National Day of Prayer and Fasting (NDPF) Chairperson, Venerable Canon Robert Sihubwa has commended President Hakainde Hichilema’s firm stance to maintain peace and order across the country, ahead of the forthcoming August 13, General Elections.

Canon Sihubwa reiterated that the NDPF has consistently prayed for peaceful and fair elections and President Hichilema’s reaffirmation is consistent with the movement’s desire.

Canon Sihubwa told the media in an interview that the movement is confident that the government will deliver peaceful and fair elections in the country based on the recent trends.

He noted that it was encouraging that recent elections in Chawama and Kasama where confusion could have erupted were characterised by peace and order.

“From what we have seen in the recent elections in Kasama and Chawama where violence could have easily prevailed but instead we witnessed peace, we are certain that the trend will continue and we will be able to go out, vote peacefully and go back home,” he said.

Canon Sihubwa further stressed the need for all political players, citizens, youths and all stakeholders to practice the President’s message and endeavor to ensure peace prevails throughout the activities.

He explained that while elections would come and go, people should bear in mind that life continues afterwards and citizens would still need to live and function in a stable and peaceful environment.

Meanwhile, Canon Sihubwa called on law enforcement agencies to ensure that the law is applied without fear or favour.

Canon Sihubwa said the law had no gender or affiliation, hence should be allowed to be neutral and applied fairly and effectively on all perpetrators for the wellbeing of the country.

“The law enforcement agencies should also do a lot of sensitisation on the importance of peace and order and just ensure that they let people know the do’s and don’ts during this critical period because no one is an island so we all have to co-exist,” he said.

Five miners who were trapped underground for 17 days at Matala Gold Mine in Nangoma Constituency, Mumbwa District, have been rescued alive.

The miners became trapped underground on May 3, 2026.

Hapenga Kabeta confirmed the rescue today, stating that the miners had been successfully brought to the surface following a prolonged rescue operation.

Dr. Kabeta said unconfirmed reports indicate that three other miners could still be underground, with investigations and rescue efforts continuing.

He added that the rescued miners are in stable condition and are currently undergoing medical examinations at Mumbwa District Hospital.

Dr. Kabeta said government was pleased with the success of the rescue mission and thanked members of the community as well as rescue teams for their support throughout the operation.

Matala Gold Mine has reportedly been non-operational for more than two years.

Government delegations from Zambia and Madagascar are currently on a week-long study tour in Korea to strengthen school feeding programmes and improve child nutrition, learning outcomes, and local agriculture.

The 2026 Home Grown School Meals Study Tour officially started on May 18, with Zambian officials saying the visit will help refine Zambia’s flagship programme and feed into a new national resilience strategy.

This according to a press statement released to ZANIS by First Secretary for Tourism, Zondi Chilembo, at the Embassy of Zambia in Seoul, South Korea.

Speaking at the opening session, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Vice President, Lillian Kapusana, said nutritious school meals were essential for learning and national development.

“A hungry child cannot learn, for Zambia, the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme is a flagship initiative aimed at improving child nutrition, enhancing educational outcomes, and strengthening long term national development,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary added that the programme targets the most vulnerable children, those whom the government has a duty to protect, support, and uplift.

Mrs Kapusana explained that the government led programme provides meals to children in rural and food-insecure areas while buying food from local farmers to stimulate rural economies.

She further stated that the programme was already reducing malnutrition, stunting, and micronutrient deficiencies, improving school attendance, enrolment, and concentration in class.

“Food and nutrition remain central to Zambia’s development agenda, the school feeding programme will be a key part of the government’s upcoming Sustainable Resilience Strategy,” she added.

She called for more support from partners including the World Bank to scale up the initiative, and thanked the World Food Programme for its ongoing assistance.

“Zambia’s stunting rate currently stands at 32 percent, with the government aiming to cut it to 15 percent through a whole-of-government approach,” she said.

Mrs Kapusana further said Zambia hopes to learn from Korea’s school feeding system, particularly how it is planned, financed and managed.

Meanwhile, Zambia’s Ambassador to Korea, Andrew Banda, said the government has made it a priority that every child must go to school and also benefit from the feeding programme.

He further noted that Korea’s economic transformation since the 1960s was driven by sustained investment in education, technology and community led initiatives like the Saemaul Undong Movement, and expressed confidence the tour would strengthen Zambia’s own systems.

Zambian artiste Edward Chanda, popularly known as part of the music duo Chanda Na Kay, has appeared before the Lusaka Magistrate Court facing charges related to child exploitation.

Chanda pleaded not guilty before Lusaka Magistrate Nthandose Chabala.

He is facing three counts, including prohibition of trafficking of children, prohibition of child grooming and prohibition of child solicitation, contrary to the laws of Zambia.

In the first count, Chanda is alleged to have trafficked a child identified as WK within Zambia on August 3, 2025 for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

In the second count, the court heard that on July 7, 2025, he allegedly used a computer or computer system with intent to groom the child in order to facilitate or encourage sexual conduct.

The third count alleges that on July 27, 2025, Chanda used a computer or computer system to arrange a meeting with the child with the intention of engaging in sexual activity or abuse.

Magistrate Chabala has adjourned the matter to June 1, 2026 for commencement of trial.

The Lusaka Magistrate Court has convicted TikToker Francis Kapwepwe, popularly known as “Why Me,” on two counts of hate speech.

Kapwepwe changed his plea and admitted guilt before Lusaka Principal Resident Magistrate Idah Phiri during the continuation of trial proceedings.

The accused also confirmed the facts and witness evidence that had earlier been presented before the court.

Following his admission, Magistrate Phiri convicted him on his own plea of guilt.

The matter has since been adjourned to May 26, 2026 for mitigation and sentencing to allow the State to present records relating to an earlier conviction.

According to the prosecution, Kapwepwe is a repeat offender following a 2025 conviction in the Livingstone Magistrate Court.

In the first count, Kapwepwe is alleged to have used a computer system through his TikTok page, “WHY ME the Lion of the World,” on March 31, 2025 to knowingly publish hate speech targeting the Tonga people.

In the second count, he is accused of using the same TikTok platform on April 3, 2025 to direct hate speech against people from Southern Province.

Fast-growing digital application system expands access to jobs, internships, apprenticeships and funding

Imisepela has attracted more than 280,000 users nationwide as the fast-growing digital application system continues expanding access to jobs, internships, apprenticeships and funding opportunities for young people across Zambia.

The platform has already received more than 65,000 applications, with over 42,000 applicants meeting eligibility requirements under programmes being processed through the system.

Under the Busulu Loan Initiative, K20 million has already been disbursed to support more than 2,000 youths through the platform, according to figures released through the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission.

The rapid growth of Imisepela is increasingly positioning the platform among Zambia’s most visible digital opportunity-access systems focused on youth participation and economic inclusion.

CEEC director-general Charles Mungule said the platform was helping simplify access to opportunities through a digital process designed to improve accessibility and efficiency for users across the country.

He said the system was no longer functioning merely as a funding application portal but was steadily evolving into a broader opportunity-access platform connecting users to jobs, internships, apprenticeships and funding opportunities.

The strong rise in user registrations reflects growing demand among young people searching for accessible economic pathways, entrepreneurship support and employment opportunities.

Special Assistant to the President for Finance and Investment Jito Kayumba said the platform would continue supporting wider opportunity matching for youths by linking users to different programmes and economic initiatives.

The digital system has continued attracting attention because of its broad national reach and simplified application process, particularly among school leavers, graduates and first-time entrepreneurs.

Officials say the platform is helping reduce barriers often associated with traditional manual application systems while improving nationwide accessibility.

The growing number of applications and registered users is also highlighting the scale of demand for digital systems capable of connecting young people to practical economic opportunities more efficiently.

As the platform continues expanding, Imisepela is increasingly becoming part of Zambia’s wider conversation around youth empowerment, digital inclusion and opportunity access.

Authorities further indicated that the long-term vision is to strengthen the platform into a centralised digital gateway where users can access jobs, internships, apprenticeships and funding opportunities through one integrated system.

The platform’s visibility has grown significantly in recent weeks as more young people continue turning to digital systems for economic participation and opportunity access.