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Progress Despite CPI Drop

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Mweetwa says, Swift legal action and convictions and asset forfeiture mark first-time progress, restores public confidence By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia — Government has acknowledged Zambia’s drop on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) but insists that significant progress has been made in prosecuting corruption cases and recovering stolen assets. Information and Media Minister Cornelius Mweetwa, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, said the government takes the Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) report seriously. He emphasized that concluding corruption cases is critical to restoring public trust. “It is very important that corruption legal proceedings are concluded,” Mweetwa said. He noted that in the past, some corruption cases dragged on for decades, with certain matters dating back to 2003 only concluding after 2021. “Citizens lost confidence because it appeared to be arrests without convictions,” he added. Mweetwa said the current administration has c...
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BoZ Cuts Policy Rate to 13.5%

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Sharp decline in inflation and improved outlook prompt easing of monetary policy By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia — February 10, 2026 The Bank of Zambia (BoZ) has reduced the Monetary Policy Rate by 75 basis points to 13.5 percent following the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting held on February 9–10, 2026, the central bank announced. Bank of Zambia Governor Dr. Denny Kalyalya told journalists at the media briefing that the decision was informed by the sustained decline in inflation in the fourth quarter of 2025 and the sharper-than-anticipated fall recorded in January 2026, which provided scope to ease the monetary policy stance. Dr. Kalyalya said annual inflation slowed to 11.2 percent in December 2025 from 12.3 percent in September 2025, before dropping further to 9.4 percent in January 2026, largely driven by the continued effects of the 2024/25 maize bumper harvest and the appreciation of the Kwacha against major international currencies. He said the Bank now projects ...
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Govt, Inq Expand Free Wi-Fi

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MoU aims to boost digital access and inclusion nationwide By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24  -- 11 February 2026 — The Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Inq Digital Zambia to expand free public Wi-Fi access across the country, a move aimed at accelerating digital inclusion and supporting Zambia’s national development agenda. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Technology and Science, Brilliant Habenzu, representing Minister Mbwanga Mbula, said the agreement marks a new phase in service delivery under the National Free Public Wi-Fi Initiative. Habenzu said the partnership brings together key stakeholders, including the Presidential Delivery Unit, the Ministry of Technology and Science, and the Ministry of Local Government, in efforts to bridge the digital divide and ensure affordable internet access for all citizens. He noted that Zambia is targeting 96 percent population internet coverage by 2026, adding that the free public Wi-Fi programme is a ...
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Cholera Outbreak Spurs WASH Action

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Government and partners push for faster, funded interventions By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia — February 2026 — Zambia’s latest cholera outbreak has spurred renewed calls for urgent action to strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems, as government and partners warn that weak coordination and underinvestment continue to drive preventable infections and deaths. The call was made during a high-level Public Health and WASH Evidence Sharing Forum organised by WaterAid Zambia in Lusaka under the theme “Evidence to Action: Strengthening Public Health and WASH in Zambia.”  The forum brought together senior government officials, cooperating partners, researchers, civil society organisations and youth advocates to push for faster, evidence-based and funded interventions. At the forum, WaterAid Zambia launched two research reports — Missed Opportunities: The Stalled Fight Against Cholera in Zambia and The Cost-Benefit Analysis of Household Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Impr...
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Tonse Alliance Unveils Western Province Structures Ahead of 2026 Elections

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By Francis Maingaila  Lusaka – Zambia24 - (10-2-2025) - The opposition Tonse Alliance has unveiled its Western Province structures, signalling renewed mobilisation efforts as preparations for the 2026 general elections gather momentum. Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament for Mkushi South Davis Chisupa, who is also Brian Mundubile’s campaign manager, told journalists at a media briefing that the alliance and the PF have now moved past internal uncertainty and are firmly focused on consolidating party structures across the country. Chisupa said Western Province is the first to be formally announced, adding that Southern Province structures are expected to be unveiled within the next two to three days. He reaffirmed that the Patriotic Front has settled leadership and a clear presidential candidate, insisting that Brian Mundubile remains the party’s president and its candidate for the 2026 general elections. “Nothing is going to change. We now have direction, and we have a...
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Zambia’s Anti-Corruption Gains Face Setback

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... CPI shows diversion of public funds and opaque financing drive decline; governance challenges, political interference, and procurement corruption undermine accountability By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia — 10 February 2026 Zambia’s anti-corruption progress has suffered a significant setback, with the country’s score on the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) declining for the first time in five years, Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has revealed.  The country now ranks below 100 of the 182 nations assessed, signaling a reversal in anti-corruption gains previously recorded. The CPI, produced annually by Transparency International, evaluates perceived public sector corruption using independent data sources. Scores range from 0, representing a highly corrupt public sector, to 100, indicating very low corruption.  According to TIZ, Zambia’s score fell from 39 in 2024 to 37 in 2025, with 98 countries outperforming the country in global rankings. TIZ President Priscila...
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500MW Solar Tops Zambia–SGC Talks

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Government links proposal to drought response and CDF programmes By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24 — (09-02-2026) — A proposed 500-megawatt solar power project dominated discussions between the Zambian government and Dubai-based SGC Investment LLC, as both sides opened talks on large-scale renewable energy, waste-to-energy and infrastructure investments aimed at strengthening the country’s resilience following the worst drought in its history. Local Government and Rural Development Minister Gift Sialubalo said the solar proposal directly aligns with government interventions responding to the 2024–2025 drought, which severely affected power generation, water supply and livelihoods across Zambia. Sialubalo disclosed that about US$200 million has been set aside through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to mitigate the effects of the drought and support development initiatives. He noted that the proposed solar investment could be integrated into existing programmes, particula...
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