Action Aid Zambia is demanding an end to reckless borrowing for what it terms as selfish personal, partisan and cronyism interests. Executive Director Nalucha Ziba says there is need to instead improve the public finance system with respect to mobilization and utilization of public resources. She says the current barrage of policy pronouncements and mindless borrowing the country has been ...

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism has confirmed that it bought the $450m Salvator Mundi painting for the state’s new Louvre gallery. The 500-year-old painting of Christ is believed to be the work of Leonardo da Vinci. There had been media reports that it had been bought by a Saudi prince. The Louvre Abu Dhabi museum said it was ...

Film director Bryan Singer has denied sexual assault after being sued for allegedly raping a 17-year-old boy. According to court filings obtained by Deadline, Cesar Sanchez-Guzman has alleged he was sexually assaulted by the director on a yacht in 2003. In a statement, a representative for Singer said the director “categorically denies these allegations”. It comes in the same week ...

PM Theresa May has struck a last-minute deal with the EU in a bid to move Brexit talks on to the next phase. There will be no “hard border” with Ireland; and the rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU will be protected. The so-called “divorce bill” will amount to between £35bn and £39bn, ...

Kenya’s ministry in charge of policing may have lost at least $1.7m (£1.3m) following irregularities in the purchase of officers’ shoes, an audit has found. The report described a “pathetic and unpleasant situation” with some officers wearing worn-out shoes and others buying non-regulation footwear. It found that the cost of items had been inflated and receipts falsified. The audit also ...

A leading contender to replace President Jacob Zuma as head of South Africa’s governing ANC has said he believes the woman who accused Mr Zuma of rape over a decade ago was telling the truth. Mr Zuma’s deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, told a local radio station: “Yes, I would believe her.” In 2006 Mr Zuma was found not guilty of raping ...

Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya has presented to Parliament the National Health Insurance Bill. Dr Chilufya says the bill aimed at providing for sound financing of the national health system and universal access to quality insured healthcare services. He says the bill is also to provide the national health insurance management authority and provide for its functions and powers. Dr Chilufya ...

First Quantum Minerals Limited (FQM),has applauded the Government’s decision to lift the ban on freight and goods vehicles driving at night. The mining firm, which is the country’s largest copper producer and taxpayer, stresses that one of the key elements in making Zambia an attractive investment destination is ensuring the economic competitiveness of its mining sector. FQM country manager General ...

Government has implored media practitioners to shift their concentration from reporting too much on politics to matters of national development and human interest that will have a positive impact on the people. Ministry of National Development Planning Permanent Secretary Chola Chabala has also urged Zambian journalists to provide relevant context and analysis to their stories. He has noted that the ...

The Zambia Red Cross Society expects the number of Congolese refugees at Kenani refugee transit camp in Nchelenge to reach 10,000 by the end of December 2017. Communications Manager Bruce Mulenga says the number of asylum seekers at Kenani camp has continued to increase with the number currently standing at 8,863. Mr. Mulenga says on average 100 to 90 persons ...