Nkosinathi Nhleko announced the departure while acknowledging the “sensitivity” of the situation, though he provided limited details about the circumstances surrounding her resignation. The move comes as South African authorities investigate claims that Zuma-Sambudla participated in deceiving 17 South African men into traveling to Russia under false pretenses of security training opportunities, only to find themselves coerced into frontline combat roles in Ukraine’s Donbas region.

According to official statements, the affected individuals—ranging from 20 to 39 years old—had initially believed they were accepting legitimate employment contracts. Distress communications from the group prompted intervention from South Africa’s foreign ministry and police agencies, who are now collaborating with international law enforcement to facilitate their repatriation.

Notably, court documents submitted by Zuma-Sambudla’s half-sister, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube, allege that eight of the recruited men are extended family members. The affidavit further claims the South Africans were transferred to a Russian mercenary organization upon arrival.

The MK Party leadership has explicitly denied institutional involvement in the recruitment operation while pledging support for the families seeking the safe return of their relatives. This controversy emerges alongside Zuma-Sambudla’s ongoing trial concerning unrelated charges of inciting violence during the 2021 anti-government protests, to which she has pleaded not guilty.