https://lusakabrief.com/ Public-interest journalism for Zambia en-zm Tue, 27 Oct 2026 07:00:05 +0200 https://lusakabrief.com/news/hichilema-asks-parliament-approve-establishment-merger-dissolution-of-ministries-grow-zambia-motion/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/hichilema-asks-parliament-approve-establishment-merger-dissolution-of-ministries-grow-zambia-motion/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0200 State House said on Monday 26 October that President Hakainde Hichilema has written to the National Assembly under Article 92(2)(d) of the Constitution seeking approval for a realignment of government ministries, which it says will put the machinery of government behind the Grow Zambia Agenda. Vice-President Mutale Nalumango will move the motion. No ministry has yet been named, no date set, and the request lands with a Cabinet of four ministers two and a half months after the election. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/simutanyi-censure-hichilema-cabinet-delay-four-ministers-laughing-stock-upnd-no-constitutional-deadline/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/simutanyi-censure-hichilema-cabinet-delay-four-ministers-laughing-stock-upnd-no-constitutional-deadline/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 05:59:00 +0200 The political scientist Neo Simutanyi says a government running on four ministers more than two months after the election is damaging governance and making Zambia a laughing stock, and that the ruling party should hold the President to account rather than explain the delay away. UPND officials have argued that the Constitution gives no timetable for Cabinet appointments. News Diggers and the Zambian Observer carried his remarks on Monday 26 October. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/acaf-demands-fisp-probe-k52-6-million-auditor-general-inactive-farmers-double-beneficiaries-isoka-mpika/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/acaf-demands-fisp-probe-k52-6-million-auditor-general-inactive-farmers-double-beneficiaries-isoka-mpika/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 05:58:00 +0200 The Agriculture Climate Action Foundation says the 2025 Auditor-General's report shows 2,128 inactive farmers were allocated K17.76 million of redeemable inputs and 4,213 beneficiaries got K34.92 million of inputs while already on other support programmes. It wants to know whether the failures were in the e-voucher or the direct supply system, and who will answer for them. A separate audit finding, reported last week, put K19.6 million of inputs in the hands of 2,339 farmers who were not on the national register. Economy https://lusakabrief.com/news/k2-2-billion-treasury-bill-auction-thursday-29-october-access-bank-fisp-fra-liquidity-luse-cec-turnover/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/k2-2-billion-treasury-bill-auction-thursday-29-october-access-bank-fisp-fra-liquidity-luse-cec-turnover/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 05:57:00 +0200 The Bank of Zambia offers K2.2 billion of Treasury bills on Thursday 29 October, the day before the 2027 budget is read, with a third of the paper at one year. Access Bank's market note says FISP and Food Reserve Agency payments are about to push kwacha into rural areas, that the maize stockpile is prudent but expensive, and that 2027 is the risk year if the rains fail. On the stock exchange, a quiet week saw CEC account for almost half of turnover. Economy https://lusakabrief.com/news/child-health-week-2026-launched-4-5-million-under-fives-chilengi-vitamin-a-deworming-hpv-unicef-world-vision/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/child-health-week-2026-launched-4-5-million-under-fives-chilengi-vitamin-a-deworming-hpv-unicef-world-vision/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 05:56:00 +0200 The Minister of Health, Professor Roma Chilengi, launched the 2026 Child Health Week in Lusaka on Monday 26 October with a target of more than 4.5 million under-fives for vitamin A, deworming, nutrition screening and catch-up immunisation, and HPV vaccination for girls of nine. The Ministry estimates that about one child in five missed a life-saving vaccine before its first birthday. World Vision moved 900,000 vitamin A doses and nearly four million deworming tablets to the provinces. Health https://lusakabrief.com/news/cholera-znphi-1314-cases-27-deaths-18-districts-six-provinces-lusaka-723-chibombo-272-second-tally-1488/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/cholera-znphi-1314-cases-27-deaths-18-districts-six-provinces-lusaka-723-chibombo-272-second-tally-1488/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 05:55:00 +0200 The Mast reports a ZNPHI update showing 53 new cases and one death in a day, taking the outbreak to 1,314 cumulative cases, 27 deaths and 1,233 recoveries, with 54 patients in hospital. Lusaka has 723 cases and Chibombo 272. A later tally carried by Outbreak News Today on Monday 26 October put the count at 1,488 cases and 29 deaths, a figure Lusaka Brief has not been able to match to a published ZNPHI bulletin. Health https://lusakabrief.com/news/mundubile-zulu-16-others-constitutional-bail-state-not-ready-to-prosecute-hearing-wednesday-28-october/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/mundubile-zulu-16-others-constitutional-bail-state-not-ready-to-prosecute-hearing-wednesday-28-october/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 05:54:00 +0200 In arguments reported by News Diggers on Monday 26 October, the 18 accused in the treason case say the State has admitted it is still investigating after charging them, that this shows it is not ready to prosecute, and that their detention breaches their constitutional rights. Their application for constitutional bail is due back before a three-judge High Court panel at 09:00 on Wednesday 28 October, when the court has directed that all 18 be produced. Courts https://lusakabrief.com/news/kanyemba-copper-princesses-u17-world-cup-review-no-points-japan-venezuela-france-more-exposure-scouting/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/kanyemba-copper-princesses-u17-world-cup-review-no-points-japan-venezuela-france-more-exposure-scouting/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 05:53:00 +0200 Carol Kanyemba's review of a tournament that ended with three defeats, two goals scored and nine conceded is unsparing: a setback on the last edition, returning players who did not repeat their form, and a gap between African and World Cup level that only exposure can close. She says selection and scouting will be reviewed and that the U-20 and senior teams are already looking at the graduating players. ZamFoot and News Diggers carried her remarks. Sport https://lusakabrief.com/news/emmanuel-chisenga-first-zambian-absa-latelier-ambassador-award-24-lusaka-five-pieces-flooded-studio-r100000/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/emmanuel-chisenga-first-zambian-absa-latelier-ambassador-award-24-lusaka-five-pieces-flooded-studio-r100000/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 05:52:00 +0200 Chisenga, a business administration student with no formal art training, shares the 2026 Ambassador Award with Reginald Boateng of Ghana and Segun Owolabi of Nigeria in the competition's 40th year. The prize is a solo exhibition, R100,000 towards materials, masterclasses and a four-month mentorship. Zambia Monitor reports it as the first nomination and win for Zambia since the group structure was introduced in 2019. Culture https://lusakabrief.com/news/zambia-daily-mail-apologises-omitting-edgar-lungu-independence-supplement-unreserved-apology-mwelwa/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/zambia-daily-mail-apologises-omitting-edgar-lungu-independence-supplement-unreserved-apology-mwelwa/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 05:51:00 +0200 The daily's 62nd anniversary supplement showed President Hichilema with Kaunda, Chiluba, Mwanawasa, Banda and Sata, and no Lungu. After a former Chienge MP demanded an explanation and social-media criticism built over the weekend, the company said the omission was entirely unintentional and is being handled administratively. The Zambian Observer reported the complaint on Saturday and the apology on Monday. Culture https://lusakabrief.com/news/zambia-at-62-investiture-twenty-honours-patel-chitambo-gallantry-nalumilo-crocodile-kanyemba-melu-state-house/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/zambia-at-62-investiture-twenty-honours-patel-chitambo-gallantry-nalumilo-crocodile-kanyemba-melu-state-house/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0200 President Hakainde Hichilema decorated 20 people at an investiture ceremony at State House on Saturday 24 October, the 62nd anniversary of independence. The Times of Zambia's list runs from freedom fighters to a fisherman who pulled a colleague from a crocodile, Robby Chitambo, who helped police find 13 abducted young women in Chalala in 2022, and Trade Kings' Iqbal Patel. Copper Princesses coach Carol Kanyemba received the President's Insignia of Meritorious Achievement. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/socialist-party-mmembe-48-hour-rule-prolonged-detention-musumali-comesa-mweetwa-no-violence-august-elections/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/socialist-party-mmembe-48-hour-rule-prolonged-detention-musumali-comesa-mweetwa-no-violence-august-elections/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 05:59:00 +0200 The Socialist Party used the Independence weekend to press two arguments. In a statement on Sunday 25 October, Fred M'membe said opposition figures and critics are being held beyond the constitutional 48 hours without charge, and called for it to stop. General secretary Cosmas Musumali called President Hichilema's COMESA role an opening for economic diplomacy but said he has not yet matured into an African leader. In Parliament, UPND's Cornelius Mweetwa said August saw no violence beyond the chaos after Brian Mundubile declared himself president-elect. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/immigration-two-women-repatriated-india-alleged-exploitation-193-foreigners-removed-nshinka-warning/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/immigration-two-women-repatriated-india-alleged-exploitation-193-foreigners-removed-nshinka-warning/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 05:58:00 +0200 The Department of Immigration said on Saturday 24 October that two Zambian women who went to India for work in July ended up in different work from what they had agreed, took refuge at the Zambian Embassy and were flown home, arriving at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport on 15 October. The same statement reported the removal of 193 foreign nationals from Lusaka on Thursday 22 October, most of them Burundians, and a Zambian deported from Dubai. Spokesman Namati Nshinka urged job-seekers to verify agents and contracts before travelling. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/2027-national-budget-friday-30-october-musokotwane-house-suspended-ten-working-days-expanded-budget-committee/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/2027-national-budget-friday-30-october-musokotwane-house-suspended-ten-working-days-expanded-budget-committee/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 05:57:00 +0200 Vice-President Mutale Nalumango told the National Assembly on Friday 23 October that Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane will present the 2027 National Budget on Friday 30 October, News Diggers reports. The Speaker will then suspend the business of the House for ten working days so that sector budgets can be analysed, with the House resuming on 24 November. The budget follows a K19.9 billion supplementary request dominated by maize payments, and a World Bank pledge to back the 2027 fiscal programme. Economy https://lusakabrief.com/news/fisp-2026-27-675459-farmers-redeemed-inputs-65-per-cent-agro-dealers-stocks-zyuulu-el-nino-advice/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/fisp-2026-27-675459-farmers-redeemed-inputs-65-per-cent-agro-dealers-stocks-zyuulu-el-nino-advice/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 05:56:00 +0200 The Ministry of Agriculture said on Saturday 24 October that 675,459 farmers had redeemed inputs under the 2026/27 Farmer Input Support Programme by 23 October, 65.93 per cent of the 1,024,434 targeted beneficiaries and ahead of the pace at the same point last year. Spokesman Balewa Zyuulu urged agro-dealers to keep enough stock to serve e-voucher holders without delay, told farmers to protect their redemption codes, and pointed them to official weather advisories as a possible El Niño season approaches. Economy https://lusakabrief.com/news/auditor-general-2025-report-77-deceased-health-workers-payroll-k5-79-million-63-officers-past-retirement/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/auditor-general-2025-report-77-deceased-health-workers-payroll-k5-79-million-63-officers-past-retirement/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 05:55:00 +0200 The Auditor-General's report for 2025 says 77 health workers who had died remained on the Ministry of Health payroll for between one and twelve months, producing K5,790,691 in irregular payments, News Diggers and the Zambian Observer report. The same report found 63 officers past the retirement age of 60 still in service and paid K3.67 million, and 80 officers paid K1.16 million while unconfirmed in acting posts for up to 84 months. Who received the salaries of the dead is not stated. Health https://lusakabrief.com/news/mukandila-judicial-review-attorney-general-kabesha-appeal-to-minister-first-gazette-notice-1418-high-court/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/mukandila-judicial-review-attorney-general-kabesha-appeal-to-minister-first-gazette-notice-1418-high-court/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 05:54:00 +0200 The State has asked the Lusaka High Court to throw out Celestine Mukandila's application for judicial review of the Gazette notice that cancelled his national registration card and passport. Attorney-General Mulilo Kabesha argues that the Tonse Alliance secretary-general should first have appealed to the Minister of Home Affairs and that judicial review is no shortcut around a statutory appeal, Zambia Monitor and News Diggers report. Mukandila says the Act gives no power to cancel an NRC by Gazette notice, and that he had no notice, hearing or reasons. Courts https://lusakabrief.com/news/lumezi-council-chairperson-dawson-tembo-detained-trespass-malicious-damage-nrpup-mweemba-eastern-province/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/lumezi-council-chairperson-dawson-tembo-detained-trespass-malicious-damage-nrpup-mweemba-eastern-province/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 05:53:00 +0200 Police in Eastern Province have detained Dawson Tembo, the NRPUP chairperson of Lumezi Town Council, on allegations of trespass and malicious damage to property, News Diggers and the Zambian Observer report. A 20-year-old woman from a village under Chief Zumwanda complained on 19 October that he had entered her premises and damaged her door; police say he evaded arrest until Friday 23 October. He is expected in court and the allegations have not been tested; no response from Tembo or his party has been reported. Courts https://lusakabrief.com/news/super-league-week-five-sunday-konkola-blades-2-0-nkana-buffaloes-beat-kabwe-warriors-chirundu-eagles-held/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/super-league-week-five-sunday-konkola-blades-2-0-nkana-buffaloes-beat-kabwe-warriors-chirundu-eagles-held/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 05:52:00 +0200 Week five of the MTN Super League transitional season closed on Sunday 25 October with Konkola Blades ending Nkana's three-match winning run 2–0 through Emmanuel Kunda and Idriss Ilunga Mbombo, Green Buffaloes beating Kabwe Warriors 2–1 away and Chirundu United winning 1–0 at Mufulira Wanderers, ZamFoot reports. On Saturday Green Eagles were held 0–0 by Nkwazi, their first dropped points, leaving Perry Mutapa's side top of Stream B on 10 points from four games. Sport https://lusakabrief.com/news/red-arrows-homecoming-zaf-commander-nyoni-caf-confederation-cup-final-target-toyota-mark-x-chisi-mbewe/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/red-arrows-homecoming-zaf-commander-nyoni-caf-confederation-cup-final-target-toyota-mark-x-chisi-mbewe/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 05:51:00 +0200 Red Arrows came home from Durban to a late-night reception at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport led by Zambia Air Force commander Lieutenant General Oscar Nyoni, who told the players their first CAF Confederation Cup group place should be the start of a push for the final, ZamFoot reports. Nyoni, the club's patron, presented head coach Chisi Mbewe with a Toyota Mark X, and FAZ's delegation leader Samuel Mwape called the qualification a milestone for Zambian football. Sport https://lusakabrief.com/news/el-nino-preparedness-1-25-million-food-insecurity-93-districts-k31-7-million-nalumango-siame-no-load-shedding/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/el-nino-preparedness-1-25-million-food-insecurity-93-districts-k31-7-million-nalumango-siame-no-load-shedding/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0200 Two ministerial statements to Parliament on Friday 23 October set out what the 2026/27 El Niño season could mean. Vice-President Mutale Nalumango said about 1.25 million people in 93 districts could face acute food insecurity between August 2026 and March 2027 and that K31.7 million has already gone to the Disaster Risk Management Division; Green Economy Minister Gilbert Siame listed the ten driest districts and announced a US$3.6 million grant for weather stations. Asked about electricity, Nalumango said there would be no load-shedding. Economy https://lusakabrief.com/news/zambia-at-62-hichilema-independence-message-our-journey-our-growth-our-future-sikota-second-independence/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/zambia-at-62-hichilema-independence-message-our-journey-our-growth-our-future-sikota-second-independence/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:59:00 +0200 Zambia marked 62 years of independence on Saturday 24 October under the theme ‘Our journey, our growth, our future’. In a message issued on the eve of the day, President Hakainde Hichilema paid tribute to the founding generation and set out his Grow Zambia Agenda; Tonse Alliance chairman Sakwiba Sikota told News Diggers he would ‘sadly’ commemorate rather than celebrate, and spoke of a ‘second independence’. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/mandevu-by-election-5-november-police-three-security-zones-musamba-tonse-chisenga-attack-upnd-imenda/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/mandevu-by-election-5-november-police-three-security-zones-musamba-tonse-chisenga-attack-upnd-imenda/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:58:00 +0200 Inspector General of Police Graphael Musamba said on Saturday 24 October that Mandevu has been divided into three security zones with extra officers drawn from Lusaka Province, and that an alleged assault on Thursday 22 October will be investigated. The Tonse Alliance says FDD candidate Daniel Chisenga and other members were attacked by people in UPND regalia in Raphael Chota ward; the UPND had earlier challenged the alliance to name those it accuses. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/nalumango-jay-jay-banda-ask-him-how-he-was-apprehended-vice-presidents-question-time-kangombe-csos/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/nalumango-jay-jay-banda-ask-him-how-he-was-apprehended-vice-presidents-question-time-kangombe-csos/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:57:00 +0200 In Vice-President's Question Time on Friday 23 October, Mutale Nalumango said the Government would not account for the circumstances in which former Petauke Central MP Emmanuel Jay Banda was brought back from Mozambique and that Banda should explain himself. The Zambia Daily Mail and News Diggers report the exchange, which also covered FRA payments, COMESA and the size of the Cabinet. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/zda-rongxing-us-122-million-ippa-kalulushi-copper-cathodes-kabeta-three-million-tonnes/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/zda-rongxing-us-122-million-ippa-kalulushi-copper-cathodes-kabeta-three-million-tonnes/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:56:00 +0200 The Zambia Development Agency signed an investment promotion and protection agreement on Thursday 22 October with Rongxing Investment, a Chinese-owned processor in Kalulushi that plans to lift copper-cathode capacity from 5,500 to 10,000 tonnes a year and add 194 jobs to its 506. At the Mining Insaka the same day, Permanent Secretary Hapenga Kabeta said the three-million-tonne target by 2031 depends on new projects, not expansion of what exists. Economy https://lusakabrief.com/news/nakacinda-ecz-summons-trial-adjourned-25-november-illness-magistrate-sinvula-no-further-adjournments/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/nakacinda-ecz-summons-trial-adjourned-25-november-illness-magistrate-sinvula-no-further-adjournments/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:55:00 +0200 Raphael Nakacinda was due to open his defence on Friday 23 October to a charge of failing to comply with an Electoral Commission of Zambia summons in November 2022. His lawyer Nkula Bota told Magistrate Mbuywana Sinvula that he was unwell and needed medical attention, the Zambian Observer and News Diggers report; the case resumes on 25 November with a warning that no further adjournments will be granted. Courts https://lusakabrief.com/news/red-arrows-beat-kaizer-chiefs-3-2-penalties-durban-first-caf-confederation-cup-group-stage/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/red-arrows-beat-kaizer-chiefs-3-2-penalties-durban-first-caf-confederation-cup-group-stage/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:54:00 +0200 Bradley Cross's second-half header at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday 23 October cancelled out Alassane Diarra's first-leg goal in Ndola and sent the Confederation Cup tie to a shoot-out. Red Arrows won it 3–2, with Lebohang Maboe, Reeve Frosler and Ethan Chislett missing for Chiefs, and go into the 16-club group stage that begins in November — the first time the Zambia Air Force side has got that far. Sport https://lusakabrief.com/news/copper-princesses-lose-1-0-france-motyka-out-of-u17-womens-world-cup-three-defeats-no-points-kanyemba/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/copper-princesses-lose-1-0-france-motyka-out-of-u17-womens-world-cup-three-defeats-no-points-kanyemba/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:53:00 +0200 Zambia's Under-17 women lost their final Group D match to France 1–0 in Morocco on Saturday 24 October, ZamFoot reports, after a 16th-minute goal by Lea Motyka from a Maelys Ane cross. Coach Carol Kanyemba had called the match ‘do or die’; the defeat follows the 5–0 loss to Japan and the 3–2 loss to Venezuela, and France go through to the round of 16. Sport https://lusakabrief.com/news/super-league-week-five-muza-1-0-power-dynamos-mpasela-trident-6-1-zesco-5-0-mutondo-green-eagles-top/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/super-league-week-five-muza-1-0-power-dynamos-mpasela-trident-6-1-zesco-5-0-mutondo-green-eagles-top/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:52:00 +0200 Solomon Mpasela's 50th-minute goal gave FC MUZA a 1–0 win over defending champions Power Dynamos on Saturday 24 October and a three-point lead in Stream A, ZamFoot reports. Trident put six past Makeni All Stars, ZANACO beat Kansanshi 3–0, ZESCO United beat Mutondo Stars 5–0 for their first win of the season and Green Eagles stayed top of Stream B after a goalless draw with Nkwazi. Sport https://lusakabrief.com/news/supplementary-budget-k19-9-billion-fra-maize-2-7-million-tonnes-k18-billion-domestic-borrowing-musokotwane/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/supplementary-budget-k19-9-billion-fra-maize-2-7-million-tonnes-k18-billion-domestic-borrowing-musokotwane/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0200 Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane presented Supplementary Estimates No. 2 of 2026 to the National Assembly on Thursday 22 October. Zambia Monitor and the Zambian Observer report that K14.7 billion of the K19.9 billion is owed to farmers who sold maize to the Food Reserve Agency, which bought 2.7 million tonnes against a target of 500,000, and that K18 billion of the total is to be raised by borrowing on the domestic market. Economy https://lusakabrief.com/news/wjp-rule-of-law-index-2026-zambia-chapter-one-foundation-kalala-121st-fundamental-rights-mwiimbu-maiden-speech/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/wjp-rule-of-law-index-2026-zambia-chapter-one-foundation-kalala-121st-fundamental-rights-mwiimbu-maiden-speech/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 05:59:00 +0200 The Chapter One Foundation says the World Justice Project's 2026 index places Zambia among countries with a five-year decline in at least one safeguard against authoritarian rule, Zambia Monitor and the Zambian Observer report. No government response to the index was reported, but in his maiden speech on Wednesday 21 October Monze East MP Jack Mwiimbu, until recently the Home Affairs minister, accused churches, civil society and the opposition of applauding those who abuse the President. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/hichilema-reappoints-seven-presidential-advisers-machila-mundia-kayumba-ngoma-cabinet-still-awaited-milupi/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/hichilema-reappoints-seven-presidential-advisers-machila-mundia-kayumba-ngoma-cabinet-still-awaited-milupi/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 05:58:00 +0200 President Hakainde Hichilema has re-appointed all seven members of his presidential advisory team, State House said in a statement on Thursday 22 October reported by Zambia Monitor and News Diggers. The re-appointments, under Article 92(2)(e) and (f) of the Constitution, retain officials who have served since 2021. They come in a week in which, News Diggers reports, UPND Alliance chairperson Charles Milupi was answering social-media claims that he would be left out of the Cabinet. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/comesa-25th-summit-harare-hichilema-vice-chairperson-mnangagwa-chair-15-per-cent-intra-trade-2030/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/comesa-25th-summit-harare-hichilema-vice-chairperson-mnangagwa-chair-15-per-cent-intra-trade-2030/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 05:57:00 +0200 At the 25th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government in Harare on Thursday 22 October, Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa took the chair from Kenya's William Ruto and President Hakainde Hichilema was named vice-chairperson of the bloc's bureau, Lusaka Times, Kenya's Eastleigh Voice and Rwanda's KT Press report. The summit launched a 2026–2030 strategic plan that aims to lift trade among the 21 member states to 15 per cent of their total trade. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/japan-999-million-yen-grant-railway-maintenance-equipment-zambia-railways-musokotwane-akiteru/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/japan-999-million-yen-grant-railway-maintenance-equipment-zambia-railways-musokotwane-akiteru/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 05:56:00 +0200 Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane and Japan's ambassador Mikami Akiteru exchanged notes in Lusaka on Thursday 22 October for a grant to buy Japanese-made railway maintenance equipment, including crane-equipped motor cars and road-rail crane trucks, Lusaka Times and Zambia Monitor report. The ambassador put the grant at 999 million yen, about US$6.3 million; the Ministry of Finance's announcement gave US$6.17 million. Economy https://lusakabrief.com/news/zccm-ih-gold-formalisation-kyalo-goldfields-bank-of-zambia-musonda-london-ft-africa-summit-1-8-billion-uae-gap/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/zccm-ih-gold-formalisation-kyalo-goldfields-bank-of-zambia-musonda-london-ft-africa-summit-1-8-billion-uae-gap/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 05:55:00 +0200 ZCCM Investments Holdings chairperson Phesto Musonda told the Financial Times Africa Summit that the company's subsidiary Kyalo Goldfields will buy gold from licensed small-scale miners, pay them in kwacha and supply the metal to the Bank of Zambia, Zambia Monitor reports. He cited UAE records of nearly US$1.8 billion in gold imports from Zambia in 2023 against formal Zambian output of about 127,000 ounces last year — a discrepancy Africa Briefing traced in September to World Bank trade data. Economy https://lusakabrief.com/news/mwandi-election-petition-mongu-high-court-former-magistrate-admits-bribery-kaingu-sefulo-witnesses-k1000/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/mwandi-election-petition-mongu-high-court-former-magistrate-admits-bribery-kaingu-sefulo-witnesses-k1000/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 05:54:00 +0200 In the High Court sitting in Mongu, witnesses called by losing UPND candidate Sibeso Sefulo in her petition against independent Mwandi MP Iris Kaingu have admitted taking part in or receiving money during the August campaign, the Zambian Observer and News Diggers report. The former magistrate among them said he still supports Ms Kaingu and had no evidence she instructed any bribery; the judge warned the petitioner herself against interfering with a witness. Courts https://lusakabrief.com/news/dec-arrests-rapper-chanda-edward-chanda-na-kay-30-grammes-cannabis-lusaka-tamba-statement/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/dec-arrests-rapper-chanda-edward-chanda-na-kay-30-grammes-cannabis-lusaka-tamba-statement/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 05:53:00 +0200 The Drug Enforcement Commission said in a statement on Thursday 22 October that it had arrested Edward Chanda, 28, the Lusaka rapper known as Chanda of the duo Chanda na Kay, for allegedly trafficking 30.3 grammes of dry loose cannabis, News Diggers and the Zambian Observer report. The arrest was announced alongside operations in Lusaka, Muchinga and Southern provinces. Mr Chanda has not yet appeared in court on the new allegation and his response has not been reported. Courts https://lusakabrief.com/news/red-arrows-kaizer-chiefs-second-leg-moses-mabhida-durban-friday-15-00-confederation-cup-group-stage-diarra/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/red-arrows-kaizer-chiefs-second-leg-moses-mabhida-durban-friday-15-00-confederation-cup-group-stage-diarra/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 05:52:00 +0200 Red Arrows carry Alassane Diarra's 76th-minute winner from Ndola into the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round tie against Kaizer Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday 23 October, kick-off 15:00 Central African Time, ZamFoot reports. Coach Chisi Mbewe says his side is braced for an all-out Chiefs performance; assistant Kalililo Kakonje says the players know what is at stake. Sport https://lusakabrief.com/news/zambia-u15-boys-inaugural-fifa-u15-world-cup-baku-kunsanama-13-player-squad-group-x/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/zambia-u15-boys-inaugural-fifa-u15-world-cup-baku-kunsanama-13-player-squad-group-x/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 05:51:00 +0200 Brian Kunsanama's 13-player squad, drawn largely from secondary and primary schools, left Lusaka on Tuesday 20 October for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, which starts on Saturday 24 October, ZamFoot reports. Africa Top Sports places Zambia in Group X with Uruguay, Tanzania, Comoros, Moldova and Montserrat in a tournament played in an eight-a-side format. Sport https://lusakabrief.com/news/raphael-nakacinda-released-chimbokaila-defamation-sentence-served-sedition-ruling-2-november/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/raphael-nakacinda-released-chimbokaila-defamation-sentence-served-sedition-ruling-2-november/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0200 The Patriotic Front secretary general was released from Lusaka Central Correctional Facility on the morning of Wednesday 21 October, a year after he surrendered to begin an 18-month sentence for defaming President Hichilema. News Diggers and the Zambian Observer report that statutory remission cut the term to twelve months. Supporters in green carried him from the gates; a separate charge of seditious practices returns to the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court on 2 November. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/ucf-urea-plant-phase-two-chilanga-us-1-6-billion-groundbreaking-hichilema-10000-jobs-ruthless/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/ucf-urea-plant-phase-two-chilanga-us-1-6-billion-groundbreaking-hichilema-10000-jobs-ruthless/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:59:00 +0200 President Hichilema broke ground on Tuesday 20 October for the second phase of United Capital Fertilizer’s ammonia and urea plant in Chilanga, a US$1.6 billion expansion that the company and the President say will lift direct jobs from 7,400 to 10,000. He used the occasion to tell public officers that delays to investment approvals would not be tolerated in his second term. Economy https://lusakabrief.com/news/mining-insaka-tailings-dam-safety-warning-mhone-zema-kcm-tailings-leach-plant-copper-three-million/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/mining-insaka-tailings-dam-safety-warning-mhone-zema-kcm-tailings-leach-plant-copper-three-million/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:58:00 +0200 At the Zambia Mining and Investment Insaka in Lusaka, the Minerals Regulation Commission’s inspections chief said tailings management standards remain inadequate and called for a national registry and independent engineering oversight. Konkola Copper Mines, meanwhile, told News Diggers it has spent US$500 million on its tailings leach plant with US$600 million more committed. Economy https://lusakabrief.com/news/lusaka-mayor-mwewa-illegal-advertising-crackdown-traditional-healers-vongo-posters/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/lusaka-mayor-mwewa-illegal-advertising-crackdown-traditional-healers-vongo-posters/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:57:00 +0200 Mayor Chitambala Mwewa says Lusaka City Council will intensify the removal of unauthorised advertising on public infrastructure, including posters promising instant wealth, and that offenders face fines. Dr Rodwell Vongo of the Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia has urged caution on spiritual matters while backing action against unregistered healers, Phoenix News reports. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/zambia-police-third-quarter-2026-road-accidents-859-deaths-12865-crashes-zimba-two-americans/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/zambia-police-third-quarter-2026-road-accidents-859-deaths-12865-crashes-zimba-two-americans/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:56:00 +0200 Zambia Police recorded 12,865 road traffic accidents and 859 deaths in the third quarter of 2026, against 10,126 crashes and 753 deaths in the same period of 2025, spokesperson Chipo Kaitisha said on Wednesday. Lusaka had almost half the crashes. The evening before, a Fortuner and a Hino collided on the Great North Road south of Zimba, killing two American passengers. Health https://lusakabrief.com/news/ebola-preparedness-milenge-luapula-mobile-laboratory-exercise-nigeria-first-case-who/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/ebola-preparedness-milenge-luapula-mobile-laboratory-exercise-nigeria-first-case-who/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:55:00 +0200 The Zambia National Public Health Institute ran a simulation in Milenge district this week to see how fast mobile laboratories can be deployed and return Ebola results, Zambia Monitor reports. The exercise comes as the World Health Organization confirms an imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in Abuja, Nigeria, with 44 contacts under watch, and as Kenya counts nine cases. Health https://lusakabrief.com/news/acc-convictions-chongwe-health-director-nseluke-k330000-fine-solwezi-council-officer-procurement/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/acc-convictions-chongwe-health-director-nseluke-k330000-fine-solwezi-council-officer-procurement/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:54:00 +0200 Chongwe Resident Magistrate Francis Sato found Dr Mweene Nseluke guilty on ten counts of failing to declare a conflict of interest and fined him K330,000 on Monday 19 October, the Anti-Corruption Commission said in a statement reported by Zambia Monitor. News Diggers reports that the Solwezi Subordinate Court has separately jailed a former municipal council officer for three months over a K100,000 procurement. Courts https://lusakabrief.com/news/copper-princesses-lose-3-2-venezuela-100th-minute-u17-womens-world-cup-france-saturday-arrows-durban/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/copper-princesses-lose-3-2-venezuela-100th-minute-u17-womens-world-cup-france-saturday-arrows-durban/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:53:00 +0200 Elizabeth Mofya and Grace Phiri each put Zambia in front in Morocco on Wednesday night, but Venezuela equalised twice and Andrea Suárez scored the winner in the tenth minute of stoppage time — one of the latest goals in the tournament’s recent history. Zambia sit bottom of Group D on zero points and face France on Saturday 24 October. On Friday, Red Arrows defend a 1–0 lead against Kaizer Chiefs in Durban. Sport https://lusakabrief.com/news/cosmas-bwalya-32-laps-national-record-backyard-ultra-world-team-championship-york-farm-lusaka/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/cosmas-bwalya-32-laps-national-record-backyard-ultra-world-team-championship-york-farm-lusaka/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:52:00 +0200 Cosmas Bwalya won Zambia’s leg of the 2026 Backyard Ultra World Team Championship at York Farm in Lusaka with 32 laps, or 214.6 km, beating the previous national best of 30 laps, News Diggers reports. Runner-up Alick Mashowo also passed the old mark with 31 laps, and Bwalya may now qualify for the 2027 individual world championship in Tennessee. Sport https://lusakabrief.com/news/nataaz-senior-theatre-festival-chingola-40th-anniversary-digital-platforms-k100000-grants-ngoma/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/nataaz-senior-theatre-festival-chingola-40th-anniversary-digital-platforms-k100000-grants-ngoma/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:51:00 +0200 The National Theatre Arts Association of Zambia is holding its 2026 Senior Festival in Chingola as it marks its 40th anniversary, with the winners expected to feed the theatre nominations for the Ngoma Awards. A speech from the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts told performers to use digital platforms to reach audiences and funders, and said arts associations each received a K100,000 grant this year, Zambia Monitor reports. Culture https://lusakabrief.com/news/mundubile-constitutional-bail-dpp-phiri-joined-hearing-28-october-state-opposes-hakumbi-affidavit/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/mundubile-constitutional-bail-dpp-phiri-joined-hearing-28-october-state-opposes-hakumbi-affidavit/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0200 Brian Mundubile, Makebi Zulu and 16 co-accused came back to the Lusaka High Court on Wednesday 21 October for the constitutional bail hearing that was adjourned on Monday. The State has now filed an affidavit opposing release, arguing that treason cases take time and that the Director of Public Prosecutions must be a party. The Zambian Observer reports that both sides agreed to join Gilbert Phiri and that the hearing now goes to 28 October. The 18 remain in custody in Kabwe. Courts https://lusakabrief.com/news/speaker-mutti-recognises-ezra-tembo-leader-of-opposition-kampyongo-rival-caucus-chonde-whip/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/speaker-mutti-recognises-ezra-tembo-leader-of-opposition-kampyongo-rival-caucus-chonde-whip/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 05:59:00 +0200 Speaker Nelly Mutti told the National Assembly on Tuesday 20 October that she had received communication from the NRPUP’s secretary general confirming party president Ezra Tembo as Leader of the Opposition, with Milenge MP Gystave Chonde as Whip and Nyimba North MP Paul Lungu as Deputy Whip. The ruling closes a three-week dispute in which a rival caucus said it had elected Shiwang’andu MP Stephen Kampyongo to the post. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/state-house-bogus-csos-jay-jay-banda-apprehension-mozambique-hamasaka-caritas-chapter-one-amnesty/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/state-house-bogus-csos-jay-jay-banda-apprehension-mozambique-hamasaka-caritas-chapter-one-amnesty/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 05:58:00 +0200 A coalition of civil-society organisations has asked the Zambian and Mozambican governments to account for the cross-border apprehension of former Petauke Central MP Emmanuel ‘Jay Jay’ Banda and to explain how he came to be in a critical condition at Maina Soko Military Hospital. State House, through Clayson Hamasaka, calls the statement a political booby trap and says only bogus organisations could question the arrest of a man who, it says, publicly called for the President’s assassination. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/auditor-general-2025-report-k626-million-mining-penalties-uncollected-health-k3-56-billion-arrears-mukula/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/auditor-general-2025-report-k626-million-mining-penalties-uncollected-health-k3-56-billion-arrears-mukula/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 05:57:00 +0200 The Auditor-General’s report on the accounts for the year to 31 December 2025, released by Acting Auditor-General Patricia Malaila, finds that the Ministry of Mines failed to collect K626.64 million in penalties from licence holders, that the Ministry of Health carries K3.56 billion in unpaid obligations some dating to 2014, and that only 27 of 5,595 confiscated mukula logs could be found. Unresolved findings fell from 33 to 27. Economy https://lusakabrief.com/news/mining-insaka-botswana-drc-partnerships-kenewendo-watum-kabamba-hichilema-use-it-or-lose-it-survey/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/mining-insaka-botswana-drc-partnerships-kenewendo-watum-kabamba-hichilema-use-it-or-lose-it-survey/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 05:56:00 +0200 On the second day of the Zambia Mining and Investment Insaka at Mulungushi, Botswana’s minerals minister Bogolo Kenewendo and the DRC’s mines minister Louis Watum Kabamba urged shared processing, equipment manufacturing and border and rail cooperation, with a proposed Botswana–Zambia industrial campus tied to a 300 MW solar project. A day earlier President Hichilema told more than 1,300 delegates that tenements must be explored, that the state has spent almost US$100 million on a nationwide geophysical survey, and that the Insaka ‘is not a holiday’. Economy https://lusakabrief.com/news/zema-board-places-all-directors-on-administrative-leave-kabika-interim-director-general-siame-aipac/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/zema-board-places-all-directors-on-administrative-leave-kabika-interim-director-general-siame-aipac/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 05:55:00 +0200 Green Economy and Environment Minister Gilbert Siame announced on Tuesday 20 October that the newly constituted board of the Zambia Environmental Management Agency has placed all of the agency’s directors on administrative leave pending assessments of competence and suitability, and appointed Dr Joel Kabika of the University of Zambia as interim director-general for six months. A policy institute has asked for due process and a clear line between the board and management. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/lima-mp-kelvin-kaunda-moved-to-mwembeshi-bail-application-assault-charge-lawyer-denied-access/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/lima-mp-kelvin-kaunda-moved-to-mwembeshi-bail-application-assault-charge-lawyer-denied-access/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 05:54:00 +0200 Kelvin Kaunda, the NRPUP MP for Lima, was arrested on 15 October on a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm over an incident during the August campaign. He has applied for bail, saying he has been held without being taken before a court; the Correctional Service confirms he has been moved from Lubwa police station to Mwembeshi remand, where his lawyer says he was refused access. His election petition hearing was adjourned on Tuesday because he was not in court. Courts https://lusakabrief.com/news/hichilema-virtual-sadc-extraordinary-summit-organ-chair-comesa-25th-summit-harare-mnangagwa-haimbe/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/hichilema-virtual-sadc-extraordinary-summit-organ-chair-comesa-25th-summit-harare-mnangagwa-haimbe/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 05:53:00 +0200 President Hichilema was due to join an extraordinary SADC summit held virtually on Wednesday 21 October to fill treaty positions and elect the next chair of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe said, before travelling to Harare for the 25th COMESA summit on Thursday 22 October, where Zimbabwe takes the chair from Kenya. On Monday he told a Great Lakes ministerial meeting that hungry populations are hard to govern and that the region should trade food rather than post soldiers. Politics https://lusakabrief.com/news/copper-princesses-venezuela-must-win-u17-womens-world-cup-rabat-kanyemba-mubanga-sekeletu-tenerife-tko/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/copper-princesses-venezuela-must-win-u17-womens-world-cup-rabat-kanyemba-mubanga-sekeletu-tenerife-tko/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 05:52:00 +0200 Zambia’s under-17 women play Venezuela at 20:00 CAT on Wednesday 21 October in their second Group D match at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, after losing 5–0 to Japan on the opening day. Both sides are without a point; coach Carol Kanyemba says one defeat is not the end of the tournament and captain Taonga Mubanga has promised a win. In Spain, Ken Sekeletu retained his featherweight title with a third-round stoppage. Sport https://lusakabrief.com/news/olivia-tutu-memoir-authentic-a-life-chosen-not-given-launch-lusaka-mizinga-melu-wakiaga/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/olivia-tutu-memoir-authentic-a-life-chosen-not-given-launch-lusaka-mizinga-melu-wakiaga/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 05:51:00 +0200 Olivia Tutu, the 26-year-old founder of Youth on Sustainable Development, launched her ten-chapter memoir in Lusaka on Saturday 17 October, with Absa Bank chief executive Mizinga Melu as guest of honour and UNDP resident representative James Wakiaga among the speakers. The book was published in August and is expected on Amazon in January 2027. Culture https://lusakabrief.com/news/solwezi-court-declines-jurisdiction-mundubile-zulu-sedition-case-high-court-mukonde-ruling/ https://lusakabrief.com/news/solwezi-court-declines-jurisdiction-mundubile-zulu-sedition-case-high-court-mukonde-ruling/ Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0200 Principal Resident Magistrate Mambwe Mukonde ruled on Tuesday 13 October that the Solwezi Magistrates’ Court cannot hear the two-count sedition case against Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu, and referred it to the High Court. The State had not disputed the defence’s claim that the alleged offences took place in Lusaka. No High Court date has been set, the two men have still not taken plea, and the separate treason matter is untouched. In Lusaka, a bench warrant was issued for Binwell Mpundu in his own sedition case. Courts