"The GOAT Media Centre"

Seychelles, COMESA strengthen regional ties with entrepreneurship and digital trade initiatives By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24 — 23-07-2026 -- Seychelles and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) have strengthened their partnership on trade and opportunity with the launch of a new regional entrepreneurship programme for women and youth, alongside renewed efforts to advance digital trade and regional integration. The announcements were made during COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe's official visit to Seychelles, where she held talks with President Dr Patrick Herminie at State House. The meeting focused on expanding economic opportunities through entrepreneurship, digital innovation and closer regional cooperation. President Herminie confirmed that Seychelles will host a new COMESA-backed regional training initiative for women and youth entrepreneurs. The programme, delivered through the COMESA Federation of Women in Business (CO...

New Lusaka depot expands reserves as Government cuts petroleum debt burden By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24, -- July 23, 2026 — Zambia has completed construction of its largest-ever fuel storage facility, a 102,000-cubic-metre depot in Lusaka, in a major step aimed at strengthening national energy security and protecting the country from global petroleum supply disruptions. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy Prof. Ephraim Munshifwa announced the development during a guided media tour of the newly constructed facility, describing it as one of Government’s flagship investments in petroleum infrastructure. The depot, which represents a major expansion of Zambia’s strategic fuel reserves, has the capacity to store 60,000 cubic metres of diesel, 40,000 cubic metres of petrol and 2,000 cubic metres of kerosene. Prof. Munshifwa said the facility would provide Zambia with a stronger buffer against international fuel supply shocks while supporting the country’s growing...

Regulators move to enforce fuel measurement rules as petroleum companies face sanctions for non-compliance By Francis Maingaila ❤️ Lusaka, Zambia24, July 23, 2026 — The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) and the Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA) have warned petroleum industry players that they risk administrative, regulatory and legal sanctions for failing to comply with guidelines governing fuel measurement and the management of storage and in-transit losses. According to a joint press statement issued by ERB Manager for Public Relations Namukolo Kasumpa and ZMA Senior Public Relations Officer Sandra Mwila, the two regulators have moved to strengthen enforcement of the guidelines following reports of operational challenges affecting compliance within the petroleum supply chain. The guidelines, which were developed in consultation with petroleum industry stakeholders, are aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and consistency in the measurement and reconciliation of petroleum pro...

  As Kawana Urges Journalists to Balance Rights with Responsibility By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka,  Zambia24  -- July 22, 2026  — The Communications and Information Centre (CIC) has expanded its media outreach programme by deploying a team of journalists to Southern Province to provide comprehensive coverage of President Hakainde Hichilema’s working visits and community engagements. The deployment, which was officially flagged off in Lusaka by Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana, is aimed at strengthening news coverage by ensuring that journalists are strategically positioned across different locations where presidential activities will take place. Speaking during the ceremony, Mr. Kawana said CIC had grown from a small media initiative into an important platform for improving access to information and enhancing coverage of national programmes. He said the decision to send a larger team of journalists was informed by the need to improve efficiency, broa...

New dress code aims to strengthen professionalism, public trust and agency identity By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka,  Zambia24  -- July 22, 2026)  — The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has unveiled an official uniform for inspectors and other technical staff in a move aimed at strengthening professionalism, improving public confidence and reinforcing the agency's corporate identity. According to a statement issued on the ZCSA official Facebook page, the uniform will be worn by inspectors under the Domestic Quality Monitoring (DQM) and Import Quality Monitoring (IQM) departments, as well as other technical staff under the Quality Assurance and Compliance units. The attire comprises black trousers with a grey stripe and white shirts bearing the ZCSA logo and the Coat of Arms in line with the agency's Brand Manual. Staff will wear the uniform every Monday and Wednesday. The uniform was officially unveiled on Tuesday at the agency's head office in Lusaka by ZCSA Ex...

AfDB and ARSO-backed laboratory equipment handed to ZABS to strengthen product testing, reduce trade barriers and accelerate regional integration along the Lobito Corridor. By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka,  Zambia24  -- (July 21 , 2026) – Zambia has strengthened its trade competitiveness after the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) received new laboratory equipment to improve product testing, certification and quality assurance services. According to a joint statement issued by Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Principal Public Relations Officer Ms. Everness Nankala and Zambia Bureau of Standards Senior Communications Officer Mr. Lupiya Mazunda , the equipment was procured under the US$8.1 million Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation Project with financial support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and donated by the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO). The equipment was officially handed over on Tuesday during a ceremony at the Ministry of Commerce, Trade ...