"The GOAT Media Centre"

UNZA unions pledge not to back classes until September salaries are paid as workers protest delayed pay, unpaid benefits and lack of access to medical care By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 — 6 October 2026 — Three University of Zambia (UNZA) unions have pledged not to back the resumption of classes until their members are paid their September salaries, escalating pressure on authorities to resolve the university’s worsening financial problems. The unions have taken the position as university workers continue to complain about delayed salaries, unpaid benefits, non-remittance of funds and difficulties accessing medical services, with the workers saying the financial problems are no longer confined to individual employees but are beginning to affect the operations of unions, access to healthcare and the wider functioning of the university. University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU) president Prof. Andrew Phiri said workers should not be ashamed of deman...

NDC calls on teachers to help protect young people from the growing abuse of strong liquor By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 — 5-10-2026 — The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on teachers to use their influence in schools to help fight alcohol abuse among young people, warning that excessive drinking is putting the lives and futures of some school leavers at risk. NDC Secretary General Kennedy Siyanda made the call as Zambia joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Teachers’ Day under the theme “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping our Futures.” Siyanda said teachers remained important change agents whose work went beyond classroom teaching to shaping the character and future of the country’s young people. “As a party in the UPND Alliance, we say thank you to all Zambian teachers for being change agents and for the sacrifices you make to nurture citizens under your care in different schools...

CSPR says fuel price increases could weaken the benefits of the Bank of Zambia’s MPR cut and put further pressure on households By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 — 5th October 2026 — The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) has welcomed the Bank of Zambia’s decision to cut the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 13.25 percent to 10.75 percent but warned that higher fuel prices could weaken the benefits of cheaper credit. CSPR Executive Director Isabel Mutembo Mukelabai said the 250-basis-point reduction was timely because inflation had fallen to 6.1 percent in September, within the Bank of Zambia’s target range of 6–8 percent. Mukelabai said the lower MPR could gradually reduce borrowing costs and help businesses, farmers and other productive sectors access cheaper financing. She said cheaper credit could support business expansion, employment and economic activity if it reaches productive sectors quickly. However, Mukelabai said the benefit of cheaper credit could be weakened...

By Francis Maingaila ♥️  Lusaka, Zambia24 — 5th October 2026 — The Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has congratulated Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti on her re-election as Speaker of the National Assembly, while urging her to use her second term to strengthen impartiality, parliamentary democracy and public confidence. NGOCC Board Chairperson Beauty Katebe said Mutti’s re-election was significant for the women’s movement as she remains the first woman to occupy the Speaker’s position in Zambia’s history. Katebe said Mutti’s return to the Speaker’s chair demonstrated that women could rise to the highest levels of leadership and decision-making in the country. She, however, said women in leadership were often subjected to intense scrutiny, with the performance of individual women sometimes being used to judge the capabilities of women as a whole. Katebe said this placed an added responsibility on Mutti to lead the National Assembly with excellence, fairness...

TIZ demands action as unresolved audit findings raise fresh questions about how public money is being managed and whether citizens are getting value from it By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 — 5 October 2026 — Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has challenged Government to act on 467 unresolved audit issues involving about K18.1 billion in public resources, saying the findings must lead to corrective action, recovery of funds where necessary, stronger systems and accountability for those responsible. TIZ Executive Director Raymond Mutale said the organisation analysed the Auditor General’s Report on the accounts of the Republic of Zambia for the financial year ended 31 December 2024 to help citizens demand greater transparency and accountability in the use of public resources at both national and local level. Mr Mutale said TIZ had changed the way it looks at Auditor General’s reports by ranking public institutions according to both the number of unresolved audit issues and...

HIKAUMBA URGES TEACHERS TO REMAIN COMMITTED, CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO BACK PRAISE WITH BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 — 5 October 2026 — Teachers are not merely employees but the foundation on which Zambia’s future professionals and leaders are built, making their welfare, professionalism and commitment critical to the country’s development. Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Vice-President Leonard Hikaumba told Zambia24 in an exclusive statement that teachers should remain committed to their profession while urging Government to match its praise for educators with practical support and better working conditions. Mr Hikaumba said teaching was more than a job for a pay cheque, describing it as a calling that carries the responsibility of preparing young people for their future roles in society. He said teachers have the difficult task of building the academic, social and moral foundation of learners, making their influence extend far beyond the...

Imenda backs Lusaka City Council street trading crackdown, says party members must support a clean and orderly CBD By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24 — 02-10-2026 — The ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) has distanced itself from people masquerading as its members while demonstrating against the planned removal of street vendors from undesignated trading areas in Lusaka’s central business district (CBD). UPND Secretary General Batuke Imenda told journalists at a press briefing in Lusaka that the party does not support street vending and disorder in areas such as Cairo Road, Cha Cha Cha Road and Freedom Way. Mr Imenda said those claiming to be UPND members while resisting the clean-up exercise do not represent the party’s position. “We would like to make it clear as a party that those people who are masquerading as members of our party, to the extent of demonstrating and putting on regalia, are not our members,” Mr Imenda said. He said belonging to the UPN...