News Digest - Monday, January 26th, 2026

Our nation navigates critical themes today: enhanced transport safety through tech innovation, introspective political analysis on party stability, and judicial action addressing public security incidents—each shaping daily life and governance across Zambia.

Main Stories

1. Yango Ride Introduces Matching PIN Codes for Passenger Safety
   Yango Ride has implemented a new four-digit PIN code feature in Zambia, displayed to both passengers and drivers before each trip, requiring verbal confirmation to start the ride and ensure passengers enter the correct vehicle. This addition builds on their existing suite of over 25 safety features, including route sharing and SOS and driving monitoring, demonstrating a tangible commitment to improving security for Zambians using ride-hailing services.
2. Wynter Kabimba Attributes PF's Decline to Internal Issues
   Former PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba firmly rejected claims that President Hichilema or the UPND are responsible for the Patriotic Front's current turmoil, stating instead that the party began "committing its own suicide" following the death of its founder, Michael Sata. Kabimba cited the loss of a major financier and inherent disunity after electoral defeat as key factors driving the PF's disintegration, emphasizing this is a self-inflicted crisis impacting Zambia's political landscape.
3. Eight Men Plead Not Guilty in UTH Bus Station Assault Case
   Eight individuals, including bus drivers Raphael Mwanza, Leonard Chikwaka, Gilbert Phiri, and Odrisco Malambo, pleaded not guilty in Lusaka Magistrates Court to charges of assaulting two people during a violent clash at the University Teaching Hospitals bus station earlier this month. Granted bail at K20,000 each with two working sureties, their trial is set for February 2, 2026, highlighting ongoing efforts to address public safety concerns at transport hubs.

Other Notable Stories

• Transport & Safety:
  • Yango Ride's new matching PIN-code system aims to simplify vehicle identification and enhance trust for Zambian passengers, integrated alongside personalized safety checklists in their app.
• Political Commentary:
  • Wynter Kabimba, during a Diamond Television appearance, dismissed external blame for PF's struggles, arguing the party's fragmentation started post-Sata and worsened after losing power and its key financier.
• Justice & Security:
  • Eight men accused of assault at UTH bus station (victims Borniface Kateule and Charles Bweupe) were granted bail by Lusaka magistrate Webster Milumbe pending their February 2026 trial.

Key Takeaways & Watchpoints

• Monitor the rollout and user adoption of Yango Ride's new PIN-code safety feature and its impact on passenger security perceptions.
• Observe the internal developments within the Patriotic Front following Wynter Kabimba's stark public assessment of its future.
• Track the progress of the UTH bus station assault trial set for February 2, 2026, as a test case for addressing violence in public transport areas.