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Top news items in major Zambia media outlets

Xinhua, December 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

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

--Zambian President Edgar Lungu has pardoned 847 inmates from different correctional facilities across the country as part of this year's Christmas celebrations.

Zambia Correctional Services Commanding Officer for the Copperbelt Province Wilson Mbewe said among those pardoned include 145 inmates on special amnesty, 14 old age inmates, eight physically disabled and 27 who were terminally ill.

He said the pardoning was a clear indication that the Zambian leader cared about the welfare of inmates and was ready to give them a second chance. (Times of Zambia)

--A coalition of political parties has started engaging the Zambian government over the enactment of a law to regulate political parties.

The Zambia Center for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) said once enacted the law would guide political parties on how to conduct themselves for the sake of peace and unity in the country.

Horance Chilando, the organization's executive director said the law will also address some of the challenges caused by political parties' failure to follow their party guidelines. (Daily Nation)

--Zambian President Edgar Lungu said the country's governing party was united and will not be distracted by people venting their anger and harboring ambitions of taking over him.

Lungu, who is also the president of the Patriotic Front (PF), said while it was the norm for democratic parties to go for elections, the ruling party will not do so under pressure from party members.

Wrangles have surfaced in the ruling party with some members calling for elections. Some top senior officials such as former deputy chairperson for elections Kelvin Bwalya have since been dismissed from their positions. (Zambia Daily Mail)

--Private sector external debt in Zambia leaped to 13.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2015 from 12.5 billion dollar in 2014, driven by contracting economic growth and increasing cost of doing business, a survey has revealed.

The 2016 Foreign Private Investment and Perception Survey stated that private sector debt grew due to deteriorating economic conditions that were exacerbated by a tight monetary policy, which saw interest rates rise and credit to businesses shrink. (The Mast) Endit