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CSPR Warns on Supplementary Budget

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Civil society raises concerns over transparency, debt risks and unclear expenditure allocations Lusaka, Zambia24   --- (8-05-2026)-- Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) is urging government to balance emergency spending needs with transparency, accountability, and responsible debt management following the 2026 supplementary budget, warning that gaps in clarity and rising borrowing levels could undermine fiscal discipline. CSPR Executive Director Isabel Mukelabai told Zambia24 that while the organisation welcomed government’s transparency in presenting the supplementary budget and the decision to finance part of it through reprioritisation of existing expenditure, there remained serious concerns over debt sustainability, accountability, and unclear expenditure lines. She commended government for the approach taken in reallocating funds, noting that about K10 billion, representing 38 percent of the supplementary budget, had been drawn from existing expenditure lines. However, ...
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Tonse Criticises Political Promises

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Alliance questions realism of diplomatic job assurances to unsuccessful aspirants By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (7-5-2026) -- The Tonse Alliance has criticised what it describes as unrealistic political promises following remarks attributed to Hakainde Hichilema suggesting that unsuccessful ruling party aspirants could later be considered for diplomatic appointments or nomination to Parliament. Tonse Alliance spokesperson Dr. Lawrence Mwelwa said while political encouragement during adoption processes was understandable, national leadership must remain “grounded in realism, constitutional limitations, and institutional integrity.” Dr. Mwelwa argued that Zambia does not have unlimited ambassadorial positions or nominated parliamentary seats to accommodate large numbers of unsuccessful candidates. “Diplomatic appointments are finite, constitutionally regulated, and currently occupied by serving officials representing the Republic across the world,” he said. He warn...
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K35m Chilanga School Delivered

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United Capital Fertilizer backs K35 million investment to expand access to secondary education and ease pressure on existing schools By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia 24 -- (07-05-2026) --- A K35 million secondary school sponsored by United Capital Fertilizer has been commissioned in Lusaka’s Chilanga Constituency, marking a major expansion in education infrastructure driven by private sector investment in partnership with government. The newly built Mutinta Hichilema Secondary School is expected to improve access to secondary education in the fast-growing area and ease congestion in surrounding schools, where enrolment has continued to rise due to the expansion of free education. Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, First Lady Mutinta Hichilema called for greater investment in inclusive and quality education, saying learning infrastructure remains key to national development. She described the school as more than a building, calling it a symbol of opportunity, dignity ...
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NGOCC Demands Answers

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Civil society backs sovereignty stance, presses government on health-sector allegations By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24  -- (May 6, 2026 ) — The Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has called for transparency and accountability following a diplomatic exchange between Zambia and the United States over health-sector support and access to mineral resources. Beauty Katebe, NGOCC Board Chairperson , said the organisation supports the government’s position, as outlined by Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe, that Zambia is a sovereign state with established diplomatic channels for engaging international partners. The organisation, however, expressed concern over remarks attributed to the outgoing United States Ambassador suggesting that health-sector support may have been linked to negotiations involving Zambia’s minerals. “International cooperation must be grounded in mutual respect, not conditions that undermine national autonomy,” NGOCC s...
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K684m Pension Crisis

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Retirees urge government to clear long-standing arrears as thousands remain unpaid By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 — (6-05-2026) -- A K684 million pension crisis is unfolding as thousands of retired public service workers continue to wait for delayed benefits, prompting renewed calls for urgent government intervention. The National Society for Public Service Pensioners, Retirees and Retrenchees of Zambia (PUSERREZA) says the prolonged delay in settling recalculated pension benefits has left many elderly beneficiaries struggling to survive. Speaking at a press briefing, PUSERREZA Vice President Mutinta Cheelo appealed to President and government leadership to prioritise the payment of the outstanding arrears. Cheelo said the matter stems from a court case concluded between 2003 and 2011 in favour of public service workers who were retired or retrenched between 1999 and 2008. Following the ruling, the Public Service Pensions Fund Board undertook recalculations of the ben...
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KBF Claims Dismissed

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Katuta camp says remarks on independent candidates misinterpret Constitution By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (5-May, 2026 ) — The camp of independent presidential candidate Dr. Given Katuta has dismissed assertions by Kelvin Bwalya Fube on the viability and accountability of independent candidates, describing the claims as misleading and legally flawed. Richard Bravo Mulenga, presidential spokesperson, told Zambia24 that the arguments advanced by the Zambia Must Prosper leader misinterpret Zambia’s constitutional framework, which permits both party-sponsored and independent candidates to contest the presidency.. Mulenga said the Constitution of Zambia does not restrict presidential eligibility to political party members, citing Article 100 of the Constitution of Zambia, which does not require party affiliation. On accountability, he said a president answers to the electorate, not a political party, questioning suggestions that Hakainde Hichilema is accountable to t...
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Safety Fears Over Fuel Sites

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Cliffe Warns of Disaster Risk as ERB Tightens Crackdown on Unlicensed Fuel Sites Lusaka, Zambia24 – (April 5, 2026) -- Safety concerns over Zambia’s rapidly expanding fuel and energy infrastructure have intensified following renewed warnings about unlicensed developments, with an oil and gas expert cautioning that weak oversight could trigger catastrophic incidents if enforcement is not strengthened. Jamie Cliffe, Chairman of SMTS Group, has backed calls for stricter regulation by the (ERB), warning that the proliferation of fuel stations, depots, and transport hubs across the country is outpacing safety controls and increasing the risk of large-scale disasters. Speaking to Zambia24, Cliffe said the sector’s rapid growth demands tighter supervision to ensure all facilities comply with safety and environmental standards before they begin operations. His remarks follow an ERB directive issued on April 4 requiring that all energy-related facilities—including petrol stations, fuel depo...
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