Thirteen heads of cattle belonging to a farmer of Sicheelo Village in Chief Simwatachela’s chiefdom in Zimba District have died after being struck by lightning during heavy rainfall.

‎The incident occurred on March 8, 2026 around 13:00 hours when lightning struck a herd of cattle that were grazing in the area.

‎Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Moono Namalongo confirmed the incident in a statement.

‎Mr Namalongo said the matter was reported to Choma Central Police Station on March 9, 2026 at about 12:25 hours by Mr Chrispine Ndeleki, 47, of Sicheelo Village.

‎“Mr Ndeleki reported that thirteen heads of cattle of assorted colours, branded 2T2B, died after being struck by lightning during heavy rainfall,” he said.

‎Mr Namalongo explained that earlier on the same day, around 09:00 hours, Mr Ndeleki had instructed his son to take 37 cattle for dipping before allowing them to graze within the village.

“Later around 13:00 hours, heavy rains started and the boy decided to drive the cattle back home. However, before reaching home, lightning struck the herd, killing thirteen of the animals,” he stated.

‎He said the matter was first reported to the village headman who advised the farmer to take the carcasses to Choma Police Station for police clearance.

‎Mr Namalongo said police officers verified the report and confirmed with Zimba Police Station that the cattle were not stolen.

‎“The Veterinary Department and Health Inspectors have since been engaged and the carcasses are currently being kept at an abattoir pending clearance,” the police chief said.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested four individuals in Mkushi District over corruption allegations linked to a school feeding programme contract valued at more than K1 million.

The suspects include district planning officer Patrick Nkhuwa and accounts assistant Nakeempa Okello from the Ministry of Education’s District Education Board Secretary office. Investigators say the arrests relate to the awarding of a contract to Ichikwanka Multi-Purpose Cooperative to supply more than 350 bags of beans under the school feeding programme.

ACC acting head of corporate communications Chilufya Chisanga said the suspects were charged with offences including abuse of authority of office and corrupt practices with a public officer. Authorities allege the cooperative was awarded the contract despite not meeting the necessary procurement standards required to supply goods to government institutions.

The investigation also led to the arrest of two bank employees, Dennis Charles Baines and Joseph Mwape, who investigators believe were involved in the financial transactions connected to the procurement process. The four suspects are expected to appear before court as the corruption investigation progresses.

Officials said the alleged irregularities occurred between July and December last year when the contract was processed and payments were allegedly facilitated. According to investigators, the case centres on how procurement procedures were bypassed during the awarding of the contract.

School feeding programmes are designed to support vulnerable learners by providing meals to pupils, particularly in rural areas where food insecurity affects school attendance and performance. Government funding is channelled through education offices to procure food supplies distributed to schools participating in the programme.

Investigators said the procurement process requires strict compliance with public finance regulations to ensure transparency and value for money. Authorities maintain that any deviation from procurement procedures can compromise public service delivery and expose government funds to abuse.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has intensified investigations into public procurement practices in several sectors, particularly programmes involving large public allocations. Education sector procurement has remained a focus for investigators because of the size of funds allocated to social support programmes.

Government agencies continue to emphasise the importance of accountability in managing public resources, especially those intended to support vulnerable communities. Officials say procurement systems must be protected to ensure that funds reach the intended beneficiaries without interference or manipulation.

The Mkushi case forms part of broader efforts by investigators to address corruption in public service institutions. Authorities say they will continue pursuing cases involving alleged misuse of public funds in order to strengthen integrity in government programmes.

The suspects remain under investigation as authorities prepare the case for prosecution. Further details are expected to emerge as the matter proceeds through the judicial process.

Fire swept through the National Savings and Credit Bank (NATSAVE) in Mongu today.

Western Province Commissioner of Police Rae Hamoonga confirmed the incident, that the fire was noticed around 10:00 hours by a security guard identified as Nyambe Nyambe.

Mr Hamoonga said preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have emanated from the Bank Manager’s office where a solar power backup system is installed.

“Upon receiving the report, a combined team of Police Officers, the fire brigades from Mongu Municipal Council Fire, TAZAMA and National Airports Corporation quickly responded to the scene and found the building engulfed in flames,” he revealed.

The Police Commissioner noted that the fire has since been successfully contained and the bank vault is safe, adding that the value of other property destroyed is yet to be established.

The media reports that Mr Hamoonga commended the swift response by all emergency teams involved in containing the fire and preventing further damage.

Luanshya District recorded over 700 cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in 2025, with women and girls accounting for about 90 percent of the victims, District Commissioner Paul Malele disclosed.

Mr. Malele said the statistics highlight the need for strengthened justice systems and community support to protect women and girls from violence and discrimination.

Mr Malele called for the need to ensure justice is delivered not only in courts but also within homes, workplaces and communities.

He further stressed the importance of supporting institutions such as victim support units, one-stop centres and other justice systems so survivors can access medical, legal, and psychosocial services without delay.

“In 2025 alone, Luanshya recorded over 700 cases of gender-based violence, with women and girls making up 90 percent of the victims,” Mr. Malele said.

The media reports that the GBV statistics were revealed yesterday during the commemoration of International Women’s Day.

Highlighting progress in women’s empowerment, Mr. Malele disclosed that over 1,800 women in Luanshya have received productivity grants, while 15,000 people have benefitted from social cash transfers, with women accounting for 70 percent of beneficiaries.

He added that 4,175 girls from vulnerable households have been earmarked for support to remain in school and access quality education.

Meanwhile, Luanshya Mayor Charles Mulenga praised government efforts to enhance women’s participation in national leadership.

Mr Mulenga commended President Hakainde Hichilema for assenting to the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 7 of 2025, which introduces a mixed-member proportional representation system aimed at increasing the representation of women, youths, and persons with disabilities in Parliament.

“This landmark reform guarantees greater opportunities for women, youths and persons with disabilities to serve in the National Assembly and places women at the centre of decision-making,” Mr Mulenga said.

Energy leaders from across Southern Africa have gathered in Lusaka as Zambia hosts the 66th Management Committee meetings of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

The week-long meetings in Lusaka have drawn representatives from utilities and market participants from 12 member countries in Southern Africa.

Discussions at the forum are expected to focus on regional electricity trade, infrastructure development and power sector cooperation.

The meetings are being hosted by the national power utility, ZESCO Limited, which last hosted the gathering more than a decade ago.

Energy Minister Makozo Chikote is expected to officially open the regional meeting on Thursday 12 March 2026 at Mulungushi conference center.

SAPP Vice Chairperson, Lioko Sitali, who is also ZESCO Director for transmission and trade said in an interview in Lusaka that the gathering is an event that brings member utilities together to discuss how the region can better utilize shared electricity resources.

“ZESCO is the host utility for the SAPP management committee meetings for 2026, we have twelve member countries and all of them are attending these meetings where working groups sit together to come up with solutions on how generation resources can be utilized across the region,” said Engineer Sitali.

In a separate interview head of commercial trade at Kanona Power Company Limited, Nsofwa Sikanyika, hailed SAPP as a great initiative that enables utilities and market participants to collectively address challenges facing the regional power sector.

“SAPP management meetings are held annually for all participating utilities and operating members to deliberate on issues that affect the Southern African region when it comes to the power sector,” she said.

Ms. Sikanyika noted that many of the energy challenges faced by countries in the region are similar, including generation deficits and transmission constraints.

“When you look at the different countries that form part of the Southern African Power Pool, we find that the challenges are quite similar,” She said.

Ms. Sikanyika highlighted Zambia’s recent electricity deficit as an example of how the regional power pool helps countries support each other.

“When Zambia experienced a deficit in power generation that led to load management across the nation, other utilities within the Southern African Power Pool were quite key in supporting the country,” she noted.

Ms. Sikanyika observed that SAPP remains the most advanced electricity trading system on the continent, providing a model for regional energy cooperation in Africa.

Established in 1995, SAPP enables electricity utilities in member countries to trade surplus power across borders through interconnected transmission networks.

the media reports that the meetings in Lusaka have come at a time when several Southern African countries are grappling with electricity shortages driven by rising demand, drought-affected hydropower generation and infrastructure constraints.

According to industry players, SAPP has become an important platform for countries to cooperate and support one another during energy shortages.

The initiative is widely seen as a key mechanism for addressing Africa’s energy deficit while promoting regional economic integration.

Authorities in Malawi have detained a 12-year-old Zambian juvenile who crossed into the country without legal documentation.

The boy, identified as Patson Mtonga, was cornered in Kasungu National Park while his two friends managed to escape.

The three children, all under the age of 14, had crossed into the park for fishing before encountering a wildlife police patrol officer.

Police identified the juveniles as Patson Mtonga, 12, Gift Mwale, 13, and Matthews Zgambo, 10, all of Chikalema Village in Mwase area.

Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba confirmed the matter to the media.

“On 8th March, 2026 at around 19:00 hours, we received a WhatsApp message from Malawi police that a male juvenile believed to be a Zambian national was in their custody,” Mr Mweemba said,

Mr Mwemba said that the boy was caught in Kasungu National Park on 5th March, 2026 around 14:00 hours by a Malawian Wildlife Police Officer on patrol.

The boy’s father, Simon Mtonga, 40, has confirmed that it is his son being held by Malawi authorities.

Mr Mweemba further stated that the matter was not reported at any police station in Zambia by the parents of the three children.

He added that the two other juveniles who escaped have since returned home and informed their parents.

The Police Commissioner said Malawian police, in conjunction with Zambia’s Department of Immigration, are making arrangements to have the juvenile released and repatriated.