Top news items in major Zambian media outlets

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

-- Zambian President Edgar Lungu has assured that his administration will not impose statutory regulation of the media but cautioned journalists against being irresponsible in their reporting.

Lungu advised that the media should instead regulate itself through objective reporting and work in a manner that would not bring about division in the country. (Times of Zambia)

-- Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), a unit of London-listed Vedanta Resources Plc, has re-engaged 411 worker of various contractors at one of its operations in Zambia following the resumption of operations in September last year.

The mining firm, which had placed its Nchanga Underground Mine on care and maintenance in 2015, said it has also recalled 581 of its own workers who were placed in various operations with the mine following the managed care and maintenance, bringing the total number of workers at the underground mine to 992. (Zambia Daily Mail)

-- Most government youth empowerment programs in Zambia have failed due to a lack of a mechanism to monitor their operations, a youth organization has said. (Daily Nation)

-- The police in Zambia are not inspiring as they have now become mercenaries of human rights abuses, one of the country's leading bishops has said.

Bishop Evans Chinyama of the Diocese of Mongu in western Zambia, expressed concern that the police have continued to be used as tools of oppression through their continued use of force on innocent citizens and the unfair application of a law that governs public processions and gatherings. (The Mast) Endit