AGP Executive Report

UPND nomination flashpoint: Violence erupted in Mazabuka as former minister Gary Nkombo tried to file nomination papers as an independent, with reports of clashes and shirt-tearing—an early sign of election-season fractures inside the ruling party ahead of August 13. Security push regionally: Nigeria’s air force reported strikes that destroyed terrorist hideouts and logistics hubs in the north-east, as governments press for coordinated counter-terrorism. Water and climate signals: Lake Kariba’s levels are rising again after drought-hit lows, bringing renewed hope for communities and power supply, while floods elsewhere underline how fast conditions can turn. Regional cooperation: COMESA and the EU held talks in Lusaka to deepen work on integration, peace, and sustainable development—aiming to protect trade corridors and stability. Health and TB focus: India used the World Health Assembly to spotlight lung health screening and TB elimination, with Zambia co-hosting—linking public health to early action.

Lake Kariba Water Turnaround: After months of drought pressure, Lake Kariba’s levels have been steadily rising since March 2026, lifting hopes for communities and wildlife that depend on the lake’s ecosystem and hydro power. Climate & Food Resilience: AGRA rolled out ClimVAT in Kenya, a satellite-backed tool that helps planners pinpoint where climate risk is highest and why—so smallholder farmers can get targeted support. Home-Grown School Meals: Zambia and Madagascar are on a Korea study tour to strengthen school feeding, with Zambia aiming to improve nutrition, learning outcomes, and local farm demand. Election Peace Push: A freedom fighter urged Zambians to uphold “One Zambia One Nation” as campaigns near, while President Hichilema again warned law enforcement to stay alert and apply the law fairly. Critical Minerals Power Shift: The EU says the race for lithium, cobalt and graphite is really about power over extraction and supply chains. Health Supply Chain Digital Leap: UNDP Zambia and India are supporting adaptation of India’s eVIN platform for Zambia’s essential medicines tracking. Rockefeller Funding Signal: The Rockefeller Foundation says it awarded $350m+ in 2025, mobilising $3bn and reaching 731m people, with a strong focus on energy, food systems and health.

Rockefeller Foundation shift: In its 2025 “Big Bets, Real Results” report, the Rockefeller Foundation says it is moving from donor dependency to African-led solutions, awarding US$350m+ in grants, mobilising US$3bn, and reaching an estimated 731 million people—with major focus on energy, food systems and health. Election security & media: As Zambia heads into the August 13 polls, President Hichilema has told law enforcement to stay on high alert and apply the law fairly to everyone, while media groups warn the campaign could test journalists’ freedom despite improvements since 2021. Health supply chain upgrade: UNDP Zambia and UNDP India are supporting Zambia to adapt India’s eVIN platform for essential medicines “track and trace,” aiming to boost visibility and accountability in the health system. Road funding squeeze: Zimbabwe’s Bulawayo–Victoria Falls highway rehab is slowing due to Treasury constraints, keeping pressure on a key tourism corridor. Housing stress globally: A UN report says about 40% of the world’s population is affected by the housing crisis.

Election Season Security: President Hakainde Hichilema has told law enforcement to stay on high alert before, during and after the August 13 polls, warning that anyone threatening peace, unity, public order or national security will face the law “regardless of political affiliation.” Opposition Moves: Harry Kalaba has filed presidential nomination papers for the August 2026 election, while the Miles Sampa PF faction has signalled a shift by withdrawing from the presidential race to focus on other seats. Campaign Integrity: ECZ is running presidential filings at Mulungushi, and uniformed staff in Mpika have been urged to act professionally to protect voters’ confidence. Media Freedom Watch: Rights groups say Zambia’s media is “more open, but still fragile,” with concerns that state media access could tilt coverage during the campaign. Health & Digital Systems: UNDP Zambia and UNDP India have started work to adapt India’s eVIN medicine-tracking platform for Zambia’s essential medicines supply chain. Trade & Governance: Zambia launched a Japan-funded UNODC project to boost transparency and responsible business along the Lobito Corridor.

Digital Health Push: UNDP Zambia and UNDP India have started a five-day mission in Lusaka to adapt India’s eVIN platform for Zambia’s essential medicines, including Track & Trace—aimed at better stock visibility, temperature monitoring, and accountability in the health supply chain. Election Security & Neutrality: President Hakainde Hichilema’s latest warning to keep security agencies on high alert before, during and after campaigns has sparked mixed political reaction, with emphasis that the law will apply to everyone, even within his own party. Opposition Turbulence: The PF Miles Sampa faction’s withdrawal from the presidential race is reshaping alliance talks and raising fresh questions about opposition unity ahead of August 13. Media Freedom Under Pressure: Journalists’ ability to report freely during the campaign is under scrutiny, as advocates cite unequal access to public media and ongoing financial and political pressure on editorial independence. Health & Aid Funding: The Rockefeller Foundation says it awarded $350m+ in 2025 and mobilised extra support amid a historic decline in global aid, with health and disease surveillance among priorities. Governance on the Ground: In Mpika, electoral officials urged uniformed staff to stay professional and protect voters’ confidence as nominations approach.

Elections & Media Freedom: As Zambia’s campaign period heats up for the Aug 13, 2026 vote, media rights groups warn democratic progress will be tested by whether journalists can report freely—citing unequal access to state media, plus financial and political pressure that still makes the environment “more open, but still fragile.” Security & Peace Pledge: President Hichilema says security agencies are on high alert and urges issue-based campaigning, promising uninterrupted public services even as Cabinet and Parliament are dissolved. Health at WHA79: Zambia highlights WHO-backed gains in disease prevention, maternal and child health, digital health, and emergency readiness at WHA79 in Geneva. Anti-Corruption on the Lobito Corridor: Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha launches a UNODC project to boost trade facilitation and responsible business along the Lobito Corridor, backed by Japan. Wildlife Policy Update: Stakeholders meet to update Zambia’s wildlife governance legal hub, aiming to keep laws inclusive and effective as pressures grow. Debt Deal: Zambia and Israel sign an amendment restructuring about $460m of debt through 2043 to ease service pressure and restore fiscal space.

Election Security Push: President Hakainde Hichilema has ordered Zambia’s security agencies to stay on high alert as the official campaign period begins, warning that any act threatening peace, unity, public order or national security will be met with firm, fair action. Peaceful Polls Messaging: He also urged issue-based campaigning, cleaner rhetoric, and uninterrupted public services as nominations move the country into a critical week ahead of the Aug. 13 vote. Debt Deal With Israel: Zambia and Israel signed an amendment to restructure about US$460m in debt, extending repayment arrangements to 2043 to ease debt-service pressure and free up fiscal space. Public Health Alarm: In Choma, the suspected illicit-beer poisoning death toll has climbed to 16, with 29 suspected cases recorded and surveillance and enforcement stepped up. Community Climate Governance: Stakeholders met to update Zambia’s wildlife policy legal hub, aiming to strengthen laws and public engagement as conservation pressures rise.

Elections & mining focus: Zambia heads to the polls on August 13, with miners watching whether Hakainde Hichilema’s pro-investment push stays on track—his government has put mining modernisation front and centre, aiming to scale copper output from about 640,000 tonnes toward 3Mtpa by the early 2030s, while new projects like Kobold Metals’ US$2.2bn Mingomba underline the momentum. Energy & climate policy: At a Nairobi forum on methane and climate action, Zambia’s community-owned solar-by-constituency model was pitched as a practical way to cut energy poverty while meeting climate goals. Gender in candidate lists: The NGOCC is urging parties to adopt women in winnable seats, warning against token placements and promising to monitor adoption by constituency and party. Health spotlight: A Commonwealth report highlights progress toward cervical cancer elimination, including vaccination, screening and treatment approaches. Water & wildlife pressures: Community radio in eastern Zambia is helping farmers cope with human-wildlife conflict using satellite-based early warnings, as drought impacts and water insecurity remain a live risk.

Health: A new Commonwealth report spotlights how countries are pushing toward cervical cancer elimination, focusing on HPV vaccination, screening, treatment and care—even as budgets tighten. Energy & Climate Policy: Zambia is being cited as a practical model for tackling energy poverty while pursuing climate goals, with a push for community-owned solar plants in every constituency to turn local areas into energy hubs. Elections & Governance: With Zambia’s 2026 race heating up, ECZ has been adjusting nomination timelines and officials are urging candidates to keep campaigns peaceful and orderly. Health Systems & Finance: The IMF says talks on a new Zambia support programme are progressing, with negotiations expected to resume after the August election. Water & Resilience: A study on drought-hit informal settlements highlights how gaps in water, sanitation and city planning leave communities exposed. Wildlife & Farmers: In Eastern Province, community radio and satellite alerts are helping residents manage human-wildlife conflict.

Energy-Climate Policy in Focus: Zambia is being cited as a practical model for tackling energy poverty while pursuing climate goals, with lawmakers in Nairobi hearing about the Presidential Constituency Energy Initiative—community-owned 2MW solar plants in every constituency that can feed the national grid and fund local development. Local Governance & Resilience: The same push for “real-world” solutions echoes in Zambia’s climate and public health gaps, from calls to include informal settlements in resilience planning after drought impacts to ongoing efforts to protect communities from wildlife risks using community radio and satellite alerts. Election-Period Stability: As Zambia moves deeper into election mode, officials are urging professionalism and peace to keep law and order intact. Regional Diplomacy: Outside Zambia, India is hosting the 2026 India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi, aiming to turn political and economic ties into new cooperation areas. Energy Security on the Ground: Parliament has commissioned a 1MW solar PV plant to reduce grid dependence—another sign that solar is becoming part of institutional continuity, not just a climate talking point.

IMF Talks Move Ahead: The IMF says discussions on a new Zambia support programme are progressing, with negotiations set to resume after the August general election—aimed at protecting social and priority spending while keeping reforms on track. Debt Relief Boost: Zambia and Israel signed a US$460m debt restructuring deal running to 2043, easing debt-service pressure and freeing fiscal space for infrastructure and social programmes. Election-Season Governance: ECZ reaffirmed it will run a credible process before, during and after polls, while Home Affairs Minister Jack Mwiimbu urged professionalism and law-and-order as campaigning approaches. Energy & Resilience: Parliament commissioned a 1MW solar PV plant to cut grid dependence and improve continuity. Food Security Pressure: The week’s coverage keeps circling the same risk—global fuel and fertiliser shocks tied to the Strait of Hormuz—raising alarms for farmers and planting decisions. Digital Momentum: Tech and digital stories also stayed in focus, including Zambia’s push to connect remote communities and power services through digital links.

Clean Energy Push at Africa Forward Summit: Nairobi hosted a major clean-energy and infrastructure push, with 40 firms announcing about €27bn (plus plans for €100bn revenue) across roughly 30 projects—energy led with ~€14bn, while agriculture, finance, AI, industrialisation and the blue economy also featured. AGOA Trade Rules Under Fire: In Washington, Public Citizen and partners urged the USTR to update AGOA eligibility to include strong labour, environmental and human-rights standards, warning against “trade over aid” and carve-outs for corporate interests and critical minerals. Human-Wildlife Coexistence Gets Tech Boost: In Eastern Province, community radio (Chikaya FM) plus satellite alerts are helping farmers manage dangerous wildlife—after recent hyena deaths of children—by sharing practical safety guidance. Election Credibility Focus: ECZ says it will protect candidates and agents during nominations and polls, while Milenge’s electoral officer calls for peaceful campaigns. Zambia’s Climate Implementation: Government validated its NDC implementation support, flagging gaps in coordination, capacity and climate data use. Energy Security Moves: Parliament commissioned a 1MW solar PV plant to cut grid dependence. Food-Fuel-Fertiliser Pressure: Coverage links the Strait of Hormuz crisis to rising fuel and fertiliser costs, warning of a coming food shock for Africa’s farmers.

Election Shockwave: Zambia’s Parliament has dissolved and the clock is ticking to August 13, with nominations set for May 18–19—while opposition politics just got reshuffled as Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu merged their presidential efforts, immediately exposing fractures inside the PF and raising legal questions over symbols ahead of nominations. ECZ Credibility Push: President Hichilema swore in new ECZ leadership and urged a peaceful, credible vote—framing elections as a choice, not a contest of hatred. Mining & Power Reality Check: First Quantum published its 2025 sustainability reports and pledged tailings alignment to the Global Industry Standard by 2030, as Zambia’s mining firms lean harder on solar to stabilise electricity for copper output. Climate Governance: Government validated its climate strategy under an EU-backed push to close NDC implementation gaps—coordination, capacity, and data still lag. Food & Flood Relief: Saudi Arabia donated palm dates for flood victims, while communities in Mpika report river pollution linked to mining. Agriculture Partnership: Zambia and Paraguay are exploring livestock, irrigation, mechanisation and agro-processing cooperation to boost rural livelihoods.

Climate Implementation Push: Zambia’s Ministry of Green Economy and Environment has validated its climate strategy work to close gaps in NDC delivery, flagging weak coordination, limited technical capacity, and climate data problems—plus the fact that climate issues still aren’t fully built into planning and budgeting. Education Access: FAWEZA is giving failing Grade 12 learners a second chance through a GCE remedial programme, aiming to keep girls in school and reduce the pull of early pregnancy and early marriage. Public Health Policy: Zambia’s Tobacco Control Bill (No. 40 of 2025) has cleared Parliament’s third reading, with TJNA and CTPD praising the move to curb advertising, protect smoke-free spaces, and tighten rules around tobacco industry engagement. Elections & Governance: President Hichilema swore in new ECZ leadership and urged peaceful, credible polls—while MUZ also called for calm campaigns. Disaster Relief: DMMU directed district offices to distribute Saudi-donated palm dates to flood-affected communities. Energy for Industry: CEC says solar expansion like Itimpi Two is helping stabilize power for mining as Zambia targets 3 million tonnes of copper.

Mining Ownership Shift: Cementation Africa has moved out of Murray & Roberts and business rescue into a new chapter under Differential Capital, aiming to refocus on underground contracting as mining investment picks up. Energy & Power Security: Copperbelt Energy Corporation says solar is starting to stabilise mine power supply, pointing to the Itimpi Two Solar Plant as Zambia pushes toward far higher electricity needs. Digital Governance: Zambia’s digital ID ecosystem is getting spotlight at id4Africa 2026, with officials stressing a unified, government-wide approach rather than scattered identity pilots. Macroeconomic Signal: Bank of Zambia’s reserves hit a historic US$6.5bn high, while the monetary policy rate was cut to 13.25% as inflation eases. Flood Relief: Saudi Arabia donated 25 tonnes of palm dates to support flood-affected households. Elections & Peace: The Mineworkers Union of Zambia urged peaceful campaigns ahead of August polls. Environment & Science: A new study adds to signs that Zambia’s Kafue Rift may be forming a new tectonic boundary.

Food & Fertilizer Shock: Farmers across Africa are bracing for a food crisis as fertilizer and fuel flows are disrupted by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with Malawi flagged as a worst-case example where small markets may struggle to get supplies. Zambia Macro: The Bank of Zambia cut the monetary policy rate to 13.25%, citing a steadier kwacha and easing inflation (down to around 6.8% in April) alongside hopes for a bumper maize harvest. Water & Health: Zambia’s water push is highlighted through major projects and new boreholes, while a fresh focus on maternal deaths underlines how transport, staffing, and clinic supplies can decide life or death. Energy & Climate Tech: France-Africa summit announcements include big clean-energy commitments, and in the region Eskom-linked gravity storage is moving from concept toward deployment—while Zambia’s Itimpi Phase II solar plant has come online. Wildlife Coexistence: Eastern Zambia communities are adapting as elephants return, shifting conflict into coexistence. Science Watch: New research points to a possible emerging tectonic boundary in Zambia’s Kafue Rift.