Zambia Launches Media Initiative on School Health to Strengthen Public Awareness

By Daily News Reporter

The Ministry of Information and Media has officially launched the Media Initiative on School Health (MISH) Strategic Plan, a transformative effort aimed at elevating the quality and impact of journalism focused on health and education in Zambia.

The launch, held in Lusaka, marks a significant milestone in the country’s commitment to fostering informed public discourse and enhancing national development through accurate and transparent communication.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Information and Media, Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa MP, Director of Human Resource and Administration Mr. Bernard Domingo emphasized the government’s recognition of the media’s vital role in shaping public understanding and trust.

The MISH Strategic Plan is designed to improve the flow of reliable information from key institutions, particularly in the health and education sectors. By empowering journalists and media platforms to deliver factual reporting, the initiative aims to cultivate a more informed, healthier, and actively engaged citizenry.

Stakeholders from across the media, education, and health sectors have welcomed the plan, noting its potential to strengthen collaboration and ensure that critical public messages reach communities effectively.

 ZAMPOST Launches BuyZambezi, Zambia’s First National E-Commerce Platform

By Daily News Reporter

The Zambia Postal Services Corporation (ZAMPOST) has officially launched BuyZambezi, the country’s first national e-commerce platform, marking a major milestone in Zambia’s digital transformation and support for local enterprise.

The launch event, held in Lusaka, was officiated by the Minister of Technology and Science, Hon. Felix Mutati, who praised the initiative as a breakthrough for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and traders seeking to access online markets.

BuyZambezi is designed to provide a secure, user-friendly digital space where Zambian entrepreneurs can showcase and sell their products and services. The platform aims to bridge the gap between sellers and buyers, offering a convenient and reliable marketplace that supports economic development.

The development of BuyZambezi is led by Thamani Technologies and Systems, with the group CEO Dr. Cleopas Sanangura highlighting the platform’s potential to revolutionize commerce in Zambia.

The platform is now live and accessible to the public, featuring a wide range of locally made goods and services. It is expected to play a key role in boosting Zambia’s e-commerce ecosystem and expanding opportunities for entrepreneurs across the country.

(picture by MCKAZIWEMEDIA HOUSE)

 

Zambia Boosts Agricultural and Industrial Capacity with New Urea Facility

 

By Daily News Reporter

In a landmark moment for Zambia’s industrial and agricultural future, President Hakainde Hichilema officially commissioned the country’s largest Urea Plant and the Wonderful Group of Companies Industrial Park recently in Lusaka Province — a bold stride toward energy security, job creation, and self-sufficiency.

The newly launched Urea Plant, with a staggering production capacity of 300,000 metric tones per year, now stands as the largest of its kind in Southern Africa. Beyond urea, the facility will manufacture industrial products such as explosives and acids, vital to the mining sector. This strategic move is expected to reduce Zambia’s dependency on imports and strengthen local supply chains.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, President Hichilema hailed the development as a “major leap towards energy security, industrial growth, and agricultural self-sufficiency,” emphasizing its potential to boost national revenue and create thousands of jobs.

In a visionary partnership, United Capital Fertilizers (UCF) has teamed up with the Copperbelt University (CBU) to train chemical engineers, ensuring that the plant’s operations are not only efficient but also driven by homegrown talent.

"This is the type of investment we need,” said President Hichilema, “one that integrates education, skills development, and industrial growth.”

And UCF Board Chairperson Mr. Chance Kabaghe announced plans to build a ZMW 35 million secondary school complete with staff housing — a testament to the company’s commitment to community development and human capital investment.

The commissioning also included an 85-Megawatt Thermal Power Plant, now connected to the national grid. This facility will power UCF’s operations and neighboring industries within the industrial park, contributing to Zambia’s energy stability and industrial resilience.

“Beacon of hope” for farmers. With 5,600 farmers already receiving inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), the plant’s output is expected to drastically reduce reliance on costly imported fertilizers.

The Wonderful Group Industrial Park is poised to become a nucleus of manufacturing, including electric battery production — positioning Zambia as a rising star in regional industrial diversification.

And the company will upscale NPK fertilizer production from 300,000 to 800,000 metric tones per year, while the newly launched Urea Plant has created over 3,400 direct jobs and 2,500 additional opportunities across various skill levels.

This commissioning marks more than just the opening of a plant — it signals the dawn of a new era for Zambia, where industrial ambition meets educational empowerment and agricultural transformation.

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Digital Government Africa Summit 2025 Highlights Importance of Digital Transformation

By Daily News Reporter (Day 2)

Lusaka, Zambia - The Digital Government Africa Summit 2025 has emphasized the crucial role of digital transformation in driving development and improving governance in Africa. The summit brought together government officials, industry leaders, and experts from different countries to discuss the latest trends and innovations in digital governance.

Speaking on the Second Day of the summit Ministry of Home Affairs and internal Security Zambia Minister Jack Mwiimbu stated that  Developing robust digital infrastructure is essential for driving economic growth and improving digital governance.

He also urged the delegations that they is need for  Collaboration between governments, industry, and academia is crucial for driving innovation and digital transformation.

And Ensuring that digital transformation benefits all citizens, particularly vulnerable populations, is essential for sustainable development.

Quoting the President's opening remarks "Digital transformation is not just about technology; it's about transforming the way governments work and interact with citizens." - President Hakainde Hichilema

And Mr Mwiimbu add that they is need to harness the power of digital technologies to drive economic growth, improve governance, and enhance the lives of our citizens." Mwiimbu added.

During on the second day these are the outcomes picked,

1.  Developing secure and efficient digital identity systems to enhance citizen services.

2.  Building robust infrastruccture and digital governance.

3.  Ensuring the security and integrity of digital systems.

The summit's outcomes are expected to contribute to accelerated digital transformation and improved governance in Africa.

DGA Kicks Off in LUSAKA 

 By Daily News Reporter (Day 1)

 The Digital Government Africa Summit 2025 is currently underway in Lusaka, Zambia, from October 7 to 9, 2025. The summit aims to drive digital transformation across Africa's public sector, focusing on citizen-centric digital services.

The summit will forcus through Digital Identity and Verification, Developing secure and efficient digital identity systems to enhance citizen services , E-Government Infrastructure- Building robust infrastructure for effective digital governance and Cybersecurity and Data Protection*: Ensuring the security and integrity of digital systems.

During the official opening ceremony President Hakainde Hichilema emphasized the importance of digitalization in the movement of goods across borders, stating;

 "We need to use digitalisation in the movement of goods across our borders. We should have non-border posts… that can be achieved through technology." 

The summit provides a platform for knowledge sharing, strategic partnerships, and collaboration among stakeholders.

 PUMA ENERGY ZAMBIA TO PROTECT SCHOOL CHILDREN THROUGH BE ROAD SAFE AFRICA PROGRAM 

By Daily News Reporter 

PUMA ENERGY ZAMBIA PLC launched a second Be Road Safe Africa program in partnership with international Road safety AMEND .

This partnership aims to improve road safety among school going children across zambia.

Speaking during the launch of the Be Road Safe Africa program, Puma Energy Zambia PLC General Manager Zwelithini Mlotshwa stated that this is a life saving step to protect the children and empower community with the knowledge and resources to make the difference in Zambia.

Mr Zwelithini also stated that this is a African initiative to improve the lives of the children in all the provinces of this country.

And Ministry of Transport and Logistics Permanent Secretary Mr Fredrick Mwalusaka stated that the ministry is committed to safeguard road users by strengthening enforcement of traffic laws and regulations through Road Traffic Safety Agency.

He further said that through such initiatives in partnering with stakeholders like Puma Energy Zambia it will ensure that behavioral change among Motorists is implemented.

Meanwhile AMEND Senior Program Officer Ramadhani Nyanza also added that engaging with educational tools is to reinforce critical Road safety lessons and by ensuring active participation from children through activities of road safety programs.

And through this program 7297 students in 5 primary schools are participating in the 2nd Puma Energy Be Road Safe Africa program.

It also reached to over 13,990 students across to five high traffic risk zone schools.

And according to World Health Organization shows that Road traffic injuries are the leading  causes of death among the children and young adults aged 10 to 19years Globally.

In 2024  the zambia Police reported that 19,180 road traffic accidents in Lusaka contributing to the national total of 35,731 accidents with 1,804 resulting in fatalities and 2,199 deaths. This is due to excessive speed, misjudging clearance distance and disobeying traffic rules.

And for children under 16 there 1310 casualties out of which 201 were deaths.

 CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTING ACCESS OF QUALITY WATER

By Daily News Reporter

Climate change is affecting water access for many people in different parts of the country causing more severe droughts and floods.

Increasing global temperatures are one of the main contributors to this challenge as climate change impacts the water cycle by influencing when, where, and how much precipitation falls.

Lusaka City is currently facing threats to quality water due to severe drought across the country and in areas such as Kanyama where floods has become a perennial problem because of poor drainage system and that the area sits on the impervious dolomite rock.

These drought and floods affects access to quality water as the residents in the compound depends on water kiosks were water is intermittent. Other compounds include Misisi, Zingalume, Kalikiliki, Garden house, Bauleni and Mazyopa compounds where they face water challenges either during rainy season or dry season. As a result of erratic water supply most residents draw water from shallow wells for their house chores.

In an interview with some residents in Kanyama compound they said that access to quality water is a serious challenge because during the rainy season the toilets which are mostly filled up mixes with the flooded water risking the residents to waterborne diseases such as typhoid, dysentery and cholera.

“We always face water challenges here in Kanyama during the rainy season because of the floods, we depend on shallow wells because we often experience erratic water supply from kiosks, said the residents.

The other challenge in these areas is the use of pit latrines which get filled and drains to the ground during the rains threatening the ground water.

While Kanyama residents’ faces flood related challenges, the situation is different from Bauleni compound residents who said lack of water is a serious challenge in the area which environmentalists says this is because of some illegal settlements where some people have encroached recharge areas.

But Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company (former)  Public Relations Manager Nshamba Muzungu said that climate change has affected access to water in Bauleni as the main borehole has dried up.

“ I want to confirm that in Bauleni area they are facing water challenges due the borehole that has dried up as a result of climate change”, said Mr. Muzungu. He said the LWSSC is now distributing the water using bowsers to help the affected residents.

Mr. Muzungu said the challenge is not only in Bauleni compound but Zingalume where some boreholes belong to LWSSC have been affected.

He said the company through Kafue Bulk Water Supply Project will ensure that most compounds benefit and connected to the network to enhance access to quality water.

Meanwhile, Water Aid Zambia Head of Policy Campaigns and Communication Chitimbwa Chifunda has urged more funding to water sector saying poor water, sanitation and hygiene are the main causes of infections like cholera and diarrhea.

And the National Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (NUWSSP), which spells out government’s roadmap on improving access to clean water and sanitation, amplifies these two measures by stating the investment needs of the sector.

Pursuant to Part II, subsection 4(2d) of the Water Supply and Sanitation Act No. 28 of 1997 that mandates NWASCO to develop sector guidelines on the management of water and sanitation services, NWASCO is in the process of revising a Climate Risks Screening Guideline.

The guideline was developed for use by practitioners in the country’s water sector to help identify, eliminate or allay adverse impacts that climate change may pose towards water infrastructure and resources.

It provides guidance on systematic steps practitioners can take to identify climate hazards and extenuating measures, thereof, as they design and implement water supply and sanitation projects.

Although the guideline is primarily intended for use on new projects, it will also be used to climate proof already existing water supply and sanitation project t s and infrastructure by guiding decision making for any modifications that may be required.

 As a response to the growing water demand amid dwindling water resources in the capital city which has seen increasing urbanization and industrialization, an initiative called Lusaka Water Security Initiative (LuWSI) was started in 2016 to contribute to the security of water resources.

LuWSI, a multi-stakeholder collaboration system between public sector, private sector, civil society and international actors, aspires for a water secure city for its residents and businesses. Currently, LuWSI has 25 members and the patron is the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation.

In line with one of its core functions of assessing, prioritizing and monitoring water security threats and solutions, impacts of climate change is one of the challenges LuWSI tries to address. As a LuWSI partner, NWASCO hosts the LuWSI secretariat.

NWASCO has also collaborated with partners in collecting information for the purposes of quantifying green gas emissions for the sector and in identifying opportunities for reduction including energy reduction.

The water sector must continue developing climate change m mitigation and adaption measures in order to safeguard its resource.