“Zambia Awaits PISA Results as Education Performance Comes Under Spotlight”

By Alain Kabinda

Zambia is set to receive the results of the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tomorrow, with education authorities expecting the findings to provide important evidence on learning outcomes and guide future education policies.

The results will be officially released in Paris by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which coordinates the international assessment.

Speaking during a media engagement in Lusaka, Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) Director of Research, Planning and Information Dr Shadreck Nkoya said Zambia’s participation in international large-scale assessments was aimed at generating evidence on learner performance and the factors affecting education outcomes.

                                                      Dr Shadreck Nkoya

He said the assessments examine learners’ performance in Reading, Mathematics and Science, while also collecting information on learner background, motivation, resilience and their ability to manage learning in a digital environment.

Zambia first participated in PISA in 2018 through PISA for Development, a programme designed, among other objectives, to strengthen countries’ capacity to conduct large-scale assessments and use education data to inform policy.

The country subsequently participated in the 2022 PISA cycle, during a period when Zambia was implementing its new curriculum.

In 2025, Zambia joined the main PISA assessment alongside 90 other education systems globally, with about 760,000 students taking part worldwide.

Science was the main assessment domain for the 2025 cycle, while Reading and Mathematics were also assessed.

The assessment also placed increased emphasis on learning in a digital environment and students’ self-regulated learning skills.

Zambia’s participation alongside African countries such as Morocco and Egypt provides an opportunity for the country to benchmark its education system against international standards.

According to Dr Shadreck Nkoya, the assessment provides an opportunity for education systems to identify what works, learn from successful countries and use evidence to strengthen policies and teaching practices.

The results are also expected to offer an indication of whether investments in classrooms, teachers, learning materials and education monitoring are translating into improved learning outcomes.

This is expected to make the findings an important reference point for policymakers, educators and other stakeholders seeking to address gaps in the education system.

As Zambia awaits the results, Dr Shadreck Nkoyahe has urged the media and other stakeholders to interpret and communicate the findings responsibly and within their proper context.

The Council, working with the OECD, is expected to provide technical support to stakeholders to help them understand the results and their implications for Zambia’s education system.

OECD Paris Data Manager for PISA Guillaume Bouquet is expected to provide technical guidance during the interpretation of the findings.

                                                   Mr. Guillaume Bouquet 

Among the key questions following the release will be how Zambia performed in Reading, Mathematics and Science, whether the country has made progress since its earlier participation in PISA, and which education policies and interventions may require strengthening.

The findings are also expected to inform Zambia’s preparations for PISA 2029, while providing evidence that could be used to strengthen teaching and learning.

The ECZ has described the release as an important moment for the country’s education sector.

“Tomorrow is a big day for education in Zambia,”Dr Shadreck Nkoya said, expressing confidence that the findings would provide an opportunity for the country to learn from evidence and strengthen its education system.

The Council has meanwhile reminded the media that the PISA 2025 results remain under embargo until their official international release tomorrow.

 

Lusaka Mayor Calls for Citizen Action on Environmental Cleanliness

By Alain Kabinda

Lusaka Mayor Chitambala Mwewa has called on Zambians to take personal responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean, saying environmental protection should not be left to councils and Government alone.

Mr Mwewa said lasting improvements in the country’s environmental conditions would only be achieved when citizens actively participated in maintaining clean communities instead of merely talking about the need for cleanliness.

“In order to change our country, we have to start from a place of participation. As citizens, all of us have to participate in making sure that our environments are clean, our surroundings are clean, and we are actively doing that, not just lip service,” he said.

The Mayor was speaking during an event linked to Zambia’s Elephant Charge, an annual off-road motorsport event that combines adventure with fundraising for wildlife conservation and environmental education.

Mr Mwewa said environmental responsibility should become part of everyday life, arguing that people needed to be deliberately educated about how their actions affect their surroundings.

“We have to educate our people. If we don't start from a place of education, which means enlightening them, it won't happen because it's automatic, no. It will happen because we are deliberate about teaching our people a better way,” he said.

He said civic leaders should also give greater attention to cleanliness because of its direct connection to public health.

“We cannot do anything if we don't start from cleanliness. Health is the number one vantage point,” Mr Mwewa said.

He said citizens needed to develop a culture of cleanliness and understand that protecting the environment was a shared responsibility.

“We have to turn our people into believers of cleanliness, and it's possible to do,” he said.

The Elephant Charge provides a unique platform for combining motorsport with environmental conservation.

Established in Zambia in 2008 and inspired by Kenya’s Rhino Charge, the event brings together 4x4 teams to navigate challenging bush terrain while attempting to cover the shortest possible distance between designated checkpoints.

Unlike conventional motorsport competitions where speed is the primary objective, teams participating in the Elephant Charge are required to plan routes, navigate difficult terrain and work together to recover vehicles and undertake repairs when mechanical problems occur.

The competition typically involves rivers, rocky terrain, steep slopes and thick bush, with the location kept secret until shortly before the event.

However, beyond the spectacle of vehicles battling difficult terrain, the Elephant Charge has a wider conservation objective.

Funds raised through the event are channelled through grants to Zambian organisations working in wildlife conservation and environmental education.

Since its establishment, the event has reportedly raised close to US$2 million, supporting initiatives aimed at protecting Zambia’s natural environment and educating communities about conservation.

Mr Mwewa said such initiatives were important but stressed that environmental protection could not depend entirely on organised campaigns.

He said the long-term solution required ordinary citizens to make cleanliness and environmental responsibility part of their daily lives.

The Mayor said a cleaner environment would not only improve the appearance of communities but would also contribute to better public health and the overall wellbeing of citizens.

 

 

 

Mwiinde Challenges Young Persons With Disabilities to Seek Leadership

By Alain Kabinda

Choma West Member of Parliament Trevor Mwiinde has challenged young persons with disabilities to reject being viewed merely as vulnerable people and instead demand meaningful participation in Zambia’s political leadership and decision-making processes.

Mwiinde said disability should never be equated with an inability to lead, urging young people with disabilities to move beyond being mobilised during elections and seek positions where they can influence decisions affecting their communities and the country.

“Disability should never be interpreted as inability to lead. Inclusion is about equal citizenship,” Mwiinde said.

He was speaking as guest of honour at a programme themed “Strengthening the Political Participation of Young Persons with Disabilities.”

Mwiinde said democracy should not only be about citizens exercising their right to vote, but should also provide opportunities for people to participate in leadership and influence decisions.

“Democracy cannot be measured by whether citizens are permitted to vote or not. Young people must progress beyond mobilisation into meaningful participation,” he said.

He called on political parties to ensure persons with disabilities are incorporated into party structures and leadership processes rather than only being remembered during election campaigns.

“There is nothing that beats participation, especially at the leadership table,” Mwiinde said.

He further encouraged young persons with disabilities to organise themselves and become more visible in political and civic spaces, saying stronger organisation would make it easier for government and other stakeholders to engage them on important national issues.

Mwiinde also cautioned young people against excessive dependence on political patrons, saying political participation without personal and economic independence could leave them vulnerable to manipulation.

“Political mobilisation, if you are not resourceful and you are not independent, you can end up being mobilised and put in somebody's pockets,” he warned.

He said young persons with disabilities should pursue leadership out of a genuine desire to serve rather than for personal gratification.

“The desire to serve is a conviction. The desire to serve goes beyond personal satisfaction. The desire to serve calls for teamwork and trust in others,” Mwiinde said.

Meanwhile, UPND PA to Media Director Karen Twambo said political participation should mean more than simply having persons with disabilities present in political spaces.

Twambo said young persons with disabilities needed knowledge, confidence, opportunities and platforms to contribute to national discussions and influence decisions.

“Political participation must mean more than simply being present. It must also mean having the knowledge, having the confidence, having the opportunity and the space to contribute,” she said.

She said inclusion would have little meaning if persons with disabilities were excluded from discussions about issues affecting them.

“Inclusivity really doesn't count unless the people we're talking about are part of what we're speaking about,” Twambo said.

Twambo said meaningful political participation should ultimately enable persons with disabilities to influence decisions and assume leadership positions.

“It also means that we should be able to influence the decisions, and ultimately be able to lead,” she said.

She further stressed the importance of allowing persons with disabilities to choose representatives who understand their lived experiences and challenges.

Twambo said young participants should use programmes of this nature to gain knowledge, ask questions freely and build relationships that could strengthen their participation in political and public life.

The speakers urged young persons with disabilities to use their collective voice and organisation to shift the narrative surrounding disability from vulnerability to equal citizenship, participation and leadership.

 ZICA Urges 884 Graduates to Embrace Ethics, Innovation and Lifelong Learning

By Alain Kabinda

The Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) has challenged 884 newly qualified accountancy and taxation professionals to embrace lifelong learning, ethical leadership and innovation as they enter an increasingly competitive and technology-driven economy.

The call was made during the Institute’s 20th Graduation Ceremony held at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre on September 4, 2026, under the theme “Celebrating Two Decades of Excellence: Empowering Accountancy Professionals for a Sustainable Future.”

Speaking during the graduation ceremony in Lusaka Professor Pinalo Chifwanakeni said the accounting profession had evolved significantly, with accountants now expected to play broader roles as strategic advisers, risk managers, business leaders, innovators and champions of good governance.

Professor Chifwanakeni said the changing economic environment, rapid technological advancement, digital transformation and growing demands for accountability required professionals who could continuously adapt and improve their skills.

He urged the graduates to commit themselves to lifelong learning, warning that the qualifications obtained at graduation would provide a foundation for their careers but would not be enough to sustain them throughout their professional lives.

He also encouraged the new professionals to develop digital competencies and remain abreast of developments in artificial intelligence, data analytics, digital finance, sustainability reporting and cybersecurity.

“Continue learning. Seek new qualifications. Develop digital competencies. Stay informed about global developments in finance, taxation, governance, and business management,” Professor Chifwanakeni said.

He also stressed the importance of ethical leadership, saying accountants would occupy influential positions in government, private companies, non-governmental organisations and international institutions.

Professor Chifwanakeni urged the graduates to uphold honesty, transparency and accountability and resist shortcuts when making professional decisions.

“Ethical leadership builds strong institutions, and strong institutions are essential for sustainable national development,” He said.

He further challenged the graduates to use their professional knowledge to serve society by strengthening businesses, improving public financial management, promoting entrepreneurship and creating employment opportunities.

Professor Chifwanakeni said professional knowledge should not be used solely for personal advancement but should contribute to transforming communities and supporting national development.

Meanwhile, ZICA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Bwembya said the Institute was continuing to strengthen its education and training programmes to ensure its qualifications remained relevant to the changing needs of the profession and the economy.

Bwembya said ZICA had revised the CA Zambia curriculum to equip professionals with the knowledge, skills and competencies required in a rapidly changing business environment.

He said practical training would remain central to the development of Chartered Accountants and called on more organisations to become Approved Employers under the CA Zambia programme.

Bwembya also appealed to experienced professionals to register as mentors to provide students with the practical experience and guidance required to qualify as Chartered Accountants.

He said the continued growth of the CA Zambia qualification depended not only on the number of students entering the programme but also on the availability of opportunities for trainees to gain practical experience and mentorship.

To the graduates, Bwembya said graduation represented an important achievement but also marked the beginning of another stage in their professional journey.

He encouraged them to remain committed to professional ethics, continuous learning and excellence, noting that the reputation of the accountancy profession was built through the conduct and contribution of individual professionals.

The 884 graduates were awarded qualifications across taxation and accountancy programmes.

According to ZICA, the graduating class comprised 10 Certificate in Taxation, nine Diploma in Taxation, 122 Diploma in Accountancy, nine Postgraduate Diploma in Taxation, 262 CA Certificate in Accountancy, 239 CA Application Advanced Diploma in Accountancy and 233 CA Advisory Professional in Accountancy.

Professor Chifwanakeni told the graduates that their qualifications would open doors, but their character would determine how far they went.

He urged them to pursue not only professional success but also significance by making a positive contribution to their workplaces, communities and the nation.

The graduation marked two decades of ZICA ceremonies and highlighted the Institute’s continuing role in developing competent, ethical and adaptable accountancy professionals capable of contributing to Zambia’s economic growth and competitiveness.

Africa’s Obesity Advocates Push for a Bigger Role in Health Systems

By Alain Kabinda 

From Ghana to Zambia and South Africa, advocates are bringing evidence and lived experience into health policy discussions, calling for obesity to be recognised as an essential part of the region’s response to NCDs and Universal Health Coverage.

As African countries work to build stronger health systems and expand access to healthcare, advocates are calling for a health challenge that affects millions across the continent to receive greater attention: obesity.

From national engagement in Ghana to high-level discussions at the 76th Session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for Africa (AFRO76), World Obesity members and advocates are helping to ensure that obesity is not overlooked in wider conversations about noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), primary healthcare and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Their work is also highlighting another critical element of health policy: the voices of people living with obesity themselves.

The experience by Ms. Brenda Chitindi, Executive Director of the Zambia Heart and Stroke Foundation and a World Obesity lived experience advocate, demonstrate how national and regional advocacy can connect evidence, lived experience and policy.

At AFRO76, Ms. Brenda Chitindi represented World Obesity alongside other organisations, bringing the perspectives of people living with obesity and the wider obesity community into regional health discussions.

In a statement on progress towards implementing the WHO African Region's Framework for Sustaining Resilient Health Systems to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Promote Health Security 2023–2030, Ms. Brenda welcomed progress while urging Member States to make obesity prevention and management part of efforts to strengthen UHC and primary healthcare.

Her intervention drew attention to the rapidly increasing prevalence of obesity across the African region and its links with other major NCDs, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Integrating obesity prevention and management into primary healthcare could deliver what advocates describe as a “double dividend” — improving health outcomes while also generating economic benefits and addressing a major driver of multiple diseases.

It emphasised the importance of listening to people who live with obesity and involving them in the design and implementation of health services.

When people living with obesity are involved in shaping care, services can become more person-centred and better equipped to address stigma and the barriers that prevent people from seeking or receiving appropriate support.

Ms. Brenda's participation at AFRO76 therefore represented more than advocacy on behalf of people living with obesity. It reflected a wider effort to ensure that people with lived experience have a seat at the table when decisions about their health are being made.

Alongside her advocacy at AFRO76, Ms. Brenda also helped raise awareness of MAPPS II – Management and Advocacy for Providers, Patients and Systems, World Obesity's global initiative examining how obesity prevention, treatment and care are addressed across health systems.

MAPPS II brings together research and multi-stakeholder engagement, involving healthcare professionals, policymakers, civil society, people living with obesity and their caregivers.

The initiative is designed to build a clearer understanding of what happens in practice: where health systems are responding effectively to obesity, where gaps exist and what can be done to strengthen prevention and care.

South Africa is one of six MAPPS II deep-dive countries, where researchers and stakeholders are examining barriers and opportunities in obesity prevention and care.

A national roundtable in Cape Town brought together more than 25 participants from government, healthcare, research, civil society and lived experience.

The gathering provided an opportunity to bring different perspectives together and explore how obesity can be better addressed within existing health systems.

MAPPS II is also building a broader regional evidence base. The forthcoming MAPPS II Atlas includes South Africa, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya among the countries represented from the WHO African Region.

As governments across Africa seek to strengthen primary healthcare and advance UHC, decisions about which conditions receive attention, resources and services have significant implications for health equity.

Obesity is closely connected to several other major health challenges, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Yet access to prevention, treatment and long-term care can vary considerably.

For advocates, this creates a strong case for obesity to be addressed as part of integrated health-system planning rather than through isolated programmes.

The evidence emerging from MAPPS II, combined with engagement from healthcare professionals, policymakers, civil society and people with lived experience, can help build that case.

Evidence and stakeholder engagement from MAPPS II will contribute to national and global discussions on health-system priorities in the lead-up to the 2027 United Nations High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage.

For the obesity community, the meeting provides an important opportunity to reinforce a fundamental argument: universal health coverage cannot be achieved if major drivers of disease and health inequity are overlooked.

That means ensuring that obesity prevention, treatment and care are considered within broader health-system strategies.

The focus is increasingly moving beyond individual responsibility towards questions of prevention, access to care, health-system capacity, policy and equity.

Advocates like Ms. Brenda Chitindi are helping to drive that change by connecting national experiences with regional and global policy discussions.

Her work, alongside the evidence being generated through MAPPS II, is helping to build a stronger argument for obesity to be treated as an integral part of the NCD and UHC agenda.

As countries prepare for the next major global discussion on universal health coverage, the challenge will be turning that growing recognition into concrete action.

For people living with obesity across Africa, that action could mean health services that are easier to access, more responsive to their needs and free from stigma.

And for health systems, it could mean recognising that achieving better health for all requires addressing obesity alongside the other major challenges shaping the region’s health future.

 NGOCC Urges Hichilema to Prioritise Women, Inclusive Growth in Second Term

By Alain Kabinda

The Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has urged President Hakainde Hichilema to make inclusive governance, women’s participation and shared prosperity key priorities during his second five-year term.

Congratulating President Hichilema on his inauguration, NGOCC Board Chairperson Beauty Katebe in statement issued to Daily News said the new term provides an opportunity for the President to build on his first-term efforts and deepen an agenda that benefits all Zambians.

Ms. Katebe said the President’s “Grow Zambia” agenda should be guided by unity in diversity, stressing that the Head of State has a responsibility to serve all citizens, including those who did not vote for him.

Ms. katebe commended President Hichilema for extending a conciliatory message to the opposition and urged him to take further steps towards national healing.

The organisation called for people currently detained in connection with the just-ended general elections to be brought before the courts of law without delay.

She has further called on President Hichilema to use the 11 nominated parliamentary seats to deliberately increase women’s representation in the National Assembly.

The organisation said preliminary election results once again indicate that women remain significantly underrepresented in Parliament, falling short of the 50 percent gender parity threshold.

Ms. Katebe urged the President to appoint more women to Cabinet and other key decision-making positions.

 Ms. Katebe said increased participation of women in political leadership would help advance Zambia’s constitutional commitments and international obligations on gender equality, including the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

The organisation said Zambia’s transition from economic stabilisation to growth must result in tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens.

Ms. Katebe also emphasised the need for economic gains to benefit women, who it said constitute a large proportion of Zambia’s poor.

The organisation cautioned that economic expansion should not be measured only through national statistics, but by whether families experience improved livelihoods and greater economic opportunities.

“Expansion must indeed be felt in our homes, not only in national statistics,” Ms. Katebe said.

Ms. Katebe said President Hichilema faces the considerable task of repairing relationships across the political divide and strengthening national cohesion.

Ms. Katebe also urged the President to lead from the front in ensuring that his second term delivers inclusive governance, meaningful participation of women and shared prosperity.

The organisation said the President should lead with humility, inclusiveness and an unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of all Zambians.

Ms. Katebe has also wished President Hichilema wisdom, peace and steadfast resolve as he begins his second term.

The organisation also called on citizens to play their part in building a united, peaceful and prosperous Zambia.

 

Duma Calls for Policy Shift to Unlock Zambian Business Potential

By Alain Kabinda

Policy Analyst Zondwayo Duma has called for a fundamental shift in Zambia’s economic policies to ensure that local businesses benefit more meaningfully from the country’s abundant natural resources.

Mr Duma says Zambia’s mineral and land wealth has not translated into broad-based prosperity for citizens, raising questions about how the country attracts investment, develops local enterprises and distributes economic opportunities.

In a media statement, Mr Duma said the continued existence of poverty in a resource-rich country required serious reflection on the policy choices that have shaped Zambia’s economic development.

He said Government must move beyond simply attracting external investors and place greater emphasis on building the capacity of Zambian-owned businesses to participate in major economic sectors.

Mr Duma said local content policies should not be limited to encouraging companies to procure goods and services from Zambian suppliers.

He argued that local enterprises must have the financial, technical and productive capacity to compete effectively for contracts generated by major investments, particularly in the mining and natural resource sectors.

“Local content policies must extend beyond procurement to ensure that Zambian companies have the genuine capacity and capabilities to participate,” he said.

According to Mr Duma, this requires deliberate supplier-development programmes that equip local businesses with the skills, technology, financing and standards necessary to compete.

He said Government should therefore take an active role in developing suppliers rather than leaving local companies to compete against established international firms without adequate support.

The policy analyst said Zambia's economic transformation would depend heavily on the growth of strong domestic enterprises capable of participating in regional and international value chains.

He said institutions such as the Zambia Development Agency and the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission should be refocused to become stronger drivers of industrialisation and local business development.

Mr Duma argued that these institutions should do more than facilitate investment and empowerment programmes, but should help create an environment where Zambian companies can expand, innovate and compete.

He said stronger domestic businesses would allow more economic value to remain in Zambia through employment creation, local procurement, tax revenues, skills development and reinvestment.

Mr Duma said Zambia’s policy framework has historically placed significant emphasis on attracting external investors, while domestic business development has received comparatively less attention.

He said foreign investment remains important to economic development but should be structured in a way that creates opportunities for local enterprises to grow alongside major investors.

Without deliberate intervention, he warned, Zambian businesses risk remaining marginal players in sectors based on the country's own natural resources.

This, he said, could perpetuate an economic model in which Zambia exports its resources while importing many of the goods, technologies and services required to exploit them.

Mr Duma’s concerns come amid continued discussions around how Zambia can extract greater economic value from its natural resources.

He said the country needs policies that encourage value addition, industrial development and stronger domestic supply chains rather than focusing primarily on the extraction and export of raw materials.

For businesses, this could create opportunities across manufacturing, mining supply chains, agriculture, logistics, technology and other supporting industries.

A stronger local supply chain could also reduce the amount of money leaving the country through imports while creating new markets for Zambian producers and service providers.

Mr Duma said Government has a critical role to play in creating the conditions under which local businesses can grow.

This includes ensuring that institutions responsible for investment promotion and economic empowerment are equipped to identify gaps in local industries and help businesses close them.

He said supplier development should be treated as an economic development strategy rather than simply a procurement requirement.

“Government must take an active role in supplier development if local enterprises are to compete effectively,” he said.

Such an approach, he argued, would enable local businesses to move from being small contractors and suppliers to becoming competitive companies capable of serving large domestic and international markets.

Mr Duma warned that failing to address the structural weaknesses affecting local enterprises could continue to limit the impact of Zambia’s natural-resource wealth on ordinary citizens.

He said the disconnect between a country rich in land and minerals and citizens who continue to experience poverty must be urgently addressed.

For the private sector, the issue is ultimately about creating a more inclusive business environment where investment generates opportunities throughout the economy rather than concentrating benefits among a limited number of companies.

Mr Duma said honest dialogue on policy shortcomings was necessary to identify practical solutions and deliver sustainable economic transformation.

He stressed that Zambia needs meaningful reforms rather than promises if it is to achieve inclusive growth and shared prosperity.

The challenge, he said, is not whether Zambia possesses sufficient resources to become prosperous, but whether its economic policies can effectively transform those resources into competitive Zambian businesses, jobs, industrial capacity and lasting wealth for citizens.