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☆ Deadliest Cholera Outbreak in Past Decade Hits Southern Africa
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( John Eligon | Jeffrey Moyo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Sandra Mwayera wailed as her older brother slouched next to her in the back seat of a car — he had died from cholera as he waited for treatment among dozens of others outside a hospital in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare. “My brother! My brother! Come back!”In neighboring Zambia, inside the 60,000-seat National Heroes Stadium in the capital, Lusaka, rows of gray cots lined rooms at a makeshift treatment center where 24-year-old Memory Musonda had died. Her family said they were not informed until four days later — the government buried her, and they have yet to locate her grave.

Persons: Sandra Mwayera wailed, slouched, ”, “, Musonda, Musonda’s, Stanley Mwamba Kafula Organizations: Democratic Locations: Zimbabwe’s, Harare, “, Zambia, Lusaka, Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique

LUSAKA, Zambia (AP) — Authorities in Zambia said Tuesday they were frantically pumping water and mud from a Chinese-owned copper mine where seven miners were trapped underground. Local media reported that the miners were working at around 235 meters (257 yards) underground. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesLocal media reported that the miner who escaped, Penjani Kaumba, said he noticed water coming from a tunnel and immediately informed colleagues, but it was too late. Zambia is one of the world's largest copper producers, and Chinese firms have invested billions of dollars in mining there. Another mine accident in Zambia in November killed at least 11 people, with others missing.

Persons: Peacewell Mweemba, ”, Penjani Kaumba Organizations: —, Associated Press, Local Locations: LUSAKA, Zambia, Ndola, Lusaka, Copperbelt Province

LUSAKA, Zambia (AP) — A member of a rescue team raised hope Monday that there may be survivors at a Zambian mine where more than 30 informal miners have been trapped under debris for days and presumed dead after heavy rain caused landslides. Zambian government officials said more than 30 miners were trapped under the landslides but couldn't give an exact number. Police have said that all the miners are suspected to have died and named seven of them as confirmed fatalities. But no bodies have been retrieved and the Zambian government said it was premature to say how many had died. Informal mining is common, where artisanal miners dig in search of minerals, often without proper safety procedures.

Persons: Wiva Chanda, Raphael Chumupi, Mutale Nalumango, ” Nalumango, ___ Mukwazhi, ___ Organizations: Associated Press, Police Locations: LUSAKA, Zambia, Zambian, Chingola, ” Chingola, Lusaka, Harare, Zimbabwe

A shareholders' agreement is being reworked to make the commitments from both shareholders legally binding, Kabuswe added. The legal details of the agreement and reinstatement of the KCM board, would be finalised within the next three months, the minister said. The forced takeover nearly paralysed operations at the KCM and triggered protracted battles, with Vedanta mounting legal battles including approaching an arbitration court in London to recover the copper assets. The government, which seeks to triple copper output over the decade, is also searching for a new investor for Mopani Copper Mines. Reporting by Chris Mfula; Writing by Felix Njini; Editing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo, David Evans, Alexandra HudsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Paul Kabuswe, Kabuswe, Anil Agarwal, Edgar Lungu's, Hakainde Hichilema, Vedanta, KCM, ZCCM, Chris Mfula, Felix Njini, Olivia Kumwenda, David Evans, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Vedanta Resources, IH, Vedanta, Mopani, Mining, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Zambia, LUSAKA, KCM, ZCCM, London, Lusaka

☆ Zambia frees five Egyptians arrested on plane with guns and fake gold
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LUSAKA, Sept 1 (Reuters) - A Zambian court freed five Egyptians and one Zambian on Friday, after prosecutors dropped espionage charges against them three weeks after they arrived on a private plane with guns, bullets, cash and fake gold. Two of the Egyptians would be rearrested on unspecified lesser charges and freed on bond, Zambia's Drug Enforcement Commission said. We knew from day one that we were clean," one of the freed Egyptians told journalists outside the court. While the initial charge sheet did not mention the aircraft or seized goods, lawyers for the defendants had said earlier that those arrested were on the plane. Two Egyptian security sources had said the plane seized in Zambia had been inspected by authorities before leaving Cairo, but that one of the arrested Egyptians was able to board with bags that were not searched, which is now under investigation.

Persons: Gracilia Mulenga, Chris Mfula, Bhargav Acharya, Peter Graff Organizations: Drug, Commission, Zambia's Drug, Agency, DPP, Public Prosecutions, Thomson Locations: LUSAKA, Lusaka, Egypt, Zambia, Cairo

☆ Zambia seeks to deny bail to five Egyptians, 6 nationals charged with spying
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LUSAKA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Zambia sought to deny bail to five Egyptians and six Zambians charged with espionage for entering a restricted zone of Lusaka airport, two weeks after Zambian authorities said their plane had been seized along with guns, bullets, cash and fake gold. "The state must give reasons as to why accused persons whose liberties to freedom are being taken away must be denied bail," defence lawyer Martha Mushipe told the court. That fuelled speculation in Zambian media that some of the suspects might have sought to swindle gold buyers in a fake bullion scam. Two Egyptian security sources said the plane seized in Zambia had been inspected by authorities before leaving Cairo, but that bags with one of the arrested Egyptians were not searched, and this was currently under investigation. Reporting by Chris Mfula; additional reporting by Cairo Newsroom; writing by Tim Cocks; editing by Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Davies Chibwili, Martha Mushipe, Zambian Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe, Chris Mfula, Tim Cocks, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Drug Enforcement Agency, Zambian Mines Minister, Cairo Newsroom, Thomson Locations: LUSAKA, Zambia, Lusaka, Lusaka's, Cairo, Egyptian

☆ Zamrock legends make comeback with first album in 40 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Chris Mfula | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Matt Mills McKnight Acquire Licensing RightsLUSAKA, Aug 22 (Reuters) - After nearly four decades in oblivion, the Zambian psychedelic rock band WITCH that mesmerised audiences in the 1970s are back with a new album. Interest for Zamrock rose in the 2010s in the West, thanks to the internet and crate-digging producers as Los Angeles-based Now-Again Records re-released several albums of WITCH and other Zamrock artists. Following their comeback, WITCH - which stands for We Intend To Cause Havoc - are now introducing their new album "Zango" with concerts in the United States and Europe. "It's a fusion of traditional music, African music, funk, blues, jazz - it's a fusion of many genres," Chanda said. "Can this thing grow to a level where when someone comes to Zambia, says where can I listen to Zamrock?

Persons: Matt Mills McKnight, Emmanuel " Jagari, Chanda, Zamrock, Patrick Mwondela, Michael Linyama, Chris Mfula, Catherine Schenck, Matt McKnight, Bhargav Acharya, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Seattle , Washington , U.S, Rights LUSAKA, Zambian, Los Angeles, America, Europe, Lusaka, United States, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Johannesburg, Seattle

SummarySummary Companies Mines minister says agreement with Vedanta Resources imminentVedanta says both parties want to sees mines in productionNAIROBI/LUSAKA, July 5 (Reuters) - Zambia is close to resolving a dispute with Vedanta Resources (VEDJB.UL) over its Konkola Copper Mines, with a deal over the future of the partly state-owned unit "imminent", its mines minister said. KCM has battled to attract investment since relations between Zambia and Vedanta broke down several years ago, culminating in the state's take-over of the KCM assets and forced liquidation in May 2019. The move triggering protracted legal battles, with Vedanta approaching an arbitration court in London to fight off the seizure of the copper assets. "The negotiations are advanced and an announcement is imminent," Zambia's Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe told Reuters. "We are concerned with the levels of deterioration of not only the mines but also socio-fabric of the workers," the spokesperson told Reuters.

Persons: KCM, Vedanta, Paul Kabuswe, Kabuswe, Situmbeko Musokotwane, Hakainde Hichilema, Anil Agarwal, Felix Njini, Chris Mfula, Jan Harvey Organizations: Mines, Vedanta, Vedanta Resources, Zambia's Mines, Reuters, Mining, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, LUSAKA, Zambia, London, Africa's, Nairobi, Lusaka

☆ Zambia's bondholders see debt restructure deal in coming weeks
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, June 27 (Reuters) - Zambia's international bondholders expect to strike a debt restructuring deal with the country "in the coming weeks", a leading member said on Tuesday, a move that would draw a line under the nation's near three-year stint in default. "So I think we (bondholders) can now reach a deal in the coming weeks." Daly said that was something bondholders themselves had called for when restructuring talks became stalled last year over how much debt relief would be required. "The adjustment mechanism provides for an accelerated repayment schedule and higher interest rates if Zambia's debt carrying capacity improves from the current 'weak' classification to 'medium' classification," he said. While China has rejected writing off some of the debt altogether, bondholders could still do that, Daly added.

Persons: Hakainde, Kevin Daly, Daly, Situmbeko Musokotwane, Marc Jones, Chris Mfula, Libby George, Christina Fincher, Ed Osmond, William Maclean Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Zambian Finance, IMF, World Bank, Thomson Locations: China, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Lusaka

☆ The Africans fighting on Russia’s front line in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +18 min

In journeying to Russia, Tarimo was following the route of many young Africans, including future heads of state, since the 1960s. Tarimo also ended up treading the path of a handful of other Africans who took up arms for Wagner in Ukraine. The presidents of South Africa and Zambia are now among a group of African leaders seeking to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. In November last year, his family learned he too had died in Ukraine fighting for Wagner. He said that, like Tarimo, Nyirenda cast his desire to join Wagner as repayment for Soviet and Russian support of African anti-colonial movements.

Persons: Russian Wagner, Nemes, Wagner, ”, Tarimo, “ Nemes, Rehema Kigobe, – Tarimo, Aboya, Claire Amuhaya, Nemes Tarimo, Rehema, “, Vladimir Putin, Chadema, Alexander Shilkin, ” Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Kristian Malundama, Malundama, Tarimo’s, Prigozhin, Lemekani, Christian, didn’t, Will, Nyirenda, Ronald Kalifungwa, Zikonde, –, …, “ I’m, Christopher Kangwa, Tionge, ” Nyirenda, ” Kangwa, Fabrice Organizations: Moscow’s Pushkin Institute, Russian Technological University, Reuters, Friendship University, Soviet Union, National Congress, European Union, United Nations General Assembly, Wagner Group, Central African Republic, Officials, Dar es Salaam, Democratic, Tanzanian, Zambian, Instagram, Research Nuclear University, Baptist, YouTube, ” Reuters, Ivorian Locations: Russian, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Dar es, Tanzania’s, Odradivka, Moscow, IT, Russia, Ukraine, Zambian, Ivory Coast, Soviet, Kenyan, Africa, United States, South Africa, Zambia, Mali, Libya, Central, Tanzania, kwa, Sochi, Tanzanian, Tarimo’s, Yaroslavl region’s, Rybinsk, Democratic Republic of Congo, Yaroslavl, Ukraine’s, Lusaka’s Northmead, China, Lemekani, Tver region’s, Tver’s, Russia’s, Mordovia, Yopougon, Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s, Cocody

☆ Zambia poised for debt restructuring deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, June 22 (Reuters) - A deal on Zambia's debt restructuring is expected to be announced later on Thursday at a Paris summit on easing poor countries' debt burdens, four sources familiar with the matter said. “There has been agreement by creditors on the debt restructuring," one of the sources said. The head of the Paris Club of creditor nations Emmanuel Moulin said on Wednesday that Zambia's creditors were close to being able to propose the terms of a debt restructuring deal at the summit. "On debt restructuring, today we will talk about Zambia which I think is a great case of celebration," IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told a panel at the summit. Zambia is seen as a test case for a 2020 G20 common framework for restructuring poor countries' debt, which has faced much criticism for being two slow.

Persons: Emmanuel Moulin, Kristalina Georgieva, Akinwumi Adesina, Chad, Leigh Thomas, Elizabeth Pineau, Chris Mfula, Susan Fenton Organizations: Paris Club, China, IMF, Development Bank, Thomson Locations: Paris, Zambia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Lusaka

☆ The Zamrock Band Witch Lost All but One Member. Its Singer Carries On.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Jim Farber | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

In the years since Witch first made an impact, younger musicians have been paying attention. Sampa the Great, a 29-year-old Zambian rapper with international reach, said she connected “to the defiance and the edginess” of Witch’s music. “To have traditional music and infuse it with rock, that’s what I do with hip-hop,” she added. She collaborated with Witch on a track from her 2022 album “As Above, So Below” and appears on one of the band’s new songs. “We have the original gear from those records and the same sound engineer,” said Jacco Gardner, the band’s current bassist, who hails from the Netherlands.

Persons: Witch, “, Ahmed Gallab, Witch “, ”, Jacco Gardner, Stefan Lilov, Chanda, headbanging, Jagger, ” Chanda Organizations: Partisan Records, DB Locations: Sudanese American, African, Lusaka, Zambia, Netherlands, Switzerland, Brooklyn

☆ Goldman Prize winner 2023: Zambian who took on a UK mining giant and won
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Chilekwa Mumba Courtesy Goldman Environmental PrizeOn Monday, Mumba, 38, was awarded the 2023 Goldman Environmental Prize for Africa for his work for the community and setting legal precedent. The prize is awarded each year by The Goldman Environmental Foundation, with ceremonies in San Francisco and Washington, DC. CNN has contacted Vedanta and the Zambian state mining company for comments. The government, however, says that approved projects will follow environmental policies set by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA). For Mumba, who now runs an orphanage in the Zambian capital Lusaka with his wife, the battle is far from over.

☆ Thirty years on, Zambia mourns national team killed in plane crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The bulk of the team were experienced internationals, fancied to emerge top of their final round qualifying group and secure a first-ever World Cup final appearance at the 1994 tournament in the United States. Engine failure after takeoff from Libreville caused the plane to crash into the sea, killing all on board including the coaches, support staff and crew. A year after the crash, the team were surprise finalists at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, losing 2-1 to Nigeria. Twenty years after the disaster, Zambia finally won the African title - in Gabon, site of the crash. Just days before the final, players threw flowers into the sea at the beach where the bodies had washed up.

☆ Opinion | Finding the Origin of a Pandemic Is Difficult. Preventing One Shouldn’t Be.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( W. Ian Lipkin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Similarly, in 2008 my team investigated a hemorrhagic fever outbreak with an 80‌‌ percent case fatality rate in Zambia and South Africa. Finding the origin of a viral outbreak can be incredibly difficult, even with full government cooperation and the best available technologies. It’s important to try, because the insights into how a virus emerged may be useful in reducing the risk of future outbreaks. We cannot wait for answers that may never come before doing what must be done to prevent the next pandemic. And yet very little has been done in the wake of this pandemic to better either source of risk.

LONDON, April 21 (Reuters) - Zambia will send its first fully-formed debt restructuring plan to China and other government creditors "very soon" the government's legal advisors said, as it looks to capitalise on fresh momentum seen in high-level talks in recent days. "We are hoping to provide a restructuring proposal to the official creditors (committee) very soon," Melissa Butler at White & Case, the law firm advising Lusaka on the restructuring, told Reuters, adding that meant the "coming weeks". "We want to start talking about concrete proposals about what debt relief would look like." Zambia is hoping for more than $8 billion of debt relief and Hichilema recently warned that if the restructuring was not able to be concluded soon, it would "tarnish" the tough fiscal reform measures the government has been undertaking. Zambia's restructuring has a wider importance too.

☆ Zambia's official creditors expected to sign debt relief MOU in May - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Chris Mfula | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LUSAKA, April 19 (Reuters) - Zambia's official creditors, which include China, are getting closer to signing a memorandum of understanding on debt relief to the country in May, in what would be a key step needed to pave the way for more IMF funding, sources told Reuters. Zambia's external debt amounted to $18.6 billion by end-2022, according to government data, with China being its biggest bilateral creditor. "Agreement was reached on nearly all the issues that were holding back progress and the MoU is likely to be signed next month," a second source said. Modalities of debt relief could come in various forms, for example maturity extensions, grace periods on payments or reduced interest rates. Reporting by Chris Mfula in Lusaka, writing by Karin Strohecker, editing by William MacleanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

LUSAKA, April 12 (Reuters) - Zambia is planning to finish tests that simulate real-world cryptocurrency usage by the end of June to help it create regulations that balance citizens' safety with innovation, science and technology minister Felix Mutati told Reuters. The southern African country also needs digital infrastructure, including digital identities, before cryptocurrencies can be introduced, Mutati said in an interview on Wednesday. "Our main goal in the area of cryptocurrency is to strike a balance between innovation in terms of digital payments ... against citizens' safety, particularly given that cryptocurrency is very volatile," Mutati said. "What we are seeing is increased appetite to invest in Zambia," Mutati said, when asked whether any investments under his purview had been delayed, suspended or cancelled due to Zambia's long-delayed debt restructuring. Mutati said the way Chinese loans were contracted during his tenure as finance minister between 2016 and 2018 depended on the project.

☆ Debt Standoff Between China and U.S. Hurts Poor Countries, Zambia’s President Warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Gabriele Steinhauser | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

LUSAKA, Zambia—Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said China and the U.S. have a responsibility to set aside their differences and help countries such as his get the debt relief they need to avoid further damage to their economies. With finance officials from around the world gathering in Washington this week for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank biannual meetings, Mr. Hichilema’s country is emerging as a focal point of discussions on how to restructure poor nations’ debts. U.S. officials have criticized China, now the biggest government lender to the developing world, for failing to write down loans if borrowing countries such as Zambia run into trouble.

LUSAKA, April 6 (Reuters) - Zambia is being "punished" for a failure to complete debt restructuring that is not its fault, but its two main creditors, China and international bondholders, both want a resolution, the country's finance minister told Reuters. Zambia was the first African country to default in 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic battered the global economy. Many Western officials have blamed delays in agreeing the debt relief on the largest bilateral creditor, China, something it denies. "The Chinese are asking questions, the bondholders are also asking questions ... but constructive questions, so that's no problem," Musokotwane said. Bondholders say they want a resolution to this, the Chinese say they want a resolution to this."

WASHINGTON, March 24 (Reuters) - Vice President Kamala Harris starts a weeklong trip to Africa this weekend as the United States seeks to pitch itself as a better partner than China, which has invested heavily in the continent over several decades. Harris will discuss China's engagement in technology and economic issues in Africa that concern the United States, as well as China's involvement in debt restructuring, senior U.S. officials said. The White House hosted an Africa Leaders Summit in December, and President Joe Biden is expected to travel to Africa this year. "The Vice President is very much looking forward to returning to Lusaka, which is a part of her family's story and a source of pride," one of the officials said. Harris will also meet with young leaders and business representatives and discuss topics such as climate change and food insecurity.

[1/2] Drivers push auto rickshaws in a line to buy petrol from a fuel station amid Sri Lanka's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 29, 2022. Regional rivals China and India are the biggest bilateral lenders to Sri Lanka, a country of 22 million people that is facing its worst economic crisis in seven decades. At the end of 2020, China EximBank had loaned Sri Lanka $2.83 billion which is 3.5% of the island's debt, according to an IMF report released in March last year. "The bank will support Sri Lanka in your application for the IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) to help relieve the liquidity strain," China's letter said. DEBT SUSTAINABILITYIn a letter directly addressed to the IMF, India said last week that the financing or debt relief provided by Export-Import Bank of India would be consistent with restoring debt sustainability under the IMF-supported program.

☆ Yellen urges Zambia debt restructure after talks with China
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/6] U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen signs a guest book at the State House during her visit, in Lusaka, Zambia, January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Namukolo SiyumbwaLUSAKA, Jan 23 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Monday during a visit to Zambia that it was critically important to restructure the country's debt, and she believes progress could be made after her frank talks with key creditor China last week. Yellen added that Zambia's debt overhang was a drag on its whole economy and that China had been a barrier to resolving the southern African country's debt problem. "I specifically raised the issue with Zambia (with Chinese officials) and asked for their cooperation in trying to reach a speedy resolution. "We will continue to press for all official bilateral and private-sector creditors to meaningfully participate in debt relief for Zambia, especially China," she said.

As Africa struggles with economic headwinds caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and, notably, Washington's own monetary policy, Africans are asking for proof the United States will stay the course this time. African countries have become collateral victims of this year's rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve, aimed at curbing inflation at home. African countries are also finding it harder to access capital markets to meet their fiscal needs and refinance maturing debt. The United States, meanwhile, has largely failed to offer viable alternatives to cheap Chinese credit, officials said. One senior U.S. Treasury official said the United States had long been engaged in Africa, funding anti-HIV work and working on other health issues.

☆ IMF chief: it's time for creditors to restructure Zambia debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LUSAKA, Jan 24 (Reuters) - International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Tuesday during a visit to Zambia that it was the time for the southern African country's creditors to restructure its debt as it was doing its part by implementing economic reforms. Zambia defaulted on its sovereign debt in 2020, becoming the first African country to do so during the COVID-19 pandemic. Georgieva has pushed hard for quicker movement on debt relief for countries like Zambia. On Monday at a meeting with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema she commended his government for moving away from wasteful expenditure and said the IMF would like to work with Zambia to boost its economic growth. Reporting by Chris Mfula; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo and Alexander WinningOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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