Top news items in major Zambian media outlets

The following are the news highlights of Zambia's major media outlets on Thursday.

-- Zambia has formally been endorsed to host the regional collaborative center of the African Center for Disease Control.

Deputy Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said Zambia has further been nominated to the governing Board of Directors for three years.(THE POST)

-- Zambian President Edgar Lungu has advised African leaders to learn to accept defeat when they lose elections because democracy has come to stay on the African continent.

Lungu, who is in Uganda to attend the inauguration ceremony of that country's President Yoweri Museveni, who was re-elected during controversial elections held in February, said people's views during elections should always be respected by leaders.(ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL)

-- The Zambian government has halted the establishment of four heavy oil power plants that are aimed at providing emergency power for the country due to financial constraints.

Ministry of Energy and Water Development Permanent Secretary Emeldah Chola said the project had been put on hold because the Power Purchase Agreement has not been signed due to constraints. (TIMES OF ZAMBIA)

-- Zambian President Edgar Lungu has signed a statutory instrument to dissolve parliament as stipulated by the country's constitution in readiness for the holding of a general election this year.

Presidential spokesperson Amos Chanda said parliament stands dissolved on Friday, May 13 according to the gazette notice that will be issued.

The Zambian parliament concluded its business late on Wednesday in preparation for its dissolution.

The current parliament was elected in 2011 for a five-year term. Zambia will hold polls on August 11. (DAILY NATION) Endit