United Party for National Development (UPND) Media Director Mark Simuuwe has praised the recent state visit by Ghanaian President John Mahama to Zambia, stating that it resulted in business transactions valued at US$7 million, with ongoing negotiations estimated at US$65 million.

Simuuwe said the agreements have the potential to generate approximately 8,000 employment opportunities across both countries.

He noted that the introduction of visa-free travel between Zambia and Ghana is expected to improve efficiency and convenience for trade and investment activities.

According to Simuuwe, the easing of visa restrictions with various countries has contributed to Zambia recording more than two million tourist arrivals annually.

“You can tell that the people who were ranking President HH among the five in Africa, among the 21 in the world, were not wrong. This issue of relaxing visa conditions has a background; it has yielded fruits, as I have alluded to the numbers. So the President is merely extending it to countries it has not reached yet,”

He added that the state visit concluded successfully, with both Zambia and Ghana expressing satisfaction and a shared commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

“Even Zambians very soon will start thinking about a holiday in Ghana and vice versa,” Simuuwe said.

He also indicated that there are plans to explore direct flights between the two countries, similar to ongoing discussions regarding a potential flight route between Zambia and China.

The murder trial of late former Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Director General Guntila Muleya resumed today at the Lusaka High Court.

During the proceedings, the 22nd witness, Numel Mulenga, a management accountant at IBA, took the stand to give testimony.

The accused in the matter are two police officers, Caleb Zulu and M’thusani Dokowe, along with Samuel Dokowe and IBA accountant Francis Chipyoka. The four are facing charges related to the alleged killing of Mr Muleya, 44, on July 23, 2024. His body was later discovered in the Njolwe area by a passer-by.

Following today’s session, the court adjourned the matter to tomorrow, after which the accused were seen leaving court premises.

The family of late former President Edgar Lungu has announced that it will proceed with filing an appeal in the Supreme Court of South Africa challenging an earlier High Court judgement that ordered the repatriation of his remains to Zambia.

Speaking in an interview,  family spokesperson Makebi Zulu said preparations are underway to submit the appeal on or before the February 11, 2026 deadline. He added that the family remains committed to pursuing legal options aimed at securing what they describe as a dignified burial for the former Head of State.

The planned appeal follows a December 23, 2025 ruling by the South African Court of Appeal, which granted the family permission to challenge the earlier Pretoria High Court decision by Judge Aubrey Ledwaba. The initial judgement had ordered the repatriation of Mr Lungu’s remains to Zambia after dismissing the family’s request to conduct the burial in South Africa and initially denying leave to appeal on the basis that there was no reasonable prospect of success.

The matter has since developed into an eight-month legal and political dispute, occurring amid longstanding tensions between Mr Lungu and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, as well as the family’s claims that the late former President had expressed specific wishes regarding attendees at his funeral.

Mikalile Football Club (MFC) continues a good run at the summit of the 2025/2026 Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Eastern Province Division One Table on 43 points.

The football team dethroned Bili TPT Lundazi United from the top of the table 15 games into this year’s league.

Currently, Mikalile FC is enjoying six points clear at the top of the table after playing twenty games, winning 12, drawing seven and losing one game.

Mikalile FC has managed to score 25 goals and conceded seven.

Eastern Eagles FC is occupying second position on the table though at par on 37 points with Bili TPT Lundazi United in third place.

The Zambia National Service (ZNS) sponsored is enjoying second place due to a better goal advantage of 13 conceded goals while the counterparts, Bili TPT Lundazi United, have let 22 goals shake their netting.

In fourth place on the 2025/2026 FAZ Eastern Province log table is Petauke United on 35 points while in fifth slot is Young Nkwazi FC on 32 points.

And in relegation waters is Nyimba United FC in sixteenth place with 18 points after playing 20 games, winning three, drawing nine and losing eight, Sinda United is in seventeenth place on 16 points.

Former national league envoys Chipata United are at the bottom of the league table with six points managing only one victory, three draws and 15 losses.

A divorce case before the Matero Local Court in Lusaka has heard allegations that a father placed his eight-month-old daughter in a refrigerator during domestic disputes.

The matter involved 41-year-old Ishmael Phiri, a tailor from Matero Compound, and his wife, 36-year-old Annie Siulapwa, who petitioned for divorce citing ongoing conflict following the birth of their daughter.

Testifying before Magistrate Harriet Mulenga, Siulapwa stated that the marriage initially began on a positive note but later deteriorated after the couple’s first child was born. She alleged that financial difficulties arose and that Phiri withdrew support from the household.

Siulapwa told the court that during arguments or when the baby cried persistently, Phiri allegedly placed the child in a refrigerator, claiming he wanted a male child instead of a female.

“When the baby, who was eight months old at the time, cried, he would take her and put her in the fridge. That frustrated me a lot. When she fell sick, he showed no concern and said he wanted a boy, not a girl,” she said. She added that attempts to resolve the matter through family elders were unsuccessful and that she eventually returned to her parents’ home.

She further told the court that Phiri had not provided financial support for the child since their separation, which she said occurred four years ago.

In his defence, Phiri denied placing the child in a refrigerator and described his wife as overly sensitive, stating that he did not recall the alleged incidents.

Magistrate Mulenga granted the divorce with immediate effect and ordered Phiri to pay child maintenance of K1,500 per month. The court ruled that no compensation would be awarded to either party.