The Bank of Zambia Monetary Policy Committee which met on 11th February, 2015 has decided to maintain the Policy Rate at the current level of 12.5% in order to mitigate potential external shocks following the recent deterioration in the external sector performance. The MPC’s expectation is that this policy stance will help in entrenching the gains achieved on the inflation ...

Newly appointed Youth and Sports Minister Vincent Mwale says his appointment as Minister has the blessings of MMD President Nevers Mumba. Mr. Mwale says Dr Mumba gave him a go ahead to accept the ministerial position. He says he accepted the appointment in order to serve the people’s interests and not his. Mr. Mwale has since advised youths in the ...

The Oasis Forum has observed that a lot of work needs to done to improve the current electoral system to ensure that elections in Zambia are conducted in a transparent, free and fair manner. And the Oasis Forum has observed that last month’s election also highlighted the need to introduce the more than fifty percent threshold for a presidential candidate ...

Government has dismissed as misleading and misplaced allegations by the Judiciary and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (JAWUZ) president Peter Mwale that Government is taking advantage of perceived divisions in the labour movement to entrench its position over the wage freeze. Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili in a statement says contrary to Mr. Mwale’s assertions, Government has adopted an open ...

Thirteen Civil Society Organisations have called on government to remain resolute and firm on the new mining tax regime especially as they engage in dialogue with the mining companies. The CSOs gathered at the Alternative Mining Indaba observe with great concern the arm-twisting tactics by mining companies in Zambia aimed at pushing government to retract the recently introduced mineral royalties. ...

The drowning of more than 300 migrants in the Mediterranean Sea this week could have been prevented with better EU lifesaving provisions, experts say. The UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, says more migrants are dying because search and rescue efforts have been reduced. Italy’s major patrol and rescue operation ended last year. A smaller scale EU operation, Triton, took over. The ...

An agreement aimed at ending the fighting in Ukraine has been reached, following marathon talks in Belarus. The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France announced that a ceasefire would begin on 15 February. The deal also includes weapon withdrawals and prisoner exchanges, but key issues remain to be settled. The pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine have signed the agreement. ...

Police in Lusaka have executed the court warrant to arrest Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito. Police Spokesperson Charity Munganga Chanda has confirmed to QFM News that Mr Nchito has been arrested for nine (9) offences. Mrs Chanda says Mr. Nchito was arrested around 11:30 hrs this morning and is currently in custody pending his appearance in court. She says ...

A delegation of co-operating partners has commended the Zambian Government for its infrastructure development initiatives in rural parts of the country, especially in the area of education. The delegation, comprising officials from the German and Chinese embassies in Lusaka, UNHCR, UNICEF and the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees in the Ministry of Home Affairs, visited Kaoma District to meet ...

The National Council for Construction (NCC) says the construction sector has continued to grow at a steady rate of 17.5percent annually. NCC acting Executive Director Francis Mwape says the construction sector has also continued to record an increase in the number of registered contractors and those going through the construction school for capacity building sessions as indication that there is ...