Top news items in major Zambian media outlets

The following are the news highlights in Zambia's major media outlets on Wednesday.

-- The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has called for deepening of intra-Africa trade in an effort to promote economic growth on the continent.

Abdalla Hamdok, UNECA's deputy executive secretary and chief economist, said the institution has since come up with a new index dubbed "Africa Regional Integration Index" that will help measure and fast track progress achieved through integrating the different trade blocs.

Africa, he added, should improve its resilience to both environmental and socio-economic shocks, manage its capital and minimize pollution. (Times of Zambia)

-- The Zambian government has warned that it will be forced to introduce statutory regulation of the media.

Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili said the print media has failed to regulate itself and that government will have no option but to introduce statutory regulation, adding that a media body formed to regulate the industry has lamentably failed.

The Zambia Media Council, a self-regulatory entity was launched in 2012 after government's move to push for statutory regulation was thwarted by the media. (The Post)

-- The Zambian government has expressed concern over the increase in imported fish in the country, which was stifling the local industry.

Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Greyford Monde said although the country has a deficit in the production of fish and processed beef, there was need to put up regulations to protect the local industry from unfair competition. (The Daily Nation) Enditem