Posts

UNZA UNIONS WARN OVER SALARY DELAYS

Image
Workers blame delayed Government funding and student fee payments for salary delays, demand urgent action to stabilise UNZA finances By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia24 — 23-09-2026 — Three University of Zambia workers’ unions have warned that persistent delays in paying salaries are becoming increasingly difficult for employees to endure, as they demand urgent action to address what they describe as deeper funding and liquidity problems at the institution. Speaking on behalf of the University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers’ Union (UNZALARU), University of Zambia Professional Staff Union (UNZAPROSU) and University of Zambia and Allied Workers’ Union (UNZAAWU), Dr. Likezo Pumulo told journalists at a media briefing that salary delays had become a recurring problem since January 2026. Dr. Pumulo said employees had in many instances received their salaries after the last day of the month, with the August 2026 salaries only paid on September 9. He said such delays were not ac...
Post a Comment
Read more

WORKERS KEY TO GROW ZAMBIA AGENDA

Image
Luhanga says new safety rules must protect workers and keep Zambia’s economy moving By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 — 22-09-2026 — Government says Zambia’s economic ambitions will mean little if the people driving production are getting injured, falling sick or losing their lives at work. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Zechariah Luhanga said new occupational health and safety regulations must protect workers in every sector while remaining practical enough to be followed by employers. Mr. Luhanga said workers, employers and other stakeholders must be brought into the process from the start because those who live with workplace realities are best placed to point out what can work and what cannot. He was speaking in Lusaka during a stakeholder engagement on the proposed Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. Mr. Luhanga said the consultations were important following the enactment of the Occupational Health and Safety Act No. 16 of 2025, w...
Post a Comment
Read more

SYPHILIS FIGHT TAKEN INTO COMMUNITIES

Image
Health Ministry says hospital-based interventions alone cannot stop rising infections as Zambia launches Stop Syphilis Campaign By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 — 22-09-2026 — Government, in partnership with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), has launched a campaign to step up the fight against syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with the Ministry of Health calling for stronger community-based action to curb the rising infections. Director of Clinical Care and Diagnostics Dr. Lisulo Walubuta, representing Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Kennedy Lishimpi, said Zambia must take syphilis prevention, testing and treatment services closer to communities if the country is to make meaningful progress in controlling the infection. Dr. Walubuta was speaking in Lusaka yesterday during the launch of the Stop Syphilis Campaign, an initiative aimed at increasing awareness, testing and treatment while strengthening prevention of sexually transmitted infec...
Post a Comment
Read more

FOOD SAFETY KEY TO EXPORTS

Image
FAO and Government call for stronger food safety, nutrition, climate resilience and traceability to unlock markets By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 — 22-09-2026 — Zambia has launched a two-year, US$500,000 project to transform the country’s food systems, with Government stressing the need for better coordination, safer food, improved nutrition, climate resilience and stronger traceability if farmers are to access bigger markets. The project, known as the Catalyzing Transformative and Sustainable Food Systems in Zambia (CATRAS-FS) , was launched in Lusaka yesterday with Government saying the initiative must go beyond meetings and reports and deliver changes that ordinary families and farmers can see. Permanent Secretary for Administration in the Office of the Vice President, Mrs Lillian M. Kapusana , said the project comes at a time when Zambia is still grappling with poor dietary diversity, climate shocks, food safety risks and limited market access. Mrs Kapusana said Za...
Post a Comment
Read more

CSOs DEMAND DIALOGUE ON RULE OF LAW

Image
Fr. Mapulanga calls for inclusive talks as civil society proposes 45-day roadmap to address concerns over governance and constitutional order Lusaka, Zambia24 — 21-09-2026 — A coalition of civil society organisations has challenged Government to move beyond public exchanges and urgently convene an inclusive dialogue to address what it describes as growing concerns over the rule of law and constitutional governance in Zambia. Caritas Zambia Executive Director Fr. Gabriel Mapulanga says the country needs a structured dialogue involving Government, political parties, civil society, faith-based organisations, professional bodies and other key institutions. Fr. Mapulanga, speaking on behalf of the Joint Civil Society Organisations, says the proposed engagement should provide a genuine opportunity for stakeholders to discuss the concerns affecting the country and agree on practical steps forward. He says the CSOs are responding to the statement issued by the Office of the Attorney-Gene...
Post a Comment
Read more

INSURANCE MUST REACH MORE ZAMBIANS

Image
Government challenges industry to take affordable insurance to farmers, informal workers and small businesses as uptake rises from 6.3% to 10.4% By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 — 21 September 2026 — Government has challenged the insurance industry to move beyond its traditional customer base and take affordable, relevant and easy-to-understand insurance products to millions of Zambians who remain outside formal insurance protection. Permanent Secretary for Economic Management and Finance Mulele Mulele said the rise in insurance uptake from 6.3 percent in 2020 to 10.4 percent in 2025 was encouraging, but also showed that a large part of the population remained without adequate insurance protection. Mr Mulele said the figures should therefore not only be viewed as evidence of growth in the sector, but also as a reminder that the industry still had a large population to reach, particularly people whose livelihoods depended on small-scale farming, informal businesses and dai...
Post a Comment
Read more

WOMEN’S REPRESENTATION STILL FAR BELOW PARITY

Image
NGOCC says gains in female parliamentary representation remain insufficient as women occupy 22.4 percent of National Assembly seats By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 — 20 September 2026 — Zambia has recorded an increase in the number of women in the National Assembly following the validation of 40 Proportional Representation (PR) seats, but women’s representation remains far below the 50-50 gender parity target. The Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) says 26 of the 40 PR seats validated by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) have gone to women, raising the total number of female Members of Parliament to 63 out of 281 seats. In a statement signed by NGOCC Executive Director Anamela Mbewe Njekwa, the organisation said the figure includes 34 elected female MPs, the Vice President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker. NGOCC said this translates into 22.4 percent representation of women in the National Assembly. The organisation said the figure is an impr...
Post a Comment
Read more