FINANCE Minister Dr Bwalya Ng’andu says there is nothing embarrassing about Zambia’s request to suspend Eurobond interest repayments because it is normal procedure and the first step towards the country’s debt restructuring programme. And Dr Ng’andu says government deliberately did not alter the existing 2019 mining fiscal regime to make Mineral Royalty Taxes (MRT) tax...

THE Minister of Health has announced that the country has recorded 19 new COVID-19 cases out of 1,158 tests done in the last 24 hours, with 37 recoveries. And the Minister has expressed concern over the opening of borders by neighbouring countries, saying if not properly handled, it might see a surge in new transmissions....

LUAPULA Province Minister Nickson Chilangwa says while it is true that Zambia is facing many challenges, the PF government is on the right trajectory. And Tourism and Arts Minister Ronald Chitotela says the UPND will continue to be on the left side of the House because PF is touching the hearts of the people. Debating...

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has told the United Nations General Assembly that Zambia supports the call for major interventions, such as debt relief and/or cancellation, for developing member-states as a recovery path post-COVID-19. And President Lungu says despite several challenges, the world should not surrender to any cynicism on the accelerated implementation of the 2030 agenda...

MINES Minister Richard Musukwa says government will ensure that workers at Mopani Copper Mine are protected as discussions for its eventual takeover are expected to be concluded in the shortest possible time. And Musukwa says the purpose of ZCCM-IH increasing its shareholding in Mopani is to have controlling stake, but it will later look for...

MINISTRY of Labour permanent secretary Chanda Kaziya has urged Zambian workers not to allow foreign companies to abuse them in the name of protecting jobs. And the permanent secretary has advised workers to always report employers flouting labour laws so that appropriate action is taken as opposed to “going to the police when you are...

ACTIONAID global tax advisor Mtwalo Msoni says there is need for government to create a ‘wealth tax’ where the country’s high-income earners can contribute towards funding development and narrow the huge inequality gap. And Msoni says government should do away with borrowing money to finance development, but fund it with locally-mobilised resources. Speaking ahead of...

THE Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance (CSO-SUN) has warned of increased food insecurity in the country if care is not taken on how the 2020/2021 farming season is handled given the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy. And the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) says it is currently carrying out a...

PF DEPUTY secretary general Mumbi Phiri says Zambian lawyers are confusing the nation because they are always arguing and contradicting each other over interpretation of President Edgar Lungu’s eligibility to re-contest next year’s general election. And Phiri says she hopes UPND will accept defeat after the 2021 general election as they did in last Thursday’s...

THE Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has urged schools to desist from imposing the purchase of identical face masks on parents as it is against the CCPC Act. In a statement, Monday, CCPC senior public relations officer Namukolo Kasumpa stated that such practices eroded consumer welfare as they limited consumers’ choices. “The CCPC would...