"The GOAT Media Centre"

New NPA-ZCSA partnership targets substandard products with tougher investigations, stronger prosecutions and enhanced consumer protection By Francis Maingaila ♥️ LUSAKA, Zambia — July 27, 2026 — The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) and the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to tighten enforcement against unsafe and substandard products, a move expected to strengthen consumer protection and improve the prosecution of offenders. Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lusaka on Monday, Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri said the agreement marks a new chapter in the fight against the sale of products that put the lives and health of Zambians at risk. Phiri said the MoU is more than just a formal agreement between two institutions, describing it as a shared commitment to ensure that laws meant to protect the public are backed by effective enforcement. He said ordinary citizens judge government by the quality and safety...

ZDA records US$19.07 billion in actualised investments and nearly 150,000 jobs since 2021 By Francis Maingaila ♥️ LUSAKA, Zambia — July 27, 2026 — The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has actualised US$19.07 billion in investments and created 149,956 jobs since 2021, signalling growing investor confidence even as billions of dollars in approved projects remain in the implementation pipeline. ZDA Director General Albert Halwampa told journalists at a media briefing that the realised investments represent 19.65 percent of the US$97.07 billion in investment pledges recorded between 2021 and June 2026. Mr. Halwampa said the actualised investments came from 838 enterprises monitored by the Agency out of 2,332 companies licensed or expanded during the period. He explained that most of the remaining projects are still under implementation or have not yet commenced operations. He said the monitored enterprises created 149,956 jobs against 604,530 projected jobs, representing an actualisation ra...

Hikaumba reminds workers of PF-era pay freeze, says Mundubile was part of administration with a history of salary and wage freezes By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia24 — 27-07-2026 - Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Vice President Leonard Hikaumba has urged public service workers not to forget what he described as the painful experience of salary and wage freezes under the former Patriotic Front (PF) administration, accusing opposition leader Brian Mundubile of attempting to rewrite history through campaign promises. Mr Hikaumba, who is also a former president of the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), said it was difficult for Mr Mundubile to present himself as a champion of workers’ welfare after serving in a government that subjected public service workers to a brutal two-year salary increment freeze. He said Mr Mundubile’s recent promise of a 30 percent salary increment to public service workers was an attempt to win support from workers who had suffered under polici...

Lifwekelo urges ECZ and ZICTA to intervene, says late former president should not be used in election campaign By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka,  Zambia24, 28 July 26 – The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) has urged the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) to halt the circulation of campaign videos featuring late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, indicating that the practice is not only immoral but also against religious values. PF Secretary for Administration Edwin Lifwekelo told journalists that the use of the late former president’s videos in political campaigns violated principles of morality and respect for the dead. He described the development as unfortunate and a sign of desperation by those seeking to benefit politically from Mr Lungu’s legacy. Lifwekelo alleged that the videos were being circulated by supporters of presidential candidates Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu, saying the late former preside...

Gender body says dragging family members into political battles amounts to gendered political violence By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka,  Zambia24 , 28 July 26 – The Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has called on political parties and their leaders to exercise restraint and uphold civility on the campaign trail as Zambia heads towards the 13th August General Elections. The gender advocacy body says political leaders must focus their campaigns on policies, leadership records and national issues instead of resorting to personal attacks involving family members of political opponents, following remarks attributed to President Hakainde Hichilema during recent campaign rallies in Mazabuka which NGOCC says appeared to draw the elderly mother of Mazabuka Central aspiring parliamentary candidate Gary Nkombo into political attacks against her son. NGOCC Board Chairperson Beauty Katebe said such conduct crossed the boundaries of acceptable political engage...

Interfaith consortium launches nationwide peace, voter education and election monitoring initiative as religious and civic leaders urge Zambians to reject violence and safeguard democracy ahead of the August 13 polls. By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 — 24-07-2026 — An interfaith consortium has launched a nationwide peace initiative aimed at promoting responsible participation, voter education and credible elections ahead of Zambia’s August 13, 2026 general elections. The Consortium for Peaceful Elections 2026 , comprising the Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia, Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Zambia, Zambia National Muslim Community Association (ZANAMACA), Zambia Reconstruction Organisation, Zambia Monitoring and Reporting Agency (ZAMRA) and other interfaith partners, said the initiative would focus on preventing electoral violence and strengthening public confidence in the democratic process. Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka, Grand Mufti Assadullah , representi...