Government has commenced the distribution of relief food to flood victims on Kilwa Island in Nchelenge district.

Luapula province Permanent Secretary Prudence Chinama who flagged off the distribution of the relief food on the island assured the people that no one will die of hunger.

The Permanent Secretary indicated that the Republican President is concerned with the flood situation which has affected a lot of families not only in Luapula but also other parts of the country.

The Permanent Secretary said the government is working at ensuring that support is given to all those who have been affected by floods.

“These items are for those whose houses collapsed but we are aware that your crop fields have also been affected and support will come your way,” she stated.

Ms Chinama disclosed that most districts in Luapula province have been affected by the heavy rains but that the government is doing everything possible to see to it that no one dies of hunger.

She stated that the distribution of relief food will be an ongoing activity until all flood victims in Luapula are assisted.

Luapula Regional Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) Coordinator, Able Mwape revealed that over 900 families on Kilwa Island have been affected after their houses collapsed.

He pointed out that last week his office received a report that 129 houses had collapsed on the island due to heavy rains.

Mr Mwape said DMMU rushed in the area to assist the affected families even as the government is preparing for more support.

“These items which include mealie meal, cooking oil, soap and blankets are meant to help offer immediate support to the victims,” he said.

He stated that the government through DMMU is working on modalities of ensuring that everyone is given the support that is needed.

Meanwhile, Chief Nshimba who spoke through his representative Gospel Nshimba has commended the government for his people.

The Chief pointed out that the support will go a long way in helping his subjects as some of them lost everything after their houses collapsed.

He disclosed that apart from collapsed houses, some of his subjects have lost their crop fields hence they will also need help.

“This support should continue here in my chiefdom so that my people do not die of hunger as most of them have been greatly affected by these floods,” he said.

The Chief has further urged his subjects to put to good use the items they have received from the government.

Vice President Mutale Nalumango has announced that the Government will in the next two months start upgrading the 140 Kilometer Kabwe-Ngabwe road to bituminous level.

Mrs Nalumango observes that the road has been in bad condition for many years, a situation which made traveling on the road a hurdle for many travelers.

Speaking when she addressed scores of Ngabwe residents at Mumbachala, the vice president noted that the government wants easy transportation to and from the agriculture district.

“By 2031, you will have a tarmac road,” she assured the residents of Ngabwe

The Vice President also stated that the government is planning to rehabilitate the pontoon which was recently decommissioned before putting up a permanent bridge on the Kafubu River.

“We intend to put up a permanent bridge to improve access across the Lufubu River,” Mrs Nalumango said.

She also pointed out that the government is aware of some of the developmental needs of the people of Ngabwe.

“I have also been told that telecommunication is a challenge and that you need communication towers, I will engage the relevant Ministry to ensure that we ease communication,” said Mrs Nalumango.

The Vice President also highlighted the developments that the government has undertaken in the district especially through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

“We have built school infrastructure, maternity annexes and improved road infrastructure,” she said, “This is because the President is keen to improve the lives of the people in the country.

She explained that the increase in the CDF annual allocation to enhance decentralisation has taken development to many parts of the country including those that were initially underserved.

Mrs Nalumango urged the people of Ngabwe to vote for President Hichilema in the August 13 Presidential election for continuity.

“I’m urging you to vote for President Hichilema to enable him to continue with the developments that have been initiated,” said the Vice President.

Zambia and Angola have committed to curb transnational crimes along their shared border lines.

This was disclosed at the opening of the 34th Session of the Angola-Zambia Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security being held in Luanda, Angola from 1st to 6th May 2026.

The Commission officially opened this morning at the Epic Sana Hotel in Luanda where the Zambian Ambassador to Angola, Elias Munshya led the Zambian delegation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Munshya highlighted the threat of terrorism in the region as a cause of concern, calling on delegates to the commission to come up with strategies of ending the scourge.

Dr Munshya warned that trafficking, illegal migration, poaching as well as drug trafficking must be fought at all costs.

He reiterated Zambia’s continued cooperation with Angola to promote peace, unity and enhanced relations with Angola.

Dr Munshya urged that through the 34th Session of the Angola-Zambia Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security meeting, the two countries must come up with exchange visits, sign agreements and programmes which will enhance more cooperation by the Defence and Security institutions in the two countries.

Earlier in his remarks, Angola’s State Secretary for Defence Policy, Admiral Jose Maria De Lima (Rtd) said the security challenges which the two countries face must be tackled in a well-coordinated manner.

Admiral De Lima stated the need for intensified coordination in fighting transnational crimes on the common border.

He said the 34th Session of the Angola-Zambia Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security offers an opportunity for the two countries to assess the status of commitments made during the previous session of the Commission in 2022.

Admiral De Lima said Angola is committed to work together with Zambia on Defence and Security matters at the highest level possible.

The Zambian delegation to the 34th Session of the Angola-Zambia Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security includes Zambia Army Commander, Lt Gen Geoffrey Zyeele, Inspector General of Police, Graphel Musamba, Zambia Correctional Service Commissioner General, Mr Frederick Chilukutu.

Others are Drug Enforcement Commission Director General, Nason Banda, Immigration Department Director General, Japhet Lishomwa and other government officials.

This is according to a statement issued to to the media in Lusaka by the Ministry of Defence Principal Public Relations Officer, Paul Shalala.

MISA Zambia has described Zambia’s hosting of 2026 World Press Freedom Day Global Conference as a significant milestone, positioning the country as a regional hub for media advocacy and dialogue on issues such as digital rights, artificial intelligence and peace building.

MISA Zambia Chairperson Lorraine Chisanga said the global conference which will be preceded by World press Freedom day will provide an opportunity for journalists, policymakers and other stakeholders to engage on the future of journalism

In an exclusive interview with the media, Ms Chisanga said the two events will also be an opportunity to address misinformation and emerging technological challenges.

She also raised concern over certain provisions in cyber-related laws, which she says may limit freedom of expression and lead to self-censorship among journalists.

Ms Chisanga called for continued engagement with authorities to ensure that such laws do not undermine media freedom.

She reaffirmed MISA Zambia’s commitment to supporting journalists through capacity-building programmes, including nationwide training ahead of the elections.

Ms Chisanga said the organisation is equipping media practitioners with skills to report ethically and responsibly during the electoral period.

Government says it is committed to advancing the welfare of youths by supporting them through different economic activities.

Speaking during the Miss Youth Solwezi final pageant event, Northern-Western province deputy permanent secretary, Luckson Mulumbi says Government has put in place interventions aimed at empowering young people such as School bursaries, Constituency development Fund CDF loans and grants among others.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary adds that the Government commits to supporting Institutions and organisations that work towards empowering youths.

Mr Mulumbi further called on Government institutions and the private sector to take interest in the Miss Solwezi pageantry and use the models as ambassadors and service promoters, noting that it is one way of nurturing potential and inspiring positive change among young people.

Additionally, the Deputy Permanent Secretary encouraged the contestants of the Miss Solwezi to use Media platforms to spread positive messages and inspire others.

He called upon the winner of the pageant to be active in the community and help mentor young girls into positive behavior, self-belief and influencing communities for a better cause.

He added that the Miss Youth title should be used as a voice for young entrepreneurs and those that dream to contribute to national development.

Six young girls were the finalists with one expected to be crowned Miss Youth Solwezi.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has urged District Election Staff to exercise utmost care in scrutinising candidate qualifications and disqualifications during the nomination process.

ECZ Chief Electoral Officer, Brown Kasaro has stressed that the nominating stage is the foundation of electoral credibility and must be handled with precision.

He was speaking when he officially opened the fourth cohort of District Election staff training for Luapula and Western Provinces, at Mika Convention Centre in Chongwe.

Mr Kasaro has reminded participants that their professionalism and impartiality will be under close public and political scrutiny, further reiterating the need for fairness and transparency during the process.

He has warned that errors in documentation or misinterpretation of procedures could have far-reaching legal implications and erode public trust in the Commission.

“Pay particular attention to candidate qualifications and disqualifications. These areas are often challenged and can lead to disputes if not handled with utmost care and precision,” he stressed.

Speaking Earlier, ECZ Acting Director for Electoral Operations, Wina Mwanamonga noted that it is the first time district election staff were being trained in Lusaka, on the Nomination process.

He explained that previously, the commission would train provincial staff in Lusaka, who would then go back and pass on the training to the district staff in their provinces.

Mr Mwanamonga disclosed that a review conducted after the last election had revealed inadequate understanding among district staff on how to correctly fill in nomination forms, attributing the issue to possible information distortion, along the training process.

He noted that this shortcoming had resulted in the Commission recalling all district staff, who had initially been trained in their provinces, to rectify the forms, an exercise that proved costly for the Commission.

He expressed confidence that this new approach will ensure all staff receive standardised information.

“If Returning Officers have a challenge, you don’t need to call Lusaka because all of us now in the Districts, we know what is being done”, he stated.

The training programme was launched by ECZ Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis on April 25, 2026.

So far, the training has already covered Central, Northern, Copperbelt, North-Western, Lusaka, and Eastern Provinces, with others scheduled to follow.