The National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) says its US$300 million commitment to the Lusaka-Ndola Dual Carriageway was based on commercial considerations and extensive due diligence, dismissing suggestions that it was directed by Government to finance the project.

NAPSA Director General Cephas Sinyangwe said the pension fund became involved after the concessionaire approached the institution with a financing proposal as part of a broader US$650 million funding package.

The clarification comes amid heightened public interest in the financing structure of the dual carriageway, one of Zambia’s largest infrastructure projects and a key transport corridor linking Lusaka to the Copperbelt.

According to Mr Sinyangwe, the proposal underwent detailed evaluation before approval, with particular attention given to repayment arrangements, revenue projections and security mechanisms designed to protect contributors’ funds.

“The concessionaire approached us with a proposal. We assessed the project, evaluated the risks and examined the available safeguards before making a decision,” he said.

NAPSA maintains that participation in the road project followed the same investment principles applied across its portfolio, where capital preservation and long-term returns remain central considerations.

The authority said the financing arrangement includes recovery mechanisms and security provisions intended to minimise exposure while allowing contributors to benefit from returns generated over the life of the facility.

Mr Sinyangwe said infrastructure remains an important asset class for pension funds because of its potential to generate stable long-term income while supporting economic activity.

He noted that the Lusaka-Ndola corridor carries a significant share of Zambia’s passenger and commercial traffic and has long been viewed as critical to trade, mining and industrial activity.

Supporters of the project argue that upgrading the route will improve road safety, reduce travel times and strengthen connectivity between the capital and the Copperbelt.

The Director General said NAPSA’s responsibility is not only to safeguard pension contributions but also to ensure that funds are invested in opportunities capable of delivering sustainable growth.

As a result, every major financing proposal is subjected to rigorous assessment before approval.

The authority believes the dual carriageway meets that threshold and expects the financing arrangement to deliver value over the long term while contributing to national infrastructure development.

The Lusaka-Ndola road remains one of the country’s most closely watched infrastructure projects, with public attention increasingly focused on financing arrangements, implementation timelines and expected economic benefits.

For NAPSA, however, the central message remains unchanged: the decision to participate was a commercial one, supported by due diligence, structured safeguards and an expectation of sustainable returns for pension contributors.

The Chisamba Magistrate’s Court has set June 16, 2026, as the date for its ruling in a case involving a 21-year-old Lusaka man accused of unlawfully wounding a fellow miner at a gold mining site in Chief Chamuka’s chiefdom.

Magistrate Litungi Litungi adjourned the matter after the prosecution closed its case against Andrew Mwiimbu of Makeni Villa in Lusaka.

Mwiimbu has pleaded not guilty to a charge of unlawful wounding contrary to Section 232 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that on May 26, 2026, Mwiimbu unlawfully wounded 22-year-old Boniface Lyamboka using a broken bottle, causing injuries to his left eye.

During the trial, the State called three witnesses and tendered a medical report as evidence.

The court heard that at around 23:00 hours on the material day, Mwiimbu, who was in the company of three colleagues, allegedly broke a bottle and used it to attack Lyamboka, who was also accompanied by three other people.

According to testimony presented before the court, Lyamboka sustained a cut on the upper left eyelid, bruising beneath the eye, and swelling to the left eye.

The complainant later reported the matter to Chipembi Police Post, obtained a medical report form, and received treatment at Chipembi Clinic.

The court further heard that officers from the Community Crime Prevention Unit (CCPU), who allegedly witnessed the incident, apprehended Mwiimbu and handed him over to police for further investigations.

Following the close of the prosecution’s case, Magistrate Litungi adjourned the matter to June 16, 2026, for ruling and remanded the accused in custody.

Central Province Police Commanding Officer Lemekani Chirwa has warned police will act firmly against individuals or groups involved in violence, intimidation or any unlawful conduct, stressing that no one is above the law.

Mr Chirwa says this is because electoral violence threatens the country’s stability, democracy and the safety of citizens.

Mr Chirwa was speaking during a meeting, in Kabwe, aimed at promoting peaceful campaigns ahead of the August 13 general election.

He underscored the service’s commitment to safeguarding peace and security during the electoral process and protecting the rights of all citizens regardless of political affiliation.

The Central Province Police chief said that no one is above the law and urged political parties to encourage their members and supporters to respect differing views and avoid acts of provocation.

Mr Chirwa further called on political players to refrain from using inflammatory language that could incite violence and to adhere to regulations governing campaigns, rallies, and political messaging.

He said the Zambia Police Service will continue working closely with the Electoral Commission of Zambia, political parties, and civil society organisations to maintain peace throughout the electoral period.

Mr Chirwa said that officers will be deployed across the province to monitor campaign activities, respond to security threats, and protect citizens, ensuring that voters are able to cast their ballots freely and without intimidation.

Mr Chirwa reminded political parties that elections are a democratic process and not a battlefield, emphasizing the need to safeguard Zambia’s democracy and preserve peace.

“Together, let us commit to peaceful campaigns and credible elections,” he said.

Meanwhile, Central Province Divisional Criminal Investigations Officer Eric Sindandumuna has warned that police will not tolerate tribalism and that anyone found promoting it will face the full force of the law.

Mr Sindandumuna said the police are determined to maintain law and order during the campaign period and on election day to ensure a peaceful, free, and credible electoral process.

The Forestry Department in Chilanga District raised K72, 120 in revenue, during May, 2026, Chilanga District Forestry Officer, Emelda Luchele has revealed

Most of the revenue came from issuance of conveyance licences for export, which generated K48, 000 after the inspection and clearance of 80 truckloads of Guibourtia coleosperma for export to China and Vietnam. A further K720 was raised from clearance of one truckload for local conveyance.

Ms Luchele explained that the department also collected K20, 000 in penalty fee for carrying charcoal without a production and conveyance license and K2, 500 from the sale of confiscated charcoal.

In an Interview with the media, Ms Luchele said K900 was raised from production and conveyance licences for firewood.

“In timber clearance for export inspected and cleared, 80 truckloads of Guibourtia Coleosperma (Rosewood) for export translated to 1, 200 cubic meters.  A Sum of K48, 000 was raised from the issuance of conveyance licences for export to China and Vietnam. Also cleared, 1 truckload for local conveyance, 20 cubic meters, raising a total amount of K720,” she explained.

Under the Nursery Establishment and Management Programme, Ms Luchele stated that 5, 674 assorted seedlings are being raised at the nursery, with activities such as seed collection, seed sowing and root pruning ongoing.

She attributed the development to the availability of labour, which contributed to efficient operations.

Ms Luchele noted challenges that affected performance, including a reduction   in timber export by timber – exporting companies resulting in reduced revenue, limited patrol coverage and inadequate operational funding.

She pointed out that the factors directly impact implementation of planned activities, revenue generation and enforcement coverage within the district.

Ms Luchele added that the department is committed to strengthening sustainable forest management, enhancing compliance with forestry regulations, improving stakeholder collaboration, and optimising available resources to ensure effective service delivery and alignment with district, provincial, and national developmental objectives.

President Hakainde Hichilema will be in Northwestern Province tomorrow, Saturday June 13^th, 2026, for a one day working visit.

North-western Province Permanent Secretary, Grandson Katambi, said the President will worship with fellow Christians at Solwezi Airport Seventh-day Adventist Church before holding an engagement meeting with UPND party structures in the province.

Colonel Katambi has since urged members of the community to turn up in large numbers to warmly welcome the Head of State at the airport starting at 07 hours.

He was speaking at a press briefing in Solwezi today.

Meanwhile,North-western Province United Party for National Development (UPND) Chairperson, Adam Sapezo, said the President’s visit will energise the party’s structures ahead of the August 13, 2026 general elections.

A 49 year old man of Ny’atu village under Chief Mphamba of Lundazi district has been found dead in an apparent suicide case.

Zambia Police Service Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba has confirmed the matter, saying the incident was reported to Lundazi Police Station at around 14:30 hours by Boyd Mwalimo Zimba, 50, on behalf of the deceased’s family.

Mr Mweemba has told the media that the deceased has been identified as Balewa Zimba, aged 49.

He said Mr Zimba’s wife, Wazi Phiri, told police officers  that her husband appeared healthy and in good spirits when she left home around 05:00 hours to harvest maize at a field located about 200 metres from their village.

Mr Mweemba said before leaving, she spoke to her husband, who informed her that he would later leave for his usual work of cutting timber.

He explained that tragedy struck around 13:00 hours when the couple’s 18 year old son, James Zimba, discovered his father hanging from the roof inside the bedroom while collecting his shoes.

“The young man immediately informed his mother, who rushed back home and confirmed the incident before alerting neighbours and other family members,” he said.

Mr Mweemba said the matter was subsequently reported to the police, who visited the scene and conducted an inspection.

He said preliminary investigations have revealed that the deceased had used a piece of chitenge cloth to hang himself from the roof structure of the house.

“The neck was found stretched and the eyes protruding. No visible physical injuries were observed on the body and no foul play is suspected,” he said.

The Eastern Province Police Chief said the deceased’s father, Benson Zimba, 68, requested that the body be buried without a post-mortem examination, stating that his son appeared to have taken his own life for reasons that remain unknown.

“We have nevertheless advised family members to properly mark the grave to facilitate any future investigations, including possible exhumation and a post-mortem examination should the need arise,” he said.

Mr Mweemba said the body has since been released to the family for burial as investigations continue.

“I urged members of the public to seek support from family, community leaders, or health professionals whenever they experience emotional distress or mental health challenges,” he said.

The Ngoni Royal Establishment has announced that next year’s Ncwala Traditional Ceremony will not take place if a new Paramount Chief Mpezeni is not installed by the end of February.

Speaking on behalf of the establishment, Gogo Madzimawe said all royal ceremonies previously presided over by the late Paramount Chief Mpezeni IV have been suspended following his death.

He explained that the Ncwala Ceremony, a central cultural event for the Ngoni people, can only be conducted under the authority of the Inkosi ya Makhosi, a position that is currently vacant.

“There will be no Ncwala next year if by the end of February there is no new Ngwenyama. The ceremony stands down because the lion is no more,” Madzimawe said.

He added that if succession is not concluded within the stipulated period, the traditional gathering will remain suspended.

“All activities that were under his custodianship, including Ncwala, cannot proceed. The salutation ‘Bayethe’ has also been put on hold until a new king is unveiled,” he said.

The late Paramount Chief Mpezeni IV, born David Njengembazo Jere, ruled the Ngoni people for 44 years after ascending the throne in 1982. He died at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) on May 30 and was buried on June 9.

His leadership is widely credited with strengthening the Ncwala Traditional Ceremony, which is held annually in February and attracts thousands of participants from across Zambia and beyond.

Preparations for the upcoming Mambwe District Agriculture Show have reached an advanced stage, with organisers intensifying activities to ensure a successful event.

Mambwe District Agricultural Coordinator Henry Mukulumoya says the district has already conducted two block shows as part of the build-up to the main district show.

This year’s Mambwe District Agriculture Show will be held under the theme, “Fostering Trade and Investment,” aimed at promoting agricultural development, market access, and economic growth.

The media reports that Mr Mukulumoya disclosed that the final block show is scheduled for June 13, 2026 and is expected to provide farmers and exhibitors with an opportunity to showcase their agricultural products and innovations ahead of the district event.

He said the district has also held several planning meetings to coordinate preparations for both the District and Provincial Agriculture Shows.

Mr Mukulumoya further revealed that works to fence the show arena are currently underway as part of efforts to improve the venue and ensure it is ready for exhibitors and visitors.

He noted that publicity campaigns have been intensified through local radio stations and outreach programmes in various agricultural blocks and camps to attract more participants and spectators.

Mr Mukulumoya expressed optimism that the show will draw significant participation from farmers, businesses and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

The Civil Service Commission has launched an impromptu inspection tour of the Copperbelt Province to verify whether newly recruited health workers under the 2025 national recruitment exercise have reported for duty.

According to Copperbelt Province Principal Public Relations Officer Marilyn Rose, the Commission is engaging district authorities and health sector stakeholders to assess compliance with deployment directives and identify any challenges affecting the reporting process.

Civil Service Commission Chairperson Choolwe Beyani said the exercise forms part of government’s monitoring efforts to ensure that all 2,000 health workers recruited nationwide are successfully integrated into the public health system.

The Copperbelt Province received 246 of the newly recruited health personnel.

During the tour, the Commission is meeting District Commissioners, Town Clerks, Town Secretaries and District Health Directors to confirm attendance records and address any administrative or logistical issues that may have affected deployment.

Dr. Beyani noted that the recruitment exercise highlights progress made under the government’s decentralisation programme, which has delegated greater authority and responsibility to provincial and district structures.

He said the recruitment process demonstrates that decision-making powers are increasingly being exercised closer to local communities, in line with the decentralisation agenda.

The Commission also commended local authorities and district structures for successfully implementing the recruitment process and pledged continued oversight and technical support to strengthen service delivery.

Meanwhile, Dr. Beyani urged Human Resource Management Committees (HRMCs) to take an active role in resolving concerns raised by newly appointed health workers and ensuring a smooth transition into their new positions.

The inspection exercise is expected to help government assess the effectiveness of the recruitment programme while ensuring that health facilities receive the personnel needed to improve healthcare delivery across the province.