The Secretary to the Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa, has attributed government’s positive achievements, such as the drop in the country’s inflation rate, to the hard work of government officials that ensured efficient public service delivery.

Speaking when he opened the second Senior Management Meeting for Permanent Secretaries in Lusaka today, Mr Kangwa, who also uploaded the permanent secretaries, said this achievement is a call to even work harder, citing that there’s more to be done despite government’s many achievements.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Kangwa, further urged all Permanent Secretaries to take immediate action in reviewing and responding to presidential directives arising from the State of the Nation Address by President Hakainde Hichilema, Mr Kangwa emphasised the importance of swift response to the directives to ensure that the government’s vision is realised.

“There’s so much we can do if we just spend a few minutes listening to the directives,” he stated.

 Mr Kangwa, reiterated the government’s call for professionalism and ethics in the public service, emphasising that the public service must reflect values of integrity for the development of the country.

The Secretary to the Cabinet also reiterated President Hakainde Hichilema’s State of the Nation Address, stating that those in the public service must be committed to excellence in delivering public services.

“Public service is not just merely a job but must reflect values of integrity towards the development of Zambia,” he stated.

The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has seized over 4,700 cases of assorted smuggled alcoholic beverages with a revenue loss of over K4.1 million.

According to a statement issued to the media by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Corporate Communications Manager Oliver Nzala, the seizure was conducted on February 22, 2026, in Kazungula district.

Mr Nzala explained that the attempted smuggling of the beverages by Five (5) importers was made with forged documents for another Customs Accredited Clients Program (CACP).

The ZRA Corporate Communications Manager further stated that the goods seized include Glenmorange, Four Cousins, Gordon’s Gin, Fat Bastard, Jameson, Malibu and Tequilas.

“The Zambia Revenue Authority would like to remind importers and transporters involved in similar schemes that they risk having their goods and trucks seized and forfeited to the state as well as face prosecution in the Courts of Law. By taking decisive action against these fraudulent activities, the Authority aims to promote legitimate trade. All importers are encouraged to make correct declarations of goods being imported,” he said.

Mr Nzala encouraged the general public and transporters to report any potential cases of smuggling to the nearest Zambia Revenue Authority offices.

The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has begun distributing rice to 160 – flood – affected households across three wards in Chilanga District.

Acting Chilanga District Commissioner, Maureen Chilende said the district received 500 by 50 Kilogramme bags of rice for distribution.

She explained that the exercise is meant to cushion the negative impact of floods that damaged houses and destroyed crop fields.

Ms Chilende was speaking during the flagging off exercise at Munyeu Cooperative in Mwembeshi Ward, where 60 families will benefit from the rice.

Chilanga Member of Parliament, Sipho Hlazo commended the government for the quick intervention.

And Mr Hlazo noted the development in Mwembeshi Ward over the past four years, including a health post at the correction facility and classroom blocks.

“Let us continue working together with the government to foster development and change the lives of our communities which we live in by giving the UPND another five years mandate to do even more developments,’’ he emphasised.

Meanwhile, Mwembeshi Area Councillor, Arnold Dube thanked the government and urged the local leaders to consider providing roof sheets to affected families as the area continued to experience more rainfall.

DMMU Chilanga District Coordinator, Hakham Himaanga explained that the number of households to benefit in the first phase include 80 in Namalombwe Ward, 20 households in Mondengwa Ward and 60 households in Mwembeshi Ward.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti, has urged African parliamentarians to take a leading role in strengthening health systems across the continent.

Ms. Mutti stressed that resilient and equitable healthcare is vital for sustainable development.

Ms. Mutti emphasized that lawmakers, as custodians of the public interest, hold legislative authority and oversight powers that must be leveraged to ensure emergency preparedness, equity in service delivery, system resilience and sustainable financing remain central to national policies.

She made the call while officiating at the 17th Meeting of the Network of African Parliamentary Committees on Health (NEAPACOH), held from February 25 to 27 at Mulungushi International Conference Centre.

Speaking at the same event, NEAPACOH Chairperson Mokhothu Makhalanyane urged legislators to take stronger leadership in financing and safeguarding health systems, warning that overreliance on external support threatens millions of lives.

Mr Makhalanyane highlighted the need for parliaments to provide robust oversight, particularly in agreements involving funding and data sharing, and described donor dependence for HIV treatment as “unacceptable” for a resource-rich continent.

He further noted that corruption, weak governance and poor accountability continue to undermine progress, resulting in preventable deaths, especially among women and children.

He stressed that universal health coverage must be treated as a political and financial commitment, requiring prioritization of primary healthcare, skilled birth attendance, emergency services and stronger medical supply chains.

Meanwhile, Population and Development Executive Director, Joseph Adelegan, called on African parliamentarians to enact laws that advance reproductive health and empower women and girls.