No image available
/ 3 June 2008

Southern African nations ponder scrapping visas

Top government officials in Southern Africa began meeting on Monday to find ways of addressing trade barriers, such as scrapping visa requirements, which are said to hinder regional integration. Experts from finance ministries in the region are expected to find solutions to problems affecting the free movement of people and goods.

No image available
/ 29 May 2008

Smokers face jail threat in Zambia

Zambia has introduced new legislation banning smoking in public places which could see offenders face up to two years in jail. Local Government Minister Sylvia Masebo said the new statutory instrument, which has been gazetted, bans smoking in public places with immediate effect.

No image available
/ 27 April 2008

US: MDC should lead any Zim unity govt

The United States’ top diplomat for Africa said on Sunday any national unity government in Zimbabwe should be headed by opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who Washington believes won a March 29 election. Election officials said they hoped to compile statistics from the presidential election by Monday for verification by the candidates.

No image available
/ 27 April 2008

US: Put pressure on Zim for poll results

A top United States official urged African leaders on Sunday to put pressure on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to release the results of the presidential election, insisting the opposition had won. The Southern Africa Development Community ”should ensure that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission releases the results of the elections,” said US Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer.

No image available
/ 24 April 2008

‘Mosquitoes don’t stop at borders’

In advance of World Malaria Day on Friday, several African countries have called for a joint international initiative to combat the disease that kills more than one million people each year, mostly young children in Africa. Malaria is still a major public health problem in about 90 countries. Every 30 seconds it kills a child in Africa.

No image available
/ 13 April 2008

SADC urges rapid Zim poll result

Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders called on Sunday for the rapid release of results from Zimbabwe’s election after a two-week delay that has raised fears of violence. A 13-hour summit in Lusaka also called on President Robert Mugabe to ensure that a possible run-off presidential vote be held ”in a secure environment”.

No image available
/ 12 April 2008

Doing nothing in Zim ‘not an option’

An emergency summit of Southern African leaders on Zimbabwe’s post-election crisis opened on Saturday with a plea from its chairperson not to turn a blind eye, but President Robert Mugabe stayed away. Zambia’s Levy Mwanawasa told Southern African Development Community leaders that doing nothing was not an option.

No image available
/ 18 February 2008

DRC releases Zambian fishermen

The Zambian government announced on Monday that 30 fishermen arrested by authorities from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on cross-border Lake Mweru had been released, but fishermen nabbed in earlier raids were reportedly still being held.

No image available
/ 12 February 2008

Zambia, Zim place military on flood alert

Zambia and neighbour Zimbabwe said on Monday they had placed military forces on flood alert after opening a floodgate at a key dam that is expected to force Mozambique to evacuate 100 000 people. Munyaradzi Munodawafa, a senior Zimbabwe Energy Ministry official, said military forces would watch for heavy flooding on the Zambezi River.

No image available
/ 22 January 2008

Zambia hit by fresh nationwide power failure

Zambia was hit by a new nationwide power failure late on Monday, the second in 48 hours. The entire country was plunged into darkness at about 5.30pm GMT and partial supplies were only restored on Tuesday to critical areas, such as hospitals and military installations, said Rhodnie Sisala, managing director of the state-run Zambia Electricity Supply Company.

No image available
/ 22 January 2008

Floods wreak havoc in Zambia

Jerry Mweemba, an 82-year-old farmer, stoically chews on his pipe as he surveys the line of grass-thatched huts waist-high in brown rainwater in Zambia’s impoverished Mazabuka region. ”Initially, we thought it was the usual rains until we realised that water was entering into our homes,” says Mweemba from under the shade of a large acacia tree.

No image available
/ 18 January 2008

Zambia declares flood disaster, rains lash region

Zambia has declared a national disaster after floods swept through the Southern African nation and several neighbouring countries, killing at least 45 people and destroying roads, bridges, crops and livestock. ”This is a national disaster and it requires concerted efforts of all of us to solve,” Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa said late on Thursday.

No image available
/ 13 January 2008

Zambia drop Mbesuma, Tana from Cup squad

Zambia have dropped unfit striker Collins Mbesuma and veteran defender Elijah Tana from their final 23-man squad for the African Cup of Nations finals. Mbesuma, who plays in Turkey and was formerly, played last week in a friendly against Tunisia but was deemed too out of shape for the tournament in Ghana.