The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has urged broadcasters to exercise caution and responsibility in covering matters surrounding the late former President Edgar Lungu.

In a statement issued to the media, IBA Director General, Webster Malido advised broadcasting stations to avoid publishing unverified information that could cause distress to the bereaved family and unnecessary public anxiety.

Mr Malido stated that while matters relating to the late former President are of high public interest, broadcasters must rely on credible and official sources, including authorised spokespersons, to safeguard information integrity and maintain public trust in the media.

He further cautioned that dissemination of unverified information undermines the credibility of broadcasting institutions and compromises the public’s right to accurate and balanced reporting.

Mr Malido noted that responsible coverage is critical in ensuring professional and ethical broadcasting standards during the period.

He said the directive is aimed at promoting responsible journalism and protecting the integrity of public information.

Mr Malido said the guidance has been issued in line with Section 5 of the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act of 2002, which mandates the promotion of professional and ethical broadcasting standards

The mortuary that had been holding the remains of former president Edgar Lungu has informed lawyers representing the Lungu family not to seek a court order to return the body to its facility.

In a document seen by the media, lawyers from ENSafrica, acting on behalf of Two Mountains Burial Services, stated that their client had already complied with a court order after failing to receive any legal basis to delay its execution.

The lawyers said the remains are no longer under the care or control of their client, as they have since been taken into custody by the South African Police Service (SAPS) for ongoing investigations.

“We have been advised by the Zambian Government’s attorney that the body will not be immediately repatriated so that the SAPS can continue with their investigations and the remains of the late President have been taken by the SAPS to a state facility,” read part of the document.

They added that their client had been placed in a difficult position, incurring significant legal costs arising from the dispute involving the Lungu family, the Zambian government, and SAPS.

“In these circumstances and having regard to the fact that the remains of the late President are no longer under our client’s care and control, our client is not prepared to accept possession of the remains,” the lawyers stated.

They further advised that should the family proceed with court action, they must not request that the remains be returned to their client.

The development follows a prolonged legal standoff between the family and the Zambian government over the burial of the former head of state, which has kept his body in South Africa for several months.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha confirmed that the Pretoria High Court had formally transferred Lungu’s remains to the Zambian government.

Lungu died at a clinic in South Africa on June 5, 2025. Plans to repatriate his body were later disrupted after the family reversed an earlier decision to return his remains to Zambia, despite preparations for a state funeral.

The dispute escalated through various legal processes, including applications before the Pretoria High Court and the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

In August 2025, the Pretoria High Court ruled that Lungu’s remains should be handed over to the Zambian government for repatriation and burial with full state honours. However, the family continued to challenge the decision through further appeals.

Subsequent legal efforts, including an appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa, did not proceed after the family failed to meet submission deadlines, effectively allowing the earlier court ruling to stand.

The German Government has reaffirmed its long-term partnership with Zambia in water security, sanitation, and hygiene, backing construction of a major wastewater project in Lusaka, valued at approximately 33 million Euros.

Speaking after touring the Trunk Sewer Main and Energy Autonomous Wastewater Treatment Plants under construction in Ngwerere and Chunga, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development State Secretary Niels Annen said the project symbolizes decades of cooperation between the two countries.

Mr ANNEN said the project is expected to benefit over 500,000 residents through improved sanitation and public health in densely populated parts of Lusaka.

“We’re seeing some of the construction work behind us which is an embodiment of the long-lasting partnership between Germany and Zambia, “Mr Annen said.

Mr Annen noted Germany’s extensive experience in the water and hygiene sector.

“Germany traditionally has accumulated a lot of knowledge and experience in the water and also in the hygiene sector and with our partners, we have been able to make a financial contribution,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Water development and Sanitation Permanent secretary, Romas Kamanga, said the project is in line with government’s vision 2030, a sustainable development goal number six which requires sanitation for all by 2023.

Mr KAMANGA noted that the project is important as it speaks directly to those aspirations.

He appreciated the grant for the German Government stating that government can not achieve such projects without partnerships, thereby welcoming the grant from KfW.

“Government alone cannot manage to do this project, that is why we need these partners with us, so the grant from KfW is very much welcome and it took the government to negotiate for these grants and also to take certain steps so that we can qualify for this grant,” Mr Kamanga said.

Meanwhile, Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company Managing Director Jilly Chiyombwe said the Chunga Wastewater Treatment Plant is being built to replace an existing facility that can no longer handle industrial discharge.

He explained that the current plant suffered breakdowns after receiving improper industrial wastewater management.

“We have an existing plant here which has a capacity of about 9,000 cubic metres per day in terms of wastewater treatment.

 “When industrial wastewater comes into a plant like this one, and is not properly managed, it can cause a lot of damage to the plant and Lusaka Water is now engaging industries to install pre-treatment facilities at their premises so that discharge meets municipal sewer standards,” Mr Chiyombwe said.

He added that the project will create jobs during construction through contractors, consultants, and subcontractors and once complete, Lusaka Water will take over operations.

Mr Chiyombwe also said that in ensuring sustainability, the utility has partnered with Lusaka Business and Technical College to train plant operators under a dual-VET model that combines classroom and industry training.

“Our operators are trained on how to manage this plant, during the two-year operational phase and have put in place measures to ensure that there is sustainability,” he added.

The Ministry of Local Government has raised concern over widespread deficiencies in minute-writing across local authorities.

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Nicholas Phiri warned that poor record-keeping is undermining decision-making and costing councils’ access to critical development funding.

 Mr Phiri emphasized that under Section nine of the Local Government Act No. 2 of 2019, all councils are legally mandated to accurately record and maintain proceedings of their meetings.

He said this through acting Director for Local Government and Administration, Adam Jere at the graduation ceremony of 40 committee clerks from councils across the country, in Chongwe district.

He also presented certificates to the participants who underwent a 14-day intensive training in professional record writing.

“Submissions received by the ministry reveal significant shortcomings in the quality and management of records, there is an urgent need to strengthen human resource capacity building within local government systems conducted for council staff,” Mr Phiri said.

He revealed that a survey across 40 out of Zambia’s 116 local authorities confirmed that minute-writing skills among committee clerks remain inadequate.

He said to address the inefficiency, his ministry, working with stakeholders, has developed a draft reference manual that is expected to be approved in the third quarter of 2026 aimed at harmonizing procedures and ensuring uniform standards writing across all the 116 local authorities.

“Poor-quality minutes are having tangible consequences on development outcomes. Weak documentation has reportedly delayed approvals of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) applications and, in some instances, disqualified councils from accessing capital grants under programmes such as the Zambia Devolution Support Programme,” he added.

The Permanent Secretary said his ministry has prioritized nationwide training for all committee clerks held at Chalimbana Local Government Training Institute, which has been commended for its role in building institutional capacity and addressing operational challenges within councils.

He has since directed all local authorities to ensure that trained committee clerks are deployed effectively across key committees, including District Development Coordinating Committees and CDF-related bodies, to improve the quality of governance and service delivery.

Mr Phiri stressed that the move signals and strengthens accountability and efficiency within Zambia’s decentralized governance system at local level.

And speaking earlier, Chilimbana Local Government Training Institute Principal James Paipi emphasised the critical role committee clerks play in local governance.

Mr Paipi revealed that training simulated the trainees with real council scenarios to better understand and take up their responsibilities of record writing.

Meanwhile, passing a vote of thanks, Yvonne Mubanga said the training has empowered graduates with guidance and standardisation in record-keeping practices.

Ms Mubanga, who is Chief Committee Clerk at Mansa Municipal Council, assured that quality minutes would be produced consistently across all levels of local governance.

She added that the training will improve service delivery by enhancing the capacity of their respective Councils.

The training programme attracted participants beyond committee clerks, including officers from human resources, registry departments, and other administrative units.

Government has assured Levy Mwanawasa Medical University Students of improving their safety and welfare following series of protests after reports of increased rape and theft cases in boarding houses in Lusaka’s PHI area.

Ministry of Youth sports and Arts Permanent Secretary, Kangwa Chileshe said government is concerned about the security of students and is taking immediate steps to address the challenges they face.

Speaking during an engagement with the students, Mr Chileshe said government will not tolerate incidents of attacks, theft and other crimes targeting learners.

The media reports that the Permanent Secretary stressed that student safety remains a priority, adding that authorities will enhance security measures, including increased patrols and improved coordination among key ministries.

Mr Chileshe indicated that government was adopting a multi-sectoral approach involving institutions such as Home Affairs, the Gender Division, and provincial leadership to ensure a safer environment for students.

He further stated that there will be no excuses for lapses in security, citing issues such as lack of fuel or transport as unacceptable.

The Permanent secretary also highlighted the need for communities and boarding house owners to take responsibility in providing safe accommodation for students.

“Government will work closely with university management to address both on-campus and off-campus safety concerns,” he added.

Speaking at the same event, Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana said government is committed to implementing both immediate and long-term interventions to ensure students feel safe at all times.

Mr Kawana further noted that government will consider constructing students hostel using the public private partnership model to ensure students feel safe

He encouraged students to continue engaging with authorities, assuring them that their concerns are being taken seriously.

Six people among them four juveniles have drowned on Lake Bangweulu in Chifunabuli District, after the boat they were traveling in capsized on their way to Chishi Island.

That the Chishi Island bound boat was carrying 21 passengers and other household items from Lubwe when it capsized.

Chifunabuli District Commissioner, Stanley Mukosa has confirmed the incident which happened on April 21, 2026 at around 11:00 hours.

“A fatal marine accident occurred on Lake Bangweulu involving a passenger boat traveling from Lubwe Harbor to Chishi Island where six of the 21 passengers on board died and among the six were children under the age of 10 while two people were hospitalised,” he said.

Mr Mukosa suspected the boat capsized due to overloading.

“The vessel capsized due to suspected overloading as it had 21 passengers on board, three by 250 liters of opaque beer (Chibuku), two goats, four by 50kg bags of charcoal, three by 50 kg bags of cement and three by 50 kg bags of Meali Meal,” Mr Mukosa explained.

He has identified the deceased as Catherine Mwelwa, 45, Grace Chilufya, 25, Joseph Mwewa, ten, Petronella Musongo, four, Faith Musongo and Matilda Chibwe both aged two.

Mr Mukosa has disclosed that all bodies of the deceased have been retrieved and will be buried immediately.

Meanwhile, Chifunabuli District Disaster Management Officer, Lawrence Jaliso says the incident highlights critical gaps in water transport safety in the district including life jackets, weak enforcement of regulations, inadequate rescue capacity and calls for immediate and long term interventions.

“There is need for enforcement of mandatory use of life jackets on all water transport, strengthening harbor management and passenger / load regulations, community sensitization on water transport, establishment of rapid response and rescue mechanisms on Lakes Chifunabuli and Bangweulu as well as routine inspection of boats and operators,” Mr Jaliso said.