Zambia Daily Mail

ZAMBIA has already welcomed 1.5 million international tourists this year. This is against an annual target of 2.5 million visitors. This is encouraging progress. The 2.5 million target for this year, though lofty, is already in sight. Meeting it will place the country firmly on track towards the broader Grow Zambia Agenda goal of five million tourist arrivals by 2031. Reaching these ambitious milestones will require steady effort, fresh ideas, and commitment from each and every one of us. The Go

MARY LEMBA Lusaka PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema will on October 9 this year officially open the First Session of the 14th National Assembly, where he is expected to outline Government’s policy direction and priorities for the 2026 2027 period. Clerk of the National Assembly Loveness Mayaka said the ceremonial opening will take place at Parliament Buildings in Lusaka. Ms Mayaka said during the ceremonial opening, President Hichilema will deliver an address outlining Government’s policy direction a

FRA hits 3.1 million tonnes in reserve for first time CHISHALA MUSONDA Kazungula AN UNPRECEDENTED 3.1 million tonnes of maize is now held in national strategic reserves, putting the country in a position of full food security, according to Food Reserve Agency (FRA) executive director Justin Chuunka. Speaking during an inspection of FRA’s Kabuyu satellite depot in Kazungula, Mr Chuunka described the milestone as historic, noting that the country has never previously achieved such massive reserve

TRYNESS TEMBO Lusaka ZANACO has posted a profit after tax of K868 million for the period ended June 30, 2026, slightly down by one percent compared to the previous financial year. The marginal dip in profit has been attributed to a 20 percent increase in operating expenses, which rose by K295 million and offset the positive growth recorded in operating income. According to the unaudited results for the period ended June 30, 2026 issued by company secretary Kaluba Kaulung’ombe-Inampasa, total ope

CATHERINE BWALYA Choma AN 11-YEAR-OLD boy has lost his right hand after a hand grenade he allegedly picked and pulled the pin exploded in his hands in Mazabuka District. The incident happened on Monday in Simwaba village in Chief Mwanachingwala’s area. Southern Province police commanding officer Moono Namalongo said the matter was reported to Mazabuka Police Station by the boy’s 33-year-old stepfather, Harrison Mankoli. Preliminary investigations show that the boy and his mother travelled to Tan

PRISCILLA MWILA Lusaka AS PART of efforts to curb illegal gold mining, Government is in the process of engaging an institution to help develop a clear traceability system that will enable it to establish which areas of the country have gold deposits. Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary Hapenga Kabeta said some individuals have been coming into the country with equipment to identify areas where gold is found, a situation he said has encouraged illegal mining. Dr Kabeta

GRACE CHAILE, MATHEWS MALAZIKA Lusaka FORMER Permanent Secretary for Special Duties Mwamba Peni and his counterpart at the Ministry of Education are facing separate legal proceedings arising from allegations involving a government vehicle and a US$401.8 million procurement-related loan obligation. In the first matter, the Lusaka High Court has heard that Mr Peni allegedly evaded investigators for several months after he failed to surrender a government vehicle assigned to him while serving as pe

CHOMBA MUSIKA Lusaka THE Chitimukulu, Kanyanta Manga II of the Bemba, says Zambians, especially the youth, who are fond of verbally abusing the elderly and leaders on social media risk being cursed. The 82-year-old traditional leader, himself a victim of verbal abuse, is dismayed by the troubling and growing culture of insults online, particularly by young people who attack senior citizens. “This culture of not having respect is very bad. Bambi muleiletelela fye amashamo, ine nemuntu nemukote, n

TRYNESS TEMBO Lusaka ABSA Bank Zambia Plc and its corporate partners have pumped K14 million towards the staging of this month’s Absa Marathon, with managing director Mizinga Melu reaffirming commitment to growing sports tourism and promoting social inclusion. The marathon is billed for September 26 in Lusaka. Melu said during the unveiling of the Marathon Race Pack yesterday that the event, which started in 2019 with 1,000 participants, has evolved into Zambia’s largest marathon. She said this

CHOMBA MUSIKA Lusaka HARD work and a collective national effort are needed to turn the Government’s Grow Zambia Agenda into reality, Cabinet has said. And Cabinet has approved the Budget Policy Concept Paper outlining broad policy priorities for the 2027–2029 Medium Term Budget Plan and the 2027 Annual Budget, less than 24 hours after being constituted. Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa said the medium-term agenda will focus on promoting national development, improving the welfare of Zambi

MARY LEMBA Lusaka MORE world leaders and prominent Zambians have congratulated President Hakainde Hichilema on his reelection, describing the outcome of the August 13 general election as a demonstration of Zambia’s democratic maturity, political stability and commitment to peace. Angolan President João Lourenço has congratulated President Hichilema on his victory, saying the election reflects the confidence Zambians have placed in his leadership and the democratic maturity of the country. In hi

CHOMBA MUSIKA Lusaka PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has warned that he will not tolerate individuals seeking to promote anarchy, political violence or division through the use of militias. Mr Hichilema said no one will be allowed to divide Zambia and warned that those found promoting anarchy or threatening the safety of citizens will face the law. He was speaking yesterday when he met United Party for National Development (UPND) youths at Community House. The President said he has information tha

ZAMBIA is at an important moment in its democratic journey, and the need for peaceful, responsible and mature political engagement has never been greater. Elections inevitably generate strong emotions. Victories bring celebration while defeats can bring disappointment, anger and uncertainty. But political competition must never become a contest in which the stability and security of the country are sacrificed for political ambition. Peace is not merely the absence of violence. It is the foundati

MARGARET CHISANGA Lusaka THE United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has called on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states to accelerate the transformation of the region’s vast mineral and agricultural wealth into industrial production and regional value chains. Addressing Heads of State and Government at the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit today, ECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete delivered an assessment of Africa’s position in the global economy. He

MARGARET CHISANGA Lusaka FRONT-LINE aid workers and health workers, who often risk their lives while trying to safeguard women and their babies in the world’s most dangerous settings, have been honoured for their work. In a statement to mark World Humanitarian day, United Nations Population Fund UNFPA Executive Director Diene Keita, said the commitment shown by frontline aid workers and health workers has resulted in the protection of millions of mothers and their babies. “This unwavering commit

MARGARET CHISANGA Lusaka WITH five years to go before the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals expire, the expanded Southern Africa Gender and Development Index (SGDI) has given the region an overall score of 58%, ranging from 74 percent in South Africa to 48 percent in Angola. The Barometer is produced by Southern Africa Gender Protocol Alliance, a network of national focal and regional women’s rights networks that campaigned for the gender protocol and now monitor its implementation. “Only Sout

MATHEWS MALAZIKA Lusaka TO ENHANCE the handling of green criminology, the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has established an Environmental and Wildlife Crime Department. Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri says creation of the department is one of the huge achievements for NPA in the last five years. “Environmental and wildlife crime was lowhanging in terms of income for this country. We have created this department so that we have more specialisation. “As you know, Zambia has hu

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CHRISTINE CHIHAME, ESTHER NG’ANDU Chembe, Kitwe PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema was yesterday greeted by enthusiastic crowds in Chembe, Milenge, Chipili and Mwansabombwe districts in Luapula Province, where he pledged to create more job opportunities, improve infrastructure and enhance agricultural activities. In all the four community engagements, the President spelled out his scorecard containing achievements in areas like education, health, the economy and governance, promising to recruit more

MARY LEMBA Lusaka PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema is favoured to retain the presidency in Thursday’s general election, with the United Party for National Development (UPND) given a 70-80 percent chance of securing an outright first-round victory, according to a new analysis by the Public Affairs Research Institute in Africa (PARIAfrica). The analysis puts the likelihood of a second round at 15-25 percent, citing opposition fragmentation and organisational weaknesses as key factors giving the rulin