Top news items in major Zambia media outlets

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

-- Former Zambian President Rupiah Banda has been invited to attend an international leaders' forum in the United States where he is expected to give a lecture on elections in Southern Africa.

Banda, who ruled Zambia from August 2008 to September 2011, is expected to return back immediately after the convention. (TIMES OF ZAMBIA)

-- Zambia's electoral body has warned that it will disqualify any leader of a political party who will be found guilty of fanning violence ahead of next month's general elections.

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) deputy director Chomba Chella said the electoral body will not tolerate any more violence and that it will be acting within the law to disqualify such leaders.

Violence has marred campaigns ahead of the August 11 polls especially between supporters of incumbent President Edgar Lungu and leading challenger Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND). (ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL)

-- The Zambian government has been challenged to provide incentives for the agricultural sector to address declining exports which have reduced from 60 million U.S. dollars to 20 million dollars, an industry body has said.

The Zambia Export Growers Association (ZEGA) says lack of incentives in the agriculture sector was worrying as it has hampered the growth of the sector.

Luke Mbewe, the association's chief executive officer said the government seemed to have concentrated much on the mineral industry while neglecting agriculture as a priority sector. (Daily Nation) Endit