Top news items in major Zambia media outlets

LUSAKA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The following are news highlights in Zambia's major media outlets on Tuesday.

-- The Zambian government says it will start giving incentives to commercial banks that will guarantee specific lending packages to women entrepreneurs.

Minister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe said women and youth have an important role to the development of the country but are hindered by access to finances. (Zambia Daily Mail)

-- Zambia recorded an 8.4 percent growth in international passengers passing through international airports during the first quarter of 2018, the Zambia Airports Corporation Limited, a government agency that manage airports, has said.

International passenger movements grew from 320,185 passengers in the first quarter of 2017 to 347,232 passengers in the first quarter of 2018. (Daily Nation)

-- Non-communicable diseases have placed a heavy burden on Zambia's health system and the government has called on the international community to help the country tackle the problem.

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said the diseases have placed a heavy burden on the health systems, resulting in loss of productivity, premature deaths and poverty. (The Mast) Enditem