Top news items in major Zambia media outlets

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

--Authorities in Zambia have unearthed a scam in which a suspected cartel involving officers from the country's revenue collection agency and road transport agency were facilitating the illegal importation of vehicles.

The scam involves officers from the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) who were facilitating the entry of vehicles illegally.

Kingsley Chanda, the head of the revenue agency said the country was losing countless funds in unpaid taxes and duty for the vehicles. The two agencies have since embarked on a program to integrate their systems to curb the illegal importation of vehicles. (Times of Zambia)

--The European Union (EU) has approved a grant of 400,000 Euros for the exploration of gemstones and other precious stones in Zambia.

Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary Paul Chanda said the grant would complement government's efforts in trying to revamp the gemstone and precious stones sector.

The grants, he added, would also allow for more investment in the gemstone sector and allow for more exploration works. (Daily Nation)

--Economic experts in Zambia have projected a positive outlook for copper in the medium term following pronouncements by the United States President-elect Donald Trump that his country economic recovery program will be anchored by the construction sector that uses huge volumes of the metal.

The Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ), an association representing economists, said the price of copper has been rising since Trump's pronouncement, adding that this gives an opportunity for Zambia to boost production.

Copper prices have risen in recent weeks and currently trading at 5,825 U.S. dollars per tonne. (Zambia Daily Mail). Endit