Airtel Zambia to Sponsor 50 Students in Technology Programmes

By Alain kabinda 

AIRTEL Zambia will sponsor 50 students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue technology-related programmes at the University of Zambia (UNZA) and Copperbelt University (CBU) over the next five years.

Under the Airtel Tech Fellowship, 25 students at each university will have their tuition and accommodation costs covered for up to five years.

The beneficiaries will also receive laptops, data connectivity and monthly allowances, alongside mentorship and career development support.

Speaking at the launch Airtel Zambia Managing Director Hussam Baday announced the initiative during the official launch of the Airtel Tech Fellowship at UNZA in Lusaka.

                                                                 Mr. Hussam Baday

Mr Baday said the programme was aimed at ensuring that financial difficulties did not prevent talented young people from accessing higher education and pursuing careers in technology.

“Today is a declaration of belief. A belief in the immense potential of Zambia’s young people, and a belief that no young person should be denied an opportunity to pursue their dreams because of financial hardship,” he said.

He said applications for the scholarships had officially opened, giving first-year students with an interest in technology an opportunity to apply.

Mr Baday said the fellowship would help prepare a new generation of innovators, engineers, scientists and technology leaders who would contribute to Zambia’s social and economic progress.

Speaking on behalf of Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary-Technical Services Kelvin Mambwe, Director of University Education Brian Makufele welcomed the initiative, saying financial vulnerability should not be mistaken for a lack of ability or ambition.

“Financial vulnerability must never be mistaken for lack of ability, ambition or potential,” Mr Makufele said.

He said the programme demonstrated the importance of collaboration between Government, universities and the private sector in expanding access to higher education.

Mr Makufele called on other private-sector players to support education through scholarships, infrastructure development, mentorship, digital literacy, research and skills development.

“When we support a learner, we support a family. When we educate a young person, we empower a community. And when we invest in the skills of our youth, we strengthen our nation’s capacity to grow and compete,” he said.

And UNZA Vice-Chancellor Professor Mundia Muya commended Airtel for investing in students, saying the fellowship would strengthen links between universities and industry.

Professor Muya said the initiative would help UNZA produce graduates with skills relevant to the country's development needs.

“The greatest threat to a bright student is the lack of funding, and this programme removes that barrier for beneficiaries,” he said.

Meanwhile, CBU Vice-Chancellor Professor Imasiku Nyambe thanked Airtel for extending the fellowship to students at the university.

Professor Nyambe said the initiative reflected the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which emphasises concern for others and recognises that individual progress is connected to the progress of the wider community.

The fellowship will provide selected students with financial, technological and professional support throughout their university studies, with the aim of improving their preparation for careers in technology and related fields.

 

 Ecobank Zambia Invests in the Future of Vulnerable Children at Bauleni Legacy Academy

 Madison Life Launches Baby Expo 2026, Renews Focus on Children’s Financial Future

By Alain kabinda

LUSAKA — Madison Life Insurance Ltd has launched the Madison Baby Expo 2026 as part of efforts to promote child development, health, financial literacy and early financial planning among families.

The expo, which is being held under the theme “Nurturing Life, Supporting Families,” is scheduled for October 31, 2026, at the National Sports Development Complex (NASDC) in Lusaka.

Speaking during the launch in Lusaka, Madison Life Insurance Ltd Managing Director Ms. Agnes Chakonta said the initiative was part of the company’s broader commitment to protecting families and helping them prepare for the future  Ms. Agnes Chakonta 

                         Ms Agnes Chakonta 

Ms Chakonta said the company’s longstanding promise of “Protecting You All the Way” should extend beyond protection against unexpected events to helping parents prepare for important milestones in their children’s lives.

“For 34 years, since entering the Zambian market in 1992, Madison Life Insurance has had the honour of working to help parents plan financially for their children’s future,” she said.

She said the company was taking its responsibility “back to where every journey begins”—the birth and upbringing of a child.

At the centre of the initiative is the Madison Baby Present Policy, which is designed to help parents plan financially for their children’s future.

Madison Life Insurance Regional Manager for Lusaka Beene Changu K. Ncube said the policy is available for children from birth and matures when the child turns 18.

                         Ms Beene Ncube

Ms Ncube said the policy provides parents with an opportunity to give their children a long-term financial gift that can help meet future needs, including higher education.

She said the initiative also highlights the importance of starting financial planning early and encouraged parents and guardians to consider their children’s future financial needs, career ambitions and eventual independence.

The expo is expected to bring together child-development experts, health professionals, family-focused vendors and entertainment providers.

Madison Life said the event would provide families with an opportunity to interact, learn and explore practical ways of supporting children’s development and financial future.

The company also expects the expo to introduce children and young people to financial literacy from an early age.

The launch further saw the introduction of Madison Life’s six-year-old brand ambassador, Bukata Mulenga, whose appointment the company said symbolises its focus on the next generation and its commitment to building long-term relationships with families.

Ms Chakonta described the partnership as more than a marketing campaign, saying it represents “a life journey of growth” and a reminder that childhood passes quickly and securing a child’s future requires action today.

She urged parents, guardians and families to attend the expo and take advantage of the platform to learn more about planning for their children’s future.

“Come, connect, play and take a decisive step towards securing your child’s future,” Ms Chakonta said.

 

Feeding Hope: Reverend Mwananyanda’s Mission to Keep Kabwe Children Learning

At Lufutuko Christian Community School, education is being combined with food, faith and humanitarian service to give vulnerable children a better chance at the future

By Moses Sayela Walubita

KABWE — In a classroom in Kabwe, the lesson may begin with books and a teacher at the front, but for some learners, the ability to concentrate begins with something much more basic — having something to eat.

It is this reality that has shaped the work of Reverend Mutinta Mwananyanda, the founder and driving force behind Lufutuko Christian Community School.

For Reverend Mwananyanda, education cannot be separated from the circumstances in which children live.

A child who is hungry, she believes, needs more than a lesson. That child needs support, dignity and an environment that makes learning possible.

It is this philosophy that has made the school's feeding programme an important part of its community-centred approach.

The programme provides food to learners while helping create conditions in which children can remain focused on their education.

And behind the meals is a wider humanitarian vision — one that connects education, faith and service to the community.

Lufutuko Christian Community School represents more than an institution providing academic instruction.

Under Reverend Mwananyanda's leadership, the school has embraced a broader responsibility towards the welfare of children.

The feeding programme is a practical expression of that responsibility.

For families facing economic difficulties, ensuring that children have access to food while at school can ease one of the pressures that may affect their ability to participate fully in education.

For learners, a meal can mean having the energy to concentrate, participate in lessons and remain engaged throughout the school day.

The initiative reflects a simple but important principle: education works best when the needs of the whole child are considered.

Reverend Mwananyanda's approach has consequently turned the school into a space where humanitarian service and education intersect.

On September 19, 2025, Arise and Shine Christian University in the United Kingdom conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Humanitarian and NGO Management on Reverend Mwananyanda.

The recognition marked an important milestone in a journey rooted in community service.

For Reverend Mwananyanda, the doctorate represented recognition of work that has focused on improving the lives of children and communities.

It also drew attention to the contribution that grassroots initiatives can make to humanitarian development.

Her story challenges the idea that meaningful humanitarian work must always begin with large organisations or international institutions.

Sometimes, it begins with a school, a community and an individual willing to respond to a need.

In 2024, Lufutuko Christian Community School received another remarkable moment of international attention when former United States First Lady Laura Bush visited the school while in Zambia with her husband, former US President George W. Bush.

The visit brought an internationally recognised name to a community institution whose work is focused on education and the wellbeing of children.

It was also significant given Mrs Bush's longstanding association with education and literacy initiatives.

For the school and the Kabwe community, the visit provided visibility for work that had largely been taking place away from the international spotlight.

But the significance of the visit goes beyond the presence of two former US leaders.

It demonstrated that a community-based initiative can attract attention when its work responds to issues that resonate far beyond its immediate surroundings.

For Reverend Mwananyanda, however, recognition is unlikely to be the ultimate measure of success.

It is found in a young person who begins to see education not as an impossible dream, but as a pathway to a different future.

That is where the humanitarian mission of Lufutuko becomes most visible. The meals served at the school may not make international headlines. The daily lessons may not attract distinguished visitors. But together, they represent a sustained investment in children's futures.

The experience of Lufutuko Christian Community School also raises a broader question for Zambia: how can communities ensure that children are able to benefit fully from education when poverty and basic needs remain barriers to learning?

Government, communities, churches, civil society organisations and other partners all have roles to play in creating supportive environments for children.

School feeding initiatives can be part of that wider effort, particularly where household economic pressures make it difficult for families to meet children's nutritional needs.

Reverend Mwananyanda's work demonstrates what can happen when education is viewed through a wider humanitarian lens. Her honorary doctorate is now part of her journey.

The visit by the Bushes remains an important chapter in the history of Lufutuko Christian Community School. But neither achievement defines the mission.

The mission continues every day when a child walks through the school gates, receives a meal, enters a classroom and is given another opportunity to learn.

For Reverend Mutinta Mwananyanda, the recognition may be international, but the mission remains deeply local — feeding hope, protecting dignity and building futures one child at a time.

 ANDD Urges Mr. Hichilema’s Government to Shift Focus to Livelihoods 

By Alain Kabinda

By Alain Kabinda

The Advocates for National Development and Democracy (ANDD) has congratulated President Hakainde Hichilema on securing a renewed mandate, urging Government to shift its attention from political contestation to improving the livelihoods of Zambians.

Speaking to the media in Lusaka, ANDD Executive Director Samuel Banda said the conclusion of the electoral process should now pave the way for Government, the private sector and other stakeholders to focus on economic development, job creation and improved public services.

                                                                 Mr.  Samuel Banda

“With the elections now over, the focus of the country must shift from political contestation to the issues that affect the lives and livelihoods of Zambians,” Mr Banda said.

He said ANDD welcomed Government’s Grow Zambia Agenda, which it described as an important framework for advancing national development, economic growth and improved livelihoods.

Mr Banda said the agenda should prioritise productive sectors, sustainable domestic economic growth, investment, employment creation and the empowerment of local businesses.

He said economic growth should translate into tangible improvements in household incomes, employment opportunities, public services and opportunities for Zambians to participate meaningfully in the economy.

He further called for greater local benefits from investments in the mining sector, saying the industry remained critical to Zambia’s economic prospects.

The organisation cited investments involving Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), Mopani Copper Mines, First Quantum Minerals (FQM) and the Mingomba Mine as having the potential to increase copper production, attract investment and create employment.

However, Mr Banda said increased investment and mineral production should result in broader economic benefits for citizens.

He said such benefits should be reflected through increased employment, greater participation of Zambian businesses in the mining value chain, skills development and improved livelihoods in mining communities.

Mr. Banda commended Government’s efforts to strengthen local participation through the Local Content Framework.

Mr Banda said Zambian-owned businesses, contractors, suppliers, professionals and workers should have meaningful opportunities to participate in the mining value chain.

He also recognised progress made by KCM and FQM in promoting local content and encouraged other mining companies to comply with local content requirements and establish business models that create genuine opportunities for Zambian enterprises.

On the renewed Government mandate, Mr. Banda added that the 2026 electoral outcome presented an opportunity for the administration to accelerate implementation of its development agenda while addressing concerns over the cost of living, household incomes, employment and the cost of doing business.

Mr Banda stressed the need for transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

“A renewed mandate must also come with renewed responsibility. Government and institutions must remain open to scrutiny, criticism and meaningful citizen participation,” he said.

Mr. Banda also urged the private sector and civil society organisations to continue contributing to national development while holding public institutions accountable.

On national unity, Mr Banda said political differences were legitimate in a democracy but should not become a source of division or violence.

He called on political leaders and citizens to uphold peace and place national interests above partisan considerations.

“The next five years should be judged not simply by political promises, but by tangible outcomes for the Zambian people,” Mr Banda said.

He said ANDD would continue supporting national development initiatives, advocating for accountability and good governance, and promoting economic inclusion for ordinary Zambians.

“Let Zambia move forward,” Mr Banda said.

 Zambia Shares School Health Lessons with Malawi

By Alain Kabinda

For a child, being sick can mean more than missing a day in the classroom.

Repeated illness can mean falling behind in lessons, missing examinations, losing confidence and, in some cases, eventually dropping out of school.

But Zambia is seeking to change that reality by bringing health services closer to where children spend much of their day — the school.

Since the implementation of its school health programme in 2014, Zambia has increasingly integrated health interventions into the education system, with officials saying the approach has helped address illnesses among learners and reduce health-related absenteeism.

The experience is now attracting interest from neighbouring Malawi, whose education and health officials are in Zambia on a learning visit to understand how the country's school health programme is being implemented.

The workshop in Lusaka, hosted in collaboration with Healthy Learners, has brought together officials from the two countries to exchange experiences on school health, nutrition, teacher training, health services, data and coordination between government ministries.

Speaking during the workshop in Lusaka Zambia Ministry of Education Assistant Director for School Health and Nutrition Maybin Luulu, said that the programme has demonstrated the importance of putting health services within reach of learners.

Mr Luulu said the programme has recorded visible successes since its introduction, particularly in addressing diseases and reducing absenteeism among learners.

He said some health conditions can be identified and treated within schools, while learners requiring additional attention can be referred through the established health system.

He also said, that children do not necessarily have to lose valuable learning time simply because they require medical attention.

“The programme has helped to reduce disease and has helped to reduce absenteeism,” Mr Luulu said.

He explained that the availability of health interventions within schools has also changed the way learners respond to health challenges.

Rather than waiting until a condition becomes severe, learners can receive assistance at school or be connected to appropriate health facilities.

Mr Luulu said Zambia was proud to share its experience with Malawi but emphasised that the exchange was intended to be a two-way learning process.

“We are glad to have the Malawian delegation here to look at how our programme works,” he said, adding that Zambia would also learn from Malawi's experience.

And according to Ministry of Health National Coordinator for School Health and Nutrition Dr Brian Mulubwa, is partly rooted in collaboration between government ministries.

He said the Ministry of Health provides technical support to teachers, including curriculum and training packages that enable them to deliver health education and appropriate health services within schools.

The ministry also monitors implementation of school health programmes and interacts with data generated from schools.

Dr Mulubwa said the involvement of the Ministry of Local Government was also important because of its role in supporting infrastructure under Zambia's decentralised system.

He said the three ministries working together had made it easier to implement school health interventions.

“Working together with the Ministry of Education has made the implementation of the school health programme simpler. Rather than working in silos, we are able to leverage the already existing resources for the benefit of the children,” Dr Mulubwa said.

The approach illustrates a fundamental shift in the way school health is being viewed — not as the responsibility of the health sector alone, but as a shared responsibility involving education, local authorities, teachers, health workers and communities.

Meanwhile Health Learners Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Lonnie Hackett, said tat Malawi's interest in Zambia's experience is a significant milestone in the development of the programme.

Mr Hackett recalled that the journey began around 2017 or 2018, when the programme was operating in only about 10 schools in Zambia.

During that period, Zambia undertook a learning visit to Japan to understand how school health programmes were being implemented there.

The expectation was that Zambia would eventually develop an approach that other countries could learn from.

Mr Hackett, however, said the relationship should not be viewed as a one-directional transfer of knowledge.

He said Zambia also has much to learn from Malawi's long experience and commitment to school health and nutrition.

He described the partnership as being driven by a shared belief that children should have access to both education and healthcare.

“Every child deserves the right to health and the right to a quality education,” Mr Hackett said.

He said children who become sick should not simply be sent home without support.

Such an environment, he said, helps children understand that they matter and that their health and education are important.

And Malawi Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Director of Inclusive Education and School Health Nutrition Ms.Virginia Kachigunda said the delegation was also prepared to share lessons from Malawi.

                                                            Ms. Virginia Kachigunda

She said Malawi already has a well-coordinated school health and nutrition programme in which the Ministry of Health plays a major supporting role.

Ms Kachigunda said the education sector provides teachers and educators, while the health sector provides specialised personnel, services and referral pathways.

She stressed that the two sectors must work together because education cannot succeed when learners are unhealthy.

“Our learners cannot learn if they are unhealthy. We cannot, as education, educate,” she said.

Ms Kachigunda said Malawi was therefore pleased that health workers were supporting efforts to strengthen interventions in the country.

She said the partnership could help reach more learners with health services and strengthen programmes already operating in Malawi.

Beyond reducing illness and absenteeism, the two countries see school health as an investment in national development.

Ms Kachigunda said healthy learners were more likely to become productive citizens capable of contributing to the development of Zambia and Malawi.

She said education should not be viewed simply as an end in itself, but as a tool for developing individuals and societies.

“We want to give them [education] in school not only as an end in itself, but as a means towards developing Zambia, developing Malawi,” she said.

The Malawian official also praised Zambia for turning lessons from its study visit to Japan into practical interventions.

She challenged officials undertaking international learning visits to ensure that the knowledge acquired is translated into meaningful changes when they return home.

The Zambia-Malawi exchange ultimately raises a broader question about what it means to create a school environment where children can genuinely learn.

A child who is hungry, sick or unable to access basic health services faces barriers that cannot be solved by a teacher alone.

Likewise, health workers cannot fully address children's needs without the cooperation of schools, teachers, communities and education authorities.

This is why the two countries are increasingly looking towards integrated approaches that bring the health and education sectors together.

For Zambia, the experience since 2014 offers lessons on what can happen when government resources and expertise are brought together around the needs of the child.

For Malawi, the learning visit provides an opportunity to identify approaches that can strengthen its existing school health and nutrition programmes.

And for the children at the centre of these efforts, the intended outcome is straightforward: fewer days lost to illness, better access to health services and a greater chance to remain in school and learn.

As Zambia shares its experience and Malawi contributes its own lessons, the two neighbouring countries are demonstrating that improving education may begin with something as fundamental as ensuring that children are healthy enough to learn.

(c) All Rights Resreved, 

 

Bishop’s Council Defends Church’s Role in Zambia’s Sovereignty Debate

By Alain Kabinda 

 LUSAKA,- The Bishop’s Council of Zambia has defended the Church’s involvement in recent national and political developments, arguing that its interventions are rooted in its constitutional, moral and pastoral responsibilities rather than partisan politics.

 In a statement issued by the Council’s Vice President for Women and Youth Affairs, Dr Reverend Apostle Agness Kaposa Pushi to Daily News she stated that, the Church rejected criticism directed at a Bishop who publicly questioned the United Nations’ position on Zambia’s internal affairs.

( Agness 

 Dr Pushi said the Bishop’s criticism of the United Nations should not be interpreted as opposition to international cooperation, but as a defence of Zambia’s sovereignty and judicial institutions.

 “The Church’s position is that justice in Zambia must be dispensed through Zambian institutions,” Dr. Pushi said, maintaining that allegations of treason and insurrection should be determined through the country’s courts rather than external institutions.

 The Council also defended the Church’s reported involvement in the departure of opposition figures from United Nations premises.

 According to Dr. Pushi said that the Church leaders acted as a neutral and trusted third party after being requested to assist by the opposition figures themselves. Dr Pushi said the Church’s role was humanitarian and pastoral, and included facilitating their safe departure and access to legal representation.

She has also rejected suggestions that the Church had betrayed or handed over political figures to law enforcement, arguing instead that its intervention was intended to facilitate due process and prevent further tension.

 The statement further criticised what it described as sustained attacks on the Church’s role in national affairs.

 Dr Pushi said the Church has a longstanding tradition of providing moral guidance, mediation and reconciliation during periods of political and social tension.

 She also cited comments attributed to Socialist Party leader Fred M’membe, warning that continued attacks against the Church could diminish its ability to contribute meaningfully to national dialogue.

 “A silenced Church is a weakened Zambia,” She said.

 The Council maintained that the Church does not seek political power and is not aligned with any political party. Instead, it said, its role is to promote justice, constitutional order and the common good.

 The statement concluded by reaffirming the Church’s commitment to Zambia’s sovereignty, rule of law and national unity, while calling for justice to be pursued through the country’s own legal institutions.