News Digest - Monday, May 25th, 2026

Our nation marks another day of progress and reflection as government continues rolling out community infrastructure through the Constituency Development Fund, President Hichilema calls for economic freedom on Africa Day, and law enforcement takes firm action against political violence and electoral misconduct ahead of the August polls.

Main Stories

1. President Hichilema Commemorates Africa Day with Call for Economic Liberation
   President Hakainde Hichilema led wreath-laying ceremonies at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka during this year's Africa Day commemorations, declaring that our generation's fight must be for economic freedom rather than political independence alone. He emphasised that both ruling party and opposition bear equal responsibility to promote peace, unity and stability, noting that CDF skills programmes—where youths trained in carpentry and welding now supply desks to schools—demonstrate how economic transformation can improve livelihoods while expanding access to education through the free education policy.

2. President Hichilema Grants Clemency to 1,505 Inmates on Africa Freedom Day
   In a gesture of compassion marking Africa Freedom Day, President Hichilema exercised his constitutional powers to release 1,505 inmates from correctional facilities nationwide, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security. The releases comprised 700 ordinary inmates, one elderly inmate, and others, reflecting our nation's commitment to humane justice and second chances for citizens who have served their time.

3. Lupososhi Receives K21.4 Million in CDF Infrastructure and Equipment
   Government has commissioned and handed over projects and earth-moving equipment valued at K21,401,276.18 in Lupososhi District, including a new maternity wing in Mulala Chiefdom that will spare local women long walks for maternal healthcare, and a 1×2 classroom block at Lwenge Primary School. Northern Province Acting Permanent Secretary Beauty Undi-Phiri affirmed these projects as direct realisation of President Hichilema's vision to deliver equitable development to every corner of our nation through decentralisation.

4. Lusaka City Council Completes Kabwata and Lusaka Central Mini Civic Centres
   The Lusaka City Council has completed two Mini Civic Centres in Kabwata and Lusaka Central constituencies, constructed at costs of K3,194,501.95 and K3,379,027.91 respectively, with funding from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. These facilities, alongside completed centres in Kanyama and Matero, represent concrete steps toward decentralising local authority operations and bringing government services closer to our people in the capital.

5. Nakonde Council Expands CDF Bursary Support to 100 Additional Beneficiaries
   Nakonde Town Council has approved 100 more beneficiaries under the 2026 CDF bursary programme, comprising 54 skills development students at K1,070,456.00 and 46 secondary boarding pupils at K149,904.00, confirmed council PRO Florence Sichula. This expansion demonstrates how our decentralised funding model is opening doors for young Zambians in border communities who might otherwise struggle to access education and vocational training.

6. Muchinga Permanent Secretary Commends Nakonde Council's Development Drive
   Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Dr Tuesday Bwalya, during a 13-14 May working visit, praised Nakonde Town Council for constructing 95 projects using locally generated revenue between 2021 and 2026—a remarkable achievement at a time when some councils struggle to pay salaries. Dr Bwalya's recognition underscores that innovation and resource mobilisation at local level are essential if we are to build our nation from the ground up rather than waiting for central government alone.

7. Lundazi Pupils to Leave Grass-Thatched Classrooms for Modern CDF-Built Block
   Pupils at Kakota Community School in Ndonda Ward, Lundazi District, will soon study in a modern 1×3 classroom block constructed under the 2025 CDF allocation at K1,175,476.41, ending seven-kilometre treks for many local children. This first-of-its-kind project in the area shows how CDF is transforming rural education and giving our children the dignified learning environments they deserve—no more lessons interrupted when the rains come.

8. Mpika's Chiponya Village Gets First-Ever Health Post After Years of Long Walks
   Residents of Chiponya Village in Mpika District have received their first health post under the 2025 CDF, ending journeys of over 10 kilometres to Mpika Urban Clinic. Lifelong resident Florence Chewe described the facility as life-changing, a reminder that for too many of our rural communities, access to basic healthcare remains a daily struggle that decentralised funding is beginning to address.

9. Former Chavuma MP Victor Lumayi Arrested for Allegedly Carrying Firearm at Nomination Centre
   Police have arrested former Chavuma MP Victor Lumayi for allegedly entering the Chavuma District Council Offices—serving as an Electoral Commission of Zambia nomination centre—while armed with a Taurus pistol and 14 rounds of ammunition on May 20 around 08:30 hours. Zambia Police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi confirmed Lumayi was apprehended on May 24 at approximately 17:30 hours, with officers recovering the weapon; he remains in custody awaiting court appearance, a stern warning that electoral processes must remain free from intimidation.

10. Kalumbila Man Arrested for Armed Disruption of Nominations; Seven Others Detained
    Police arrested Redson Sisala, 45, for allegedly carrying a 9mm Girsan pistol with 10 rounds of ammunition at Kalumbila Town Council Civic Centre during parliamentary and mayoral nominations on May 21 between 13:30 and 14:00 hours, causing panic and disrupting proceedings. Sisala was released on bond pending court appearance, while seven additional suspects face idle and disorderly conduct charges under Section 178(f) of the Penal Code, demonstrating that law enforcement will not tolerate attempts to undermine our democratic processes through force.

11. Three Injured in Mtendere Political Rally Violence
    Three people sustained injuries after suspected unruly cadres threw stones into a crowd during a rally addressed by aspiring independent Munali parliamentary candidate Patrick Samwimbila in Lusaka's Mtendere East Compound around 16:00 hours on May 24, confirmed police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi. As we approach August polls, such incidents remind us all that political competition must never descend into violence against fellow citizens—our unity as a nation must transcend party colours.

12. Bus Accident Kills Two Men Repairing Truck on Ndola–Kapiri Mposhi Highway
    Two men lost their lives when a Higer bus belonging to LG Travellers, driven by 50-year-old Simon Chali of Kitwe, crashed into a stationary truck they were repairing along the Ndola–Kapiri Mposhi Highway in the Katanino area around 17:00 hours. This tragedy on one of our busiest transport corridors raises urgent questions about road safety protocols, particularly around broken-down vehicles where mechanics and drivers remain vulnerable.

Other Notable Stories

Governance & Justice:

• Livingstone UPND parliamentary candidate Gracious 'Dillon' Mayangwa has pledged to push for wildlife officers to be classified as a military unit through an Act of Parliament, citing the daily dangers they face from poachers while handling AK-47s, and to improve their conditions of service if elected for Livingstone Central. He also attributed annual animal-human conflicts in Livingstone to failed city planning, noting plots were allocated along elephant corridors without protective measures such as the electric and stone-spiked fences installed at Radisson Blu and Avani hotels.

Community Development:

• Nkabilama Multi-purpose Cooperative in Kanyama's Ward 13 has shared how CDF transformed their group from initial scepticism—chairperson Muyunda Sabuya recalled residents doubting the fund was real—to formal registered enterprise, though challenges persist and they continue seeking more support.

Infrastructure:

• Construction of Kabangwe Police Post, funded through CDF, is progressing steadily according to Lusaka City Council, with the facility expected to strengthen policing and improve public safety for Kabangwe residents once completed.

Political Developments:

• Tonse Alliance official Binwell Mpundu has launched a nationwide campaign drive for the Brian Mundubile-Makebi Zulu presidential ticket, appointing ordinary citizens as campaign managers while excluding certain citizens from participation.

Key Takeaways & Watchpoints

• Electoral Security Tightens: With two firearms arrests at nomination centres and stone-throwing violence at a Lusaka rally, police are signalling zero tolerance for electoral intimidation. Citizens should expect continued firm enforcement as August approaches, and all political actors must commit to peaceful contestation.

• CDF Infrastructure Momentum Accelerates: From health posts in remote Mpika villages to classroom blocks in Lundazi and civic centres in Lusaka, the Constituency Development Fund is visibly reshaping local infrastructure. Watch whether councils can maintain this delivery pace while Dr Bwalya's challenge to generate more local revenue rather than depend solely on CDF takes root.

• Justice and Clemency in Balance: The presidential pardon of over 1,500 inmates alongside strict prosecution of electoral firearms offences illustrates the administration's dual approach to justice—rehabilitation for some, firm consequences for threats to public order. How this balance affects prison overcrowding and community safety merits continued attention.