"The GOAT Media Centre"

Kalyalya says move will increase liquidity in banking sector as central bank defends financial regulations By Francis Maingaila LUSAKA, Zambia24 — 31 July 2026 — The Bank of Zambia (BoZ) has reduced the statutory reserve ratio on Kwacha deposits from 26 percent to 21 percent, a move Governor Dr. Denny Kalyalya says will inject more liquidity into the banking system and give commercial banks greater capacity to support businesses and economic activity. Dr. Kalyalya said the adjustment, effective Monday, August 3, 2026, will allow banks to retain a larger share of their Kwacha deposits instead of keeping the funds as reserves with the central bank. He said the measure is expected to improve financial intermediation by creating more room for commercial banks to provide financing to productive sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and small and medium enterprises. The Governor said the reduction applies to Kwacha deposits, including Government and Vostro deposits, while the sta...

As Government defends cyber laws as ZNBC embraces reforms while MISA pushes for stronger digital rights protection By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 -- (30-06-2026) -- Government has defended Zambia’s Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes laws, arguing that citizens’ rights in the digital space must be exercised with the same level of responsibility expected in everyday life. Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Media Thabo Kawana, during the launch of the Digital Rights Report 2026 and the ZNBC Public Service Broadcaster Scorecard Report, Director for Press and Media Development Modern Mayembe said digital technologies had become central to Zambia’s economic growth, democratic participation, education, healthcare and national development. Mayembe said Government was committed to building a digitally empowered Zambia where citizens could freely access information, participate in the digital economy and express themselves in a safe and ...

Declining number of female candidates exposes persistent barriers and failure by political parties to translate gender equality commitments into action ahead of the 2026 General Elections By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka , Zambia24 – 29-07-2026) - The Non-governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has blamed political parties for Zambia’s failure to achieve equal gender representation in decision-making spaces, warning that the declining number of women contesting key elective positions in the 2026 General Elections reflects persistent barriers to women’s political participation. Speaking during the release of a statement at Merica Zunga Hall in Lusaka on Tuesday, NGOCC Board Information and Publicity Secretary Leah Mitaba said the latest candidate nomination figures announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) paint a disappointing picture of gender inclusion ahead of the August 13, 2026 General Elections. Ms Mitaba said despite years of advocacy, const...

Zambia Builds Bigger Reserves as Power Sector Records Major Expansion By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka , Zambia24 – 29-07-2026) - Zambia's fuel supply remains stable and secure, with adequate petroleum stocks, expanding storage facilities and plans for new pipelines aimed at protecting the country against future supply disruptions, the Ministry of Energy has assured. The assurance comes at a time when government says it is taking steps to ensure that fuel and electricity challenges experienced in recent years do not return, with new investments being made in petroleum storage, power generation and alternative energy sources. Permanent Secretary for Petroleum in the Ministry of Energy, Prof. Ephraim Mushifwa , said Zambia currently has enough petroleum stocks to meet demand, adding that supplies continue to come into the country daily. Prof. Mushifwa said 100 percent of petrol entering Zambia is currently transported by road , with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) managing the dis...

ZCSA tightens product safety checks and rewards journalists raising awareness on compulsory standards By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 - 28-07-2026 — The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has intensified its fight against unsafe products on the market, urging consumers to report suspicious goods as it strengthens inspections to protect public health, safety and the environment. Speaking during the agency’s mid-year breakfast media briefing and the unveiling of winners of the 3rd ZCSA Media Awards in Lusaka, ZCSA Executive Director Gerald Chizinga said the agency would continue strengthening monitoring of locally manufactured and imported products to ensure only safe and compliant goods reach consumers. Mr Chizinga said ZCSA currently regulates 102 locally manufactured and imported products under compulsory standards covering food products, beverages, chemicals, construction materials, electrical appliances, cement, fertilisers, fuel, used motor vehicles and used textile...

TI-Z warns alleged collection of voter details could scare citizens and weaken confidence in Zambia’s 2026 elections By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24  -- (28-07-2026 -- Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) has raised the alarm over reports that political operatives are allegedly collecting voters’ card numbers and National Registration Card (NRC) details, warning that the practice could leave citizens worried about whether their votes will remain secret. TI-Z Executive Director Maurice Nyambe told journalists that the organisation’s long-term election observation mission had received reports of the alleged data-collection exercise, with monitors currently working to verify the claims across the country. Mr. Nyambe said the reports had mentioned suspected involvement of members of the United Party for National Development (UPND), but stressed that TI-Z was still investigating the matter before making final conclusions. He said the concerns had emerged in several distri...

Government revives mandatory public service training to improve service delivery By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka , Zambia24 – 28-07-2026 - Government has revived mandatory public service training and certification as part of efforts to strengthen professionalism, improve accountability and enhance service delivery across the public sector. Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa represented by Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Administration)  Dr. Oliver Kalabo at the stakeholder Engagement and Communication/Media Breakfast at the Southern Sun Hotel this morning that the move was aimed at rebuilding the public service training system, which had weakened over the years, resulting in declining standards and slower service delivery in some institutions. Speaking during the Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Breakfast in Lusaka on Tuesday, Mr Kangwa said Government had restored the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA)'s statutory mandate and was systematically re...

Witness says Facebook publication falsely linked him to Police Headquarters and exposed his private phone number to an online audience of about 1,000 people. By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka , Zambia24 – 27-07-2026 -- An online content analyst has told the Lusaka Magistrates' Court that a Facebook post allegedly authored by blogger Mulenga Mushibwe Matanda falsely portrayed him as a criminal working for State House and the Zambia Police Service, leaving him fearful after his personal mobile phone number was published online. Testifying before the court, Jaja Coulibaly Komoka said part of his duties involves analysing issues circulating on online platforms. Komoka told the court that on November 16, 2025 , he came across a Facebook post on the page Mulenga Mushibwe Matanda titled "Response with Intimidation, Anger and Emotional Reaction is Not a Solution." He said the post criticised the government and President Hakainde Hichilema before ending with a list of peopl...

New NPA-ZCSA partnership targets substandard products with tougher investigations, stronger prosecutions and enhanced consumer protection By Francis Maingaila ♥️ LUSAKA, Zambia — July 27, 2026 — The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) and the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to tighten enforcement against unsafe and substandard products, a move expected to strengthen consumer protection and improve the prosecution of offenders. Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lusaka on Monday, Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri said the agreement marks a new chapter in the fight against the sale of products that put the lives and health of Zambians at risk. Phiri said the MoU is more than just a formal agreement between two institutions, describing it as a shared commitment to ensure that laws meant to protect the public are backed by effective enforcement. He said ordinary citizens judge government by the quality and safety...

ZDA records US$19.07 billion in actualised investments and nearly 150,000 jobs since 2021 By Francis Maingaila ♥️ LUSAKA, Zambia — July 27, 2026 — The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has actualised US$19.07 billion in investments and created 149,956 jobs since 2021, signalling growing investor confidence even as billions of dollars in approved projects remain in the implementation pipeline. ZDA Director General Albert Halwampa told journalists at a media briefing that the realised investments represent 19.65 percent of the US$97.07 billion in investment pledges recorded between 2021 and June 2026. Mr. Halwampa said the actualised investments came from 838 enterprises monitored by the Agency out of 2,332 companies licensed or expanded during the period. He explained that most of the remaining projects are still under implementation or have not yet commenced operations. He said the monitored enterprises created 149,956 jobs against 604,530 projected jobs, representing an actualisation ra...

Hikaumba reminds workers of PF-era pay freeze, says Mundubile was part of administration with a history of salary and wage freezes By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia24 — 27-07-2026 - Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Vice President Leonard Hikaumba has urged public service workers not to forget what he described as the painful experience of salary and wage freezes under the former Patriotic Front (PF) administration, accusing opposition leader Brian Mundubile of attempting to rewrite history through campaign promises. Mr Hikaumba, who is also a former president of the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), said it was difficult for Mr Mundubile to present himself as a champion of workers’ welfare after serving in a government that subjected public service workers to a brutal two-year salary increment freeze. He said Mr Mundubile’s recent promise of a 30 percent salary increment to public service workers was an attempt to win support from workers who had suffered under polici...

Lifwekelo urges ECZ and ZICTA to intervene, says late former president should not be used in election campaign By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka,  Zambia24, 28 July 26 – The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) has urged the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) to halt the circulation of campaign videos featuring late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, indicating that the practice is not only immoral but also against religious values. PF Secretary for Administration Edwin Lifwekelo told journalists that the use of the late former president’s videos in political campaigns violated principles of morality and respect for the dead. He described the development as unfortunate and a sign of desperation by those seeking to benefit politically from Mr Lungu’s legacy. Lifwekelo alleged that the videos were being circulated by supporters of presidential candidates Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu, saying the late former preside...

Gender body says dragging family members into political battles amounts to gendered political violence By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka,  Zambia24 , 28 July 26 – The Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has called on political parties and their leaders to exercise restraint and uphold civility on the campaign trail as Zambia heads towards the 13th August General Elections. The gender advocacy body says political leaders must focus their campaigns on policies, leadership records and national issues instead of resorting to personal attacks involving family members of political opponents, following remarks attributed to President Hakainde Hichilema during recent campaign rallies in Mazabuka which NGOCC says appeared to draw the elderly mother of Mazabuka Central aspiring parliamentary candidate Gary Nkombo into political attacks against her son. NGOCC Board Chairperson Beauty Katebe said such conduct crossed the boundaries of acceptable political engage...