![[Image by The Icon Zambia: L-R: David Kazadi, Cleo Ice Queen and Ballad Zulu on the Icon Zambia's judging panel]](https://zedifyonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260404T164048.jpg)
BALLAD ZULU says he left the ICON ZAMBIA season 2 judging panel because the organisers switched from shooting episodes only on weekends and started including weekdays, interfering with his rural development practitioner job.
The legendary singer while featuring on THAT ZED PODCAST refuted claims that he left the music talent competition judging panel because of DAVID KAZADI’s infamous sex tape.
“I didn’t have a reason, I wanted to stick it out. There was a lot of turmoil, there was a lot of ups and downs but I really did want(to stay), I felt committed, ” said BALLAD ZULU.
He added, “You see, the thing I loved with the ICON was, it was an opportunity for me to be part of a process that was picking new talent and I could share what I know with that new talent.”
Furthermore, he told his hosts that the incident was tragic but had a duty to carry on because he was connected to the show as he was one of the first judges on the show. “But it was turmoil, It wasn’t a nice period but I can say on the record that I wanted to carry on untill the end,” he reaffirmed his position.
Mr. Zulu also said he is an economist and a rural development practitioner with a master’s degree and he is awaiting a doctorate graduation hence, he had duties to fulfil during the week and the show’s shooting calendar changed to weekdays forced him to say goodbye to the show.
After DAVID KAZADI’s sex tape leaked, the show saw the hosts K Plus and Medad replaced by CHI while judges David Kazadi, Ballad Zulu and Cleo Ice Queen were replaced by HUE B, BIG MIKE and NATASHA SHAKARONGO.
There has been a hint from the music talent show proprietor KAZADI that the show might come for a third season this year.
Will the show accommodate Ballad Zulu’s schedule and see him on the judging panel for a third season?
