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11/07/2025

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11/07/2025

LOCAL GOVT MINISTRY TARGETS 85% CDF UTILISATION

MINISTRY of Local Government and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Administration Gabriel Pollen has announced receipt of K400 million under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and K333.3 million for Cash for Work (CFW) Programme across the country.

He says the ministry has set a target of at least 85 per cent utilisation of CDF resources.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, Dr Pollen said as July 1, the ministry received K400 million as funding for CDF across the country.

He said in addition K333 million was released by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning towards the Cash for Work Programme.

“As you are aware, the Constituency Development Fund is essentially aimed at decentralising development initiatives of the government at the local level. Substantial resources have been rolled out and the ministry continues to release additional funds,” Dr Pollen said.

He urged local authorities to expedite the utilisation of the funds.

“We recently issued a circular encouraging local authorities to use the funds within the shortest possible period of time. This follows concerns raised by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning regarding unutilised CDF funds sitting dormant in bank accounts.

To address this, we have given local authorities 48 hours within which to utilise the money and 72 hours to submit a report upon receiving the funds. This is meant to streamline the implementation and utilisation of CDF resources,” Dr Pollen said.

He added that so far in 2025, the treasury has released K2.7 billion for CDF and K1.3 billion for the CFW Programme.

“The ministry continues to strongly urge all local authorities to promptly and effectively implement approved projects and programmes. This appeal comes in response to a review conducted on 14th April 2025, which revealed that K404,871,159 remains idle in various sector grant accounts,” Dr Pollen said. “These funds were intended to support community infrastructure, social services and local economic development.

The ministry has set a target of at least 85 per cent utilisation of CDF resources to ensure that every kwacha allocated results in tangible benefits for citizens.”

He said local authorities that fail to effectively use the funds risk disciplinary measures.

Dr Pollen said inaction undermines the government’s broader agenda of inclusive development and poverty reduction.

He further announced the extension of the Cash for Work Programme, which was initially scheduled to conclude in June.

“This extension follows a directive from the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, aimed at cushioning vulnerable households from the socio-economic impacts of the recent drought,” Dr Pollen said.

He explained that the extension would allow beneficiaries to continue earning income through community-based work, “providing a critical lifeline until households recover and benefit from upcoming agricultural yields”.

“The ministry has urged local authorities and relevant implementing partners who are in arrears with payments to expedite the process and ensure that beneficiaries receive their dues without further delay,” Dr Pollen said. “To date, the Cash for Work Programme has benefited over 382,307 individuals across 87 districts as of 2024.”

He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to closely monitoring compliance and working in collaboration with local authorities to strengthen transparency, accountability and effective service delivery for the benefit of all Zambians.

The Magnet

11/07/2025

11/07/2025

POLICE PROBE CHINESE MAN FOR FONDLING MARRIED WOMAN’S BREASTS

POLICE in Sinazongwe’s Sinazeze area are investigating a Chinese national for indecent assault after he allegedly groped a married woman’s breasts.

It is alleged that the Chinese national, identified only as Mr Liu, who works for China-Geo Construction Company, said he was “just checking” when confronted over the incident.

Southern Province Deputy Commanding Officer Moono Namalongo confirmed the incident, which was reported to Sinazeze Police Post on Wednesday, July 9, at around 09:15 hours by a 28-year-old woman from Siapaka Village under Sinazongwe Chiefdom.

“The incident is reported to have occurred on an unknown date in April 2025 at around 08:00 hours at Sikalamba Bridge in Sinazongwe District".

News Diggers

11/07/2025

GREECE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDS ASYLUM APPLICATIONS TO CURB MIGRANTS

GREECE said Wednesday it is temporarily suspending asylum applications for migrants arriving on the island of Crete following a spike in arrivals from Libya.

More than 2,000 migrants have landed on the Mediterranean island since the weekend, according to coast guard figures, bringing the total number of arrivals this year to over 10,000.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament the government planned to build a detention site on Crete for migrants and was seeking direct collaboration between the Libya and Greek coast guards to turn back boats leaving the North African country.

The suspension will apply only to migrants reaching Crete by sea. Migrants entering illegally will be detained, Mitsotakis said.

Overnight, a fishing trawler carrying 520 migrants from Libya was intercepted south of Crete.

A bulk carrier that took all of the migrants onboard was rerouted to the port of Lavrio, near Athens, so that the migrants could be detained on a mainland facility, authorities said.

M&D

11/07/2025

COMMUTERS REJECT K1 BUS FARE REDUCTION AS INADEQUATE

THE Commuters Rights Association of Zambia has opposed the K1 reduction in local bus fares announced by the Road Transport and Safety Agency, arguing that the reduction is insufficient, given the consecutive decreases in fuel prices over the past three months.

Association President Aaron Kamuti says stakeholders expected a consultative meeting to be held before implementing the new fares, claiming that the proposal to reduce fares by K1 originated from bus operators, and RTSA rushed to pronounce the minimal reduction for local routes while neglecting more significant adjustments for long-distance and inter-town travel.

In an interview with Phoenix News, Mr. Kamuti said his association anticipated a more substantial benefit for passengers, suggesting a K3 to K5 reduction for local routes, considering the consecutive fuel price cuts.

He has disclosed that the association has since initiated steps to oppose the adjustment and is seeking a meeting with RTSA and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to ensure fair trade practices.

RTSA on Wednesday this week announced a K1 reduction in bus fares, following the recent fuel price cut by the Energy Regulation Board, applying only on local routes in Lusaka, the Copperbelt and other towns.

PN

11/07/2025

UPND SCOOPS NGWESHI WARD BY-ELECTION IN KALULUSHI

The ruling UPND has scooped the Ngweshi Ward by election in Kalulushi district of the Copperbelt.

UPND Candidate Happy Mwamba got 561 votes beating his closest rival Wisdom Simwanza of the New Congress Party who got 369.

Steven Shamawawa of the Leadership Movement was third with 14 votes while Citizens First Candidate Michael Mashamba got 9 votes.

Returning Officer Susiku Mwakoi declared Mr. Mwamba winner at about 21:30 hours at Kalulushi primary school amid jubilation from the ruling UPND supporters.

And Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo said the victory is a clear sign of the confidence the people of Ngweshi Ward have in President Hakainde Hichilema and his government.

He said the victory has shown members of the opposition have nothing to offer to the Zambian people.

Mr. Matambo also said it is unfortunate that members of the Tonse Alliance were campaigning using the late President Edgar Lungu and his family.

The Copperbelt minister further said the people of Zambia want the late former President to be given a dignified send off here in Zambia.

And newly elected councillor for Ngweshi Ward Mr. Mwamba said he will prioritise addressing the concerns of the people in Ngweshi ward such as the poor road network and water among others.

A total of 962 votes were cast, out of the 2931 registered voters.

ZNBC

11/07/2025

LUSAKA FARMERS RECEIVE K90 MILLION SAFF LOANS

686 farmers in Lusaka Province have received empowerment loans amounting to K90.9 Million under the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility.

Lusaka Province Principal Public Relations Officer, Logic Lukwanda disclosed this in a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka.

Mr Lukwanda said 196 farmers from Chilanga district received a total of K24.6 million, while 232 farmers from Chongwe district got a total of K42.7 million, and105 farmers from Kafue district received K9.4 Million.

He further said 104 farmers in Lusaka district received a total of K8.3million, while 104 farmers in Rufunsa district got K5.6 Million.

Mr Lukwanda disclosed that six farmers in Luangwa district got K160,000.

"President Hakainde Hichilema upon launching the SAFF initiative in 2023/2024 farming season emphasised that this initiative is designed to accord small- and medium-scale farmers access to affordable agriculture loans through a credit window," he said.

Zanis

11/07/2025

NIGERIA'S SUPER FALCONS THROUGH TO THE KNOCKOUTS!

11/07/2025

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