The Gender Division has commenced outreach community sensitisation programmes on Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Muchinga Province.

Muchinga Provincial Principal Gender Officer Innocent Simbayi says the outreach programmes are aimed at inculcating knowledge in members of the rural communities on the dangers of GBV.

Speaking during a community engagement on GBV in Chinsali’s Mulilansolo village under Chief Mubanga of the Bemba people, Mr Simbayi stated that through strengthened sensitisation activities, which are being conducted in conjunction with the Zambia Police, the levels of GBV related cases are expected to drastically reduce.

He said that the Gender Division has noted that many GBV cases emanate from rural areas due to lack of sensitisation engagements on the dangers of the increasing vice.

Mr Simbayi further mentioned that among other objectives of Government, is to encourage equal and equitable participation of women in decision making positions at all levels of governance.

“We want women to participate in politics and become mayors and councillors so that they can in turn empower their fellow women in the community,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Mubanga, who was represented by his wife Hilda Nankamba during the sensitisation activity, commended the Government for the efforts it has been making towards fighting GBV and supporting gender mainstreaming in his chiefdom.

Chief Mubanga charged that the various programmes being implemented by the Gender Division are contributing positively in the reduction of GBV cases in the area, especially through the recently created GBV community sub-committees.

“The knowledge you have shared with us has opened our eyes and given us the courage to stand against GBV in our homes and society,” he added.

The traditional leader also implored his subjects to replicate the community sensitisations to other villages within his chiefdom.

And Carol Mutale, one of the participants during the sensitisation, said the engagement on GBV has come at the right time when cases in the area have been on the rise.

Ms Mutale stated that the sensitisation will help create more awareness on the dangers of GBV as it is one of the vices that destroys many families in the area, especially when perpetrators, who are mostly breadwinners, are arrested.

She further appreciated the Government for identifying Mulilansolo village as a GBV-prone area to contain the vice.

Government has held a stakeholder engagement meeting that is aimed at strengthening the National Action Plan, for an improved implementation of measures that promote wellbeing of people with albinism.

Speaking during the event, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Disability Inclusion and Rights, Joseph Munsanje says persons with albinism continue facing unique challenges that call for a coordinated national response.

“It is a moment for us legislators, policy makers, civil society actors and community leaders to reaffirm our collective responsibility,” added Mr Munsanje.

The media reports that Mr Munsanje added that his Caucus is committed to ensuring that issues affecting persons with disabilities receive the attention they deserve within the legislative process.

Cheshire Homes Executive Director Kamima Ng’uni, commended the government on the policy document that has come amidst rising cases against persons with disabilities, that demand collaboration.

Mr Ng’uni added that his organisation is committed to ensuring that the National Action Plan is in place and adopted.

Meanwhile, a representative of persons with albinism, Moses Luneta shared that the policy document is a promise that gives hope to persons with albinism, who have lived in fear of stigma, discrimination and attacks.

Mr Luneta added that laws alone are not enough, and that there must be action backed by passion and accountability in order to change the lives of persons with disabilities in the country.

The Kabwe Magistrate Court has adjourned to November 5, 2025, the case in which a 35-year-old witchdoctor is facing charges of child stealing, pending a trial within trial.

This is in the matter of The People vs. Benson Zulu, who stands charged with child stealing contrary to Section 171(a) of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

According to court records, Benson Zulu is alleged to have stolen his two-year-old stepdaughter, sometime in September 2018 in Kabwe District. The child, biological daughter of Gertrude Malambo, was reportedly in Zulu’s custody at the time, as her stepfather.

When the matter came up for continuation of trial before Resident Magistrate Gloria Chipasha, the State called two witnesses to testify.

The first witness, Ackim Katapazi, a 32-year-old security guard of Lusaka, told the court that he once lived with the accused in Kabwe’s Makandanyama area.

He testified that in 2022, he received information that Zulu was on the run after allegedly stealing his stepdaughter.

“On November 20, 2022, I spotted Zulu in Lusaka’s 4 Miles area,” said Katapazi. “I apprehended him and handed him over to Kasanda Police Station.”

The second witness, Detective Inspector Peter Chilembo, a crime scene technician, told the court that the accused allegedly led him to the location where the victim had been dumped.

Inspector Chilembo submitted a photo album containing images of Zulu at various sites, including the home he had lived in and the place where he is believed to have abandoned the child.

However, during cross-examination, Zulu denied voluntarily leading police to the scene.

He claimed that officers forcibly took him there and coerced him to cooperate.

“I never showed the police the scene voluntarily,” Zulu said. “They forced me to point at places for the sake of taking photographs.”

He further alleged that the police directed him to pose at those locations despite his insistence that he was not involved in the crime.

It was revealed that Zulu had previously been convicted by the subordinate court in 2022 and the case was committed to the High Court for sentencing. However, the High Court ordered a re-trial before a different magistrate, leading to the current proceedings.

Magistrate Chipasha has since adjourned the matter to November 5, 2025, for a trial within trial, a legal process intended to determine the admissibility of certain evidence — in this case, the accused’s alleged confession and cooperation with the police.

Police in Kasama District in Northern Province have arrested four people for being in possession of a stolen transformer.

The four men have been detained and are currently in police custody.

Northern Province Police Commanding Officer, Lucky Munkhondya, has confirmed the development in an interview with the media in Kasama district.

The media reports that Ms Munkhondya said the suspects were intercepted at Chikumanino Bus Station while trying to transport the transformer to Lusaka.

She said following consultation with ZESCO, the transformer was identified as property of Northern Coffee Corporation, Kateshi Plantation in Kasama district.

She further disclosed that among the suspects, two are employees of the Northern Coffee Corporation while the other two are former workers of the same company.

Ms Munkhondya added that the four suspects will appear in court soon.

The Zambia National Service has reiterated its commitment to collaborating with local authorities to implement Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in Northern Province.

ZNS Commander, Maliti Solochi who is in the Province to inspect projects the service is implementing in the region and meet his troops, says the service is ready to collaborate with councils to work on road infrastructure under CDF.

The media reports that Lt Gen Solochi also reiterated the service’s unwavering commitment to enhance agriculture production in the region.

He said this when he called on the Northern Province Minister, Leonard Mbao at his office in Kasama district.

Mr Mbao called for continued collaboration with ZNS on the construction of key roads and acrow bridges in the province.

He named one such as the Chambeshi Ring Road.

He noted that the road is vital for the agricultural sector and in promoting socio-economic development for the district and the province.

Mr Mbao also noted that although the local authority has acquired a full set of earth moving equipment, they lack the human resource to operate machinery.

He expressed disappointment with the quality and cost of some projects being undertaken using the CDF.

“Though most of our councils have procured earth moving machinery, there has been scarcity of human resources to operate the equipment. We are requesting for collaboration of human resources to work on the roads, our councils lack manpower,” he said.

The Provincial Minister has also commended ZNS for exhibiting quality works on projects citing the Mukupa- Katandula road in Kaputa district.

Mr Mbao also thanked ZNS for acquiring land in Kalungwishi in Lunte and Chinakila in Mpulungu districts, acknowledging the service’s commitment to enhancing food production.

Mundubile Alleges ECZ Plot to Rig 2026 Elections Through Voter Registration Chaos
LUSAKA — Patriotic Front presidential hopeful Brian Mundubile has publicly accused the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) of intentionally engineering the chaos plaguing the national voter registration drive, calling it a calculated plan to manipulate the 2026 general elections.

Mundubile’s statements suggest a growing unease among political figures about the potential influence of the ecz on the upcoming elections.

The Mporokoso Member of Parliament claimed the widespread disorder is not a result of poor logistics but a deliberate strategy to suppress voter turnout in opposition strongholds.

Speaking to journalists in Lusaka, Mundubile pointed to persistent problems: registration centers opening hours late, malfunctioning biometric kits, inadequate publicity, and a glaring lack of coordination between ECZ staff and local government officials.

“Voter registration is the foundation of any election. It determines who gets to choose their leaders and must be treated with the highest level of seriousness. What we are seeing is not mere incompetence; it looks like deliberate disorganization,” Mundubile stated.

The exercise, which launched on October 13 and is set to conclude on November 11, has been flooded with complaints from across the country. Reports detail broken equipment, absent staff, and crucial materials failing to arrive at centers.

Mundubile labeled the situation a “dangerous prelude to rigging,” arguing that the ECZ’s failure to ensure a smooth process has already disenfranchised thousands of potential voters.

“We have evidence that some centers never opened at all during the first two days. Others opened but had no registration kits, and in many places, the equipment delivered was simply faulty. How does a national exercise, planned for months, fail so completely?” he asked.

He further criticized the Commission for eroding public trust through a lack of transparency. Mundubile noted that deployment schedules for registration teams were being shared haphazardly on social media platforms instead of through official, accessible channels.

“How can a process this critical have no officially published schedule? The ECZ cannot expect public confidence when citizens have to rely on rumors to find out where to register,” he said.

The lawmaker alleged a partisan pattern to the failures, claiming that provinces known for opposition support have borne the brunt of the logistical breakdown, with materials arriving late or not at all.

He also took issue with the decision to hold the voter registration separately from the national issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs), a move he said prevents many newly eligible youths from enrolling.

“A logical approach would be to run civil and voter registration concurrently. By creating this barrier, the Commission is systematically disenfranchising a generation of new voters,” Mundubile argued.

He demanded the ECZ immediately extend the registration deadline to December 31 to make up for the lost days.

“An extension is non-negotiable. Ending this process on November 11 in the current climate is a disservice to the nation. Countless citizens in multiple districts have not had a single day of proper registration,” he said.

Mundubile accused the ECZ of damaging its own credibility by staying silent on the widespread problems and refusing to provide regular progress reports.

“Their silence is deafening. Transparency is the bedrock of a credible election, and the Commission’s refusal to communicate is only fueling public suspicion,” he said.

His concerns are echoed by civic groups. Youth organizations in Northern, Luapula, and Eastern provinces have reported incomplete staff deployments and non-functional machines. At the few centers that are operating, long queues have led to frustration, with many people leaving without being registered.

While ECZ officials have previously stated that registration was progressing “within acceptable parameters,” they have not addressed the specific reports of shortages and equipment failure.

Mundubile called the Commission’s dismissive attitude an act of “dangerous arrogance” that threatens Zambia’s democratic standing.

“We have a history of credible elections, but that credibility starts with the right to register. When you tamper with that right, the entire electoral process loses its legitimacy,” he warned.

He vowed that opposition parties would not accept a flawed voter roll, stating, “We are meticulously documenting every equipment failure, every absent officer. If this continues, we will demand an independent, full audit of the entire registration process.”

He called on civil society, the church, and international partners to monitor the situation closely before the exercise is finalized.

“This transcends partisan politics. This is about protecting our democracy. A flawed register guarantees a flawed election,” Mundubile concluded.

President Hakainde Hichilema has called on the church to help offenders of the law repent and become better citizens in society.

The President has urged that offenders should undergo rehabilitation and show genuine remorse towards offences.

The media reports that the Head of State said this in a speech read for him by Minister of Justice Princess Kasune, at the Baptist Convention of Zambia’s 50th Golden Jubilee celebration in Lusaka today.

President Hichilema further noted the church’s impactful work in strengthening families through biblical teachings, its contribution to education, promoting good health through outreach programmes, and advocating for justice and peace.

He also highlighted the Baptist church’s evolution into a major spiritual force in Zambia, having over 200,000 members and over 1,500 local churches across the country.

“The Baptist Convention of Zambia has been a beacon of hope, nurturing communities and transforming lives through the powerful message of the Gospel,” President Hichilema noted.

And, the President emphasised that the celebration was not just a marking of time, but a recognition of the deep and lasting impact the Baptist has made in the lives of many Zambians.

Baptist Convention of Zambia President, Reverend Misheck Mumba, reaffirmed the church’s commitment to continuing its partnership with the government.

He highlighted that the church has been making a positive economic impact, notably through supporting skills development initiatives.

Reverend Mumba further indicated that the church intends to enhance its investments in youth focused programmes, underscoring the importance of empowering young people.

Guest Preacher, Evangelist Craig Hobbs, urged the congregation to maintain peace and unity within the church and the broader community.

He stressed the importance of harmony and cooperation in fostering a strong and vibrant faith community that can effectively serve as a beacon of hope.

Evangelist Hobbs encouraged the Baptists to be agents of positive change, promoting reconciliation and understanding in Zambia.

And Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia Executive Director, Paul Msusu, commended the Baptist church for celebrating 50 years of service to God.

The Mumena Royal Establishment yesterday celebrated a major milestone as Chief Mumena XI, marking 25 years of leadership, demonstrating the perfect blend of traditional wisdom and modern development.

Speaking during the event, Guest of Honour, Chief Munokalya Mukuni, applauded Chief Mumena’s dedication to preserving the cultural heritage of the Kaonde people, while embracing progress.

“Your reign has shown us that tradition and development can walk hand in hand,” Chief Mukuni said.

The media reports that Chief Mukuni indicated that he celebrated Chief Mumena’s contribution not only to the Kaonde people, but to the nation as well.

He urged traditional leaders to stand together in solidarity across tribal lines to uphold cultural identity and strengthen community voice in national development.

Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary, Evans Muhanga, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with traditional leaders and highlighted initiatives such as infrastructure development through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), free education, school feeding programmes, cash for work, social cash transfer among others.

He applauded chiefs for spearheading development and urged them to continue changing the livelihoods of people.

In his speech, Chief Mumena reflected on his royal journey and the transformation of the Mumena Chiefdom since he ascended to the throne in 2000.

As the 11th chief in the Mumena lineage, he traced the historical migration of the Kaonde people from the Ikola region of present-day Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to their settlement in Kalumbila.

Chief Mumena further highlighted the chiefdom’s achievements, including improved security and various developmental projects.

The traditional leader also acknowledged the contributions of past leaders and individuals who have shaped the chiefdom.

He also emphasised the importance of unity and preserving the land for future generations.

“We do not own the land, the land owns us,” he remarked.

The Zambian Golf Team from the Southern region has emerged victorious in the Vivo Energy, North vs South Golf Tournament in Lusaka, sponsored to a tune of K1.2 Million.

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‎The South, who inflicted revenge on the North that won last year, scored 26 points to their counterparts’ 14.

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The North vs South Tournament, which pits the best golfers from both regions against each other, was for the second year running after a 28 year absence.

Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Elvis Nkandu, has urged the golfing fraternity to work closely with local authorities in identifying young talent.

The media reports that, Nkandu, in a speech read on his behalf by Director Sports, Gibson Muyaule at the prize giving ceremony in Lusaka, further explained that local authorities have been given the mandate to handle grass root sports.

The Minister observed that young golfers are the future of the sport, hence, the need to place importance on identifying and nurturing the talents.

Nkandu also described sport as a vital part of national development.

He added that golf is a career path, business and national asset which is no longer just a mere pastime which must be taken seriously.

Speaking at the same event, Zambia Golf Union (ZGU) President, Greg Lubesha, thanked Vivo Energy for reviving the tournament.

Lubesha also called for more investment in the sport.

Meanwhile, Vivo Energy Managing Director, Edward Walugembe, pledged the firm’s continued sponsorship in next year’s edition.

Walugembe also paid tribute to Zambia Golf Union for hosting a successful event.