Siavonga District, Zambia – The Zambia Army has issued an immediate eviction order to all illegal miners operating in the Lower Zambezi area of Siavonga District, warning that those who fail to leave voluntarily will face a military-led removal.

Army Commander Lieutenant General Geoffrey Zyeele delivered the directive during a security tour of the Moomba area along the Zambezi river. He said the action forms part of a nationwide operation targeting illegal mining, which he described as an economic crime.

General Zyeele stated that security wings across the country are prepared to enforce the order if miners do not comply. He noted that illegal mining poses a serious threat to national security, economic stability, and often contributes to other criminal activities.

“The Zambia Army has spoken firmly for a long time, and some individuals appear to be inviting stronger action,” he said. “Those acting with impunity risk carrying lifelong memories of the military.”

He reiterated the army’s commitment, alongside other security agencies, to protect the country’s natural resources and ensure offenders are prosecuted.

The tour included Zambia Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Oscar Nyoni, senior officers, and officials from the Zambia Police Service and the Immigration Department, demonstrating a coordinated security effort.

Siavonga District Commissioner Geoffrey Jakopo welcomed the move and thanked the service chiefs for their swift response. He promised full cooperation from the district administration and cautioned that those who refuse to leave will face the full force of the law.

The operation highlights the government’s firm stance against illegal exploitation of natural resources and its connection to national security and economic development.

The Zambia Army and Kiyona Energy, a subsidiary of ZESCO Limited, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve energy security and sustainability at the L85 military barracks.

Zambia Army Commander, Geoffrey Zyeele, further explains that the MoU aims to improve water supply and power generation at L85, benefiting approximately 4,000 troops and their families.

Lieutenant General Zyeele notes that the project involves solarising water points to ensure a reliable water supply.

The media reports that speaking at the signing ceremony in Lusaka today, Lt Gen Zyeele highlighted the difficulties faced by soldiers and their families, including inadequate water supply and power.

Lt Gen Zyeele has expressed gratitude to the government and partners for addressing long standing challenges in living conditions at L85 military barracks.

“We are grateful that you have listened to us and partnered with us, for the first time in a very long time, our troops are able to have water, our children are able to watch TV like many other children have been,” Lt Gen Zyeele said.

Lt Gen Zyeele further praised the government, stating that the development would change the lives of soldiers and their families for the better.

 “This is a great occasion for us, to sign an MOU between ourselves, Kiyona and ZESCO on behalf of all the officers and all the men and women and especially residents of L85,” he said.

The signing of the MoU marks a significant milestone in improving living conditions at L85, making it a livable institution comparable to other military barracks.

ZESCO Managing Director, Justine Loongo, emphasised the importance of collaboration between public institutions and private sector partners to strengthen the power system.

“Energy is the backbone of national development and an enabler of peace, stability, and socio-economic progress and any opportunity to increase and improve electricity standards in Zambia is welcome, and we want to enhance what we’ve started, ” he said.

Mr Loongo said the MoU aims to provide reliable green energy solutions to the Zambia Army’s installations, reducing dependency on the grid and enhancing energy planning for mission critical operations.

Mr Loongo commended Kiyona Energy Limited for bringing forward a structured model for investment, development, and operation of renewable energy assets aligned with Zambia’s long-term energy transition agenda.

“Kiyona’s focus is to use renewable energy to provide a quality product to all areas, and this partnership represents a strategic alignment of national interest, energy security, climate resilience, operational readiness, and modernisation of essential government infrastructures,” Mr Loongo said.

He added that the project involves the installation of a solar power plant at L85, which will supply energy to the facility and export excess to the grid.

Mr Loongo expressed confidence that the partnership would position the defence forces as champions of national climate commitments and operational energy security.

“ZESCO stands ready to provide every necessary technical support to grid integration, integration approvals, and coordination in line with national standards,” Mr Loongo assured.

He thanked the Zambia Army for facilitating the process and expressed optimism that the project would be completed in the shortest possible period.

Zambia Law Development Commission (ZLDC) says it is reviewing the Landlords and Tenants Business Act, in order to ensure that it reflects the views of the people.

In an interview with the media, ZLDC Director, Hope Chanda, says the commission is also reviewing about 11 pieces of legislation that were applied in England before 1991.

“Our legislation on rentals is very old, so we have gone around some selected provinces in the country and had meetings. We’ve also interviewed members of the public, both at domestic level and commercial level,” added Ms Chanda.

She further indicated that the commission is set to hold a public forum in collaboration with Eden University to discuss issues of rent, landlords and tenants, in domestic and business premises.

Ms Chanda stressed that the commission is prioritising awareness programmes on access to justice, as a part of its 30^th Anniversary celebration, in a bid to empower citizens to participate in the governance and development agenda of the country.

“We also hope to be guided by stakeholders and members of the public on areas that they would like us to focus on as a commission,” Ms Chanda stated.

And, Ms Chanda has called on members of the public to continue partnering with the commission, due to their invaluable contributions that has enabled the commission to achieve milestones.

She revealed that the Zambia Law Development Commission is improving participation of vulnerable and underprivileged groups such as women, children, rural communities and persons with disabilities, in order to enable them to fully participate in governance.

Lusaka, Zambia – Energy Minister Makozo Chikote has announced a major reduction in electricity connection fees, lowering the cost from K4,846 to a subsidized rate of K300. The new pricing takes effect on December 22, 2025.

The announcement was made during the launch of the Rural Electrification Authority’s (REA) Accelerated Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) initiative.

Minister Chikote stated that the 2026 application window for the subsidy targets 100,000 new connections next year. He instructed REA and ZESCO to widely publicize the initiative, reinforcing the government’s goal of achieving universal electricity access by 2030.

The effort is part of the $200 million World Bank-funded ASCENT-Zambia program, which aims to connect over 1.6 million Zambians to electricity and clean cooking technologies within five years.

World Bank Country Manager Dr. Achim Fock noted that the ASCENT initiative unites the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank, and other partners to support electricity access for 300 million people across sub-Saharan Africa.

REA Acting Chief Executive Officer Alex Mumba commended the government for the policy and financing reforms that enabled the program.

The Isoka Town Council has commenced consultations on the proposed 2026 budget alongside a review of the 2025 budget performance.

Council Public Relations Officer, Peter Sichali, said it is important that the community understands how the council is performing and what needs to be addressed moving forward.

Mr Sichali was speaking during a stakeholder engagement meeting where the local authority presented key achievements and challenges recorded in the 2025 financial year.

He said the review highlighted progress in infrastructure development, social services and economic empowerment programmes.

“This platform allows us to give a clear account of what has been achieved this year and to outline our priorities as we prepare for 2026,” he said.

He added that stakeholders made several submissions under the Zambia Devolution Support Programme (ZDSP) for possible inclusion in the 2026 budget.

“Stakeholders proposed improved water reticulation to deal with persistent shortages, the procurement of a fire tender to strengthen emergency response, and the installation of streetlights from the Government Rest House stretch to enhance security,” he noted.

Mr Sichali has since reaffirmed the council’s commitment to participatory governance, noting that the contributions gathered would guide the upcoming budget formulation.

“The 2026 budget will reflect community priorities and align with national development objectives,” he stated.

And one of the businessmen in Isoka district, Bernard Simukoko, who attended the meeting, commended the council for creating an open platform for dialogue, saying such engagements help strengthen accountability and collaboration.

“Meetings like this allow us to openly highlight gaps and weaknesses without pointing fingers. It is only by acknowledging these flaws together that we can find practical solutions and build a stronger community,” he explained.

The meeting attracted representatives from the business community, traditional leadership, the church, civil society organisations, government departments and other community groups.

Eastern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Lewis Mwape, has commended Rusticstone, a local company specialised in granite slab production in Chipata, for investing in the construction industry.

Dr Mwape observed during his tour of the company that the development will contribute to the region’s economic transformation among other achievements.

He acknowledged that the initiative is a huge milestone as it also promotes the creation of local products for indigenous construction companies.

“For a city like Chipata, this is a significant setting because it creates local products for local construction companies,” he said.

Dr Mwape has since called on the company to ensure that skills are fully transferred to local people to promote growth.

Meanwhile, the company’s Supervisor, Cornelius Banda, revealed that about 180 metric tonnes of granite slabs are produced per month.

“We produce granite slabs and we get our material from a local mine in Chipangali district, thereafter we make tombstones and tiles among other products,” he said.

Mr Banda further explained that the initiative has in turn created jobs for about 45 local people in the district.

And BuyZed Campaign Chief Executive Officer, Evans Ngoma, commended the company for the initiative saying there was need for other entrepreneurs to take a leaf from Rusticstone.

“We would like to encourage entrepreneurs that are in the habit of exporting raw products to foreign countries to consider value addition by coming up with industries,” he said.

TiZ Calls for Higher Standards Ahead of 2026 Polls
Transparency International Zambia has stated that the standard of leadership a country enjoys is directly linked to the integrity of its elections, stressing that democratic societies rise or fall on the strength of the processes that produce their leaders. The organisation noted that Zambia’s political stability and governance record depend heavily on whether national electoral exercises are conducted credibly, transparently, and without undue influence.

During a media engagement, TiZ representatives explained that credible elections are not defined only by voting day activities, but by the entire chain of events leading up to the poll. They highlighted voter registration, boundary delimitation, campaign conduct, the role of law enforcement, media freedom, and the operations of oversight institutions as essential components in shaping the credibility of any election. According to the organisation, weaknesses in these areas can dilute public confidence even before ballots are cast.

TiZ emphasised that countries that allow opaque practices or political interference in electoral processes often end up with leadership that lacks legitimacy. The organisation argued that legitimacy is earned when citizens see an election process that is fair, efficient, predictable, and anchored in law. Transparency, they noted, is the principal safeguard against disputes, mistrust and instability.

The organisation also assessed the wider climate around Zambia’s upcoming electoral cycle. They warned that administrative bottlenecks, poorly communicated timelines, or selective application of regulations can distort the process long before the vote. They stated that unclear rules or late changes often disadvantage some participants and create suspicion among political stakeholders, sentiments they say should be avoided if the country is to sustain democratic gains.

According to TiZ, fair competition among political groups is only possible when the playing field is not tilted in favour of any participant. They stressed that the enforcement of campaign rules, equal access to public media, timely adjudication of electoral disputes, and the professionalism of the Electoral Commission and police service all contribute to the credibility of the final outcome. They pointed out that a country cannot expect the public to accept election results if many aspects of the process appear compromised.

The organisation further stated that transparency extends to the behaviour of political leaders. They encouraged all political actors to refrain from inflammatory language that may influence law enforcement agencies or intimidate voters. TiZ said the tone set by leaders shapes public perception of whether an election is competitive and open. A climate of fear, according to the organisation, reduces voter confidence and discourages participation.

TiZ also addressed the issue of public trust in state institutions. They argued that institutions responsible for elections must operate independently, without instructions from political offices or private interests. They emphasised that public trust is strengthened when institutions act with consistency, follow established procedures, and engage openly with concerned groups. The organisation added that unexplained decisions or abrupt shifts in administrative actions weaken confidence and generate unnecessary conflict.

The organisation urged citizens to participate actively in the electoral cycle, noting that voter responsibility extends far beyond merely casting a ballot. They encouraged the public to verify their details in the register, monitor campaign activities in their communities, and report irregularities through established channels. They noted that civic vigilance is critical to protecting the integrity of elections and discouraging misconduct.

TiZ also highlighted the role of civil society in strengthening transparency. They noted that independent observers, legal advocacy groups, youth networks and faith-based organisations all contribute to safeguarding the process. Their role, they said, includes educating voters, providing neutral oversight, and advocating for reforms when gaps emerge.

On the international front, the organisation said Zambia’s reputation for peaceful transitions should not be taken for granted. They noted that many countries that once enjoyed stability began to erode their democratic foundations after tolerating minor irregularities. They cautioned that democratic backsliding often begins subtly, with routine procedures being weakened gradually until they no longer function as intended.

TiZ called for a collaborative effort among all stakeholders to ensure the 2026 electoral cycle reflects high standards. They stated that the credibility of an election is determined by what happens before, during and after the vote, and insisted that no part of the process should be overlooked. They added that election management bodies must demonstrate readiness to respond to concerns promptly and professionally.

The organisation concluded by stating that Zambia has the institutional experience and national will to conduct credible elections, but warned that confidence can only be restored and strengthened when processes remain transparent from start to finish. They encouraged every stakeholder — political actors, institutions, civil society and citizens — to commit to practices that uphold the integrity of the electoral system.