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Lifestyle

A check by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT on what the Public Gathering Bill, 2026 intends to do revealed that the proposed law seeks to promote freedom of assembly and association, regulate public gatherings for public order and safety, repeal and replace the colonial-era Public Order Act of 1955, and provide for related matters.

The controversial bill forms part of the 74 pieces of legislation that have been pushed through Parliament within a two-week period, a development that has raised concern among civil society organisations and governance stakeholders over the pace of law-making.

Speaking in an interview with Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Caritas Zambia Executive Director, Fr. Gabriel Mapulanga stated that the rapid passage of multiple bills has shocked members of the technical committee that reviewed the Public Order Act in 2022.

Fr. Mapulanga said civil society organisations, legal experts and other stakeholders participated in the review process after the UPND formed a technical committee shortly after assuming office.

“We reviewed the Public Order Act and after reviewing it, the document was given to the then Minister of Justice, Mulambo Haimbe, who later handed it over to Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Jack Mwiimbu in 2022,” he said.

Fr. Mapulanga explained that after the official handover ceremony in 2022, stakeholders never received further communication regarding the contents or progress of the draft legislation until it suddenly resurfaced among the 74 bills currently before Parliament.

“The changes that were made to the document nobody knows, and now the document is already in Parliament and may become law,” he said.

Fr. Mapulanga questioned why government was rushing major legislation within a short period, arguing that the process limits public scrutiny and weakens democratic participation in law-making.

“For us, the thing that comes to our mind is that you do not want to give people more time to scrutinise the laws, so you rush them so that they pass quickly,” he said.

Fr. Mapulanga further argued that the speed at which the legislation is being processed risks creating perceptions that the laws are being tailored to politically benefit those currently in power ahead of the 2026 general elections.

“In that way people will think these laws are just being passed for political advantage and it almost becomes like gerrymandering because even Bill 7 was rushed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fr. Mapulanga warned that passing large volumes of legislation simultaneously could create long-term legal instability, especially if future governments decide to reverse laws enacted without broad consensus.

“Those who do not agree with these laws may reverse them when they form government, and that is a bad thing because you cannot continue making and repealing laws every time governments change,” he said.

Article by Phillip Sinkala

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A check by the Zambian Business Times

Real Estate

The Zambia Institute of Valuation Surveyors has called for the revision of the Rating Act to allow the council to conduct mass appraisals in a bid to capture most properties.

Mass appraisal is the process of valuing large groups of properties as of a specific date using standardized methods, common data, and statistical testing, typically for property tax assessment. It employs tools like computer-assisted mass appraisal.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times (ZBT), ZIVS President Christopher Mulenga observed that the Act does not allow for mass appraisal, hence the gaps in collections of rates.

“Currently the Act does not allow for mass evaluation appraisals, which allow for capturing a lot of properties in a given time frame. Currently it’s only the local authorities that update the valuation role every five years, and each year there are properties that are not captured because of the cut-off date,” he added.

He observed that some of the properties that are unmarked can generate huge revenue and, therefore, there is a need to review and act with immediacy. “In terms of the revenue leakages that the authorities might be experiencing, for instance, if Lusaka is supposed to capture 20,000 properties in a particular valuation role, you find that they are only capturing 15,000.”

Article by Samuel Mutale

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The Zambia Institute of Valuation Surveyors has

Real Estate

Senior Chief Luembe of Nyimba District said chiefs must prioritize community value, safety, and land security before issuing recommendation letters to real estate developers seeking land outside the city center.

 In an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times, Chief Luembe outlined a five-stage vetting process he personally uses before giving any developer a go-ahead.

“He said the second step is assessing the value of the project to the chiefdom. The third stage involves land availability and impact. “Do we have the space where this project would be conducted? What inconveniences is it going to bring to the communities or surrounding communities?” Chief Luembe stated “Are people going to be displaced? Are there going to be any chemical influences, and what effect are those chemicals going to have on the environment?” Chief Luembe stressed that safety measures must come before corporate social responsibility talks.

 “Before you even start looking at the corporate social responsibility issue, there must be those safety measures that a chief should look at,” he said.

 Only after safety, displacement, and environmental checks are cleared does he move to CSR negotiations. “After meeting all those other necessary requirements, then that’s when you would now start asking what are the social responsibilities that this company will provide to the community,” he said.

He listed schools, clinics, road access, and upgrading social amenities as key CSR considerations. “You need to know what terms they are getting this piece of land. Do they want a title? If so, why? Is it necessary to give a title?” he added. “If not, what other ways can we use so that maybe the community does not lose its land?” he said.

 Employment for locals is the final non-negotiable, according to the chief. “If it’s an organization that seeks to provide employment, we should agree that a certain percentage of the workforce, skilled or unskilled depending on what they are doing, must come from the communities,” he said.

“These days we have got many skilled young men and women who are in villages but don’t have employment because they can’t find employment anywhere. So when you have such an opportunity, you better put your people first,” Chief Luembe said. “So those are the most important things that, personally, I would look at before saying or giving a go-ahead,” he concluded.

Article by Francine Chibuye

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Senior Chief Luembe of Nyimba District said

Lifestyle

The Zambia Police Service (ZP) has warned officers against overcharging members of the public cornered for contravention offenses beyond the stipulated K54.

 Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times, police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi urged the members of the public to request receipts after the admission-of-guilty fine is paid.

“Members of the public should request official receipts for any fines paid. If an officer demands more money, that should be reported immediately to supervisors or the officer in charge,” he said. This was in response to growing public concerns over the enforcement of contravention offenses, commonly known as “Shishita,” amid complaints of unfair arrests and alleged extortion by some police officers.

Chilabi acknowledged receiving isolated complaints from members of the public who claim they are sometimes arrested just a few meters from their homes while criminals and suspected drug users roam freely.

 He explained that police officers are legally mandated to apprehend individuals found committing offenses that meet the legal threshold for contravention offenses. He stated that once apprehended, suspects are formally charged and given an opportunity to either admit to or deny the offense.

 “If someone feels they have been unfairly arrested, they are free to deny the charge and have the matter taken to court,” Chilabi said. Chilabi cautioned citizens against resorting to bribery, noting that some individuals worsen the situation by offering officers money to avoid lawful procedures.

“Unfortunately, some people choose to bribe officers and only complain afterward. To stop corruption, the public must report these incidents promptly,” he added.

 Addressing concerns about corruption among senior officers, Chilabi defended station commanders, stating that officers in charge are generally vetted and capable leaders.

However, he encouraged members of the public dissatisfied with local responses to escalate complaints to district commanding officers or external oversight institutions such as the Police Public Complaints Commission and the Human Rights Commission.

Addressing complaints from individuals arrested near their homes during curfew hours, Chilabi urged citizens to comply with the law and avoid confrontations with officers.

He stressed that wrongful arrests carry legal consequences for offending officers but emphasized that justice can only prevail if victims formally challenge charges through legal channels. He further appealed for greater public cooperation in fighting both misconduct and corruption.

Article by Karen Ngulube

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The Zambia Police Service (ZP) has warned

Lifestyle

cases of persistent fever, diarrhea, and general body weakness continue to rise in many communities, fears of a possible typhoid outbreak have begun to grow among residents.

According to Emmanuel Ngoma, a Pharmacy Technologist at Pearl of Health Hospital, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of people with prescribed typhoid medication, especially antibiotics, during this period.

However, he warned that many people are taking medication without proper laboratory tests, leading to dangerous consequences.

Speaking in an interview, Ngoma, described typhoid as a serious bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi, a bacteria commonly transmitted through contaminated food and untreated water.

 “Typhoid is usually transmitted from contaminated or untreated water. It can also spread when someone uses the too and does not wash their hands properly before handling food,” Ngoma said.

Ngoma explained that the disease spreads mainly through fecal-oral transmission, where infected particles are transferred from unwashed hands into food or water consumed by another person.

He noted that the most common symptoms include prolonged fever, weakness, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain, urging members of the public to seek medical attention immediately instead of diagnosing themselves at home.

Ngoma further cautioned that self-medication is contributing to antimicrobial resistance, a situation where bacteria become resistant to antibiotics due to unnecessary exposure.

“People who previously had typhoid often advise others with similar symptoms to use the same medication without testing. This creates resistance because the bacteria learn how to defend themselves against the antibiotics,” he said.

He also highlighted that children remain among the most vulnerable groups due to poor hygiene and exposure to contaminated food and water.

Article by Catherine Phiri

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cases of persistent fever, diarrhea, and general

Agribusiness

With the cold season approaching, Zambian agriculture enters a high-risk period. Sub-optimal temperatures often lead to physiological stresses ranging from wilting and yellowing to reduced nutrient uptake that can significantly diminish total output. For local growers, mitigating these winter-induced growth delays is essential for maintaining consistent farm productivity.

In an interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, agronomist Clever Munsunge said managing crops against frost requires proactive, passive methods implemented well in advance to avoid damage. “Foliar feeds play an important role during cold periods, not by warming the plant but by strengthening its physiology,” Munsunge explained.

“When sprayed on the leaves, nutrients are absorbed directly through the leaf surfaces, bypassing the roots that become less efficient in cold soil.” He said foliar feeding supports photosynthesis, maintains leaf greenness, and keeps plants metabolically active. Key nutrients for cold stress include calcium to strengthen cell walls, potassium to improve stress tolerance, magnesium for chlorophyll and photosynthesis, and seaweed, amino acids, and biostimulants to enhance tolerance to environmental stress.

 Munsunge said that there is a need to ensure that the plants are watered in the morning. This gives the plant time to process the water throughout the day and dry before the colder temperature hits at night. He cautioned that watering at night can cause water to sit around roots, leading to root rot and fungal growth. “Drip irrigation is the most efficient method during the cold season. It delivers water directly to the roots, reducing evaporation and minimizing foliage disease due to leaf wetness if you use overhead irrigation.” Adding organic matter to soil is essential, according to Munsunge.

“Organic matter acts as a crucial water shield by insulating soil to maintain warmer temperatures, promoting better soil structure to prevent compaction, and retaining moisture while improving drainage, which protects roots from freezing or rotting.” Mulching also plays a key protective role.

“Munsunge helps keep the soil warm by reducing heat loss during cold nights, which supports healthy development. It reduces crop stress, minimizes water usage, and improves overall crop productivity,” he said. “Mulching creates a protective layer over the soil, supporting stable growth even in harsh weather conditions.”

 Munsunge emphasized that consistent field monitoring is non-negotiable in winter. “A critical daily task is to scout the field for pests, diseases, and deficiencies to ensure plant health and productivity. Consistent field monitoring can yield higher produce.”

He advised farmers to practice good hygiene by removing and disposing of diseased or rotting plant materials promptly.

 “Report any abnormalities of the crop to your agriculture specialist for quick help before the problem grows.” Munsunge concluded that combining these practices, foliar nutrition, controlled irrigation, organic matter, mulching, and daily scouting will help farmers maintain yields despite frost risk.

Article by Francine Chibuye

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With the cold season approaching, Zambian agriculture

Agribusiness

According to the ZAMSTATS April 2026 report, a 25kg bag of the national staple costs as low as K235 in Kabwe, while those in the remote northern district are being forced to pay K165 more for the same commodity.

However, Chilubi District Commissioner has noted that residents are reportedly not complaining despite the price of a bag of mealie meal skyrocketing to K400. Speaking in an interview with Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Chilubi District Commissioner, Risto Mushembe, claimed that despite these massive price increments, there are no shortages and local residents are comfortable with the current market rates.

“The primary driver behind the inflated prices is a monopoly in the transport systems and the high costs businesses incur when moving the commodity into the district,” said Mushembe. He told ZBT that while people are producing maize locally and the supply remains stable, the lack of local milling companies forces retailers to procure mealie meal from nearby districts like Samfya.

 “Every processed mealie meal is bought from other districts and the cost of transporting the food items makes it easy for businesses to price the commodity at that level,” said Mushembe.

Meanwhile, the District Commissioner admitted that the absence of a local milling plant is a huge factor in the price hike, though establishing one would be a logistical challenge due to farming limitations on the island.

 However, he clarified that the K400 price tag specifically affects the islanders in the Central Business District (CBD), whereas those on the mainland remain insulated because they have sufficient maize for their local grinding mills.

Article by Philip Sinkala

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According to the ZAMSTATS April 2026 report,

Sport

Chipololpolo and Mufulira Wanderers legend Fredrick Kashimoto has hailed the renaming of Manyumbi Tollgate after legendary coach and player Godfrey Ucar; however, he urged the government and allies to replicate the honoring to other notable sports and women.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times, Kashimoto observed that there is a tendency to honor people after they are late, a status quo that he described as unfair.

Ucar Chitali is one of the most prolific legends in Zambian football, associated with records, such as scoring 107 goals in a single season (1970) and earning five players of the season awards during his career in the local league.

The Kabwe Warriors legend met his fate along with other Chipolopolo footballers; at the time he was a coach, in the infamous Gabon Air Disaster, a tragedy that robbed the country of glory.

“The government should honor even those that are still alive, not when they die. We have a number of people that have contributed to the sport: Peter Kaumba, Beston Chambeshi, and Bubble Malitoli. We are happy that the tollgate has been named after the great Godfrey Ucar Chitalu.”

Several football fanatics have been advocating for the honoring of legends, particularly naming stadia and other infrastructure in respect of the massive contributions to Zambian football.

However, Kashimoto called on the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to expedite the process of constructing a football museum, highlighting that the initiative is vital because there is so much of the sport that is undocumented and organized.

Article by Samuel Mutale

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Chipololpolo and Mufulira Wanderers legend Fredrick Kashimoto

Mining

Konkola Copper Mines – KCM has denied allegations that its parent company – Vedanta Resources Limited – has breached some of the key commitment milestones in the Shareholder agreement signed in November 2023 with the Zambia Government that involved the investment commitment of $1 billion with focus on revising the Konkola Deep Mining Project – KDMP

A UK research firm and some concerned stakeholders have accused Vedanta of blatant breaches and wondered why the Zambian Government has not declared a dispute, initiated the stated arbitration and with the aim of exercising the exit clauses to find a suitable and alternative investor to take over the asset and develop KDMP to realise the needed production for the country. They have accused Vedanta of failing to inject the signed off funding through agreed funding tranches within the agreed timelines.

According to a publication seen by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, UK research firm Viceroy, has accused Vedanta of deliberately misleading bondholders, analysts and rating agencies about their contractual obligations to fund KCM. The report accused Vedanta management of “having emphatically stated that there is no funding requirement for KCM from Vedanta in the medium term. This is categorically untrue as $206 million is due by December 31, 2025 with a further $270m in 2026”.

On allegations that Vedanta has breached some of the key commitment milestones and that the dispute, arbitration and exit clauses should have been exercised by the Zambia Government by now, KCM Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Dr. John Kunda told ZBT that “all clauses and obligations under the agreement are subject to monitoring and verification by independent parties. Based on these oversight mechanisms, Vedanta has fulfilled its obligations under the Shareholders Agreement to date”.

Dr. Kunda further told ZBT that “concerning allegations of material breaches, the commitments under the Shareholders Agreement are clearly defined, documented, and verifiable. It is therefore important for any specific concerns or alleged unfulfilled obligations to be clearly identified and substantiated. From KCM’s perspective, all commitments under the Shareholders Agreement remain current and are being fulfilled in accordance with the agreed framework”.

According the excerpts of the shareholder agreement seen by ZBT, Vedanta on 6 November 2023 committed to investing $1 billion via capital expenditure support commitments  disbursements in six months funding cycles. Vedanta committed to $124 million in the first six months, another $206 million after twelve months, a further $98 million after eighteen months, a further $172 after twenty four months.

Vedanta committed to the Zambia Government to continue investing further $45 million after 30 months, a further $95 million after 36 months, another injection of $45 million after 42 months, another $85 million after 48 months, another $53 million after 54 months and a final injection of $77 million after 60 months (5 years). A ZBT analysis of the period from date of sign off in November 2023 to May 2026 is a period of between 24 and 30 months, which indicates that Vedanta should have by now invested over $600 million.

On the question of how much has been invested so far, Dr. Kunda confirmed that Vedanta has since the signing of the Shareholders Agreement in November 2023, already injected over US$600 million into KCM and the Zambian economy. These investments are supporting the Konkola Deep Mining Project (KDMP), operational rehabilitation, critical mine infrastructure, and sustainability initiatives. However, there are no independent sources to verify that indeed these investments have rolled as as accusation and suspicion of under delivery continue by sources contacted by ZBT who are close to the operations at the mine.

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Konkola Copper Mines - KCM has denied

Current_Affairs, Lifestyle

Political Analysis – As the date for the official presidential dissolution of parliament led by the United Party for National Development -(UPND) incumbent and Zambia republican President – Hakainde Hichilema draws near, the political high stakes chess game is being set into high gear. Political intelligence sources are indicating that negotiations are well in advanced stages for an opposition grand coalition.

In a low individual income economy like Zambia were raising a $5,000 (K100,000) by most individuals and even experienced politicians is a challenge, the paying by 25 opposition candidates to stand should have ideally sent alarm bells to the ruling party that something was in the cooker. Even some opposition candidates known to be struggling financially at their personal levels were able to promptly pay the Electoral Commission of Zambia – ECZ – the Presidential nomination fee with no hesitance.

If you critically look the list, most of the candidates are actually a faction that was “forced to split” owing the the roadblocks in official registration and sanitising of official records held by the registrar of societies for the erstwhile ruling Party – the Patriotic Front. Most would have attempted to stand for the PF presidency and if not elected, would have ended up endorsing whoever came out victorious, but that scenario did not play out due to “political” road blocks.

Yesterday saw the coming together of two factions of the immediate former ruling party – The Patriotic Front (PF) led Prominent Lawyer Brian Mundubile who has paid nominations fees to stand on the FDD anchored Tonse Alliance and another faction led by another Prominent Lawyer Makebi Zulu anchored on the little known Resolute Party – The PF Pamodzi alliance. These are perhaps the very significant factions of the PF and there coming together may just open the floodgates for a grand opposition coalition.

Insiders say this political marriage cements a coalition of a powerful voting block that has won every election in Zambia, with the exception of the 2021 general elections. This North-East voting block boasts of having a higher population and had enjoyed more parliamentary seats, an advantage that has been slightly altered following the recent delimitation exercise spearheaded by the ruling UPND.

The sources has also indicated that this grand coalition is also having the support and blessing of Zambia’s biggest churches. Its also not a secrete that the intent UPND government is also not enjoying the support of key diplomatic and foreign offices in Zambia. It’s this combination that the ruling party will have to outwit to be able to retain power and continue into a second term. But what are the odds?

For those who have followed Zambian politics and voting patterns, there seems to be emerging clear provinces and constituencies with inclination to certain political leanings. For the 13 August 2026 polls, the ruling UPND seems set to retain control of the South-West voting block while the Opposition has fertile ground to fully harvest the North-East voting block. This is why the opposition coalition if hatched properly, stands a bigger chance to mount a challenge and even wrestle power from the ruling UPND.

With a credible grand opposition coalition, Political analysts are saying with almost sure certainty that who ever takes the highest populated and urbanised Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces will win the national polls in August 2026. With the current high cost of living, an elongeted load shedding period that killed or largely wiped out most private businesses capital in the urban areas, the ruling UPND has a tough job to convince and let along win the minds and hearts of the massive population of citizens residing in these two very important regions – Lusaka & Copperbelt.

Moreover, the ruling UPND also has a litany of unfulfilled promises which risks their prospects of massively harvesting votes even from their own stronghold regions. Take for instance the North-Western mineral rich mining region, despite enjoying historical and cultural support from the key chiefs, the region remains underdeveloped even after the full 5 year term of office for the UPND.

Key economic roads such as Solwezi to Mwininilunga to Ikelengi remain undone. Other roads such as Solwezi-Kipushi road which could give the North-west a direct trade route into DRC remain undone. Another road linking the North-West to Wester and through to the Walvis Bay trade corridor – the Mutanda-Kasempa-Kaoma road are still a work in progress. Even attempts by locals to harvest some gold finding through artisanal mining was not realised, living most youths in the region disillusioned.

Unless something spectacular is done, North-Western Province with a relatively small voting population may also experience low voter turn out, further complicating the prospects for the ruling UPND and incumbent President Hichilema. However, Western and Southern Provinces look relatively stable and is expected to vote for the ruling UPND, with only the work of getting out the vote needed to replicate the perhaps abnormal voter turn out that was achieved in 2021.

Article by Donald Mumba

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Political Analysis - As the date for

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