UN Clarifies It Has No Electoral Observation Mandate in Zambia

By Alain Kabinda

LUSAKA, 15 August 2026 – The United Nations (UN) in Zambia has denied reports circulating on social media that its observers congratulated a presidential candidate following the 13 August 2026 general elections.

The UN says it did not deploy election observers for the elections and has no electoral observation mandate in Zambia.

In a statement issued to Daily News in Lusaka, the UN said claims suggesting that the organisation or its representatives had endorsed, congratulated or commented on any candidate or electoral outcome were false and misleading.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Zambia Beatrice Mutali said the UN only observes national electoral processes when specifically mandated to do so by the General Assembly or the Security Council.

"The United Nations does not observe national electoral processes unless mandated by the General Assembly or the Security Council," Mutali said.

She explained that although the UN supports Member States in strengthening democratic institutions and encourages compliance with international obligations and commitments, it does not pronounce itself on the validity of an electoral process or the legitimacy of electoral outcomes.

The clarification follows the circulation of alleged information on social media purporting to show UN involvement in the country's electoral process.

The UN has strongly condemned the alleged inappropriate and unlawful use of its emblems and urged the public and media organisations to exercise caution when consuming and sharing election-related information.

The organisation has called on members of the public and media houses to verify information through official UN communication channels before sharing or publishing it.

The UN warned that the circulation of unverified information could contribute to misinformation and disinformation, particularly during the sensitive period following the elections.

Meanwhile, the UN has appealed for dialogue among political stakeholders to help defuse tensions as the country awaits the official announcement of election results.

It has further urged political leaders to uphold the political parties' peace pledge and called on their supporters to reject any form of violence.

The UN's statement comes as Zambia awaits the official conclusion of the electoral process, with stakeholders being urged to remain peaceful and rely on verified information from authorised institutions.

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 ZCTU Warns Employers Against Blocking Workers From Voting on Election Day 

By Alain Kabinda 

The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has urged employers across the country to respect Thursday, 13 August 2026, as a public holiday and ensure workers are given sufficient opportunity to participate in the electoral process. 

ZCTU President Blake Mulala said workers should not be forced to choose between reporting for duty and exercising their constitutional right to vote. 

                                                                     (Mr. Blake Mulala)

Mr Mulala particularly called on private-sector employers not to compel workers to report for normal duties where doing so could prevent or interfere with their ability to cast their ballots.

 “The declaration of 13th August 2026 as a public holiday must be respected by every employer,” Mr Mulala said. “Workers are citizens first, and they have an equal right to participate in choosing the leadership of this country.” 

He said employers operating essential services and other critical operations that require workers to remain on duty should put practical arrangements in place to ensure affected employees have sufficient time to vote.

 Mr Mulala warned that the labour movement would oppose any attempts to intimidate or victimise workers for exercising their democratic rights.

 He said workers should not face threats of dismissal, loss of pay, disciplinary action or other forms of victimisation because they want to participate in the electoral process. 

The ZCTU President also called on the Government and relevant authorities to ensure the public holiday is respected and that workers are protected from intimidation, discrimination and victimisation linked to their participation in the election. 

He encouraged all eligible workers to turn out in large numbers, vote peacefully and exercise their civic responsibility.

 “The ballot belongs to every citizen, including the working people of Zambia. Let no worker be left behind because of work obligations. Every worker must have the opportunity to vote,” Mr Mulala said. 

The ZCTU said it would remain committed to protecting workers’ rights and ensuring that working people can participate fully in decisions affecting their lives, livelihoods and the future of Zambia.

 Continental Re Opens BWP2.13 Billion Public Offer on Botswana Stock Exchange

  By Alain kabinda 

GABORONE, Botswana — Continental Reinsurance Holdings Limited has opened a BWP2.13 billion (US$156.1 million) public offer on the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE), in a landmark transaction that could make the company the first reinsurer listed on Botswana’s capital market. 

The offer gives retail and institutional investors an opportunity to take part in the ownership of a pan-African reinsurance group with more than four decades of industry experience. Subject to the successful completion of the offer and admission to trading, Continental Re Holdings will become the first reinsurer listed on the BSE. 

Shares are being offered at BWP1 each, with a minimum application of 200 shares, or BWP200. 

Of the total proceeds, BWP409 million (US$30 million) will be raised by the Group to finance its next phase of growth, while BWP1.72 billion (US$126.1 million) will facilitate the exit of existing shareholders. 

The company said the capital raised will be used to strengthen its balance sheet and support its ambition of progressing towards an A financial strength rating. It also plans to expand its core underwriting operations, scale its capital-light Alternative Risk Solutions business and invest in digital infrastructure. 

“For over 40 years, Continental Reinsurance has been at the heart of Africa’s insurance story, absorbing risk, enabling growth, and ensuring that when the unexpected happens, Africa’s insurance market can respond,” Group Managing Director Lawrence Mutsunge Nazare said. 

                                            (Mr. Lawrence Mutsunge Nazare)

He described the public offer as the next step in the company’s development and said the listing would deepen Continental Re’s commitment to Botswana while opening a new chapter of public ownership for the pan-African reinsurer. 

Continental Reinsurance Holdings is a Botswana-domiciled holding company incorporated in November 2023 to consolidate and extend the Group’s African reinsurance operations. 

The Group provides life and non-life reinsurance across business lines including property and engineering, casualty and liability, marine and aviation, energy and political risks, agriculture and life insurance. 

Its operations span more than 50 African countries and the Middle East, with regional hubs in Lagos, Nairobi, Gaborone, Douala, Abidjan and Tunis. The Group employs 144 professionals representing more than 10 nationalities, with women accounting for more than 40% of its workforce. 

The public offer comes after an improvement in the Group’s financial performance. 

For the 2025 financial year, Continental Re reported gross written premiums of US$165.6 million, equivalent to about BWP2.27 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 5.5%. 

Insurance revenue reached US$173.1 million, while profit before tax rose by more than 50% to US$9.7 million, or approximately BWP105 million. 

The Group's loss ratio stood at 33%, while its combined ratio improved to 92%, compared with 94% in 2024. 

Continental Re said the performance reflects its focus on disciplined underwriting and provides a platform for further expansion across African markets. 

The listing comes as the African reinsurance market continues to offer significant expansion opportunities, supported by relatively low insurance penetration, increasing infrastructure investment, climate-related risks and regulatory initiatives aimed at retaining more insurance premiums within the continent. 

According to figures cited by the company, African reinsurance premiums increased by about 89% in the decade to 2024, outpacing the growth of the continent’s direct insurance market. 

The African reinsurance market was valued at more than US$6.27 billion in 2024, representing about 1.6% of the global market. Non-life business dominates the market, accounting for approximately 87.5%, while life reinsurance represents the remaining 12.5%. 

Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Morocco and Algeria are among the continent’s leading reinsurance markets. 

For Botswana, the transaction also carries significance beyond Continental Re itself. The proposed listing supports efforts to deepen the country’s capital markets by introducing a new financial-services sector to the local exchange and broadening investment opportunities for domestic investors.

 IBA Warns Broadcasters Against Speculative Election Results

 By Alain Kabinda 

LUSAKA — The Independent Broadcasting Authority, IBA, has urged broadcasters to strictly adhere to the 2026 Election Coverage Guidelines as Zambia heads to the polls on Thursday.

The guidelines, issued in May, are aimed at promoting accurate, balanced, fair and responsible election coverage while ensuring that the public has access to reliable information to make informed decisions.

Speaking to the media in Lusaka  IBA Director General Webster Malido said  that before general elections the institution conducted a series of election coverage workshops to strengthen broadcasters’ understanding of the guidelines and the legal and professional standards governing election broadcasting.

Mr Malido also commended broadcasters for their overall compliance during the campaign period, although it says some instances of non-compliance have been recorded.

He further reminded broadcasters that election coverage is subject to specific requirements, including restrictions on campaign interviews featuring political parties or candidates on polling day.

Broadcasters have also been cautioned against airing predictions of election outcomes.

He warned  that no new opinion poll results should be broadcast before the close of polling.

Where opinion polls are permitted, broadcasters must disclose information including the source of the poll, the organisation that conducted or sponsored it, the date it was conducted, the population covered, the sample size and the methodology used.

On election results, the IBA has urged broadcasters to exercise the highest levels of accuracy and professionalism.

While stations may provide updates on voting, counting and tallying, they have been warned against announcing speculative, projected or unverified results.

Mr Malido said election results should only be broadcast after they have been officially announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

Broadcasters have also been urged to exercise caution when using information obtained from social media, political actors, commentators and other unofficial or unverified sources.

Mr. Malido has called for fair and equitable coverage of all political parties and candidates, with broadcasters expected to provide reasonable opportunities for contestants to communicate their views and policies.

Mr. Malido added against content that promotes hate speech, tribalism, violence, character assassination or the spread of misinformation.

Meanwhile, members of the public, political parties, candidates and other stakeholders have been reminded that complaints concerning election coverage should first be submitted to the broadcasting station concerned.

Stations are required to respond to complaints within two days during the election period.

Where there is no response within the prescribed period, or where a complainant is dissatisfied with the response, the matter can be escalated to the IBA.

The Authority says it will continue monitoring election-related broadcasts throughout the electoral period to ensure compliance with the law and the 2026 Election Coverage Guidelines.

The IBA has called on broadcasters to remain committed to accuracy, fairness and responsible reporting, saying professional and ethical coverage will be critical to supporting a peaceful and credible electoral process.

 From Forests to Finance: How Zambia's Carbon Registry Could Transform Climate Action

By Alain Kabinda

For decades, Zambia's vast forests, wetlands and rich biodiversity have been recognised as one of the country's greatest natural assets. Today, those ecosystems are becoming economic assets as well.

With the launch of the National Carbon Registry, Zambia has taken a decisive step into the rapidly expanding global carbon market, positioning itself among the first countries in the world to establish a fully integrated sovereign digital platform for managing carbon credits.

The move is more than a technological achievement. It represents a shift in how Zambia intends to finance climate action, attract green investment and protect its natural resources while pursuing sustainable economic growth.

This Development which is made by the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment (MGEE) and the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) with support from the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) Programme, the registry establishes the digital backbone for Zambia's participation in international carbon trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

At its core, the registry is designed to answer one of the biggest questions in carbon markets: Can carbon credits be trusted?

Carbon markets have often faced criticism over transparency, weak oversight and the risk of "double counting"—where the same emission reduction is claimed by multiple parties.

The digital platform will register carbon projects, track greenhouse gas emission reductions, verify climate outcomes and issue carbon credits using internationally recognised monitoring, reporting and verification standards.

Every carbon credit generated through the system can be traced, providing investors, governments and project developers with greater confidence that the environmental benefits are genuine and measurable.

Speaking during the launch in Lusaka Ministry of Green Economy and Environment Permanent Secretary Mr. Douty Chibamba said transparency lies at the heart of the new system.

"Zambia's Carbon Registry is fully online, demonstrating our integrity and strong commitment to accountability and transparency. We will ensure that all activities conform to the provisions of Zambia's Green Economy and Climate Change Act and the Paris Agreement, and that actions related to our carbon credits are visible and can be reviewed by members of the public," he said.

Countries and companies around the world are searching for credible carbon credits to help meet their climate commitments.

With bilateral agreements already signed with Sweden, Norway and Switzerland under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, Zambia is now positioned to begin trading internationally recognised carbon credits.

This creates opportunities for new investment in forest conservation, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and community-based climate projects.

Rather than relying solely on traditional development assistance, Zambia could increasingly attract climate finance by protecting ecosystems that naturally absorb carbon dioxide.

If well governed, carbon projects have the potential to generate employment, support conservation efforts, improve rural livelihoods and create new income streams while preserving forests that millions of people depend on.

It represents years of work to establish the legal, institutional and technical systems needed for Zambia to participate in global carbon markets.

And Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) and integrated with the country's national greenhouse gas monitoring systems.

Acting Director General Christopher Kanema added that the agency is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity.

He said the registry will be fully integrated with Zambia's national Measurement, Reporting and Verification system to ensure seamless reporting between carbon market activities and national greenhouse gas accounting.

Such integration is expected to strengthen compliance with Zambia's Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement while improving oversight of climate mitigation projects.

Rather than importing solutions exclusively from outside the continent, Zambia partnered with Ghana's Environmental Protection Agency through South-South cooperation.

The collaboration allowed the two countries to exchange technical expertise and practical lessons while building systems tailored to African realities.

The registry was developed under the SPAR6C Programme, implemented internationally by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and delivered in Zambia by GFA Consulting Group and the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre.

The partnership illustrates how African countries are increasingly collaborating to strengthen climate governance and unlock new sources of sustainable finance.

Meanwhile SPAR6C Zambia Team Lead Joachim Schnurr described the registry as a turning point.

"Today, Zambia transitions from a country of immense ecological potential to a nation with world-class climate governance," he said.

By reducing administrative barriers and preventing double counting, the registry is expected to make Zambia a more attractive destination for carbon finance investment.

Initially, it will support carbon projects developed under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

A second phase will expand the platform to include the Voluntary Carbon Market, enabling additional projects to register, report and monitor their performance.

The challenge now will be ensuring that carbon finance delivers tangible benefits for communities while maintaining high environmental standards.

Done well, the registry could become one of Zambia's most important climate governance tools—not only helping the country meet its emissions reduction commitments but also transforming its forests, wetlands and natural landscapes into engines of sustainable development.

In a world increasingly shaped by the green economy, Zambia is betting that environmental stewardship and economic opportunity can go hand in hand. The National Carbon Registry is the country's strongest signal yet that it intends to compete—and lead—in the global carbon market.

 

 WASH Cannot Wait: NGO Forum Calls for Water and Sanitation to Top Zambia's 2026 Election Agenda  

By Alain Kabinda 

As Zambia prepares for the 2026 General Elections next week, the NGO WASH Forum is urging all political parties and aspiring leaders to place water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) at the centre of their campaign promises, arguing that access to these essential services is fundamental to the country's health, development and resilience. 

Speaking to the media in Lusaka on Friday, NGO WASH Forum Coordinator Ms. Bubala Muyovwe called on all political parties and candidates to make clear, measurable and adequately financed commitments to WASH, warning that millions of Zambians continue to lack access to basic services despite years of policy commitments. 

                                                       (Ms. Bubala Muyovwe)

Ms. Muyovwe said that safe water, decent sanitation and good hygiene are not partisan issues but essential public services that affect every household, community and sector of the economy. 

According to data research shows that only 62 percent of Zambians have access to basic drinking-water services, while just 37 percent have access to basic sanitation and 31 percent have access to basic handwashing facilities. The greatest disparities are found in rural, peri-urban and other underserved communities. 

She also said these gaps have far-reaching consequences, contributing to recurring cholera outbreaks and other preventable diseases, disrupting children's education, placing additional pressure on health facilities and reducing productivity, particularly among vulnerable households. 

Ms. Muyovwe expressed concern over declining public investment in the sector. It noted that WASH allocations have fallen from 2.5 percent of the national budget in 2020 to 1.06 percent in 2026, despite growing demand for reliable water and sanitation services. 

And the research report pointed out that while the National Development Plan estimates that approximately K3.5 billion is required annually to meet the country's WASH needs, only K1.5 billion was allocated, with actual disbursements amounting to K31.9 million. Ms. Muyovwe added that approximately 87 percent of financing for the sector continues to come from development partners, a situation it described as unsustainable for long-term national development. 

She further warned that climate change is placing additional strain on Zambia's water systems through prolonged droughts, floods and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. It said these challenges underscore the need for climate-resilient WASH infrastructure, particularly in communities most vulnerable to climate shocks. 

To address these concerns, the Forum is calling on political parties to make WASH a national development priority by setting measurable targets, increasing domestic financing, giving sanitation and hygiene equal attention alongside water supply, expanding climate-resilient services, strengthening transparency and accountability in WASH financing, and integrating the sector into public health, disaster preparedness and climate adaptation strategies. 

Ms. Muyovwe also urged all citizens to make WASH a key election issue by asking candidates a simple but significant question: What is your practical, funded plan to ensure every Zambian has access to safe water, decent sanitation and hygiene? 

As Zambia works towards achieving its national development goals and Sustainable Development Goal 6, which calls for universal access to clean water and sanitation, the Forum argues that future progress will depend not only on political promises but on sustained investment and effective implementation. 

The organization has further said the decisions made today will shape whether millions of Zambians can enjoy healthier, more productive and more resilient lives in the years ahead.

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 Communities Must Shape the Lobito Corridor, Not Just Watch It Happen - CSOs

By Alain Kabinda

LUSAKA — The signing pens moved quietly across the pages, but the message from the room was unmistakable: development along the Lobito Corridor must be built with communities, not simply around them.

In a significant step toward strengthening citizen participation in one of Southern Africa’s most ambitious infrastructure and economic corridors, People in Need (PIN) and several Zambian civil society organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Corridor Voices Initiative in Lusaka.

The agreement marks the beginning of a long-term partnership aimed at promoting coordinated civil society engagement in the sustainable, inclusive and accountable development of the Lobito Corridor.

Representatives from civil society organisations, community structures and development partners gathered with a shared conviction that communities affected by corridor investments should not be passive beneficiaries but active participants in shaping decisions that affect their lives.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, People in Need Zambia Country Director Ms. Stefanie Lagonigro said the initiative is founded on the principle that lasting development requires informed and active community participation.

“The Corridor Voices Initiative is built on the belief that development is most sustainable when communities are informed, consulted and actively involved in shaping the decisions that affect their lives,” Ms. Lagonigro said.

“Today’s signing demonstrates our collective commitment to ensuring that civil society speaks with a stronger, coordinated voice in promoting inclusive and accountable development.”

The MoU establishes a collaborative platform through which participating organisations will work together to promote meaningful community participation, evidence-based advocacy and inclusive dialogue around investments taking place along the corridor.

The partnership also formalises cooperation among organisations working in areas such as community development, governance, environmental sustainability, livelihoods, gender equality, youth engagement and human rights.

Stretching across key mining and transport routes, the Lobito Corridor is expected to unlock major economic opportunities. Yet many communities along the route have expressed concern that large-scale projects often proceed with limited consultation and insufficient attention to local priorities.

The Corridor Voices Initiative seeks to address that gap by amplifying the voices of affected communities and strengthening engagement between citizens, government institutions, development partners and the private sector.

Partners have committed to sharing knowledge, coordinating advocacy efforts, generating evidence from communities and engaging constructively with decision-makers.

The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration among civil society organisations, promote inclusive advocacy, foster constructive dialogue and support development that is socially inclusive, environmentally responsible and economically beneficial for local populations.

For organisations working directly with communities, the partnership represents an opportunity to ensure that local experiences influence national and regional development decisions.

Kawama Widows and Orphans Project Director said communities in North-Western Province witness daily how infrastructure and mining investments reshape local lives.

“As civil society organisations working closely with communities in North-Western Province, we see every day how infrastructure and mining investments reshape local lives,” the director said.

“Corridor Voices Initiative gives our communities a platform to be heard, to influence decisions and to ensure that development along the Lobito Corridor is fair, inclusive and responsive to the realities on the ground.”

The remarks reflected a broader concern that development must be measured not only by roads, railways and investments, but also by whether local people experience tangible improvements in their livelihoods and wellbeing. 

And speaking at signing ceremony Continental Leadership Research Institute (CLRI) Executive Director Mr. Mundia Paul Hakoola said infrastructure development must be guided by environmental justice and transparency.

“The Continental Leadership Research Institute believes that sustainable infrastructure development must be guided by environmental justice, transparency and meaningful community participation,” Mr. Hakoola said.

“Through the Corridor Voices Initiative, we are proud to partner with like-minded organisations to ensure that the voices of affected communities inform development decisions, helping to safeguard both people and the environment for present and future generations.”

And meanwhile Zambian Governance Foundation (ZGF) Chief Executive Officer Ms. Engwase Banda Mwale, who argued that the traditional model of development must change.

                                    (Ms. Engwase B. Mwale signing and Ms. Stefanie Lagonigro)

“Development is not made for communities; it is actually made with communities,” Ms. Mwale said.

“That is what brings all of us together.”

Her remarks captured the spirit of the initiative: communities should not simply receive development; they should help define it.

Ms. Mwale said civil society organisations see themselves not as substitutes for community voices but as bridges connecting communities with government, investors and other stakeholders involved in the corridor.

“We are not just carriers of community voices,” she said. “We are going to be part and parcel of the process to ensure that communities are not only participating, but are fully active in the activities and programmes that will be implemented.”

The atmosphere in the conference hall was marked by optimism and a sense of shared purpose. Representatives from different organisations spoke as collaborators in a common effort rather than as separate institutions pursuing individual agendas.

“It is actually quite a happy moment for all of us,” Ms. Mwale said. “We are looking forward to making this work.”

As the ceremony concluded, conversations continued about livelihoods, environmental protection, youth opportunities and the importance of local ownership of development processes.

Those discussions reflected the deeper significance of the MoU: the belief that infrastructure corridors can become corridors of opportunity only when the people who live along them are genuinely heard.

The organizations which participated in the signing agreement were, Keepers Zambia Foundation (KZF), Center for Trade and Policy Development (CTPD), Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection (JCTR), MUSIKA, FAWEZA, Zambia Governance Foundation, Center for Environmental Justice (CEJ), PWYP Zambia and Kawama Widows, Zambia National Women’s Lobby.

For the partners behind the Corridor Voices Initiative, the signatures placed on paper in Lusaka are only the beginning. The real test will come in villages, towns and settlements along the Lobito Corridor, where communities are waiting not merely to be consulted, but to be recognised as co-authors of their own development story.

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