GRATITUDE. Thank you to everyone as we remembered and honored the lives and legacies of Zambia’s former President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa and First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa on Saturday, 16th August. Your prayers, kind and encouraging words, as well as the memories you shared of them mean more than words can say. We are grateful for the love and support from communities far, near and wide. Thank you for standing with us as we celebrated their legacy—a legacy built on integrity, service, accountability, justice, compassion, and a deep commitment to Zambia and its people. Together, they lived by values that remain our compass today: honesty and courage, accountability, an unwavering commitment to the rule of law, the conviction that prosperity is true only when it is shared, and the belief that strong communities are built on transparency, fairness, and inclusion. Today, we honor them not only through words, but through the lives we choose to lead—by striving to uphold these ideals as daily realities. We remain anchored in our faith in God, connected to family across Zambia, and committed to peace and unity as they were. May their spirits continue to inspire peace, unity, compassion, and justice for all. With heartfelt gratitude. 🙏🏾 @LMF_ZM #Mwanawasa #MaureenMwanawasa #Zambia

Avec la disparition de Bernadette Chirac, je perds une grande amie qui m’a toujours soutenu politiquement comme personnellement. Elle était fidèle, courageuse, drôle, intransigeante, affectueuse. Je ne saurais choisir entre tous les souvenirs merveilleux comme douloureux que nous avons partagés ensemble au cours de ces cinquante dernières années. Il y a eu tant de bons moments comme de drames que nous avons vécus intimement. La France perd une femme qui l’a toujours servie avec passion et dignité. Elle a fait honneur à notre pays. C’est une époque qui se termine avec son départ. J’en éprouve, comme beaucoup de Français, une profonde nostalgie. Ma seule consolation est, dans la conviction qui m’habite, qu’elle va pouvoir maintenant retrouver Jacques qui a dû tellement s’ennuyer sans elle et Laurence qui a tant compté dans sa vie. Je pense aujourd’hui à Claude, à Martin, ainsi qu’à toute leur famille à qui je veux dire ma profonde et sincère affection. Au revoir ma chère Bernadette. Vous méritez bien ce repos. Nicolas Sarkozy

L’équipe !

Weeks ago myself & some friends hosted Dr. Duncan Money @mininghistory, an historian specializing in Zambian mining. Duncan has so much depth about the sector & its history which dates back many centuries before colonialism. We must all take an interest in understanding mining, it’s not only the goose that lay our golden egg, we still have lots of minerals yet to be mined #Zambia

Grateful for the opportunity to join @NEDemocracy and excited for this next chapter.

It’s easy to take for granted that people are remarkable when they are familiar to you. The first time I realized my Father was brilliant was some time in university. He told me a story about how he taught himself to write code when he was an economics lecturer—so he could automate his marking and grading of student work. That was in the 80s. Automating the grading of students the likes of Mukwandi Chibesakunda, Savior Chibiya and others. His idea of fun is reading Stephen Hawking and working through the math. He wanted to be a physicist or architect, ended up being an Economist. Writes his Journals in German. Pretty sure he could have been whatever he wanted and have done well at it. Chooses the thankless work of Public Service because he actually believes in the possibility of social flourishing. Keep doing what you love, old boy.

Yesterday in South Africa, after meeting with the ministers in the morning, I delivered a guest speech at the Spier Dialogue Event on “Policies for Growth in Africa” in Cape Town, where I reiterated that Africa has no reason to remain poor. Our continent is blessed with enormous natural and human resources. Africa holds huge mineral reserves, possesses over 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, and has the youngest population globally. These are not liabilities; they are strategic assets for economic transformation. Yet, despite these enormous advantages, Africa continues to lag due to poor leadership, corruption, weak institutions, and the high cost of governance. Africa must now look ahead and move forward with decisive action. We must shift our focus from politics and endless election cycles to productivity, development, and nation-building. The future of Africa lies in investing aggressively in Human Development Index (HDI) indicators, especially education, healthcare, and lifting people out of poverty. Today, many African countries still record low life expectancy, high infant mortality, widespread unemployment, and growing poverty levels. Small and medium-scale businesses, which should be the engine of growth, are collapsing under harsh economic conditions, poor infrastructure, and policy inconsistency. What Africa needs is competent leadership with the capacity, compassion, and commitment to prioritise production over consumption, and development over politics. If we invest in our people, strengthen institutions, reduce the cost of governance, combat corruption, and create an environment where businesses can thrive, we can build a more productive, secure, democratic, and prosperous Africa that works for all its people. A New Africa is Possible. -PO

Must have been a rough tenure track.

I am deeply proud and honoured to start my tenure as Director-General/Executive Director of the UN Office at Vienna/@UNODC. I look forward to leading the @UN’s work in addressing the challenges of drugs, organized crime, corruption and terrorism, for a safer and more just world.

Press release: New Director-General of @UN Office at #Vienna and Executive Director of UN Office on Drugs and Crime @UNODC takes office - more : unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/pr…

We are deeply saddened by the passing of President, H.E. Festus Mogae, the third President of Botswana. He leaves a legacy of democratic governance, and advocacy against HIV/AIDS across Africa. Heartfelt condolences to President @duma_boko and the people of Botswana.

I’m so honored to be appointed an Honorary Fellow at Oxford University, @StAntsCollege . I will always have fond memories of my years there as a doctoral student, and it is a privilege to now join the ranks of esteemed colleagues like @tomfriedman, Margaret MacMillan, and Lord @WilliamJHague . sant.ox.ac.uk/people/barones…

It is remarkable just how much water is underground on the Copperbelt. 88 million cubic metres of water has been pumped out of Luanshya Mine to reopen it (enough water to fill the old Olympic pool in Luanshya 35,000 times over).

Celebrating Lord Nick Stern @lordstern1 at 80, one of the intellectuals and practitioners who has worked hardest to provide the intellectual firepower behind the compatibility of growth and jobs with climate action through the New Climate Economy. Privileged to participate in an excellent panel at @LSEnews with Christine @Lagarde, President of @ecb, and @KGeorgieva, MD of @IMFnews, where I showed that global trade, disruptions notwithstanding, can be part of the solution to the world‘s sustainability and environmental challenges. Many thanks to Professor Larry Kramer, President and Vice Chancellor of LSE, for excellent moderation of the panel.

RT @EnergyinAF: Why mini-grids may resolve Nigeria’s power crisis Nigeria’s failing grid shows why renewable energy alternatives offer a b…

A beautiful moment of friendship between 🇿🇲 & 🇨🇳 today as we handed over the Mutinta Hichilema Rural Health Centre in Siatwiinda Village, Sinazongwe to GRZ, through @moh_zambia. What began as a vision in 2023 is now a fully functional health facility gifted by the First Lady of China, Professor Peng Liyuan. This facility will bring essential health service closer, especially for expectant mothers, children, & the vulnerable, who previously had to walk over 20 kilometres to access services. Donated 21 Hospital beds, 5 Paediatrics beds, 3 delivery beds,10 Bassinets, 50 Pairs of bed sheets, 60 Blankets, 1 Upright Fridge, 5 Wheelchairs and assorted educational items to the local Siatwiinda Primary School. Heartfelt thanks to our partners whose continued support makes projects like this possible. Together, we’re building stronger, healthier communities. Twalumba, Sinazongwe!

Today in L/stone, joined 🇿🇲 & EU to launch Critical Skills List, 3 Sector Skills Strategies, Sector Skills Bodies & Pilot National Apprenticeship Program. A major step toward an evidence‑driven, industry‑aligned skills system that boosts employability, productivity & decent work.

If we are serious about closing the gender gap in public leadership, then we must deliberately invest in women who are ready to lead and in the ecosystems that sustain them. That is the work of the Amujae Initiative. #Amujae backs women already in public leadership to rise higher, influence decisions, and transform institutions. 50 leaders. 20 countries. 4 cohorts. And many more coming. This is how power shifts. Join the #GapZero movement as we shine more light on our Amujae leaders. @WurieHaja @EditeTenJua @advocatemahere @AngeleMakombo @AnneWaiguru @BogoloKenewendo @Chilandochitan1 @Chipokota @cakamanzi @dagmawit_moges @Adaeze_Oreh @joduwole @yakamajones @zanetorofficial @EmmaTheofelus @ghadalabib @fbedwei @gladyswanga @ProfDrGADanquah @hadizabalausman @IM_Okafor @JoanaMamombe @KulaFofana @malado_kaba @moriah_yeakula @Eng_Patricie @SeramePeggy @LoweMayor @AlbazarSahar @TraoreSona @eoabisoye @miss_urey @UjuRochas @UmraOmar @UpendoPeneza @yawahq @yakisawyerr

Right after her installation as Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the Anglican Communion, a prayer was said for Sarah Mullally in Bemba by Archbishop Albert Chama.

Found the best Nshima sellers in Lusaka 😭😭😭 Look at what she did for me this afternoon at LP’s Mobile Kitchen .