News Digest - Monday, June 29th, 2026

Our nation continues to witness the Constituency Development Fund transforming lives across provinces, from Mansa to Ndola and Lusaka to Muchinga, while our sporting achievements and democratic processes remind us of the vibrant spirit that defines us as Zambians. As we navigate these developments, the trust we place in our institutions and each other remains the foundation upon which our shared progress is built.

Main Stories

1. Mansa Council Launches 30km Township Road Works
   The Mansa Municipal Council has commenced works on 30 kilometres of township roads across the district under the Constituency Development Fund, including road corridor clearing, grading, shaping, and full gravelling, with critical culvert installation points already being identified to enhance drainage and ensure durability. For our people in Mansa, this means improved accessibility for businesses and residents alike, reducing the burden of impassable roads that have long hampered daily commerce and movement in residential areas.

2. Over 11,000 Ndola Youths Benefit from CDF Skills Development
   A total of 11,191 youths in Ndola have received CDF skills development bursaries between 2022 and 2025, training in heavy equipment operation, driving, metal fabrication, food production, tailoring and other vocational fields, while 290 pupils accessed secondary boarding school bursaries, 1,700 groups received empowerment grants, and 681 groups and individuals accessed empowerment loans. This represents a significant investment in our nation's human capital, equipping young Zambians with practical skills that translate directly into livelihoods and economic participation.

3. Government Hands Over K9.6 Million in CDF Grants and Bursaries in Kanyama
   Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Joe Kalusa presided over the handover of 2026 CDF empowerment grants, skills and secondary boarding school bursaries exceeding K9.6 million to Kanyama beneficiaries, including K6,928,517.81 for 207 secondary boarding school learners and 576 skills development students, plus K2,771,400 distributed to 178 groups and clubs for income-generating activities. This demonstrates how decentralisation is bringing tangible development closer to our communities, with young people in one of Lusaka's most populous constituencies receiving direct support for their education and entrepreneurial ambitions.

4. ZIPS Names Luanshya Council Best Performer in CDF Implementation
   Luanshya Municipal Council has been recognised as the Best Performing Local Authority at the Zambia Institute of Purchasing and Supply 2026 Annual Awards Gala Night in Livingstone, specifically for CDF absorption rate during the 2024-2025 period covering both Roan and Luanshya constituencies, marking the council's second award this year for improved and transparent CDF implementation. For all of us, this sets a benchmark of excellence in public service delivery, showing that accountability and effective execution of our national resources are achievable and worthy of celebration.

5. LCC Paves Heart of Jesus Road in Kabwata Constituency
   The Lusaka City Council has completed paving of Heart of Jesus Road in Libala using CDF funds, involving paver installation to improve road safety and reduce dust, complementing other upgrades in Kabwata Constituency including 11th Street, the Yotam Muleya 21st Street walkway to Chilumbulu Road, Luwi Road in Kamwala Ward, and Nkhata and Lunu Roads. Our capital city's residents are seeing concrete improvements in their daily commute, with dust reduction bringing particular relief to those who walk these busy corridors.

Other Notable Stories

Governance & Politics:

• NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile reportedly suggested at a campaign rally that foreign exchange reserves are meaningless to ordinary citizens, stating his party does not care about such figures—a statement that comes as political campaigning intensifies ahead of the 2026 elections.

• President Hakainde Hichilema thanked thousands of supporters who gathered outside Heroes Stadium for the UPND's 2026 General Election campaign launch on Sunday.

Community & Empowerment:

• Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Dr Tuesday Bwalya handed over K2,754,000 in CDF grants to 153 clubs in Lavushimanda District, with each club receiving K18,000, targeting village banking, small businesses, cooperatives, youth and women's groups, with agriculture as the main sector focus to advance production and food security.

Sports:

• The National Olympic Committee of Zambia rallied athletes, schools, sports federations and the public to embrace physical activity during Olympic Day 2026 celebrations under the global theme "You Can Do This!", featuring an Olympic Day Run, mass aerobics and recreational games at OYDC.

• Zambian fighter Mutinta Mweene defended her home soil with a unanimous decision victory over Angola's Maria Liberal in the flyweight main event at ZNAL 11, improving her record to 7-6-0, though Angolan fighters Alexandre Narciso and Claudio Fontoura also secured victories on the 12-bout card.

Key Takeaways & Watchpoints

• CDF accountability demands sustained attention: While Luanshya's recognition and the proliferation of projects across constituencies demonstrate progress, the variation in implementation quality between councils warrants continued citizen monitoring to ensure every kwacha reaches its intended purpose.

• Skills development scale requires economic absorption: With over 11,000 youths trained in Ndola alone, our nation must watch whether local economies can generate sufficient employment and enterprise opportunities to match this growing skilled workforce.

• Political discourse entering new phase: With major parties now launching formal 2026 campaigns, the quality of policy debate—particularly on economic fundamentals like foreign exchange reserves and inflation—will shape voter decisions and our nation's trajectory.