The Parliamentary Committee on National Economy, Trade and Labour Matters has emphasised the need for effective implementation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act Number 16 of 2025 which has been enacted into law for the benefit of Zambians.

Speaking when the Committee paid a courtesy call on North-Western Province Permanent Secretary Colonel Grandson Katambi (Rtd) in Solwezi today Committee Chairperson Sibeso Sefulo said the Committee was in the province to engage stakeholders and raise awareness on the Bill and ensure its effective implementation.

Ms Sefulo who is also Mwandi Constituency Member of Parliament said engagements with key stakeholders such as the Occupational Health and Safety Institute will also enable the Committee to identify gaps in existing legislation early and enhance effective implementation.

Meanwhile, North-Western Province Permanent Secretary Colonel Grandson Katambi (Rtd) said Government is happy with the operationalisation of the Occupational Health and Safety Institute in the province.

Colonel Katambi (Rtd) noted that the province was a mining region and therefore required such services to be readily accessible.

He added that the operationalisation of the Institute had significantly reduced logistical costs that stakeholders previously incurred when traveling to the Copperbelt Province to access similar services.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary called on the Committee to consider conducting an independent, comprehensive assessment to determine the exact quantity and types of minerals currently being extracted by mining companies in the province.

And Committee Member Wesley Kolala said there is need to ensure that Bills enacted into law such as the Local Content Bill are proactively and strictly implemented for the benefit of Zambians

The Kabwe Magistrates’ Court has refused to withdraw a defilement case involving a 39-year-old traditional healer from Makululu Compound in Kabwe District of Central Province.

 The accused, Clinton Kaswende, is charged with one count of defilement of an imbecile, contrary to Section 139 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia, as read together with Act No. 15 of 2005.Kaswende is alleged to have had carnal knowledge of a person with a mental disability and has since appeared before the Kabwe Magistrates’ Court in connection with the matter.

Particulars of the offence are that, Kaswende on the 11th day of December 2025 in Kabwe District had unlawful canal knowledge of an imbecile when he knew that she was an imbecile.

And when the matter came up before Resident Magistrate Liswaniso Wamundila for the commencement of trial, the sister of the victim who reported the case on her behalf asked the court to withdraw the matter.

She told the court that she had reported Kaswende to police to safeguard his life from mob justice on the material day.

“Your honor, I only reported him to the police for the fear of him being beaten by the mob who gathered at my place when I accused him of the act.” She explained to the court.

Magistrate Wamundila warned the witness that cases of defilement were not supposed to be resolved outside the court.

” This is a serious offence which is not supposed to be dealt outside the court room, it is the case of the people of Zambia versus the accused person, you would have considered that possibility before reporting the mater,” ruled the magistrate.

Magistrate Wamundila questioned the witness why she reported Kaswende to the police if he never committed the offence in the first place.

The court has since instructed the witness to appear in court with the victim in the next court session for the case to proceed with the trial without further delay.

The witness informed the court that she had challenges to transport the victim to court as she had no means of transporting her by private transport, stating that it was difficult to use a public transport because the victim was not willing to do so owing to her state of mind.

Magistrate Wamundila directed the senior court clerk to look into the issue of providing transport as the state had a provision of transporting witnesses.

The court adjourned the matter to February 13, 2026 for commencement of trial as Kaswende remained  in police custody.

Government has approved several policy and legislative matters aimed at facilitating continued development of the country.

Minister of Information and Media, Cornelius Mweetwa, says the deliberations were sanctioned when President Hakainde Hichilema called for the First Cabinet Meeting in the year, 2026, on Monday, February 2^nd, held at State House.

Mr Mweetwa, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson and Choma Central Law Maker, announced this during the Media engagement in Lusaka today.

He mentioned sectors such as the road subdivision, the establishment of the Brand Zambia Initiative Project, to create a cohesive and cross-sectoral framework that enhances global competitiveness.

Mr Mweetwa also mentioned   the Disaster Management Amendment Bill of 2026, the Water Supply and Sanitation Services Bill, of 2026, the Introduction of a Permit System on Sulphuric Acid and the Toll Plaza Regulations of 2026.

Others were the Water Supply and Sanitation Services Bill, of 2026, African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and Zambia’s 8th Periodic Report on the implementation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, among others.

Plans to increase the power generation capacity at Chishimba Hydro Power Station in Kasama district in Northern Province have progressed.

The project, which will be undertaken by the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO), will see the upgrade of the Hydro Power Station from the current 1.8 megawatts to 15 megawatts.

ZESCO Northern Region Engineer Wesley Simwaanza has disclosed that the financing of the expansion project has been finalised with tenders for the expansion project floated and closed on January 30, 2026.

 Mr Simwaanza disclosed the development during a Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) meeting in Kasama.

He has explained that the submitted bids will undergo an evaluation, after which the best bidder will be awarded the contract.

“So understanding the procurement process, it means that there will be the evaluation of the submitted bids, after which the best bidder will be awarded the contract, so from every indication that has been given a time frame of six weeks, we should be able to be talking about the contract being awarded the contractor,” Mr Simwaanza explained.

The expansion of the power generation at Chishimba Hydro Power Station in Kasama District will help boost electricity generation capacity in the region.

The project will be funded by Germany’s KFW Bank at a cost of 40 million United States dollars and will be expanded from the current 1.8 megawatts to 15 megawatts.

Mopani Copper Mines has with immediate effect suspended all underground mining operations being carried out by Reliant Mining in Kitwe and Mufulira following two fatal underground mining accidents recorded within a period of less than three weeks.

The latest accident occurred on January 31, 2026.

In a statement, Mopani Public Relations Manager Dr Nebert Mulenga said the suspension will remain in effect until all investigations into the accidents are concluded.

Dr Mulenga said Mopani is also awaiting the submission of a comprehensive safety plan from Reliant Mining.

“The reinstatement of Reliant Mining’s operations will only be considered upon Mopani’s satisfactory acceptance of the plan and verification of readiness to implement the required safety improvements,” he said.

He added that, as part of strengthening safety leadership and accountability, Mopani executive management, led by Chief Executive Officer Eng Charles Sakanya, has begun a series of mass safety meetings with all underground employees and supervisors in Mufulira and Kitwe.

Dr Mulenga said the engagements are intended to reinforce compliance with critical safety rules, discourage illegal and high-risk behaviours underground, promote strong supervision and encourage personal accountability.

The State has opposed an application by former Foreign Affairs minister Joseph Malanji for bail pending appeal.

Malanji, who served under the former Patriotic Front (PF) administration, appeared before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court seeking temporary release while appealing against his conviction.

The former minister is currently serving a four-year sentence with hard labour after being convicted of corruption involving US$5 million.

In opposing the application, prosecutors submitted that bail pending appeal is not an automatic right and is only granted in exceptional circumstances, which they argued are absent in Malanji’s case.

State advocate Angelica Mwanza told the court that the intended appeal does not raise new or substantial points of law but largely revisits factual issues that were already considered and dismissed during trial.

She further argued that the sentence imposed is lawful and proportionate to the offence, adding that concerns about Malanji serving a substantial portion of his sentence before the appeal is determined are unfounded.

The prosecution informed the court that appeals before the Economic and Financial Crimes Court are expected to be concluded within about five months.

Ms Mwanza also submitted that granting bail to a convicted person in a serious economic crime case could undermine public confidence in the justice system and weaken the finality of criminal judgments.

Malanji’s conviction relates to funds that were intended for the purchase of a chancery in Turkey but were instead used to acquire helicopters and houses, which have since been forfeited to the State.

Lusaka Magistrate Ireen Wishimanga has set Friday, February 6, for ruling on the application for bail pending appeal.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has renewed its focus on grassroots peace-building by strengthening the capacity of traditional leaders to prevent and manage conflicts before they escalate.

This was highlighted at the opening of a two-week regional training of trainers programme in Lusaka yesterday, aimed at equipping facilitators with skills to support traditional leadership structures in conflict prevention, management and resolution.

Local Government and Rural Development Minister Gift Sialubalo officiated at the event and said the region continues to face a range of security challenges, including community-level disputes, political tensions, competition over resources and weakening social cohesion.

Mr Sialubalo said such challenges require responses that go beyond conventional security measures, noting that sustainable peace is best anchored at community level, where most disputes originate.

He said traditional leaders remain influential and trusted figures in many communities across the region and have historically played a key role as mediators and custodians of social order.

According to Mr Sialubalo, empowering chiefs, headpersons and elders enhances early response mechanisms, strengthens community resilience and reduces the risk of minor disputes escalating into wider conflicts.

He added that the initiative reflects the need for integrated peace efforts involving security institutions, civilians and community leaders working together to promote lasting peace.

Meanwhile, SADC Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre Deputy Commandant Colonel Coleen Mafika said the training programme aims to bridge the gap between formal peace frameworks and traditional conflict resolution mechanisms through closer cooperation.

The two-week training programme is scheduled to run from February 2 to February 13, 2026.

Government has reaffirmed its commitment in transforming the railway sub sector in the country through robust reforms and collaborations, with various stakeholders.

Minister of Transport and Logistics, Frank Tayali made these remarks when the Ambassador of Finland to Zambia, Saana Halinen paid a courtesy call on him at his office, to introduce Finland’s largest private railway company, North-Rail Cargo company.

The delegation called on the Minister ahead of the Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs, Sakari Puisto, who is expected in the country tomorrow February 4, 2026 for bilateral engagements.

The media reports that Mr Tayali has acknowledged the strong bilateral relations between Zambia and Finland, saying that the government is encouraging joint ventures and collaboration as it is in a hurry to expand the railway sector, which will propel the country to saving the road network.

He encouraged North-Rail Cargo Company, the Finnish company, to engage with Zambia Railways and other stakeholders in the sector, while in Zambia, in looking at ways of collaboration.

He added that the government is cognisant that the rail sub sector is one that does reduce the cost of transportation.

“Government has reimbursed on positive reforms that allow the private sector to come in and work with the government to bridge the gap,” he stated.

He called for further exploration of further collaborative avenues in his sector, citing that there is need for enhanced cooperation for expansion in the region.

And Finnish Ambassador to Zambia revealed that a high-level delegation of Finnish companies is expected in the country tomorrow, citing that Zambia’s favourable economic environment attracts Finnish companies.

She added that with the coming in of the Lobito corridor, Zambia as a landlocked country has the potential to emerge as a hub in the region.

And North-Rail Cargo General Director Antti Maentausta, highlighted the company’s plans to meet the Zambia Railways management, among other stakeholders.