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Call for Safer Food Systems

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Government, regulators, industry and development partners push coordinated action to reduce foodborne diseases in Zambia By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (24-06-2026) --- Food safety is a shared, urgent national priority that requires coordinated action across the entire food system—from production to consumption—to reduce preventable foodborne diseases and improve public health and development outcomes in Zambia. Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi, underscored this position during the World Food Safety Day 2026 commemoration held in Lusaka, saying food safety is a critical public health and development issue that requires sustained, multi-sectoral collaboration. He said strengthening food safety systems is essential to reducing the burden of foodborne diseases, which continue to affect health outcomes and strain national resources. Dr. Lishimpi said foodborne diseases remain a major global concern, with World Health O...
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Tobacco Output Surge up

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Production jumps from 30 million kg to over 100 million kg as sector pushes for productivity, investment and value addition By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24 --- (25-06-2026) --The tobacco industry remains important to Zambia’s economy, but its future growth depends on making farming and the industry more productive, profitable, sustainable and competitive. Speaking during the 61st Annual Congress of the in Lusaka, Ministry of Agriculture Director for Agriculture Mdashe Kapalu said the sector remains one of Zambia’s most commercially viable agricultural industries, contributing significantly to export earnings, employment creation and rural development. He said sustaining recent growth requires continued investment in productivity improvement, quality enhancement, climate resilience and stronger market competitiveness. Mr Kapalu said tobacco production had risen from about 30 million kilogrammes in 2022 to more than 100 million kilogrammes in 2025, describing the increase as a ...
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New Industrial Order

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Transport sector embraces structured dialogue as government, unions and employers seal recognition agreement By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24  -- (24-06-2026) -- Zambia’s transport sector is entering a new phase of structured industrial relations based on social dialogue, collective bargaining, and formal recognition of both unions and employer associations. Special Assistant to the President responsible for finance, investment, and broader economic and development affairs,  Jito Kayumba has said government will continue to play a neutral and facilitative role in labour relations, ensuring balance between employers and workers in the transport sector. He said the transport industry remains central to the economy and depends on cooperation among all stakeholders, including drivers, employers, unions and government. Kayumba said the recognition agreement reflects a shared commitment to reduce industrial conflict and strengthen structured engagement in the sector. He acknowl...
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Blueprints for Change

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Competing visions for Zambia’s future ahead of the 2026 elections By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 --- (24-06-2026) ---People’s Pact presidential candidate has unveiled his party’s manifesto, describing it as a people-centred document aimed at restoring Zambia’s sovereignty, rebuilding public services and returning national decision-making power to citizens. Launching the manifesto, M’membe said it was shaped by the lived experiences, aspirations and daily struggles of ordinary Zambians, offering what he called an alternative path for the country’s future. “This manifesto is about reclaiming our country back. It is about our sovereignty, our liberation and recovery from an economic and social system that has stolen our future,” he said. He argued that Zambia’s development agenda should not be dictated by external institutions, insisting that government must retain full control over key budgetary decisions in education, health, agriculture and infrastructure. “When you hav...
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ECL Burial Dispute Not a Victory or Defeat

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Hikaumba urges national reflection on sovereignty, dignity and unity after Lungu burial ruling By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24  ---(June 24, 2026) — The burial dispute involving former President Edgar Lungu should not be viewed as a political victory or defeat, but as a moment for the nation to reflect on whether it has remained faithful to its traditions, dignity and respect for national institutions. Former Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba told Zambia24 that the protracted legal battle over the late former president's burial had raised fundamental questions about Zambia's sovereignty, values and national identity. He argued that the matter transcended partisan politics and should instead serve as an opportunity for collective national introspection on the country's traditions, dignity and unity. Hikaumba said the dispute surrounding the burial of the Sixth Republican President had evolved beyond personalities and political c...
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Against Nostalgia Politics

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Hikaumba urges Zambians to reject a return to failed governance models and safeguard economic reforms By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24  – (22-06-2026) -  Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Vice President Leonard Hikaumba has called on Zambians to reject what he described as politics of entitlement, warning that the country risks reversing hard-won economic and governance gains if it returns to outdated leadership models. Hikaumba urged citizens to carefully assess the country’s political direction ahead of the 2026 General Election, cautioning against leaders, he said were seeking to revive governance practices associated with previous administrations. He said Zambia’s recent history should serve as a reminder of the consequences of poor economic management, citing constitutional disputes, economic difficulties, and job losses experienced during the Patriotic Front (PF) administration. According to Hikaumba, decisions made during that period adversely affected businesses and...
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DON'T FALL FOR EMPTY PROMISES

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Hikaumba Warns against unsustainable Promises, Urges Voters to Demand Clear Economic Plans from Political Parties By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusak, Zambia24  -- (22-06-2026)  -- The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has urged Zambians to carefully scrutinise campaign promises and reject political pledges that are not supported by practical economic plans. MDC Vice President Leonard Hikaumba said many opposition political parties were focusing on how they would spend public resources without explaining how they intended to generate the revenue needed to finance their promises. Mr. Hikaumba said commitments such as increasing salaries for public workers, introducing debt swap programmes, raising student allowances, purchasing maize dryers, buying produce from marketeers and providing expensive equipment like excavators required sustainable sources of funding. “Leadership is not only about promising people what you will give them. It is about showing the people how you will create w...
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