Top news items in major Zambian media outlets

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

-- Zambia's budget deficit, which is expected to hit 12 percent by close of this year, will be reduced by half when subsidies estimated at about 1 billion U.S. dollars are removed and revenue measures are implemented, a senior government official has said.

Minister of Finance Felix Mutati said that measures such as removal of subsidies on fuel and electricity coupled with revenue and expenditure measures are expected to help government reduce the deficit to six percent. (Zambia Daily Mail)

-- The Zambian government has assured that it was committed to continuing creating a conducive environment of media freedom in the country.

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Chishimba Kambwili said there was need to create the necessary policy, legislation and professional conditions based on the national development priorities in the country. (Times of Zambia)

-- Zambia's ruling party has refuted allegations by the country's leading opposition leader that the government wanted to eliminate him.

Patriotic Front (PF) deputy spokesperson Frank Bwalya said assertions by Hakainde Hichilema, that President Edgar Lungu wanted to kill him were nothing but a mere shameless attempt to paint the Zambian leader as evil. The opposition leader and his vice were last week arrested and charged for seditious practices and unlawful assembly. (Daily Nation) Endit