THE Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) has attributed the delay in the construction of chiefs’ palaces to cash flow challenges, succession disputes and lengthy procurement processes. Meanwhile, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has heard that by April 30, 2026, all 77 palace sites under ZCS will be fully completed and handed over to Chiefdoms. The latest Auditor General’s report states that in November 2023, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development engaged the Zambia Correctional Service to construct 80 chiefs’ palaces in seven provinces at K311 million. However, a physical inspection carried out in August 2025 revealed that out of the 80 palaces, one had been completed, 66 were work in progress and 13 had not commenced. “During the period...