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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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Act Now to Save Lives

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Zambia urged to intensify hypertension prevention and curb tobacco harm through urgent Tobacco Control Bill action By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (5-5-2026) -- Zambia must take hypertension seriously, reduce tobacco harm, and act now—starting with signing the Tobacco Control Bill into law—while citizens also take responsibility for knowing and managing their blood pressure. Brenda Chitindi, a member of the Zambia Heart and Stroke Foundation, has called for urgent national action to address the growing burden of high blood pressure. She warned that the condition remains a “silent killer” affecting thousands of people across the country. “High blood pressure is a silent killer. It has no symptoms, yet it is one of the leading causes of heart disease, stroke and kidney failure in Zambia,” Chitindi said. She made the remarks in Lusaka during May Measurement Month 2026, a global campaign led by the International Society of Hypertension, which promotes widespread blood ...
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Fuel Tax Risks Fiscal Gains

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ZICA raised concern over emerging fiscal risks despite encouraging macroeconomic improvements recorded in early 2026. By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 --- (5-5-2026) - The Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) has cautioned that the government’s decision to suspend fuel import taxes may undermine recent fiscal gains, as Zambia continues to navigate external shocks linked to global oil price volatility arising from the US–Iran conflict. Speaking at a quarterly economic briefing, ZICA President Yande Siame Mwenye said Cabinet’s 31st March 2026 decision to zero-rate VAT and suspend excise duty on fuel imports, though intended to stabilise prices, has effectively reintroduced subsidy-like pressures on the national budget. “The distinction between a tax suspension and a subsidy is minimal,” Mwenye said. “Both effectively redirect government revenue towards stabilising fuel prices.” She warned that the resulting fiscal gap could threaten key budgetary allocations, inc...
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Shock Cancellation of RightsCon 2026

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Zambia’s last-minute withdrawal from hosting global digital rights forum raises concern over democratic openness and international credibility By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (5-5-2026) -- The shock cancellation of RightsCon 2026 —an event widely expected to position Zambia prominently on the global stage as a champion of digital rights, civic engagement, and democratic openness—has triggered concern among civil society actors and international stakeholders. George Shonga, Executive Director of the Measures of Justice and Democracy Foundation, described the decision by the Government of the Republic of Zambia to call off the conference just days before its scheduled commencement in Lusaka as “both regrettable and deeply concerning.” He noted that the sudden cancellation represents more than a logistical setback. According to him, it is a missed historic opportunity for Zambia and the Southern African region to host one of the world’s most influential platforms on huma...
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