Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province has reiterated the traditional leadership’s commitment to working with the government.

Speaking during the Nc’wala traditional ceremony fundraising dinner hosted by the Petauke Ngoni Group, the traditional leader, who was represented by Chief Mnukwa said the traditional leadership works with the government to ensure development is realised.

“As the traditional leadership we work with the government, as we also believe these people exist to serve the citizens who put them in power,” he said.

The Paramount Chief also urged those surrounding the presidency to objectively update the Head of State on various matters that have real impact on the livelihood of the general citizenry.

Meanwhile, Ngoni Royal Establishment Nc’wala Main Committee Vice Chairperson, Moses Chimukule appreciated the Petauke Ngoni Group for the effort made towards the financing of this year’s Nc’wala traditional ceremony.

“Whatever you have contributed will be put to good use,” he assured.

“This year’s Nc’wala traditional ceremony activities will start in Nakonde on February 18, then proceed to Feira, in Luangwa district for the crossing, then proceed to the main event,” he added.

And gracing the event, Petauke District Commissioner Martha Mulenga indicated that President Hakainde Hichilema values tradition and culture, as it plays a pivotal role in the moral development of the country.

“Traditional ceremonies like Nc’wala also create an enabling environment for peace and unity,” she indicated.

This year, the Nc’wala traditional ceremony will be held on February, 28^th, 2026.

A 20-year-old University of Zambia (UNZA) Great East Road Campus student is nursing serious injuries after she was struck by a Toyota Mark X while crossing the road within campus.

The victim, identified as Zanele Sichoonga, was rushed to Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital, where she remains admitted and is receiving medical treatment.

According to Zambia Police Public Relations Officer Godfrey Chilabi, the accident occurred on February 7, 2026, around 03:30 hours within the UNZA Great East Campus.

Mr Chilabi said preliminary investigations indicate that the student was crossing the road when she was hit by an oncoming motor vehicle. The driver of the Toyota Mark X, registration number CAG 1877, has been identified as 29-year-old Stephen Lombe of Chamba Valley.

Following the incident, a group of suspected students allegedly mobbed and assaulted the driver and damaged the vehicle. Police officers later arrived at the scene and rescued him. He sustained injuries and was taken to Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital, where he was treated and later discharged.

Meanwhile, the Zambia Police Service has dismissed as false claims circulating on social media alleging that the driver is the son of Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Jack Mwiimbu.

Mr Chilabi described the claims as malicious and misleading, stating that there is no relationship between the driver and the Minister. He urged members of the public to disregard the false information.

Police investigations into the matter are ongoing, and the driver is expected to face formal charges.

President Hakainde Hichilema says his participation in the 2026 Mining Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa, is part of Government’s ongoing efforts to attract more investment and create employment opportunities for Zambians.

The President has arrived in Cape Town, where he is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at Africa’s largest mining investment conference.

In a message shared on his Facebook page, Mr Hichilema said Government’s mission is clear—to secure increased investment that will generate jobs and drive economic growth. He also thanked citizens for their prayers and continued support.

State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka said the President’s objective at the Indaba is to position Zambia as a preferred destination for responsible mining investment. He noted that the conference brings together key global investors and industry executives who make critical investment decisions.

Mr Hamasaka said increased mining investment creates employment not only within the mines but also in supporting sectors such as transport, supply chains, and local businesses, while boosting government revenues for essential services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

He added that since 2021, Government has implemented reforms aimed at strengthening Zambia’s investment climate. As a result, copper production reached 890,346 metric tonnes in 2025—an eight percent increase from the previous year and the highest output in recent years.

Mr Hamasaka highlighted major developments, including First Quantum Minerals’ US$1.25 billion S3 expansion at Kansanshi Mine, which has extended the mine’s lifespan by 20 years and safeguarded thousands of jobs. He also noted that mines previously facing closure and job losses, such as Mopani and Konkola Copper Mines, are now operational, investing, and employing workers.

He further stated that mining sector growth is driving infrastructure development, including the Western Corridor Project, a 371-kilometre road upgrade from Mutanda in North-Western Province to Kaoma in Western Province under a 25-year public-private partnership.

Government has set a target of reaching three million tonnes of annual copper production, a goal Mr Hamasaka said will create more jobs, increase tax revenue, and expand opportunities for local suppliers and entrepreneurs across the mining value chain.

President Hakainde Hichilema is expected to attend and deliver a keynote address at the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026, scheduled to take place from February 9 to 12 in Cape Town, South Africa.

In a statement, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Rodney Sikumba said the President’s participation highlights Government’s commitment to positioning the mining sector as a key driver of economic growth, industrialisation and sustainable development.

Mr Sikumba said the President will be accompanied by Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Paul Kabuswe, along with other senior government officials.

He noted that President Hichilema’s attendance comes as Zambia continues to implement reforms in the mining sector aimed at strengthening regulatory certainty, promoting transparency, enhancing institutional capacity and adopting modern mining technologies to support long-term growth.

According to the Acting Foreign Affairs Minister, these reforms have contributed to increased investor confidence in Zambia’s policy environment, governance standards and commitment to predictable, rules-based engagement.

Mr Sikumba added that Zambia’s participation in the Country Showcase Sessions will align with global discussions on critical minerals, resilient supply chains and sustainable resource governance. The sessions will also provide a platform to present Zambia’s mining policies, reforms and investment opportunities to international investors and industry leaders.

He further disclosed that on the sidelines of the conference, President Hichilema is expected to hold bilateral meetings with mining companies, institutional investors, development partners and fellow Heads of State as part of efforts to attract investment into the mining sector.

A Bank of Zambia truck overturned along the Great North Road near Mulungushi University on Friday afternoon, sustaining significant damage to its cabin and container.

Police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi said the accident occurred around 15:00 hours when a Mercedes-Benz Actros truck travelling toward Kabwe lost control, veered off the road and overturned.

The front cabin of the truck was damaged and the container dented, with debris scattered along the roadside.

Both the driver and a passenger sustained minor injuries and were taken to Kabwe Central Hospital for treatment. They were later discharged.

Preliminary police investigations indicate that excessive speed may have contributed to the accident. “The driver lost control, veered off the road and overturned,” said Chilabi.

A one year old infant has drowned in a water reservoir in Chilanga district.

Zambia Police spokesperson, Godfrey Chilabi says preliminary investigations indicate that a passerby found the body of Precious Mutanga in a water reservoir, which is approximately 50 centimeters deep, which collects water from a hand pump at the residence.

He explains that the child was found face down in the water and the passerby informed a relative, who then reported the incident to the police.

He states that the incident occurred on February 6, 2026, around 11:00 hours in Muchini village, Chilanga district.

Police in Chilanga received the report later the same day around 12:30 hours from 37-year old Riness Njovu, who reported that her niece had drowned.

Mr Chilabi says Police officers visited the scene and confirmed the report and investigations have since been launched to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

He adds that the body of the infant has been deposited to University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Mortuary, awaiting a postmortem examination.

This is contained in a press statement made available to the media in Chilanga today.

Minister of Youth, Sport and Art Elvis Nkandu says his ministry is prioritising talent identification across different sports disciplines in the country.

Mr Nkandu has indicated that Zambia has talented sportsmen and women in different fields and that all it needs is identification across the country.

He told the media in an interview in Kasama district that there is a lot of untapped talent, especially in remote and peri-urban areas which the government wants to tap into and bring talent together in different sports fields.

“We have talented men and women even in remote areas, so what we need to do as a ministry is ensure we identify those so that they can actively be involved in sports, we believe that once this is done it will help improve different sports disciplines even further,” Nkandu said.

Mr, Nkandu disclosed that this is why the ministry has come up with an idea of sports festivals to help in talent identification.

“These sports festivals will allow competition in different disciplines, and it is from these activities that we will be able to identify those excelling in respective sports activities,” he added.

And Northern Province Football Association of Zambia FAZ Chairperson Chikonde Mbalazi says the association has taken steps to improve the skills of football administrators and coaches in the region.

Mr Mbalazi says the association has in the last few weeks conducted training courses for coaches which is aimed at increasing their knowledge and improving their coaching skills.

“As an association, we have coached over 46 coaches to empower them with the right skills and to ensure that they are upgraded, by doing so we believe this will also improve football in the region,” he explained.

He explained that the move is aimed at improving the quality of administrators, noting that if coaches and administrators lack skills, it affects sports development.

Government has deployed two aircrafts and foot items to Mozambique, as humanitarian relief amidst floods that have affected several provinces of that country.

In a statement issued to the media by the Disaster Management Authority (DMMU) Senior Communications Officer, Mathews Musukwa, Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, Peter Kapala has handed over 500 metric tonnes of maize and 50 metric tonnes of beans to support flood victims.

“The President instructed the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit which sits in the Office of the Vice President to urgently mobilise food assistance to support the Government of Mozambique in providing relief to affected communities,” he said.

Mr Kapala said that the government of Zambia has recognised the scale and magnitude of what has happened in Mozambique, making it necessary not only to express solidarity, but to take practical action.

He said that the humanitarian support reflects the strong bilateral relations and spirit of regional solidarity that exists between Zambia and Mozambique.

This intervention follows a formal request from Mozambique for support to facilitate humanitarian operations as parts of Mozambique remain inaccessible by road due to widespread flooding.

DMMU National Coordinator, Norman Chipakupaku alongside other senior government officials from both Zambia and Mozambique, witnessed the symbolic handover of the donation and the trans-shipment of the relief food from Zambian trucks onto Mozambican trucks.