Top news items in major Zambian media outlets

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

-- Zambian Vice-President Inonge Wina says the government was committed to promoting good tenets of democracy and should be given room to develop its own governance system with minimal interference.

She said cooperating partners should give Zambia space to create its own type of democracy which is in conformity to international standards. (Times of Zambia)

-- The Zambian government said about one million pupils in 2,500 schools were benefiting from a school feeding program being implemented by the World Food Program (WFP).

Ministry of General Education Spokesperson Hilary Chipango said the program has not only provided nutritional value for the pupils but also helped boost the business for local farmers because the foods were being bought from local farmers. The introduction of the program has culminated in increased class attendance and improved performance among the learners, he added. (Zambia Daily Mail)

-- Speaker of the Zambian parliament Patrick Matibini said boycotting the ceremonial opening of parliament by opposition lawmakers was a grave matter and he has since transferred the matter to a parliamentary privileges committee.

All 58 lawmakers from the main opposition United Party for National Development boycotted the official opening of parliament by President Edgar Lungu because the party does not recognize him as duly elected. (The Post)

-- The police in Zambia have acquired modern anti-riot equipment that includes water crowd control vehicles to help officers in crowd control especially during public protests.

Zambia Police Inspector General Kakoma Kanganja said the police have procured three Marauders and 15 Mavericks automobiles for paramilitary and general policing. The equipment has been procured to beef up police operations in the country in line with the modernization process. (Daily Nation) Endit