News Digest - Saturday, May 2nd, 2026

As our nation counts down to the August 13 general elections, Zambia’s political landscape is intensifying with 25 presidential aspirants already meeting nomination requirements while governance and economic policy debates dominate the national stage. Trade unions are demanding tangible tax relief for workers, government is pressing ahead with infrastructure investments in areas like Muchinga Province, and international voices are shining a spotlight on accountability and our democratic credentials.

Main Stories

1. Presidential Race Intensifies as 25 Aspirants Pay ECZ Nomination Fees
   ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro has confirmed that 25 aspiring presidential candidates had paid their nomination fees as of April 30, 2026, setting the stage for what could be a fiercely competitive ballot when our nation votes on August 13.

2. FRA Assures Farmers of Good Maize Price for 2025/2026 Season
   The Food Reserve Agency has promised farmers a good maize floor price for the upcoming 2025/2026 marketing season, and National Association for Smallholder Farmers Executive Director Dr Frank Kayula has indicated that maintaining the price at K340 per 50kg bag or higher would be welcome news for the rural households whose harvests sustain our national food security.

3. ZCTU Demands Downward Revision of PAYE and Improved Worker Welfare
   Zambia Congress of Trade Unions president Blake Mulala used the Labour Day commemorations in Chinsali to urge government to revise Pay As You Earn tax downward to improve workers’ take-home pay, while also raising alarms over inflated CDF project costs and the injustice of employees retiring in acting positions with benefits pegged to lower substantive grades.

4. Government Nears Completion of K246 Million Hotel in Chinsali
   Labour and Social Security Minister Brenda Tambatamba has announced that a K246 million budget hotel being delivered through the Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board is nearing completion in Chinsali, a milestone that promises to unlock tourism potential and stimulate economic activity in Muchinga Province.

5. Outgoing US Ambassador Gonzales Delivers Sharp Message on Governance
   Outgoing United States Ambassador Michael Gonzales has used his farewell speech to place corruption, institutional credibility and governance accountability firmly back on our national agenda, creating significant political ripples as our country navigates a sensitive election year.

6. Cancellation of International RightsCon Summit Draws Backlash
   Government’s decision to cancel the international RightsCon 2026 conference, which had been scheduled to open in Lusaka on May 5, has drawn sharp criticism from civil society and governance activists who warn that the move risks tarnishing our nation’s democratic image at a politically sensitive moment.

Other Notable Stories

Arts & Entertainment:

• International superstars Davido and American rapper Rick Ross have jetted into the country ahead of today’s Ciêla concert at the Lusaka Polo Fields, and the Lusaka City Council has announced that Addis Ababa Road, Danny Pule Road and Nangwenya Road will be partially closed from 12:00 hours to 24:00 hours to manage traffic—proving once again that in our capital, even the tarmac gets a front-row seat to history.

Sports & Recreation:

• The Zambia Table Tennis Association has launched its journey to the Region 5 Youth Games in Maputo 2026 with a dynamic squad of boys and girls scouted directly from the Teulings Youth Sports Challenge League after proving their grit at the recent Region 5 Selection Competition.
• Konkola Blades will this afternoon face defending champions Power Dynamos at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe, aiming to stall the Kitwe side’s march toward a second consecutive Super League title despite having won only one of their last five fixtures.

Politics & Governance:

• PF presidential aspirant Willah Mudolo has rejected his removal from the party’s central committee by the Miles Sampa-led faction, with a letter dated April 30, 2026 from Acting National Chairperson Charity Banda citing disrespect toward presidential candidate Chitalu Chilufya, but Mudolo maintains Sampa lacks the authority to drop him.
• Patriots for Economic Progress senior figure Sean Tembo has cautioned citizens and the media against generalising opposition leaders, arguing that Zambia’s opposition comprises figures with varying ideologies and conduct who should not be lumped into a single category.
• Harry Kalaba attracted mixed reactions on social media after posting a receipt showing he had paid his K100,000 presidential nomination fee to the Electoral Commission of Zambia, captioned “We have paid our nomination fees!”
• Zambia Congress of Trade Unions Secretary General Joy Beene observed during Labour Day celebrations in Mansa that the UPND is likely to remain in government beyond the August 13 elections, attributing the outlook to the ruling party’s continued engagement with citizens and responsiveness to workers’ concerns.

Social Development:

• President Hakainde Hichilema and his family have donated a 1×4 classroom block, a school health centre and a borehole to Lubwa Mission, the historic site tied to founding President Kenneth Kaunda, as part of efforts to improve education and health access for the community.

Local Courts & Community Affairs:

• Jane Tembo, 39, of Garden Compound has petitioned the local court for divorce from her husband Chimbambo Chimbambo, 39, after she initially encouraged him to find another woman to bear children due to her inability to conceive, only for him to marry the other woman and allegedly father children with other women in their compound.
• Linah Kumwenda, 27, of Chudleigh has sued her husband Luckson Masazilwa, 28, for divorce at the Chelstone Local Court, alleging physical abuse and infidelity, and claiming he leaves only K2 or K3 for food and once took nshima and sausage mixed with rat poison to police accusing her of trying to kill him.
• Taonga Nyorongo, 23, of Chainama Compound has sued her friend Natasha Kaoma, 21, of Kaunda Square at the Chelstone Local Court for defamation, after Kaoma allegedly accused her of sleeping with Kaoma’s married boyfriend, a pub owner in Chilenje.

Safety & Environment:

• An unidentified man believed to be between 30 and 35 years of age was killed by an African elephant in the Mukuni area of Livingstone, with Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Moono Namalongo stating the incident is believed to have occurred between midnight and 06:00 hours.

Key Takeaways & Watchpoints

• With 25 presidential aspirants having already paid nomination fees and the ECZ set to publish names after pre-processing supporters, Zambia’s August 13 ballot is shaping up to be highly competitive, requiring all stakeholders to engage responsibly.
• As the FRA prepares to announce the 2025/2026 maize floor price and the ZCTU maintains pressure for PAYE relief, economic policy decisions in the coming weeks will directly affect household incomes and agricultural livelihoods across our nation.
• The backlash over the cancelled RightsCon summit and the pointed farewell remarks by outgoing US Ambassador Michael Gonzales mean that questions of governance, institutional credibility and Zambia’s democratic reputation will remain under intense domestic and international scrutiny throughout the election period.