The Zambia Police Service in Lusaka has reported a fatal road traffic accident in which one person died and six others sustained serious injuries.

The accident reportedly occurred on December 27, 2025, around 17:00 hours along 55 Road in the Garden House residential area, Lusaka West, according to Police Spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi.

The crash involved a Toyota Hino Ranger Light Truck, registration number ALJ 3049, driven by 27-year-old Dalitso Zulu of Garden House, and a Toyota Funcargo, registration number BAF 5249, driven by 30-year-old Deluxe Kapelabulungu of Kanyama West, Lusaka, which was moving in the opposite direction.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Chilabi said both drivers sustained serious injuries and had been admitted to Kanyama Level One Hospital.

Read More: Two killed, one injured in separate road traffic accidents in Lusaka

“An unidentified female adult sustained multiple injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH). Her body has been deposited at UTH Mortuary, awaiting identification and postmortem examination,” he said.

Chilabi added that four other unidentified adult pedestrians also sustained serious injuries and are admitted to Kanyama Level One Hospital, while both vehicles were extensively damaged.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the accident occurred when the Toyota Hino Ranger Light Truck, due to excessive speed, hit a speed hump and lost control.

The vehicle swerved into the opposite lane, collided with the oncoming Toyota Funcargo, and struck pedestrians.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

“The Zambia Police Service urges motorists to drive carefully, obey speed limits, and always prioritise the safety of pedestrians and other road users,” Chilabi said.

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Zambia and China have taken a significant step to strengthen scientific and industrial collaboration following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA) and China’s National Institute of Metrology (NIM).

The agreement is aimed at enhancing technical cooperation, promoting knowledge exchange and supporting capacity development between the two institutions.

The MoU was signed by ZMA Executive Director Humphrey Nkobeni and NIM Director General Li Wentao.

The signing ceremony, held on Thursday, was attended by senior officials, including Guo Huanxin, Director General of the Department of Metrology under China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR).

NIM, China’s national metrology institute and a globally recognised leader in the field, is responsible for establishing national measurement standards, advancing metrology science, supporting industrial innovation, ensuring product quality and protecting consumers through accurate and reliable measurements.

Speaking at the ceremony, Guo said the inclusion of metrology among the strategic areas of bilateral cooperation between Zambia and China was important. He noted that the MoU would facilitate deeper exchanges and practical collaboration, particularly in food safety, scientific research, capacity building and international metrology comparisons.

Read more: Zambia Metrology Agency responds to consumer concerns over underweight bread

ZMA Board Chairperson, Musamala Josia Nyirongo, commended SAMR and NIM for their global leadership in metrology and expressed confidence that the partnership would improve measurement accuracy, strengthen consumer protection and support fair trade. He also reaffirmed ZMA’s commitment to good governance and effective implementation of the agreement.

Nkobeni described the MoU as a strategic milestone for Zambia, saying it provides a structured framework for technical collaboration and capacity development.

He said the partnership would strengthen ZMA’s technical capacity, improve traceability to international measurement standards and enhance the quality of calibration, testing and certification services for industry and the public.

Li Wentao said the MoU would deepen cooperation between NIM and ZMA, advancing research, calibration, testing, certification and technical capacity development.

The partnership is expected to support industrial growth, trade facilitation, innovation and the development of a robust quality infrastructure in both Zambia and China.

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Crystal Palace created several chances but were undone by Manchester City’s clinical edge as goals from Erling Haaland (two) and Phil Foden sealed a 3-0 victory for the champions at Selhurst Park.

Palace made five changes to their starting line-up, with Ismaïla Sarr returning alongside Dean Henderson, Nathaniel Clyne, Tyrick Mitchell and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

According to Crystal Palace FC, the hosts started brightly and nearly capitalised in the 10th minute when Clyne pounced on a loose pass inside the City box, but he was unable to get his shot away.

Read more: Guehi’s late header sends Crystal Palace into Premier League top four, as Fulham fall 1-2 at home

Palace came even closer seven minutes later as Jesurun Rak-Sakyi Pino rattled the crossbar with a rising effort after being sent through by Adam Wharton.

City were largely kept at bay, with Henderson producing a smart save in the 29th minute to deny Phil Foden’s low free-kick, as Palace continued to apply pressure with clever runs in behind the defence.

Against the run of play, City took the lead in the 41st minute when Haaland rose to head home a precise delivery from Matheus Nunes.

Palace responded well before the break, with Mateta testing Gianluigi Donnarumma twice in quick succession, but City went into half-time leading 1-0.

The Eagles resumed strongly after the interval and were unfortunate not to level in the 49th minute when Wharton struck the outside of the post after dispossessing Ruben Gonzalez.

City weathered the pressure and Henderson was again called into action in the 57th minute, kicking away Reijnders’ low drive across goal.

Oliver Glasner introduced Eddie Nketiah and Will Hughes on 67 minutes, but City doubled their advantage two minutes later when Foden found space on the edge of the area and fired into the net.

Palace continued to push, with efforts from Sarr and Hughes blocked, while Nketiah saw a late shot turned around the post by Donnarumma.

Any hopes of a comeback were ended in the 89th minute when Haaland converted a penalty after Savinho was brought down by Henderson, sealing a 3-0 win for Manchester City.

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Government has announced a comprehensive package aimed at strengthening Zambia’s pension system and improving access to lump sum benefits, while maintaining the sustainability of the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) and ensuring income security for retirees.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Brenda Tambatamba, said the reforms were designed to give members more flexibility and options at retirement, without compromising their long-term income security through monthly pensions that protect retirees from poverty in old age.

Tambatamba was speaking in Parliament on Wednesday in response to a private member’s motion moved by Kanchibiya lawmaker Sunday Chanda, who proposed that government reform the NAPSA retirement benefit structure to give contributors an option of accessing lump sum payments upon retirement.

Among the key proposed measures is increased flexibility in lump sum access. The current 20 percent partial withdrawal benefit would be expanded to allow members to access the amount at retirement as a lump sum.

“Government is also considering increasing the percentage beyond 20 percent to enhance members’ financial flexibility at retirement,” Tambatamba said.

She added that another measure would involve introducing a voluntary sub-scheme under NAPSA to allow members to make extra contributions beyond the mandatory rate.

Tambatamba said these additional savings would entitle members to access extra lump sum benefits upon retirement.

The Minister further announced the introduction of a Second-Tier Pension for Civil Servants.

“Civil servants such as teachers and health personnel employed after 2000 who currently only contribute to NAPSA will be allowed to also contribute to the Public Service Pensions Fund (PSPF), while workers under local authorities and utility companies will contribute to the Local Authorities Superannuation Fund (LASF),” she said.

Read More: Government transfers national vocational rehabilitation center to Labour ministry

Tambatamba explained that this would create a two-tier system, where NAPSA serves as the first pot and PSPF or LASF as the second, enabling civil servants to access up to 40 percent lump sum benefits.
Other measures include the promotion of Private Occupational Schemes.

“Government is encouraging employees in the private sector to either create or join existing occupational pension schemes under the Pensions and Insurance Authority (PIA), as over 230 private occupational schemes already provide lump sum options for employees,” she said.

Tambatamba emphasized that the reforms were anchored on sustainability and global best practices, in line with International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 102, which permits lump sums under regulated conditions to protect retirees’ monthly income.

She disclosed that the reforms were nearing completion and that government would undertake further consultations in all provinces before presenting them to the Tripartite Consultative Labour Council (TCLC) and ultimately to Cabinet for approval.

“Our goal is to build a pension system that is inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of all Zambians,” Tambatamba said.

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Ghana’s District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and Singapore’s Embed Financial Group Holdings (EFGH) have announced a joint venture to establish Africa’s first Finternet — a digital financial infrastructure designed to connect governments, communities, and businesses through transparent and self-sustaining technology.

The Finternet aims to link payments, credit, and insurance in the same way the Internet connects information, enabling Ghana’s districts to manage funds and services more efficiently while generating new revenue streams for national development.

Under the partnership, the DACF and EFGH will co-invest in income-generating projects that support public initiatives and empower local small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Africa Tech Insights reported.

Each project will operate under a public–private partnership model to ensure revenue sharing, job creation, and reinvestment into Ghana’s development priorities.

The DACF will retain oversight of all initiatives under the joint venture, guaranteeing alignment with national objectives and accountability to the government.

The collaboration also advances Ghana’s decentralisation agenda by providing local assemblies with digital tools to boost revenue mobilisation, enhance transparency, and expand financial access at the community level.

Key features include digital finance rails for government-to-citizen and business transactions, embedded micro-insurance for contractors and SMEs, green data centres powered by hydro and solar energy, and financial literacy programmes to promote digital inclusion.

DACF Administrator Harry Yamsom said:

“We are excited about what lies ahead – especially the opportunity to broaden financial inclusion for citizens and small businesses across rural Ghana. Together we will move quickly to launch solutions that bring tangible benefits to both consumers and B2B partners throughout the country.”

EFGH Executive Chairman Dennis Ng added:
“By partnering with the DACF, we are building systems that generate lasting value – for government, for business, and for every community we serve.”

The initiative embodies South–South cooperation — a framework through which countries of the Global South share knowledge and innovation to drive mutual growth.

Recognised by the UN Office for South–South Cooperation, Singapore serves as a Southern knowledge partner through its Singapore Cooperation Programme, which trains officials and shares digital-governance expertise with peer nations.

The DACF–EFGH partnership reflects this spirit of collaboration, demonstrating how developing and emerging economies can combine resources and innovation to advance inclusive and sustainable progress.

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Minister of Water Development and Sanitation, Collins Nzovu, has announced the successful completion of the Kwacha Constituency Water Supply and Sanitation Project, funded by the government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU).

The project, implemented at a total cost of K53.4 million, ran from February 2023 to September 2025 and has been completed within the stipulated timeframe, according to Nzovu.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday, Nzovu highlighted the project’s three key components — improvement of water supply, upgrading of sewer infrastructure, and construction of sanitation facilities.

He said the project included replacing leaking and obsolete pipes in Old Kwacha and Kwacha East, as well as extending water supply networks to Bulangililo Extension and Kwacha Resettlement (KR), thereby reaching thousands of households.

“Rehabilitation and upgrading of 3.7 km of sewer lines from DN150 to DN200 and key sections covered include Old Kwacha to Momo Bakery/Changanamai and Bulangililo Mosque to the Bulangililo trunk line,” Nzovu said.

He added that the project also provided waterborne toilets for 1,679 households and installed a 29 km sewer network to support the new sanitation facilities.

Nzovu stated that households in Old Kwacha now had access to sanitation facilities and a functional sewer system for the first time, noting that residents had previously relied on pit latrines — an unsustainable situation due to congestion and lack of space, which posed a serious risk of waterborne diseases.

Read More: AU applauds Hichilema’s leadership on water development, digital trade promotion

“Through this intervention, Government, working with Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Company, has averted a potential public health crisis and brought dignity, safety and better living standards to the people of Kwacha,” Nzovu said.

He revealed that the completion of the project meant over 1,600 households now had reliable access to clean water and proper sanitation.

Nzovu emphasized that the upgraded sewer lines and new waterborne toilets would reduce the risk of disease outbreaks, improve hygiene, and enhance the community’s resilience against future sanitation-related disasters.

He further noted that the project had employed over 1,200 people during its implementation, empowering local households with income and skills while contributing to poverty reduction.

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The Socialist Party has criticized the current national budget, describing it as neo-liberal and skewed toward private sector participation at the expense of ordinary Zambians.

Presenting the party’s 2026 alternative budget, National Youth Secretary, Stanly Muba’sa, argued that allocations to key sectors such as agriculture, health, and education were inadequate.

Muba’sa pointed to the K9.2 billion allocation to the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) as particularly insufficient.

“The Farmer Input Support Program is key, there is need to quickly grow the number of beneficiaries to 2 million,” he told Zambia Monitor in an interview.

He stressed that the amount earmarked for FISP “gives no hope” to over 1.2 million peasant farmers in rural areas who, he said, feed the entire nation.

Muba’sa urged the government to invest in local fertilizer production to reduce dependence on imports and create employment opportunities.

He further emphasized deliberate support for local investors through policies that place Zambians first while still welcoming foreign partners for financing and knowledge transfer.

“Provide massive training for agriculture experts and research institutions to improve farming methods and increase production for food security,” he said, adding that more agricultural specialists should be deployed in rural areas to train farmers.

He also highlighted the importance of soil research, saying:

“There is need to identify soil type suitable for specific crops, teach farmers how to manage soil, crops and animals, all this in an attempt to improve yields, reduce losses, maximize profits and ensure food security for all Zambians.”

The Socialist Party alternative budget also calls for agro-processing industries to add value to farm products, create jobs, and boost the sector’s contribution to GDP.

Muba’sa further challenged the government to halt the export of raw minerals and instead promote local mineral processing.

“This is necessary in order to stop exporting raw minerals. Doing so is exporting Zambian jobs and weakening the Kwacha, thereby increasing the cost of living and doing business, as the case is now,” he said.

He insisted that foreign investors should not operate mines exclusively, but rather in partnership with Zambians, with majority ownership retained by citizens or the government.

“Zambians through their government and through their local investors have to increase ownership. Every mine functioning or not must be associated with Zambians. No foreigner will entirely own key assets without getting into contracts with Zambians,” Muba’sa said.

He proposed the development of manufacturing industries to process Zambia’s minerals into finished products locally.

“Fridges, electric cables, TV, phones and many others will have to be manufactured locally with our minerals. This will result in massive job creation through setting up of manufacturing industries, which will employ many citizens across the nation with different professional backgrounds,” he said.

Muba’sa urged the government to develop the entire value chain in the mining sector—from extraction to processing and manufacturing—and to implement fair taxation policies that ensure the industry contributes significantly to government revenue.

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Aston Villa secured their first Premier League win of the season with a 3-1 comeback victory over Fulham, thanks to goals from John McGinn and Emiliano Buendía early in the second half.

Fulham made a dream start when Raúl Jiménez headed them in front after just three minutes.

However, Ollie Watkins drew Villa level in the 37th minute with his long-awaited first goal of the campaign.

Read more: Aston Villa thrash Tottenham 2-0, keep Champions League dream alive

The hosts came out strong after the restart. McGinn fired in a superb long-range strike before Buendía poked home a third in the 51st minute, giving Villa a comfortable cushion.

The result lifted Villa out of the relegation zone and onto six points, while ending Fulham’s three-match winning run that had carried them into the top half of the table.

In a match reported by 101greatgoals.com, Jiménez’s night ended prematurely after he appeared to take a blow to the midriff during the build-up to Watkins’ goal, forcing Adama Traoré to come on.

Fulham pressed for a way back, with Josh King booked for simulation and later denied a penalty after Matty Cash’s handball was deemed accidental by VAR.

Villa held firm, with Lucas Digne and Emiliano Martínez playing key roles in shutting down Fulham’s late advances, ensuring the Villa Park faithful finally had cause to celebrate their team’s first victory of the campaign.

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The Government has expressed deep concern over the rapid decline of water levels in the Lufupa River, the primary source of water for Kasempa District in North Western Province.

Water Development and Sanitation Minister, Collins Nzovu, said the river which supplies over 24,000 residents through the North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company, was drying up, posing a serious threat to the district’s water security.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday, Nzovu stated that this situation presents not only the risk of water scarcity but also raises public health concerns.

He said with the rainy season approaching, reduced and unsafe water supply increases the likelihood of waterborne disease outbreaks, including cholera.

Nzovu stated that the Government regarded this matter as urgent and was committed to taking decisive action, especially that Kasempa was among the 84 districts severely affected by the devastating 2023/2024 drought.

He said that unfortunately, despite the 2024/2025 rainfall season, the Lufupa River had not recovered.

“The crisis has been worsened by illegal gold mining activities along tributaries such as the Dengwe River, which have further reduced inflows into the Lufupa,” Nzovu said.

He assured that the Ministry was working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Mines to address this illegal activity, restore the river ecosystem, and protect Kasempa’s vital water sources.

Nzovu emphasized that safeguarding water availability was essential not only for public health but also for sustaining livelihoods in the district.

“In response to this ongoing challenge, Government last year directed the North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company to work with the Department of Water Resources Development, the Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, and the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) to identify and secure alternative water sources,” he said.

Read More: Sino-Metals denies backlash on Kafue pollution as incident attracts global scrutiny

Nzovu said temporary relief was achieved when the utility drew raw water from the Kamusongolwa stream.

In addition, to ensure a more durable solution, the Commercial Utility engaged Kasempa Town Council and proposed the drilling and equipping of two commercial boreholes, to be funded under the Emergency Constituency Development Fund (ECDF).

He, however, said the procurement and implementation delays have left residents vulnerable.

“The Government is fully aware of the impact this water crisis has on the people of Kasempa. Through the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, we will continue to provide full support to the Commercial Utility to implement urgent and long-term solutions,” Nzovu said.

He stated that in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Ministry would ensure timely funding for boreholes, water distribution systems, and related infrastructure.

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The Zambian Premier League (ZPL) has fined Nkana Football Club K10,000 and handed Green Buffaloes a 3-0 victory after Nkana was found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in a Week Three fixture played on August 30, 2025.

ZPL Head of Communications, Christina Zulu, said the sanction follows a review by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Player Status Committee, which confirmed the breach.

Read More: FAZ pledges to clear Chipolopolo allowances ahead of Morocco clash

“We wish to inform stakeholders and the general public of a disciplinary decision arising from the Week Three fixture between Nkana and Green Buffaloes,” Zulu said in a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday.

She added that Nkana had been ordered to pay the K10,000 fine within seven days but retained the right to appeal the decision to the FAZ Appeals Committee.

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