From Treatment Success to Prevention Power: Zambia’s HIV Journey”

By Daily News Reporter

Zambia has made remarkable strides in its HIV response. Today, nearly 98% of people living with HIV know their status, and the majority are on treatment with suppressed viral loads. Clinics across the country echo with stories of resilience: mothers who once feared passing HIV to their children now celebrate healthy births, and young men proudly share their journeys of staying on antiretroviral therapy.

Zambia participated in an international World AIDS Day on 1^st December 2025 with a renewed call to action and a major step forward in HIV prevention, where the Ministry of Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Elijah J. Muchima, officially launched 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒓, a new long-acting injectable PrEP option that offers fresh hope for young people and vulnerable populations.

Speaking during the national commemoration, held under the global theme “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” Dr. Muchima reaffirmed the country’s unwavering commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

He noted that despite progress, the nation continues to face significant challenges, particularly among young people aged 15 to 24, who account for 38% of new infections.

However, the Minister emphasized that “AIDS is not over,” and the response must now be more resilient, innovative, and community driven.

This launch of lenacapavir marks a major milestone in expanding prevention options. “This new long-acting PrEP brings renewed hope,” Dr. Muchima said, adding that it will be rolled out alongside existing methods such as condoms, VMMC, and oral PrEP.

He also highlighted that Zambia’s commitment to integrating HIV efforts across education, social protection, and community development sectors, while calling on all stakeholders, development partners, civil society, the private sector, and young people to intensify prevention and accountability efforts.

“As a nation, we must turn disruption into an opportunity for transformation,” he said. “If we remain united, innovative, and focused, we can end AIDS as a public health threat and ensure that no Zambian is left behind.” He added.

In 2024 alone, Zambia recorded 30,000 new HIV infections, a rise from the previous year. Alarmingly, adolescents and young people aged 15–24 account for nearly 40% of these cases. For this generation, the epidemic is not history — it is a lived experience.

And According to the latest UNAIDS 2025 estimates, Zambia has reduced new HIV infections by 52% since 2010 and lowered AIDS-related deaths by 40%. The country has also surpassed the global 95-95-95 targets for adults, reaching 98-98-97.

And speaking to daily News reporter in Lusaka by the name of lukundo mwale (name withheld) of Chawama compound stated “We hear about HIV in school, but many of us don’t think it can happen to us. The Ending AIDS campaign is teaching us that prevention is power — through PrEP, condoms, and knowing our status.”

And a Healthcare worker shared her sentiment, “We need to meet young people where they are — in schools and in communities. Ending AIDS will only happen if prevention becomes part of everyday life.

Alice Mukanga (name withheld), who has worked in HIV care for over a decade, notes that while treatment success is high, prevention remains a challenge.

The Zambia Ending AIDS Campaign is designed to close these gaps. It combines testing, treatment adherence, and prevention tools like PrEP and voluntary medical male circumcision, while strengthening Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programs, The campaign’s message is clear: Ending AIDS is not just a government goal — it is a shared responsibility.

With the HIV Prevention Roadmap 2025–2030, Zambia is sharpening its focus on youth-centered interventions, community engagement, and sustainable financing. The vision is bold but achievable: a Zambia where new HIV infections are rare, treatment is universal, and stigma is a relic of the past.

Dr. Paul Zulu, from Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) speaks to journalists during cross Border meeting online under the theme “HOW CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS GLOBAL HEALTH”. With conviction that “Prevention is our cornerstone. If we can stop new infections, we can end AIDS.” His words capture the urgency of Zambia’s fight against HIV, where young people and high-risk populations remain most vulnerable.

And meanwhile Anna Miti, seasoned journalist and Chairperson of the Health Communicators Forum (HCF) Zimbabwe, is spearheading efforts to bring HIV back into the newsroom spotlight.

He added that journalists must reclaim their role as educators and watchdogs, ensuring communities remain informed and empowered. Also, journalists can challenge stigma, promote prevention.

She further stated that the media’s role is critical in shaping attitudes and encouraging action. HIV must return to the headlines, not as a relic of the past, but as a story of resilience, innovation.  (c) Copyright Reserved

 

 

 

Minister Nkandu Commends Choppies for Youth Empowerment and Job Creation

By Daily News Reporter

Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Honourable Elvis C. Nkandu, has praised Choppies retail chain for its contribution to youth empowerment, job creation, and support for local suppliers during a field tour of the company’s store along Leopards Hill Road in Lusaka.

Speaking during the visit, Minister Nkandu emphasized government’s commitment to fostering partnerships with the private sector to create meaningful opportunities for young people. “We will continue to build an environment that encourages collaboration between government and investors, ensuring that the youth of Zambia benefit from sustainable livelihoods,” he said.

And Choppies Chief Executive Officer Schulk Piennar welcomed the Minister’s visit, noting that the company operates 40 stores nationwide and employs 2,400 workers. He expressed gratitude to government for recognizing the role of retail in supporting communities and driving economic growth.

The Minister’s tour highlighted the importance of private sector engagement in national development, particularly in providing platforms for youth participation in the economy.

Meanwhile, Choppies is currently running its Big Birthday Bonanza promotion, which continues until 4 January 2026. Customers shopping at any of the chain’s outlets stand a chance to win prizes including five brand-new Suzuki Fronx cars, five Suzuki Super Carry light trucks, 10 motorbikes, 10 ZTE smartphones, and weekly shopping vouchers worth K1,500.

Minister Nkandu concluded his tour by reaffirming government’s support for initiatives that align with Zambia’s vision of job creation, youth empowerment, and sustainable economic growth.

 

African Development Fund commits $14 million grant to scaling up climate resilience across the Sahel

By daily News reporter

The Climate Action Window grant will cover 30 municipalities and support the creation of 60 climate-smart villages across Sahelian countries, helping to strengthen community resilience to climate shocks

The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund has approved a grant of $14.64 million to support Project 2 of the Programme to Strengthen Resilience to Food and Nutrition Insecurity in the Sahel (P2-P2RS) in Abidjan on 21 November 2025.

The additional financing is provided through the Climate Action Window (http://apo-opa.co/43MyWLA), a climate-focused funding mechanism of the African Development Fund, the concessional lending window of the African Development Bank Group.

The grant aims to strengthen the adaptation and resilience capacities of communities across the Sahel as they face increasingly severe climate extremes. The project adopts a dual approach: scaling up the "climate-smart villages" model around hydro-agricultural infrastructure, and improving access to and use of climate information for decision-making.

The new funding will support the regional seed system by disseminating resilient, high-yielding improved seed varieties. Planned activities include updating the Regional Catalogue of Species and Varieties; creating a business-to-business networking portal; and strengthening seed multiplication capacities of national agricultural research systems and seed companies to ensure availability in climate-smart villages. The project will also support women’s and youth empowerment through targeted capacity-building.

In addition, the project will reinforce climate data collection and impact monitoring systems, enhancing real-time data availability from observation networks. It will establish an integrated digital platform for data collection, management, and real-time dissemination, as well as a regional system for monitoring and managing loss and damage data. This includes standardising loss and damage reporting across countries and developing a multi-scale digital platform for the centralised data management.

The Climate Action Window grant will cover 30 municipalities and support the creation of 60 climate-smart villages across Sahelian countries, helping to strengthen community resilience to climate shocks.

 

“Insurance, Banking and Telecoms Unite in Lusaka to Drive Africa’s Economic Transformation”

By Daily News Reporter

Over 200 CEOs and leaders in the insurance industry in Zambia, Kenya, Africa, the Middle East and Asia  convened in Lusaka, to identify solutions to challenges affecting the industry. The global conference was convened by the Kenya Reinsurance Corporation (Kenya Re) under the theme "The Nexus of Insurance, Banking & Telecommunications for Economic Transformation."

The insurance sector provides the necessary risk mitigation and long-term capital for major infrastructure and developmental projects. The banking sector provides the essential liquidity, credit and payments infrastructure.

The telecommunications sector, increasingly, is the digital engine that facilitates access, reduces transaction costs and allows for product innovation for the previously unbanked and uninsured. It is this symbiotic relationship -insurance providing security, banking providing capital and telecoms providing reach that will redefine financial inclusion and stability in Africa.

 Dr Hillary Wachinga, Managing Director of Kenya Re commented on the summit saying: “For us, the nexus is where we find new avenues for risk transfer. The telecommunication platforms are providing data and distribution channels that enable banks to offer bespoke credit products, and in turn, enable insurers to wrap those products with affordable protection. This translates to stronger balance sheets for banks, reduced vulnerability for consumers and expanded premium growth for the insurance and reinsurance sectors.”

 The leaders discussed current issues affecting their industry including financial inclusion and economic advancement, strategic collaboration and convergence, regulatory frameworks and policy synergies, digital transformation and innovation, and climate resilience & sustainable finance.

 “This summit is vital in building resilience for the industry as it provides a platform for them to address these challenges collectively,” added Dr. Wachinga. The national reinsurer with a footprint in Africa, the Middle East and Asia also urged the sector to embrace technological innovation to help drive access to products and provide convenient services.

 

Civil Society Divided: Consortium Seeks Voice in Zambia’s Constitutional Court Petition

By Daily News Reporter

Acting Chairperson Solomon Ngoma of the Consortium of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) leaned into the microphone with conviction. His message was clear: Zambia’s constitutional reform process has been more inclusive than critics claim, and the voices of thousands of citizens who participated must not be silenced.

The Consortium — a coalition of democracy and peace building groups — has formally applied to join the petition filed by the Oasis Forum in the Constitutional Court. The Forum argues that the reform process was flawed and lacked inclusivity. But Ngoma and his colleagues insist that narrative is misleading.

The controversy traces back to March 2025, when the government announced its intention to amend the Constitution through Bill 7. Civil society groups, including the Consortium, initially raised concerns about limited consultations. Yet rather than disengage, they pressed for a reset.

“We consistently advocated for the withdrawal of Bill 7,” Ngoma explained. “This was done to allow a fresh start, with broader public consultations that would ensure the process is people-driven.”

Since then, the Consortium says it has worked tirelessly to mobilize citizens. Submissions were made in Lusaka and across all provinces, with thousands of ordinary Zambians contributing their views to the Technical Committee.

For Ngoma, the heart of the matter is accountability. “At this stage, both the Consortium and the many citizens who participated expect the report to be released. That expectation should not be blocked by court actions from those who chose not to take part in the consultation process,” he said.

The Consortium argues that the Technical Committee — composed of civil society leaders, lawyers, and professionals — is credible and representative. They believe its forthcoming report will demonstrate that public participation has been genuine and widespread.

Not all organizations agree. The Law Association of Zambia and the NGOCC have petitioned the court, questioning the legitimacy of the process. Ngoma criticized their stance, noting that some of their members served on the Technical Committee.

“It is surprising that groups who were part of the process are now questioning the ability of their own representatives to gather and articulate the views of citizens,” he said.

The Consortium insists that civil society should not be hierarchical. “In civil society, there is no bigger brother or smaller brother. No group is more important or more legitimate than another,” Ngoma declared.

The Consortium has signaled its readiness to apply for a police permit to march to State House in support of the constitutional review process. For them, the issue is not just legal but symbolic — a demonstration of solidarity with citizens who took part.

And speaking at the same press conference in Lusaka Emmanuel Muyunda, Executive Director of SACCORD, echoed this sentiment. “Civil society must represent the people’s voices, not just a few individuals. Our participation ensures that all Zambians who submitted views are respected,” he said.

Muyunda emphasized that protests are legitimate in a democracy, but must remain peaceful and lawful.

Benard Uteka, Secretary-General of Community Action Against Political Violence (CAAPOV), cautioned against misinformation. He recalled rumors that Bill 7 would extend presidential terms or remove the 50% +1 requirement — claims that proved false.

“Civil society and media must provide accurate information and allow the executive to present its report before citizens critique it,” Uteka said.

The Consortium’s membership spans organizations such as AIPAC, ZCLU, SACCORD, GEARS Initiative, MUDE, CAAPOV, and the Anti-Political Violence Association of Zambia. Together, they work to promote democracy, human rights, and peacebuilding in Zambia and the wider Southern African region.

For now, the Constitutional Court has yet to decide whether the Consortium will be admitted as an interested party in the Oasis Forum petition. But the debate has already revealed deep divisions within civil society — between those who chose to participate in the reform process and those who stayed away.

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