We’ve seen a surge in SMEs due to different financing packages – Mubanga
MINISTER of Small and Medium Enterprises Elias Mubanga says the country has seen a surge in SMEs as evidenced by the number of individuals visiting his ministry to obtain recommendations to access financing. And Mubanga says he will flag off the marketeer empowerment loans under CEEC this Thursday. In an interview, Mubanga said his ministry…...
We’re partners in development, govt tells traditional leaders
MINISTER of Local Government and Rural Development Gary Nkombo has implored traditional leaders to work with government in finding innovative ways to support more community-led projects that will bring resources closer to local communities. According to a statement issued by the ministry’s public relations officer, Chila Namaiko, the minister was speaking when he officiated at…...
Lungu can be investigated, immunity only applies to court cases – COF
CHAPTER One Foundation says the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) is within the law in terms of investigating former president Edgar Lungu because immunity only applies to court cases. A Lusaka Magistrate authorised DEC officer, Emmanuel Khondowe, to inspect Lungu’s Atlas Mara bank account in August this year, as part of an ongoing investigation on allegations…...
Concerns about high cost of living genuine but we didn’t create that problem – Anthony
PRESIDENTIAL Spokesperson Anthony Bwalya says although concerns about the high cost of living are genuine, it’s a historical problem which wasn’t caused by the new dawn government. Speaking when he featured on Radio Phoenix’s “Let The People Talk” programme, Friday, Bwalya said UPND wasn’t elected to shift the blame on anyone, but it had to…...
I’ll reconstitute NRFA board after I understand what caused squabbles – Musokotwane
FINANCE and National Planning Minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane says he will not rush into reconstituting the NRFA Board until he understands what caused the squabbles that led to its dissolution. Dr Situmbeko dissolved the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) board in October this year due to its failure to pull together as a “united team”…....
We won’t tolerate laissez-faire attitudes from controlling officers – PAC
THE Public Accounts Committee says controlling officers should adequately prepare themselves as they appear before the committee because it won’t tolerate the “laissez-faire attitude”. On Wednesday last week, the Committee sent away a delegation from RTSA led by Ministry of Transport and Logistics permanent secretary Fredrick Mwalusaka after noting a discrepancy in the amount of…...
Yes, there was more money in circulation under PF but it was borrowed – govt
FINANCE and National Planning Minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane has admitted that there was indeed more money in circulation under PF but argues that it was only available during the times the country borrowed. And Dr Musokotwane says the waiver of Visa requirements for a number of countries is in a quest to grow the country’s…...
Public service unions are happy with 10.5% pay rise – ZCTU
THE Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has welcomed the 10.9 percent salary increment for civil servants, saying it trusts that all concerns, including the cost of living, were considered before the final decision. But the National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) has argued that a number of critical issues affecting teachers were…...
Health facilities will be well stocked within first quarter of 2023 – ZAMMSA
ZAMBIA Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) director general Billy Mweetwa has assured that health facilities will be well stocked with health centre kits and other medical supplies within the first quarter of 2023. And chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services Dr Christopher Kalila has urged ZAMMSA to take…...
ActionAid questions ministries’ failure to spend K5.6bn
ACTIONAID Zambia has urged government to seriously interrogate the underutilisation of funds allocated to various ministries, saying the trend is affecting citizens’ rights to access certain services. Government recently noted that with less than two months before the end of the 2022 financial year, K5.6 billion allocated to various ministries had still not been utilised…....