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Mulwanda commends FRA for improved maize payments

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Mweru Member of Parliament Lesley Mulwanda has commended the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for improving the maize buying and payment process this year, saying farmers are receiving their money faster compared to previous seasons. Mr. Mulwanda says the 2026 marketing season has so far progressed smoothly, with farmers receiving payments through mobile money within days of delivering their maize. “This year they’ve been very organised. Our people have delivered the maize to the depots, and within two, three days they are paid. The mode of payment has also improved,” Mr. Mulwanda said. He said the shift from cash payments had also reduced the risks associated with farmers carrying large sums of money, particularly in rural areas where motorcycles are commonly used for transportation. Mr. Mulwanda said the previous system, which relied on cash and later bank payments , presented challenges for farmers, including long queues and delays at the only available bank in his constituen...
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REA wants universal electricity access added to Grow Zambia targets

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The Rural Electrification Authority has called for universal electricity access to be incorporated into the government’s Grow Zambia Agenda, arguing that rural electrification is critical to achieving inclusive economic growth. REA Chief Executive Officer Alex Mbumba says government’s target of achieving 100 percent electricity access by 2030 should be explicitly included among the Grow Zambia targets. Eng. Mbumba says electricity is a catalyst for development, particularly in rural communities where access to power can unlock opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, mining and small-scale businesses. Eng. Mbumba says the benefits of the Grow Zambia Agenda must reach households at the lowest level, and this can only be achieved if communities are connected to electricity. He says electrifying rural households will allow communities to participate directly in economic activities and benefit from growth in key sectors. Eng. Mbumba says REA is therefore implementing both gri...
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TSC seeks National Indaba to mobilize teachers for Grow Zambia

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The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has proposed a national indaba for teachers to rally educators behind Zambia’s Grow Zambia Agenda and position them as key drivers of the country’s economic transformation. TSC Chairperson Daphne Chimuka says teachers are central to national development because they are responsible for developing the human capital required to achieve Zambia’s long-term economic targets. Ms. Chimuka says the proposed indaba comes at a time when the country is focusing on increased production, job creation, investment, productivity and skills development across key sectors. She was speaking during the commemoration of World Teachers’ Day 2026, held under the theme, “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping Our Futures.” Ms. Chimuka says teachers have a critical responsibility to instil a culture of hard work and integrity among learners, which she describes as essential to achieving Zambia’s development a...
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Image Civil Engineering shines at NCC awards, scoops two honours

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Image Civil Engineering Limited has scooped two awards at the recently held National Construction Council (NCC) Build Zambia Expo and Conference 2026 , including recognition for its contribution to the construction of Constituency Development Fund projects across the country . The recognition adds to the company’s growing list of accolades, with Image Civil Engineering also recently receiving an award at the Ndola and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry 7th Annual Awards Gala Night . Image Civil Engineering Managing Director Jonathan Mwendabai has described the NCC recognition as a significant achievement and an affirmation of the company’s commitment to quality infrastructure. “ The award is a significant achievement for Image Civil Engineering Limited and a strong affirmation of our commitment to delivering quality infrastructure that meets the required standards, ” Eng. Mwendabai said. He said the recognition would motivate the company to uphold professionalism, exce...
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Teachers' Unions want education ministry restructured

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The Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) and the Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) have called for the appointment of an Education Minister with a strong understanding of the sector and the ability to engage all key stakeholders. The unions say the next minister should prioritise quality education, teacher welfare, infrastructure development and improved learning outcomes. ZNUT General Secretary Muvwanjilanji Siwila says the minister should be able to implement Government policies while ensuring that teachers, learners, parents, unions and other stakeholders are involved in decisions affecting the education sector. Mr Siwila says the minister should also address challenges affecting teachers, particularly accommodation in rural and urban areas, and improve school infrastructure. He says the ministry should urgently address overcrowding in schools and the high teacher-pupil ratio, noting that some classrooms have more than 100 learners. Mr Siwila says the mi...
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LuSE eyes Village Banks as new source of capital

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The Lusaka Securities Exchange (LuSE) says village banks have the potential to become an important source of capital for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while helping channel community savings into productive sectors of the economy. Village banking is a community-based savings and lending model in which members pool their money, provide loans to one another and earn interest on their savings. LuSE Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Kabaso says village banks should consider investing their pooled resources through the capital market to grow their savings and strengthen their financial sustainability. Mr Kabaso says the funds held by village banks, if properly managed and invested, could play a greater role in supporting economic activity. “From the exchange point of view, we are seeing village banks to be a very instrumental piece of pooled funds that we can use to be able to redeploy into more productive sectors,” he says. He says the growing appetite among SMEs to r...
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MQHZ sets expectations for new Health Minister

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The Medical for Quality Healthcare in Zambia (MQHZ) has called on President Hichilema to appoint a competent and decisive Minister of Health capable of driving reforms and delivering measurable improvements in patient care. Organisation Director General Quince Mwabu says the incoming minister should possess the leadership capacity to provide both strategic and operational direction to the health sector. “Zambia needs a Minister who will provide strong strategic and operational leadership, understand the realities of the health system and ensure that Government policies, programmes and investments translate into actual services for patients,” he said. He says the minister should be implementation-focused and demand results at health-facility level rather than being satisfied with policies and plans on paper. Dr Mwabu says the new minister will inherit a health system facing challenges including gaps in medicines and medical supplies, equipment requiring maintenance, human-resour...
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