News Digest - Thursday, September 11th, 2025

Today's developments reflect our nation's ongoing efforts towards economic stability, environmental protection, and institutional integrity, with significant attention on energy security and governance accountability as key pillars for national progress.

Main Stories

1. Regional Energy Partnerships Strengthened at EFFA Forum
   Regional states, including Botswana, have committed to collaborating with Zambia on achieving universal electricity access across Africa, following President Hichilema's opening of the Energy Forum for Africa in Lusaka. This partnership advances our shared goal of addressing Zambia’s persistent load-shedding through regional cooperation.
2. Kafue River Pollution Compensation and Monitoring Intensified
   Vice-President Mutale Nalumango confirmed that Sino-Metals Leach Zambia’s K14.1 million compensation to Kalulushi and Kitwe farmers affected by February’s toxic spill is not final, pending an independent assessment of long-term environmental damage. She emphasized transparency, refusing to exclude media from related meetings, underscoring our government’s prioritization of citizen welfare and ecological accountability.
3. LuSE Considers 24/7 Trading Following Ministerial Challenge
   Lusaka Stock Exchange CEO Nicholas Kabaso stated the bourse will evaluate operating round-the-clock after Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane urged extended hours to enhance market attractiveness. This follows LuSE’s recent expansion from four to five daily trading hours, signaling proactive steps to boost domestic investment opportunities.
4. Government Demands Evidence Amid Corruption Allegations
   Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa challenged citizens and the Council of Churches in Zambia to substantiate claims of "high-level corruption," arguing unverified accusations damage national reputation. This follows CCZ’s public appeal for urgent government action against graft.
5. Presidential Address to Parliament to Focus on Energy and Education
   President Hichilema confirmed his National Assembly opening speech on September 12 will center on energy solutions, development milestones, and free education—key areas impacting household economies and youth opportunity—ahead of the September 26 national budget presentation.

Other Notable Stories

• Governance & Justice:
  • UPND Lusaka Chairperson Obvious Mwaliteta endorsed the DPP’s appeal against Joseph Malanji’s 4-year sentence for possession of property suspected as proceeds of crime, calling it "too lenient."
  • Livingstone City Council Assistant Accountant Sydney Silwimba was arrested for allegedly stealing K316,000 in Constituency Development Funds (CDF) through fraudulent accounting.
  • Nakonde farmer Agrippa Sininza was charged by the ACC for bribing an FRA clerk K7,000 to inflate his maize supply records from 234 to 600 bags.
• Crime & Legal:
  • Lusaka businessman and church deacon Richard Mwanza faces up to 105 years in prison after being convicted on seven counts of defiling girls aged 9–15, using threats of witchcraft to silence victims.
  • Truck driver Richard Kabanda was denied bail by a Lusaka court after pleading not guilty to defiling his under-16 biological daughter between 2022 and 2024.
• Political Developments:
  • Antonio Mwanza launched the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), pledging youth empowerment and solutions to load-shedding while declaring President Hichilema "the last leader of the independent era."

Key Takeaways & Watchpoints

• Implementation progress from the Energy Forum for Africa partnerships, crucial for reducing load-shedding and power costs nationwide.
• Findings from the independent Sino-Metals environmental impact assessment, determining further compensation for affected Kafue River communities.
• Parliamentary debates on energy and education strategies following the President’s address, shaping the upcoming national budget priorities.