Both sides agree to forge deeper economic cooperation CHOMBA MUSIKA Lusaka THE European Union (EU) has described Zambia as a beacon of democracy, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening relations with the country while encouraging continued respect for the rule of law. European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela made the remarks during a Zambia-EU bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Mr Síkela encouraged Zambia and the EU to look ahead and build on their existing partnership, with the two sides agreeing to deepen cooperation in investment, value addition and economic development. President Hakainde Hichilema was represented at the meeting by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mulambo Haimbe, who is leading the Zambian delegation to the General Assembly. According to a statement issued by first secretary for press and public relations at Zambia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations...

Ex-lawmaker is challenging Anita Kamanga’s election victory GRACE CHAILE, GIDEON NYENDWA Ndola, Lusaka THE Lusaka High Court has heard testimony claiming that independent Chongwe East Member of Parliament (MP) Anita Kamanga supplied pepper spray to a group of men and instructed them to attack members of Sylvia Masebo’s campaign team. Accusations surfaced during the hearing of a petition filed by Masebo, the former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, challenging Ms Kamanga’s election victory. Results from the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) show that Ms Kamanga won with 16,058 votes against Ms Masebo’s 6,798. Ms Masebo’s lead counsel, Robert Simeza, indicated that they plan to call approximately 20 witnesses before High Court Judge Evaristo Pengele. The first witness, 29-year-old Aaron Mwambi, testified that on July 23, 2026, he and other United Party for National Development (UPND) supporters were travelling on a Hino truck to a funeral when their vehicle was...

PHILIP CHISALU Lusaka UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) Alliance secretary to the Council of Presidents Ezra Ngulube says Zambia could become a case study in Africa over the next five to 10 years if the country sustains its economic transformation and prospects for increased prosperity. Mr Ngulube attributed the progress under President Hakainde Hichilema to measures including debt restructuring which he said have created fiscal space for development. He said Government has helped restore confidence in the economy and placed the country on a growth trajectory capable of attracting increased local and foreign investment. Mr Ngulube said the President’s approach to leadership also enabled the country to attain key milestones during the first five years of his administration. He said the New Dawn administration inherited significant economic challenges in 2021, including high debt levels, but argued that measures taken by the current administration have helped resuscitate the economy. His...

MARY LEMBA Lusaka WONDERFUL Group of Companies will in the coming weeks break ground for the expansion of its ammonia and urea plants as it increases its planned investment in Zambia’s fertiliser industry from US$650 million to US$1.5 billion. The US$1.5bn expansion, expected to boost local manufacturing, create skilled jobs and reduce the country’s reliance on imported fertiliser, was first announced in October last year during the official commissioning of the initial urea plant under United Capital Fertiliser Zambia Limited (UCF) by President Hakainde Hichilema. Wonderful Group deputy chief executive officer Roy Mwamba said the expansion project will add 520,000 metric tons (mt) of urea, 400,000mt of ammonium nitrate and other ammonia products to the company’s production capacity. He was speaking in Lusaka during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Copperbelt University (CBU) and UCF Limited. Mr Mwamba said the increased production capacity will create greater demand for...

NGOs, students, UPND hail Parley system for widening representation PHILIP CHISALU, MATHEWS MALAZIKA Lusaka STUDENT bodies and civil society organisations have welcomed the entry of 40 new Members of Parliament under the Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) system, describing the development as a significant step towards widening political representation. The development has also drawn praise from the United Party for National Development (UPND), which says the implementation of Constitution Amendment Act Number 13 of 2025 has ushered in a more inclusive Parliament. The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has validated the 40 MMPR legislators, who have since completed registration formalities at the National Assembly ahead of their swearing-in. The new legislators include women, youths, persons with disabilities and six student representatives, marking a significant expansion of voices represented in Parliament. National Institute of Public Administration Students Union president Vincent Sakala said President Hakainde Hichilema had fulfilled his commitment to integrating...

PHILIP CHISALU Lusaka MINISTER of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane has stated that the Government will rigorously prioritise safeguarding the economic stability achieved over the past five years to prevent a resurgence of high inflation and escalating living costs. Speaking during an appearance on ZNBC’s Sunday Interview programme, Dr Musokotwane emphasised that maintaining price stability remains paramount for protecting household purchasing power. “Remember, this is the beginning of the problem when people say the cost of living is high. If the inflation rate, the change in prices, takes place every year at a fast pace, eventually the cost of living goes high. That has been stabilised and we want to keep it that way,” he explained. However, the minister acknowledged that macroeconomic stability alone does not fully satisfy public expectations for immediate relief, promising that the upcoming 2027 national budget will be distinctly growth-oriented. He noted that the administration’s...

CHAMBO NG’UNI Kabwe TWO young men have tragically died after being buried alive by a collapsing sand wall while mining building sand in the Kamaila area of Chisamba, while a third colleague survived the ordeal. Central Province police commanding officer Lemekani Chirwa identified the deceased as 21-year-old Daniel Phiri and 26-year-old Mukuwe Mbao, while the survivor has been named as Simbao Mulenga. According to police, the fatal incident occurred on Friday between 03:00 hours and 06:00 hours at a local sand excavation site. The victims and their colleagues had gone to mine sand when a portion of the unstable sand wall unexpectedly collapsed, trapping Mr Phiri and Mr Mbao underneath. Another colleague, Daniel Zulu, immediately rushed to the nearby village to alert the victims’ parents. By the time rescuers and family members arrived, the trapped men had been pulled from the rubble, though they were unconscious and displayed no apparent...

Speaker Mutti describes historic swearing-in of 40 PR MPs as deeply emotional MATHEWS MALAZIKA, ESTHER NG’ANDU Lusaka, Kitwe FORTY Members of Parliament elected under Zambia’s new proportional representation (PR) system have taken their oaths of office in a ceremony Speaker of National Assembly Nelly Mutti described as one of the most emotional she had ever presided over. The MPs, drawn from the categories of women, youth and persons with disabilities, formally assumed their seats yesterday, marking the first major implementation of the constitutional reforms that introduced proportional representation into Zambia’s National Assembly. “This has been one of the emotional swearing-in ceremonies that I have ever, ever conducted. Thank you very much and congratulations,” Ms Mutti said in her closing remarks. The moment carried particular significance for lawmakers who said their entry into Parliament represented an opportunity for groups that have historically sought greater participation in national decision-making. Ms Mutti said...