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New ZTA Board Tasked

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Government targets five million tourist arrivals as Sikumba pushes digital innovation, investment and private sector-led tourism growth By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia24 – (May 9, 2026 ) -- The Zambian government is positioning tourism as a key driver of economic diversification and national development, with the newly inaugurated Zambia Tourism Agency (ZTA) Board expected to strengthen the sector’s contribution to jobs, investment, and revenue generation. The newly inaugurated board is chaired by Killer Johnson and includes Dr Japhet Lishomwa, Andrew Chilufya, Lucy Nyundo, Annie Sibanda, Hillary Mwansa, Grant Gatchell, Musukuma, and George Kaumba as board members. Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Lusaka on Saturday, Rodney Sikumba said tourism remains central to government’s broader economic transformation agenda alongside agriculture, manufacturing, and energy. He said a strong economy was necessary to sustain social programmes such as free education, social cash...
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Mining Deaths Must Stop

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ZASAA warns of repeated safety failures after Matala Mine incident By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia24, (May 8, 2026 ) — The Zambia Safety Awards for Excellence Organisation (ZASAA) has called for urgent action to strengthen occupational health and safety awareness and enforcement following the incident at Matala Gold Mine in Nangoma Constituency, Mumbwa District, where five small-scale miners are feared trapped underground. ZASAA President and Founder Hellen Mwamba said repeated neglect of safety standards is leading to preventable loss of life and insisted that mining deaths must stop immediately. Mwamba said the incident reflects a persistent and avoidable pattern of mining-related tragedies in the country. “This incident must not simply be treated as another mining accident. We must not normalise preventable tragedy,” she said. She commended emergency response teams and stakeholders involved in rescue operations at the mine. However, Mwamba stressed that prevention remain...
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New Digital Platform to Transform MSMEs

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Zambia launches PAMO to expand access to finance, cut lending barriers and boost enterprise growth through a digital credit system By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (8-05-2026) -- The Government of Zambia has launched the National MSME Financial Platform Zambia (PAMO), a digital system aimed at expanding access to finance, improving credit assessment and strengthening financial inclusion for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), in what government and private sector stakeholders have described as a major structural reform of Zambia’s financial system. Speaking during the launch in Lusaka on Friday, Sib Ali, director and member of FAUREE board of directors, said the platform marks a shift from traditional collateral-based lending to a digital, transaction-based financing model. Ali said the initiative connects MSMEs, banks, regulators, government and development partners on one digital infrastructure to improve efficiency, transparency and access to finance. At t...
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New Digital Platform to Transform MSMEs

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Zambia launches PAMO to expand access to finance, cut lending barriers and boost enterprise growth through a digital credit system By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (8-05-2026) -- The Government of Zambia has launched the National MSME Financial Platform Zambia (PAMO), a digital system aimed at expanding access to finance, improving credit assessment and strengthening financial inclusion for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), in what government and private sector stakeholders have described as a major structural reform of Zambia’s financial system. Speaking during the launch in Lusaka on Friday, Sib Ali, director and member of FAUREE board of directors, said the platform marks a shift from traditional collateral-based lending to a digital, transaction-based financing model. Ali said the initiative connects MSMEs, banks, regulators, government and development partners on one digital infrastructure to improve efficiency, transparency and access to finance. At t...
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CSPR Warns on Supplementary Budget

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Civil society raises concerns over transparency, debt risks and unclear expenditure allocations Lusaka, Zambia24   --- (8-05-2026)-- Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) is urging government to balance emergency spending needs with transparency, accountability, and responsible debt management following the 2026 supplementary budget, warning that gaps in clarity and rising borrowing levels could undermine fiscal discipline. CSPR Executive Director Isabel Mukelabai told Zambia24 that while the organisation welcomed government’s transparency in presenting the supplementary budget and the decision to finance part of it through reprioritisation of existing expenditure, there remained serious concerns over debt sustainability, accountability, and unclear expenditure lines. She commended government for the approach taken in reallocating funds, noting that about K10 billion, representing 38 percent of the supplementary budget, had been drawn from existing expenditure lines. However, ...
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Tonse Criticises Political Promises

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Alliance questions realism of diplomatic job assurances to unsuccessful aspirants By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (7-5-2026) -- The Tonse Alliance has criticised what it describes as unrealistic political promises following remarks attributed to Hakainde Hichilema suggesting that unsuccessful ruling party aspirants could later be considered for diplomatic appointments or nomination to Parliament. Tonse Alliance spokesperson Dr. Lawrence Mwelwa said while political encouragement during adoption processes was understandable, national leadership must remain “grounded in realism, constitutional limitations, and institutional integrity.” Dr. Mwelwa argued that Zambia does not have unlimited ambassadorial positions or nominated parliamentary seats to accommodate large numbers of unsuccessful candidates. “Diplomatic appointments are finite, constitutionally regulated, and currently occupied by serving officials representing the Republic across the world,” he said. He warn...
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K35m Chilanga School Delivered

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United Capital Fertilizer backs K35 million investment to expand access to secondary education and ease pressure on existing schools By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia 24 -- (07-05-2026) --- A K35 million secondary school sponsored by United Capital Fertilizer has been commissioned in Lusaka’s Chilanga Constituency, marking a major expansion in education infrastructure driven by private sector investment in partnership with government. The newly built Mutinta Hichilema Secondary School is expected to improve access to secondary education in the fast-growing area and ease congestion in surrounding schools, where enrolment has continued to rise due to the expansion of free education. Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, First Lady Mutinta Hichilema called for greater investment in inclusive and quality education, saying learning infrastructure remains key to national development. She described the school as more than a building, calling it a symbol of opportunity, dignity ...
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