Government’s accumulation of new debt compared to the rate of dismantling its arrears owed to contractors and suppliers is still a concern because the debt pile-up is higher, says the Bankers’ Association of Zambia (BAZ). Domestic arrears owed to contractors and suppliers stood at over K14 billion by the end of third quarter of last...

Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee Chairperson (PAC) Howard Kunda says the enactment of the Public Finance Management Act of 2018 has effectively helped in preventing the abuse of public resources. And Kunda, who is also Secretary General of the Southern Africa Development Community Organisations of Public Committee (SADCOPAC), says government has made steady progress in curbing...

Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR) senior research fellow Caesar Cheelo says the fuel pump price reduction will have no impact on trade of general commodities because it is “too minimal”. And Capital Buses proprietor Ishmael Kankara says his company is yet to decide whether or not to slash bus fares owing to...

Veteran Politician Vernon Mwaanga says the Zambian Civil Service has been over politicised with the appointment of ruling party cadres without qualifications. In a statement, Thursday, Mwaanga stated that it was wrong to appoint people into the civil service not based on their qualifications and ability to perform but their loyalty to the party in...

Lafarge Zambia Plc has appointed Jimmy Khan as the company’s new chief executive officer effective February 12. In a statement availed by Lafarge Board Chairperson Muna Hantuba, Monday, the company announced that Khan has taken over as new chief executive officer and managing director following Vincent Bouckaert’s resignation on December 5, 2018. “Lafarge Zambia Plc...

Minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale says the ban on street vending is still in effect and it will not be lifted. And Mwale has warned vendors not to attempt going back on the streets, saying they will be “fished out”. Last week, PF Secretary General Davies Mwila expressed concern over council police’s harassment of...

Residents of Kapoche constituency in Sinda District have complained that their local area member of parliament Charles Banda has failed to help upgrade the Chingombe Bridge, which has been cited as a health and safety risk. And Kapoche constituency PF secretary Stephen Tembo says that the bridge is now a “death trap”, but that there...

Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe says there will be screening of freedom fighters’ true credentials because it does not make sense to have people claiming to be freedom fighters at 50 years of age. Speaking during a courtesy call paid on him by the Zambia United National Freedom Fighters’ Association, Nundwe expressed concern that there...

Government has lifted the maize and mealie meal export ban, Minister of Agriculture Michael Katambo has announced. In a statement, Sunday, Katambo said the decision was made after wide consultations with stakeholders. And Katambo said the country had enough Maize stock for local consumption, assuring that mealie meal prices would remain fairly stable. “I wish...

Lusaka magistrate magistrate Sylvia Munyinya has sentenced a 27-year-old teacher of Samfya district in Luapula Province to two years imprisonment with hard labour for defaming President Edgar Lungu. In this matter, Enockson Banda was facing four counts of Defamation of the President and possession of obscene material. Banda had initially denied the allegations but changed...