THE Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has asked government to consider increasing the non-taxable income threshold to K4,300 from the current K3,300 to help citizens cope with the rising cost of living. And the Centre has called on government to lower public expenditure and reduce external borrowing to revive the country's economy as part...

VICE-President Inonge Wina has launched the Presidential Choral and Arts Festival and the K30 million Youth Empowerment Scheme meant to assist artists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking during the launch and when she presented the cheque to the National Arts Council of Zambia (NAC), Vice-President Wina said the launch of the scheme was an indication...

ZAMBIA Correctional Service (ZCS) Commissioner-General Dr Chisela Chileshe says he has not received any information on prisoners that may have tested positive to COVID-19 at Mukobeko Correctional Facility. Reacting to some social media posts to the effect that some prisoners at the maximum facility had tested positive to COVID-19, Dr Chileshe said he was not...

CHIRUNDU UPND member of parliament Douglas Syakalima says it is not only ministers who hail from Luapula Province that have been caught up in the web of corruption, but the entire PF government. Last week, PF secretary general Davies Mwila lamented that it pained him that only ministers from Luapula Province were being targeted with...

THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) says it is not compelling farmers to sell maize to them, contrary to assertions by the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) who suggested that farmers were being threatened if they did not offload their produce to the Agency. But the FRA says it is currently facing challenges in buying maize...

THE Auditors General’s Report has revealed that amounts totaling K88,508 were paid to 33 employees of Mansa Trades Training Institute as extra duty allowance without evidence of additional functions. According to the Auditor General’s Report on the Accounts of Parastatal Bodies and other statutory institutions for the financial year ended December 31, 2018, the irregularly...

GREEN Party leader Peter Sinkamba has welcomed Cabinets’ approval of the introduction of Bills in Parliament to provide for cultivation, processing and exportation of cannabis for economic and medicinal purposes. In an interview, Sinkamba, who is also Zambian Hemp Growers and Industries Association chairperson, asked government to expedite the legislation process so that cultivation can...

DEMOCRATIC Party leader Harry Kalaba says former finance minister Felix Mutati and Lusaka lawyer Kelvin Bwalya Fube and himself are planning to form an alliance ahead of next year’s general elections. Yesterday, a picture of the trio went viral on social media where they were seen holding a meeting. And when asked if the trio...

LOCAL Government Minister Dr Charles Banda has announced that government has released the entire K249.6 million Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for this year to all 156 constituencies. Announcing the development during a press briefing in Lusaka, Wednesday, Dr Banda said the total amount of funds would translate as each constituency receiving K1.6 million. “The CDF...