Fifty-nine-year-old Elias Mubanga served as Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise Development for four years and five months, from September 2021 until his dismissal yesterday by President Hakainde Hichilema.

Mubanga was a nominated Member of Parliament and had served both in Cabinet and in Parliament throughout his tenure.

He made history as the first individual to head the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, a portfolio created by President Hichilema in September 2021 following the formation of government.

During his time in office, Mubanga oversaw the establishment and operationalisation of the ministry, which was set up to support and formalise small and medium enterprises as part of broader economic empowerment and job creation efforts.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has closed its corruption investigations involving Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo, Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana, and Solicitor General Marshal Muchende.

The development was announced in Lusaka by ACC Director General Daphne Chabu during a media briefing.

Chabu said investigations found no evidence linking Muchende to bribery allegations. He had been under probe in 2024 over claims that he received US$500,000 from former Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) provisional liquidator Milingo Lungu.

“Allegations of abuse of authority and suspected bribery were thoroughly examined, but no evidence was established linking Mr Muchende to any corrupt transactions,” she said.

The Director General further disclosed that from January 2026 to date, the commission has received 143 reports, of which 72 are corruption-related and 71 are non-corruption related.

She added that currently no Cabinet Minister is under investigation.

Chabu also dismissed claims that the commission and other law enforcement agencies are selectively targeting individuals, particularly those aligned with the opposition.

She reaffirmed that the ACC remains committed to combating corruption professionally and impartially, regardless of who is involved.

The National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) has stated that it will not condone accredited facilities that turn away patients.

NHIMA Director General, Michael Njapau, says it is wrong for any health facility accredited with NHIMA to chase patients away.

Speaking on Hot FM’s breakfast show and monitored by the media, Mr Njapau said the authority is aware of some facilities that are not treating patients properly.

He charged that some facilities are sending away patients due to delays by the authority in paying claims and wondered why patients were being sent away without notifying NHIMA.

“We have also found that some facilities are not treating our patients properly, they are sending them away because of some delays without telling us,” he stated.

Mr Njapau further explained that the contracts signed between NHIMA and health facilities stipulate that any changes or adjustments must be communicated to the authority.

“The contract stipulates that they should tell us in case of any changes,” he stressed.

Mr Njapau noted that NHIMA operates an open-door policy, adding that any facility facing challenges should contact the authority rather than turn away patients.

“This is a business relationship, if the facility is having difficulties with NHIMA we run an open door policy. We should be contacted, and say we can’t go on like this, can we make adjustments and everything is transparent,” he said.

Mr Njapau said it is wrong for a NHIMA accredited facility to send away a patient instead of attending to them, stating that the move is not right by any standards.

“I can’t imagine a patient who is not feeling well, get to a hospital which is accredited with NHIMA and then they are sent away, this is not right by any standards,” he said.

And, Mr Njapau has refuted claims that the authority has reduced the services offered under NHIMA scheme.

“As far as NHIMA is concerned, no services have been removed. We have not reduced the number of services as far as NHIMA is concerned,” he stressed.

Mr Njapau appealed to the public to report any facility claiming that NHIMA has reduced services offered to the Zambian people to the authority.

He said NHIMA is ready to send its inspectors to visit facilities alleging that services have been removed by the authority.

“We are please appealing to the public, those facilities that tell you we have reduced let us know, we will get to them and check why and what facilities had reduced,” said Mr Njapau.

He further emphasised that each time NHIMA desires to make adjustments, the public is notified through the press.

“We have never reduced any facilities, when NHIMA has reduced any facilities, we inform the public and we will go to the press and make announcements, give notice of which facilities have been reduced,” Mr Njapau stated.

He pointed out that as a public institution dealing with human lives, NHIMA takes its responsibilities seriously.

President Hakainde Hichilema has called on leaders across the country to draw inspiration from the late Mutumba Bull’s exemplary leadership and unwavering dedication to public service.

Speaking during the official funeral service held at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka this morning, President Hichilema said embracing late Dr Bull’s attitude, resilience and collective approach to problem solving could be transformative for national development.

The media reports that the Head of State described Dr Bull, Zambia’s first female full Cabinet Minister who died on February 13, 2026, at the age of 88, as a trailblazer whose contributions to the country’s development will remain etched in history.

He stressed the importance of understanding the nation’s heritage and raising children with strong values, regardless of their circumstances.

“Dr Mainga Bull, a great daughter of this country, was raised by a family that instilled strong values in her. When one reflects on the place where she was born and what it represented at the time, one can only marvel at what this country can produce from all corners, and the importance of raising our children properly,” President Hichilema said.

He noted that the late scholar and stateswoman did not allow her environment or background to define her achievements, but instead rose above limitations through hard work, discipline and commitment.

President Hichilema further urged Zambians to know their history in order to appreciate the sacrifices and contributions of pioneers such as Dr Bull.

He thanked her family and community for nurturing her into a leader who served both Zambia and the international community with distinction.

“We have heard what she accomplished, but how did she achieve such great things? It was not merely intellectual ability, it was her attitude and commitment to hard work. These are lessons all of us must learn from,” he said.

The President also expressed gratitude to the family for allowing Dr Bull to dedicate much of her time to national and global service, noting that her authorship of 50 books ensures that her impact will endure for generations.

He wished the family comfort, assuring them that her service to the country will always be honored.

Earlier, Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairperson, Mwangala Zaloumis, presented Dr Bull’s life history, noting that she obtained her PhD in History from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, becoming the first Zambian woman to earn a doctoral degree.

Ms Zaloumis said the late’s academic focus was African history, particularly the history of the Lozi Kingdom and Zambia’s pre-colonial political systems.

Meanwhile, University of Zambia Vice Chancellor, Mundia Muya, said the institution will greatly miss Dr Bull’s passion for knowledge, dedication to teaching and publishing, and her commitment to raising academic standards at the university.

In her tribute, Dr Bull’s first born daughter, Liseli Bull, described her mother as supportive, resilient and strong.

Dr Mutumba Mainga Bull, was also the first Zambian woman to earn a PhD, and the first female lecturer at the University of Zambia.

The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has scaled up the delivery of relief packages to families recently displaced by floods in Kanchibiya District, providing additional food supplies to ensure sustained support.

Muchinga Province DMMU Regional Coordinator, Michael Muyoba, confirmed the development in an interview with the the media.

Mr Muyoba stated that the additional relief supplies being distributed included 35 bags of mealie meal, four bags of beans, and salt among other.

He explained that the consignment was part of the government’s mandate to ensure that families affected by floods or other calamitous conditions received consistent assistance until their situations stabilise.

“Government remains committed to supporting communities in distress. These additional items will help stabilize the food security situation for the affected households,” Mr. Muyoba stated.

The latest delivery follows a prior dispatch of emergency items after heavy rains on February 14 causing 33 houses to collapse and claimed one life in the process.

Meanwhile, Kanchibiya District Commissioner, Chrispin Chilekwa, expressed satisfaction with the arrival of the relief items, noting that his team was ready to commence the distribution process.

Mr Chilekwa commended the DMMU, for the swift intervention which he said will go a long way in alleviating the suffering of the local people.

“We appreciate the swift intervention. This support is critical as the district faces these flood challenges,” the District Commissioner said.

And Kanchibiya District Disaster Management Mitigation Unit Officer, Caroline Njobvu, assured the public that her office was active on the ground to oversee the exercise.

Ms Njobvu emphasised that the distribution process would be transparent to ensure that all deserving families received the intended assistance.

The February 14 disaster remains one of the most severe in recent weeks, with Munikashi Ward recorded as one of the hardest-hit areas after 12 houses collapsed in a single night.