News Digest - Thursday, September 17th, 2026

This week, the focus shifts from the inauguration fanfare to the hard business of governance: Cabinet has already approved budget priorities under the ambitious Grow Zambia Agenda, while the Attorney General pushes back against civil society claims of lawlessness. Meanwhile, a tragic grenade accident in Mazabuka, a major tax amnesty, and the unveiling of new proportional representation MPs keep the nation’s attention on safety, revenue, and representation.

Main Stories

1. Cabinet fast-tracks Grow Zambia Agenda budget – Cabinet has approved the Budget Policy Concept Paper for the 2027–2029 Medium-Term Budget Plan, less than 24 hours after being constituted, signalling a swift move from stabilisation to growth. The agenda targets 10 million tonnes of maize, 10,000MW of electricity, and a tripling of the economy, but the paper’s broad strokes lack specific funding mechanisms – the real test will be in the detailed 2027 budget and whether these targets are matched by credible resource allocation.

2. AG rejects CSO claims of lawlessness – Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha has dismissed a consortium of civil society organisations’ statement that Zambia has descended into lawlessness, calling it “inflammatory” and unsupported by facts. He defended passport cancellations under Section 12 of the Passport Act and urged CSOs to respect the sub judice rule on treason cases. The government’s response is legally grounded, but the underlying concerns – prolonged detentions, cancelled passports, and the fairness of treason trials – remain unresolved and will continue to test public trust.

3. ECZ to unveil 40 proportional representation MPs on Friday – The Electoral Commission of Zambia will on Friday validate party lists for the 40 new PR seats, with 20 reserved for women, 15 for youth, and five for persons with disabilities. Only two parties – UPND and NRPUP – qualified, which raises questions about the inclusivity of the new system and whether it will genuinely broaden representation or simply entrench the two largest parties.

4. Mazabuka boy loses hand in grenade accident – An 11-year-old boy lost his right hand after a hand grenade he picked up and pulled the pin on exploded in Simwaba village, Chief Mwanachingwala’s area. Police have opened an inquiry file, but the incident – the latest in a string of explosive-object accidents – raises urgent questions about the presence of unexploded ordnance in civilian areas and the adequacy of public safety warnings.

Other Notable Stories

Economy and Finance:

• Zanaco’s after-tax profit dipped 1% to K868 million, despite a 13% rise in operating income, due to a 20% increase in operating expenses – including K85 million for the new Bank of Zambia deposit insurance scheme. The bank’s capital adequacy ratio remains strong at 25.47%, and it is now looking to leverage AI and data analytics.
• The Zambia Revenue Authority has launched an Extended Voluntary Disclosure Scheme offering a 100% waiver on penalties and interest for taxpayers who settle principal liabilities by December 31, 2026. Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane insists it is “not a reward for non-compliance,” but the scheme’s success will depend on how many taxpayers come forward.
• The Road Transport and Safety Agency is set to de-register approximately 57,000 vehicles inactive for over five years, with Times of Zambia calculations suggesting the government has lost between K1.4 billion and K1.6 billion in unpaid road tax and fitness fees. The move is a long-overdue revenue recovery effort, but it may also strand vehicle owners who have legitimate reasons for inactivity.

Mining and Energy:

• Government is engaging an institution to develop a gold traceability system to curb illegal mining, with plans to establish the Zambia Gold Trade Agency to buy gold at competitive prices. The World Gold Council has offered to help set up standard processing plants, but the success of the initiative will hinge on enforcement and whether artisanal miners are brought into the formal economy.
• The Zambezi River Authority reports Lake Kariba’s water level at 481.49 metres, continuing its seasonal decline – a trend that bears watching for power generation in the coming months.

Governance and Legal:

• Two former permanent secretaries face separate legal proceedings: Mwamba Peni over a government vehicle he allegedly failed to surrender, and a former Ministry of Education PS over a US$401.8 million procurement-related loan obligation. Peni has denied wrongdoing and maintains he remains a civil servant pending deployment – the courts will have to untangle the facts.
• Zambia Railways Managing Director Cuthbert Malindi has left the company by mutual consent, with Company Secretary Mwendabai Mwalusi-Bulaya appointed Acting MD. The board’s statement is thin on reasons, leaving observers to wonder what prompted the sudden separation.

Health and Safety:

• Government has assured consumers that no anthrax cases have been detected in livestock this year, with cases confined to wildlife in the Luangwa and Zambezi ecosystems. The Veterinary Services Department has 600,000 doses of anthrax vaccine available, with 20,000 sent to Muchinga Province – a reassuring update, but vigilance is needed as the rainy season approaches.

Sports and Community:

• Absa Bank and partners have pumped K14 million into this month’s Absa Marathon, which has attracted 11,500 registered participants, including 334 international runners from 14 countries. Proceeds will support the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and winners will earn fully funded trips to international marathons – a welcome boost for sports tourism and social inclusion.

Obituary:

• Kwalela Lamaswala, a founder shareholder of First Quantum Minerals and former ZESCO chairperson, has died at age 83. Lamaswala was a key figure in Zambia’s mining history, having helped found FQM during the privatisation era and represented Zambia at the Intergovernmental Council of Copper Exporting Countries. His passing marks the end of an era in Zambia’s mining sector.

Diplomacy:

• Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe will represent President Hichilema at the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, where Zambia will seek support for the Grow Zambia Agenda, sign MOUs establishing diplomatic relations with five countries, and campaign for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for 2027–2029.

Business Promotion:

• PariPesa has announced a partnership with Olympique de Marseille as Regional Africa Partner, targeting football audiences in Zambia and across the continent. This is a commercial announcement, not independent news, and readers should treat it as such.

Key Takeaways & Watchpoints

• Watch the 2027 budget: Cabinet’s approval of the Budget Policy Concept Paper is the first step – the real test is whether the detailed 2027 budget allocates credible resources to the Grow Zambia Agenda’s 10-10-5-3-3-1-1-1 targets, and whether the promised youth internship programme (starting October 1) is fully funded and implemented.
• Monitor the PR MP unveiling: Friday’s validation of party lists for the 40 proportional representation seats will reveal who actually gets to Parliament – watch for the gender, youth, and disability balance, and whether the new system delivers the promised diversity.
• Track the grenade investigation: Police have opened an inquiry into the Mazabuka grenade accident – watch for findings on how the explosive device ended up in a civilian area, and whether authorities will take steps to clear unexploded ordnance to prevent further tragedies.
• Assess the ZRA amnesty’s impact: The Extended Voluntary Disclosure Scheme runs until December 31 – watch for uptake figures and whether the waiver genuinely boosts compliance or simply lets habitual defaulters off the hook.