Tag Archives: Zambia

29Oct/26

Hidden Drivers of Depression in Zambia

October 29, 2026Healthcare1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Abnormal psychology, Anxiety, Anxiety disorders, Articles, depression, Generalized anxiety disorder, Health, Major depressive disorder, Mental health, Psychiatric diagnosis, Psychiatry, RTT, South Africa, Zambiaadmin

Beyond Individual Risk: How Community Context and Structural Inequalities Shape Mental Health Across Zambia

Thu, July 29 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — National epidemiological evidence from the 2024 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) demonstrates that approximately 8.2% of Zambian adults aged 15–59 years—or roughly one in twelve people—screen positive for probable depression, probable anxiety, or both. Utilizing validated screening tools including the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), the study establishes a national baseline for a population where epidemiological evidence was previously scarce. Symptom prevalence shows a distinct age trajectory, rising steadily from 4.2% among adolescents aged 15–19 to a peak of 11.5% among adults aged 40–44. While Zambia’s overall baseline is moderate compared to regional neighbors such as South Africa (where probable depression reaches 25.7%), it reflects a substantial mental health burden that remains largely undetected and untreated due to severe healthcare workforce constraints, structural low priority, and widespread social stigma. Continue reading →

28Oct/26

Zambia’s Gamble on Bigger Government

October 28, 2026EconomyAfrica, Countries, Elijah Muchima, Hakainde Hichilema, Lusaka, Mutale Nalumango, Permanent Secretaries, W.K. Mutale, W.K. Mutale-Nalumango, Zambiaadmin

From 24 to Thirty Ministries: The Executive Restructuring Behind the Grow Zambia Agenda

Wed, July 28 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration has proposed a major structural overhaul to expand Zambia’s cabinet from 24 to 30 ministries, presented to the National Assembly by Vice-President Dr. W.K. Mutale-Nalumango pursuant to Article 92(2)(d) of the Constitution of Zambia. According to official communications from State House, the restructuring is designed to eliminate administrative bottlenecks, enhance public service delivery, and align government operations directly with the country’s flagship economic blueprint, the Grow Zambia Agenda. The proposed changes unbundle large existing ministries into dedicated portfolios, which includes splitting Energy into separate ministries for Electricity and Petroleum; dividing Commerce, Trade and Industry into Trade and Exports, Industry, and Small and Medium Enterprise Development; separating basic education from Skills and Higher Education; and uncoupling Infrastructure and Urban Development from Housing. Proponents maintain that this heightened specialization is necessary to provide focused oversight over critical growth drivers, such as resolving power generation deficits, boosting non-traditional exports, accelerating industrialization, and meeting national production benchmarks.

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27Oct/26

Political Erasure and the Case for Structural Reform in Zambian State Media

October 27, 2026MediaAfrica, Airtel, Beavan Saluseki, Censorship, Context, Corporate governance, Countries, Daily Mail, Edgar C. Lungu, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Edgar Lungu, Election law, Electoral Commission, Freedom of information laws by country, Governance, Government, Hakainde Hichilema, Instagram, IT law, Jackson Sitengu, Leadership, Media, Media in Zambia, Musonda, NRCs, Regulatory agency, Sitengu, Statutory corporation, Statutory instrument, The Industrial Development Corporation, Zambia, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporationadmin

The Glass Cliff at Zambia Daily Mail: Historic Female Appointment Overshadowed by Newsroom Subversion

Mon, July 26 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The Zambia Daily Mail Independence Day publication scandal erupted on October 23, 2026, when a special commemorative feature chronicling Zambia’s political history and presidential lineage systematically excised the country’s sixth Republican President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu. While portraits and historical narratives for all other post-independence heads of state were published, Dr. Lungu’s complete omission sparked immediate national outcry, political backlash from opposition quarters, and severe displeasure from both State House and the Ministry of Information. Subsequent internal forensic investigations revealed that Chief Sub-Editor Jackson Sitengu unilaterally deleted Dr. Lungu’s portrait and textual references prior to transmitting press-ready files. Sitengu acted independently without approval from senior management, later explaining that he felt Dr. Lungu should be omitted due to ongoing political controversies surrounding his legacy and an unforced desire to align the publication with perceived state preferences. Continue reading →

24Oct/26

How Foreign Investors Trade in Zambia

October 24, 2026FinanceAirtel, Capital gains tax, Copperbelt Energy Corporation, Corporate finance, Corporate tax, Dividend, Double taxation, Economic globalization, Economies, Economy, Income tax in the United States, International taxation, Lusaka, Pangaea Securities Limited, Stockbrokers Zambia Limited, Tax, Tax haven, Taxation in Canada, Taxation in India, Taxation in the United Kingdom, United Kingdom, United Kingdom corporation tax, Zambiaadmin

Investing in the Lusaka Securities Exchange: Comparative Pathways, Settlement Mechanics, and Treaty Tax Relief for UK Residents

Sat Oct. 24, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The Lusaka Securities Exchange (LuSE) operates under the regulatory supervision of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Zambia pursuant to the Securities Act No. 41 of 2016, providing a centralized capital market with an equity market capitalization of approximately USD 2.30 billion. To prevent off-market fragmentation, Zambian law mandates that all public companies with 50 or more shareholders must register with the SEC and trade exclusively on a recognized stock exchange, effectively prohibiting Over-The-Counter (OTC) equity markets. The exchange functions across a two-tier market structure comprising the Main Board (Official List) for established public enterprises and the Quoted Tier for growth-phase entities. Zambia maintains a fully liberalized foreign exchange regime with no exchange controls, permitting up to 100% foreign ownership in private and listed assets—with narrow statutory exceptions, such as domestic cellular network operators required to float 10% of their shares on the exchange—and guaranteeing the repatriation of investment capital, dividends, and profits through the Bank of Zambia. Continue reading →

24Oct/26

Zambia Erases Former President Edgar Lungu

October 24, 2026PoliticsAfrica, Countries, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Edgar Lungu, Hakainde Hichilema, Ngwira, Presidents of Zambia, Thabo Kawana, Zambiaadmin

Labour Activist Calls for Professionalism and National Unity Following Independence Day Controversy

Sat Oct. 24, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Labour activist and salary wages advocate Trust Ngwira has questioned Permanent Secretary for Information Thabo Kawana and the Zambia Daily Mail regarding the omission of Zambia’s sixth President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, from an Independence Day publication. Describing the incident as deeply unfortunate, Ngwira highlighted that Independence Day is a national occasion meant to symbolise love, peace, unity, and respect for the country’s history. He urged individuals in positions of responsibility to carefully weigh the consequences of their actions and statements to avoid creating unnecessary public controversy that could put Republican President Hakainde Hichilema in an embarrassing position. Continue reading →

24Oct/26

Why AI Detectors Flag African Writers

October 24, 2026TechnologyAfrican-American literature, Articles, Artificial intelligence, Artificial intelligence in video games, Caine Prize, Cambridge, Culture, Doyle Calhoun, Ghana, Kundizeza, LGBT culture, Lusaka, Namwali Serpell, Okwiri Oduor, Simbarashe Steyn, Simbarashe Steyn Kundizeza, Steve Biko, Tope Folarin, Vauhini Vara, Weixin Liang, Yaoi, Zambia, Zimbabweadmin

Flawed Metrics and Market Tropes: The Paradox Facing Black Writers in the AI Era

Sat Oct. 24, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The controversy surrounding Zimbabwean author Simbarashe Steyn Kundizeza’s 2026 Caine Prize win has ignited an international debate over artificial intelligence, literary authenticity, and algorithmic bias in publishing. On October 6, 2026, Kundizeza was awarded the £10,000 Caine Prize for African Writing for his short story “The Blue Fighter”. Five days later, journalist Vauhini Vara reported in The Atlantic that the commercial AI detection tool Pangram had flagged virtually the entire story as machine-generated text. Kundizeza forcefully rejected the accusation, asserting that the story drew directly from his personal life, lived experience, and a writing residency in Ghana. In response, the Caine Prize Foundation launched a human-centred review—interviewing the author and judges and examining manuscript draft histories rather than relying on automated software scores as dispositive proof of misconduct. Continue reading →

24Oct/26

Zambia’s Rule of Law Paradox

October 24, 2026World1, 2, Abuse, Afghanistan, Angola, Anti-corruption, Argentina, Articles, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, canada post, China, Colombia, Congo, Corruption, Nigeria, Philosophy of law, Political corruption, Political philosophy, Political terminology, Politics, Rule of law, World Justice Project, Zambia, Zimbabweadmin

Beyond the Composite Score: Bridging the Implementation Gap in Zambia’s Legal System

Sat Oct. 24, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — In the 2026 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index, Zambia registers an overall composite score of 0.44 on a scale from 0.00 to 1.00, placing it 108th globally out of 143 surveyed countries. This performance marks a single-position drop in global standing and a minor 0.01 score contraction from the 0.45 baseline maintained between 2022 and 2025. Regionally, Zambia ranks 19th out of 34 Sub-Saharan African states, placing its score slightly below the regional benchmark of 0.45 and well beneath the global average of 0.55. Despite this global deficit, Zambia maintains a solid standing within its lower-middle-income cohort, outperforming regional neighbors such as Nigeria (120th) and Zimbabwe (122nd). Historically, Zambia reached a decade-high score of 0.48 in 2016 before political polarization eroded it to 0.44 in 2021; while the peaceful transfer of power in late 2021 stabilized scores at 0.45 through 2025, administrative bottlenecks led to the slight 2026 contraction. Continue reading →

21Oct/26

A Strategic Guide to Diaspora Investment, Incentives, and Land Acquisition in Zambia

October 21, 2026EconomyA, Addis Ababa, Africa, airlink, Boerewors, Countries, Diaspora, Ethiopian Airlines, Food and drink, Gari, Geography of Africa, JOHANNESBURG, London, Lusaka, Meat, Music of Zambia, Ndola, Outline of Zambia, Proflight Zambia, Sausage, Scotland, Scottish society, south african airways, Tara, un global, United Kingdom, Zambiaadmin

Bridging Homeland and Diaspora: Civic Engagement, Traditional Gastronomy, and Travel Formalities for Zambians in the UK

Wed Oct. 21, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The transnational migration corridor connecting Zambia’s Copperbelt region to suburban centers across Greater London reflects a vital flow of skilled professionals, students, and families who maintain deep socio-economic, civic, and cultural ties. To support local community integration in the United Kingdom while driving social and economic development in Zambia, an extensive organizational ecosystem operates across multiple tiers. Grassroots groups like the London Association of Zambians (LazUK) deliver civic networking and localized peer support, while commercial promotion platforms such as UK Zambian Events Ltd host business expos and cultural festivals to celebrate heritage and facilitate cross-border trade. On a broader national scale, registered charities including the Zambia Society Trust (ZST) and the Scotland Zambia Partnership (SCOZAP) coordinate grassroots development—funding healthcare delivery at St Francis Mission Hospital, nurse sponsorships, community schooling through Kwasha Mukwenu, and poverty alleviation projects. Institutional engagement is anchored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation through its dedicated Diaspora Web Portal, which officially recognizes overseas citizens as the nation’s “Eleventh Province” and encourages active involvement in domestic land acquisition, agriculture, and climate resilience. Furthermore, international advocacy organizations like the Organization of Zambians Abroad (OZA) and professional bodies like the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Diaspora Special Interest Group provide constitutional advocacy, trade joint ventures, and structured induction standards for overseas-qualified social workers and professionals. Continue reading →

19Oct/26

Why Zambia National Budget Needs Local Accounting

October 19, 2026EconomyAnthony Bwembya, Dangote Group, Economy, Edinah Lukonka, International Monetary Fund, Joseph Chisanga, Konkola Copper Mines, Lusaka, Organizations, Seiko Mwenya, Situmbeko Musokotwane, Sunga Ng’ambi Chilambo, Tax, Toyota S, United Nations, United Nations Development Group, United Nations Economic and Social Council, Yande Siame-Mwenye, Zambiaadmin

You Can’t Share Poverty: Reconciling Fiscal Discipline with Local Empowerment in Emerging Economies

Mon Oct. 19, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Hakainde Hichilema’s political memoir and reform playbook, You Can’t Share Poverty: The Choices That Shape a Nation’s Future, sets forth a structural growth doctrine that redefines the social contract in developing nations. The foundational premise argues that state-driven wealth redistribution in low-income or heavily indebted economies serves merely to socialize scarcity and dilute existing capital without building productive capacity. Sustainable poverty reduction and employment creation cannot be achieved through consumption subsidies or state patronage, but require expanding national output (GDP) by attracting foreign direct investment, expanding the industrial tax base, and establishing predictable regulatory frameworks where the state acts as a facilitator rather than a controller of commercial enterprise.
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18Oct/26

Zambian Tribal Governance on Google Cloud

October 18, 2026FamilyAfrica, Bob Clarke, Cherelle Mbale, Chief Magodi, Chieftaincies, Countries, Diaspora, disney, Ethnic groups in Zambia, J.B. Kasolola, Jade, James Nyirenda, Jamie Mbala, Lime Pictures, London, magodi, Magodi Royal, Mpelembe Secondary School, Mwizenge S. Tembo, Netflix, Sam Mbale, Tribal chief, Tumbuka people, United Kingdom, Wales, warner bros. entertainment, Zambiaadmin

From London to Chief Magodi: The Synthesis of Cloud Engineering and Traditional Heritage

Sun Oct. 18, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Contemporary African diaspora families operating between Western metropoles and indigenous homelands are re-engineering traditional cultural governance into cloud-based ecosystems. As demonstrated by the multi-generational trajectory of the Mbale family in London, individuals maintain social mobility in sectors such as digital media, private corporate enterprise, and secondary education, while remaining formally anchored to their ancestral Tumbuka lineage. Central to this arrangement is the technological leadership of software engineer Sam Mbale, who utilizes Google Cloud infrastructure to power the Mpelembe Network. By systematically archiving family milestones alongside artificial intelligence initiatives and socio-cultural commentaries, the platform establishes a digital node that connects UK-based youth directly to the Chief Magodi traditional establishment in Eastern Zambia. This cloud framework enables diaspora members to maintain recognized tribal membership, clan solidarity, and royal heritage stakeholdership without requiring continuous physical residency.
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