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.

 Wonderful Industry Honours 44 Long-Serving Employees

By Alain Kabinda 

 For some employees, a decade at one company may simply be a number. At Wonderful Industry Ltd, however, 10 years represents a journey of loyalty, sacrifice, professional growth and commitment to building an organisation from its early beginnings.

 That journey was celebrated when **44 employees were honoured for completing 10 years of service** with Wonderful Industry Ltd.

 The service awards ceremony brought together company leadership, group leaders and employees to recognise the contribution of long-serving members of staff who have witnessed and participated in the company's growth over the years.

 Speaking during the handover ceremony in Lusaka Wonderful Industry Ltd General Manager Mr. Jigar Thakkar described the occasion as a special opportunity to celebrate employees whose dedication has helped move the company forward.

 “Today we recognise 44 colleagues who have given 10 years of service, commitment and hard work to Wonderful Industry,” Mr. Thakkar said.

 He noted that many of the recipients had not only remained with the company but had also grown alongside it, contributing directly to its development.

 For Mr. Thakkar, the awards were therefore about more than recognising years on the job. They were about appreciating the people behind the company's progress.

 “Many have grown with this company and contributed directly to its progress, and we celebrate you today,” he said.

 He also thanked the company's group leaders for their continued guidance and support to employees.

 To the award recipients, Mr. Thakkar offered his congratulations and appreciation for remaining part of the Wonderful Industry family.

 “Today is about you. Congratulations on this important milestone, and thank you for being part of Wonderful Industry,” he said.

 Wonderful Industry Ltd Group Board Chairman Mr. Gilbert Phiri  used the occasion to reflect on the company's journey and the role employees have played in shaping its growth.

 Mr. Phiri congratulated the recipients for their service, saying their commitment had made the company proud.

 He acknowledged that some of those receiving the 10-year awards had actually served the organisation for even longer.

 In an era where employees frequently change jobs for various reasons, Mr. Phiri said remaining with one organisation for 10 years or more was a significant achievement.

 “These days, it is very difficult for people to stick to one employment for various reasons,” he said.

 He particularly congratulated employees who served with dedication and energy.

 NPA Puts Public Trust at the Centre of Justice

By Alain Kabinda

For many citizens, the justice system is experienced not through constitutional provisions or legal statutes, but through a conversation with a prosecutor, a visit to a public office, a court appearance or the way an official responds to a complaint.

It is against this everyday reality that the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has launched a Service Charter, placing public trust, accountability and the quality of service at the centre of its prosecutorial mandate.

The Charter was unveiled on September 11, 2026, during the inaugural NPA Day held under the theme “The People’s Authority: Prosecution in Your Name, Justice for All.”

Speaking at the commemoration and the launch of the Service Charter National Prosecution Authority (NPA) Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert A. Phiri, SC,stated that the occasion was more than an institutional celebration and It was an opportunity to remind prosecutors that the authority they exercise belongs ultimately to the people.

He said prosecution was a form of public power exercised in the name of citizens and must therefore be guided by law, evidence, fairness, independence and justice.

At the heart of the new Charter is a simple but important proposition: justice must not only be delivered; it must also be experienced by citizens as fair, professional, accessible and responsive.

Mr Phiri said the responsibility of a prosecutor goes beyond securing convictions.

“The role of the prosecutor is not merely to secure convictions, but to do justice,” he said, stressing the need for prosecutors to assess evidence objectively, make principled decisions, protect victims’ rights and respect the constitutional rights of accused persons.

For a victim, the prosecution process can represent a search for justice and closure. For a person accused of an offence, it can determine liberty, reputation and livelihood. For communities, the credibility of the justice system can influence whether people trust public institutions enough to report crime and cooperate with investigations.

Mr. Phiri added that this Charter is intended to establish standards around responsiveness, professionalism, courtesy, accessibility and accountability.

But the authority acknowledges that the document will have little value if its commitments remain on paper.

Mr Phiri said, will be whether the standards are reflected in offices, courtrooms and the daily decisions of prosecutors.

The theme of “justice for all” also speaks to a persistent public concern — whether access to justice is equal for people regardless of their social or economic circumstances.

Mr Phiri said justice should not be a privilege reserved for people with influence, resources or connections.

He said the justice system must serve everyone — including marketeers, students, farmers, workers, entrepreneurs, children, the elderly, vulnerable people, victims and accused persons — with fairness, professionalism and respect.

Every interaction with a member of the public can either reinforce confidence in the justice system or deepen perceptions that public institutions are distant and inaccessible.

The Authority says it therefore intends to strengthen its engagement with communities, embrace technology and modern prosecution methods, invest in staff development and work more closely with investigators and other justice institutions.

The NPA leadership stressed that independence does not mean freedom from professional or legal responsibility.

Mr Phiri said prosecutors must not allow personal interests, fear, favour or preferential treatment to influence decisions.

Where evidence and the law provide a sufficient basis for prosecution, the Authority must act without fear or favour. Where the evidence does not support a case, prosecutors must similarly be prepared to make principled decisions.

The challenge, therefore, is to maintain independence while ensuring that the public can understand and assess the quality of services being provided.

The NPA openly acknowledges that there is room for improvement and says the Charter provides a framework for becoming more efficient, accessible and responsive while giving citizens a basis on which to hold the institution accountable.

And Representing Secretary to the Cabinet, Deputy Secretary to Cabinet–Administration Dr Oliver M. Kalabo described the Service Charter as a basic contract between the NPA and the public.

He said citizens often experience government through the individual officer they meet at the front desk, rather than through policies and institutions themselves.

The Charter therefore clarifies what the NPA does, the level of service citizens should expect, the timeframes involved and what recourse is available when standards are not met.

Dr Kalabo said the Charter performs three important functions: clarifying the NPA's mandate, establishing measurable service standards and inviting the public to judge the institution against those standards.

He added that, respects the constitutional independence of the Director of Public Prosecutions under Article 180(7), but that independence must be accompanied by professionalism, efficiency and accessibility.

He further pointed to the decentralisation of NPA services to all ten provinces as part of efforts to ensure justice is felt beyond the capital.

The engagement of the Authority with schools, including Manungu and Kaunda Square Secondary School of Excellence, was also cited as an example of taking the justice conversation closer to communities.

For NPA Board Chairperson Moses Phiri, the Charter should not be treated as another administrative document.

He described it as a promise to the people — a commitment to improve the quality, efficiency and accessibility of services while ensuring that citizens are treated with dignity.

He also said,the authority has a responsibility to provide strategic direction and oversight, ensure appropriate systems and resources are in place and promote accountability and prudent use of public resources.

But he also emphasised that justice administration is a shared responsibility.

Prosecutors, investigators, the Judiciary, correctional institutions, the legal profession, victims, witnesses and communities all have roles to play, provided each respects the constitutional and legal mandate of the institutions involved.

This means that institutional reform cannot depend solely on policy documents. It also depends on the behaviour of the people who operate the justice system every day.

Mr Phiri warned that staff conduct directly affects the reputation of the Authority because every interaction with the public can either strengthen or weaken confidence in the institution.

The launch of the Service Charter may mark an important institutional milestone, but the NPA leadership says the harder work begins after the ceremony.

Mr Phiri said the Charter's true test will be whether its commitments become part of citizens' daily experiences.

He called on NPA employees to take ownership of the Charter, measure their performance against its standards, learn from complaints, recognise good performance and address shortcomings.

That creates a different kind of relationship between a prosecution authority and the people it serves — one in which authority is matched by responsibility, independence by professionalism, and institutional power by accountability.

Ultimately, the success of the NPA's Service Charter will not be measured by the ceremony at which it was launched or the quality of the document itself.

It will be measured in the experience of the citizen who seeks justice, the victim who needs to be heard, the witness who expects protection, and the accused person who deserves a fair process.

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 Zambia Records Major Gains in PISA 2025, But Inequality and Digital Use Remain Challenges

 By Alain Kabinda | Lusaka 

Zambia has recorded significant improvements in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), with 15-year-olds posting major gains in Reading, Science and Mathematics compared to 2018. 

The results, released internationally on Monday, show Zambia’s reading score rose from 275 points in 2018 to 325 points in 2025 — a 50-point jump. Science increased from 309 to 357 points, a gain of 48 points. Mathematics also improved from the country’s previous participation in PISA for Development. 

For a country that has long ranked near the bottom of international education comparisons, the gains are being hailed as early proof that education reforms are working. 

Speaking at the launch, Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Dr. Kelvin Mambwe said the results must be used to guide policy, not filed away. 

“It is an opportunity to learn from our own data rather than learning from social media critics,” he said. 

Government has rolled out free education, recruited over 40,000 teachers, and increased investment in classrooms, school furniture, grants, school feeding and new schools.

According to PISA National Coordinator Dr. Shadreck Nkoya, more than 2.5 million additional children have entered school since free education began. 

“Rather than seeing the quality of education go down, we have seen improvement. This is not common in education,” Dr. Nkoya said. 

ECZ Executive Director Dr. Michael Chilala said the next step is to identify which interventions are driving results. Priority areas include school feeding, teacher recruitment, new learning modules from the Curriculum Development Centre, and catch-up programmes. 

Dr. Chilala said this matches Zambia’s shift to competency-based education under the 2023 Curriculum Framework, aimed at producing critical thinkers who can adapt to technology and a changing economy. 

OECD Data Manager Guillaume Bousquet noted positive attitudes among Zambian learners. Nearly 60% disagreed that intelligence is fixed, and Zambian students scored 10 percentage points above the OECD average in willingness to work harder when faced with difficult work. Concerns Over Inequality and TechnologyDespite the gains, officials warned that averages hide disparities. 

“There is a clear pathway. Inequality is one of the things we have seen. There is a lot of inequality between schools,” Dr. Nkoya said.

 Mr. Bousquet also flagged digital use. Zambian learners average almost 2 hours per day on digital devices — below the OECD average. He cautioned that the focus should be on how technology is used, especially with AI entering classrooms. 

“They must teach them how to use it responsibly — including how to verify information, recognise limitations and judge whether sources are trustworthy,” he said. 

He added that while teacher recruitment is positive, more money alone will not sustain gains without improvements in teaching, curriculum, school safety and learning time. 

The 2025 PISA results will be compared with Zambia’s 2026 National Assessment Survey to validate findings. The country is also expected to join PISA 2029 on a computer-based platform, which will provide more detailed data. 

Dr. Mambwe said the Ministry will review implications for teaching, teacher development, curriculum, assessment and school leadership. 

“We must ensure that data and evidence do not remain confined to reports,” he said.

 Zambia Red Cross Equips Refugees with Life-Saving First Aid Skills

By Alain kabinda

LUSAKA, Zambia — In an emergency, the difference between life and death can sometimes come down to a few minutes.

A fall, a serious cut, a burn, a road accident or a sudden medical emergency can happen anywhere. And for people living in refugee settlements, where access to health and emergency services may sometimes be challenging, the ability to provide immediate assistance can be especially important.

It is against this backdrop that the Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS) has launched a first aid training programme for members of refugee communities as part of the 2026 World First Aid Day commemoration.

The Commemoration was being held at the Zambia Red Cross Society Training Centre in Lusaka, the initiative is built around this year's theme: “First Aid in Migration Contexts – First Aid for Everyone, Everywhere.”

The message is simple but powerful: first aid should not be a skill reserved for health professionals. Ordinary people, when properly trained, can become the first line of response when emergencies occur.

Speaking at the training, Zambia Red Cross Society Secretary General Mr. Cosmas Sakala said the Society remained committed to making first aid accessible to everyone, including people living in refugee settlements and communities affected by emergencies and disasters.

Mr. Sakala described first aid as a practical, life-saving skill that allows people to respond quickly and appropriately to injuries and medical emergencies before professional medical assistance arrives.

For refugee and displaced communities, he said, such skills can be particularly valuable because they may face unique challenges in accessing timely healthcare and emergency support.

“By equipping refugees and host communities with first-aid knowledge and skills, we strengthen their ability to protect themselves, support one another and build safer, more resilient communities,” Mr. Sakala said.

The training therefore goes beyond teaching participants what to do in an emergency. It is also about building confidence and creating a network of people capable of supporting their families, neighbours and wider communities when disaster strikes.

He further added that a trained first aider may be the person who knows how to respond while an ambulance is still on its way. They may be the person who helps prevent a situation from becoming worse, comforts an injured person and provides essential assistance during those crucial first moments.

And Representing the Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Tovin Kaneneka, Principal Refugee Officer Mr. Edward Simfukwe said Government recognised that supporting refugee communities goes beyond providing basic services.

He said it also involves strengthening the capacity of refugee communities, promoting self-reliance and creating safer and more resilient communities.

Mr. Smfukwe said the World First Aid Day theme was particularly relevant because people affected by migration and displacement should also have access to essential life-saving skills.

“First aid is a vital skill that can make the difference between life and death,” he said.

He commended the Zambia Red Cross Society for marking World First Aid Day through practical action that directly benefits refugee communities.

He also said that this demonstrates the importance of partnerships between Government, humanitarian organisations and communities in responding to the needs of people affected by displacement.

Mr. Simfukwe urged participants to take the training seriously and, importantly, to pass the knowledge on to their families, friends and other members of their communities.

For the Zambia Red Cross Society, the programme also presents an opportunity to connect refugee communities to a wider humanitarian movement.

Mr. Simfukwe said participants would have an opportunity to learn about Zambia Red Cross membership and volunteerism, creating pathways for them to become more actively involved in humanitarian activities and community development.

Meanwhile Zambia Red Cross Society for National Training Chairperson (NTC), Mr. Imbwela Imbwela, said the Society welcomed participants to the training and remained committed to ensuring

Mr. Imbwela said first aid was an important practical skill that could empower individuals to respond effectively to emergencies before professional medical assistance was available.

 Mr. Imbwela said equipping refugees and displaced populations with first aid knowledge is particularly important because they often faced unique risks and challenges.

 

 HANZ Commends Increase in Women MPs, Urges Integrity and Gender-Focused Legislation

By Alain Kabinda

LUSAKA, Zambia — The Hope Affirmation Network Zambia (HANZ) has congratulated women elected to represent constituencies in Parliament, describing the increase in the number of female Members of Parliament as a positive development for gender representation in Zambia.

HANZ Executive Director Nakiwe Simpungwe said the organisation, which promotes gender justice, was encouraged by the rise in the number of women elected to Parliament from 25 in the previous National Assembly to 32 in the 14th National Assembly.

Ms. Nakiwe Simpungwe

Ms. Simpungwe also welcomed the prospect of additional women joining the National Assembly through the Proportional Representation system, which provides for 20 seats reserved for women.

She said the increased representation of women in Parliament presented an opportunity to advance legislation and policies that respond to the needs of women, girls and children.

“Represent the interests of fellow women, girls, and children well,” Ms. Simpungwe urged the newly elected legislators.

She further called on the women MPs to uphold high standards of integrity, accountability and exemplary conduct, noting that their positions came with significant expectations from the public.

According to Ms. Simpungwe, women legislators were particularly well placed to champion issues affecting women and families because many understood first-hand the challenges women face in their daily lives.

“As mothers, you know first-hand what women go through on a daily basis to keep their families together,” she said, urging the legislators to focus on laws that reflect the aspirations and needs of women and families.

Ms. Simpungwe said it was counting on the newly elected women MPs to use their positions to promote gender equality, protect the rights of women and children, and contribute to a more inclusive and just society.

“We are rooting for you. Make us proud,” Ms. Simpungwe said.

The organisation said the growing number of women in the National Assembly was an important step towards strengthening women's participation in national decision-making and ensuring that women's voices are adequately represented in Parliament.

 AfDB Approves $5 Billion Framework to Cushion Africa From Energy, Fertiliser Crisis

y Alain Kabinda

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Board of Directors has approved a new framework aimed at helping African countries mitigate the impact of the global energy and fertiliser crisis and strengthen their resilience against future economic shocks.

The Global Energy and Fertilizer Crisis Response Framework (GEFCRF) was approved on September 1, 2026 and will enable the Bank Group to provide targeted financial support to countries facing rising energy, food and fertiliser costs.

The framework will be financed through an additional US$4.1 billion in African Development Bank lending and up to US$960 million from the African Development Fund (ADF), the Bank Group's concessional lending arm.

The additional financing will increase the Bank's 2026 lending target to approximately US$12.7 billion.

According to the AfDB, the framework is intended to provide immediate relief while laying the foundation for stronger, more self-reliant and resilient African economies.

The response comes as the ongoing crisis in the Middle East continues to place pressure on African economies through rising global prices for energy, food, fertiliser and other commodities.

The Bank said disruptions to global trade routes and logistics, including key maritime corridors, were also increasing transport costs, delaying deliveries and worsening supply-chain vulnerabilities.

AfDB Acting Vice President for Country and Regional Operations Abdul Kamara said the framework was designed to respond to the urgent needs of African countries while protecting vulnerable populations and preserving development gains.

“This framework is about listening and responding to the urgent needs of African countries, helping them protect households and vulnerable populations, keep food, fertilizer and energy systems functioning, and preserve hard-won development gains while building greater resilience for the future,” Kamara said.

He added that the response should not only cushion countries from the immediate shock but also make them stronger against future crises.

The first will focus on stabilising macroeconomic conditions through rapid counter-cyclical financing, short-term buffers and coordinated fiscal, monetary and debt-policy responses during periods of economic stress.

The second pillar will seek to secure critical food, energy and fertiliser supplies by using emergency and trade finance to keep essential commodities moving, support vulnerable populations and stabilise markets.

The third will focus on protecting essential public spending and vulnerable households, including targeted social protection for vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth.

The fourth pillar will support medium- and long-term resilience, including efforts to reduce dependence on volatile external energy, food and fertiliser markets, diversify supply chains and strengthen regional solutions.

The Bank said African farmers were among those facing the effects of the crisis, particularly as higher fertiliser prices threaten to reduce the amount of inputs farmers can afford to use.

AfDB Officer in Charge Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development Martin Fregene said access to finance would be important in ensuring fertiliser continues reaching farmers.

“When fertilizer becomes too expensive or difficult to find, farmers use less and harvests can suffer,” Fregene said.

He said financing could help businesses keep fertiliser moving to farmers while efforts are made to strengthen fertiliser markets and increase local supply across Africa.

The framework will remain in effect for one year from the date of Board approval, after which it will be reviewed before any extension.

The AfDB said assistance under the framework would be demand-driven, with the level and type of support tailored to the vulnerability of individual countries.

The initiative builds on the Bank's previous emergency responses, including its COVID-19 Response Facility and the African Emergency Food Production Facility, combining immediate crisis support with measures aimed at strengthening Africa's capacity to withstand future shocks.