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Hands Off ECZ

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CPRA backs campaign regulation, says scheduling is key to peaceful 2026 elections By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusak, Zambia24 -- (21-06-2026) -- The Centre for Peace Research and Advocacy (CPRA) has defended the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s (ECZ) regulation and scheduling of presidential campaign activities ahead of the August 2026 General Elections, saying the commission is acting within its legal mandate. CPRA Executive Director Cliffton Mayaba Chfuwe told Zambia24 that allegations by some political leaders that the ECZ is undermining democracy are misplaced, as the commission is legally mandated to manage elections and ensure campaigns are conducted in a peaceful, orderly and fair manner. Mr Chfuwe said the ECZ has the authority to schedule and regulate campaign activities whenever necessary in order to maintain public order, prevent conflict and protect the integrity of the electoral process. He commended the commission for introducing a structured campaign timetable for preside...
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Outrage in Mwandi

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NGOCC Condemns Alleged Sexist and Violent Campaign Targeting Iris Kaingu By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (21-06-2026) -- The Non-Governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has condemned what it describes as sexist, degrading and violent campaign behaviour targeting independent parliamentary candidate Ms. Iris Kamwi Kaingu in Mwandi Constituency, Western Province. NGOCC Board Chairperson Beauty Katebe said the organisation is concerned by a circulating video allegedly showing members of the UPND Mwandi chapter singing a song that insults Ms. Kaingu and promotes violence against her. She said the conduct amounts to Violence Against Women in Elections (VAWE). Ms. Katebe said the behaviour violates constitutional rights to dignity and political participation, as well as Zambia’s obligations under international and regional instruments, including CEDAW and the Maputo Protocol. She urged the Electoral Commission of Zambia to act under the Electoral Code of...
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Proposal Debt Swap Not Viable,

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MDC says initiative is impractical, unsustainable and benefits a limited group, urges focus on long-term worker empowerment reforms. By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 — (20-06-2026) --- The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has warned that the proposed debt swap policy being championed by some opposition political parties is impractical, unsustainable and less beneficial to workers than existing government programmes, arguing that it would be difficult to implement and offer limited benefits to the broader workforce. MDC Vice President and former Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba questioned the viability of the proposal, saying it faces significant administrative and sustainability challenges that could undermine its effectiveness. He noted that a similar proposal was abandoned by the Patriotic Front (PF) government in 2021 due to concerns over its practicality. Hikaumba said that while the debt swap proposal may appear attractive on the su...
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Call for Better Sickle Cell Care

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Experts, patients and caregivers urge stronger systems, early diagnosis and community action to close survival gaps By Lusaka, Zambia24 – (20-06-2026) --- People living with sickle cell disease can lead healthy, productive and fulfilling lives if communities better understand the condition, support affected families, promote early diagnosis and treatment, and work to eliminate stigma and misconceptions. The call was made during a World Sickle Cell Day Commemorative Scientific Symposium and Patient Summit held under the theme: “Closing the Survival Gap: Equity in Sickle Cell Care.” Speaking at the event, Dr. Mmamulatelo Siame said sickle cell disease should not be treated as a condition managed by hospitals alone, but as a shared responsibility that involves families, schools, caregivers and communities. “We want to focus on our warriors, but also on the community because parents, brothers, sisters, teachers and friends all have a role to play,” she said. Dr. Siame explained that s...
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Protect Economic Gains

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Hikaumba urges workers to back HH as 2026 election campaigns intensify By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24 --- (18-06-2026) -- Former Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba has urged workers and citizens to support President Hakainde Hichilema, saying the country must safeguard economic gains as election campaigning gathers momentum ahead of the 2026 General Elections. Hikaumba told Zambia24 that the UPND government has made progress in stabilising the economy, improving governance, and strengthening engagement with labour unions during its current term in office. He said the campaign period should focus on assessing leadership based on performance rather than political promises, warning workers against being influenced by what he described as election rhetoric. Hikaumba said employment opportunities had increased through recruitment in key sectors such as education, health, and security services, while dialogue between government and labour unions had ...
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Unequal Care Fuels Sickle Cell Deaths

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Experts warn that gaps in access, delayed diagnosis, and uneven treatment continue to cost lives despite available therapies in Zambia. By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zamvia24.  -- (June 19, 2026 ) — Zambia has the tools and treatments needed to manage sickle cell disease, but lives are still being lost because access to care, awareness, and equity remain inadequate. Lusaka Province Health Director Dr Aspha Choonga delivered the warning as he officiated the World Sickle Cell Day Scientific Commemorative Symposium and Patient Summit in Lusaka under the theme, “Closing the Survival Gap – Equity in Sickle Cell Care.” He said sickle cell disease can be effectively managed through early diagnosis, continuous care, and proven treatments, but many patients still die prematurely due to gaps in service delivery and inconsistent access, especially in rural areas. Dr Choonga said Zambia continues to face a clear survival gap, where children born in well-served urban areas have better chanc...
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Africa Faces Weather Extremes

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Experts warn of severe droughts and floods as El Niño risks intensify, urging urgent preparedness, stronger early warning systems, and coordinated climate action across the continent. By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24 -- (June 19, 2026 ) — African climate experts, government officials, and international organisations have warned of heightened risks from an approaching El Niño cycle, calling for stronger preparedness, improved early warning systems, and increased investment in climate resilience across the continent. Zambia’s Director of Meteorology in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Edson Nkonde said that Africa must prepare for possible severe droughts and floods within the next three years, and the warning emerged during the Continental Climate Outlook Forum hosted in Zambia, where participants said the risks could vary depending on regional climate variations. Nkonde said the forum provided a platform for assessing projected climate conditions and preparing se...
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