AGP Executive Report

Aviation Carbon & Climate Policy: Zimbabwe has joined IATA’s CORSIA push, joining countries including Zambia to secure eligible carbon units for airlines—participation becomes mandatory for many states from 2027, but a shortage of tradable credits is already a concern. El Niño Risk for Food Systems: The World Meteorological Organization warns El Niño is intensifying, with droughts, floods and extreme heat likely to hit agriculture and drive up global food and commodity prices—raising stakes for Southern Africa’s farming season planning. Zambia Election Tensions Turn Deadly: Former Zambian minister Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot dead during a security raid linked to opposition leader Brian Mundubile, with 11 arrests and competing claims of “insurgency” versus political targeting—another reminder that instability can derail public trust and recovery. Public Health Coordination Goes Digital: CIDRZ and partners launched ZEBRA, a digital platform to help Zambia’s outbreak teams coordinate responses more efficiently and reduce paper-based delays. Biodiversity & Water Security: A new study says Angola’s peatlands are at least four times larger than thought, storing carbon and regulating water flow that supports rivers including the Zambezi. Agriculture Inputs Under El Niño: Malawi is urged to redesign farm input subsidies by agro-ecological zone, and Zambia is highlighted as having northern production opportunities to offset southern rainfall risks.

Zambia Election Aftershocks: President Hakainde Hichilema has won a second term with about 60% of the vote, but the vote was marred by violence, ballot box theft claims, and arrests of opposition figures—raising fresh concerns about democratic freedoms and how results were handled. Lake Kariba Disaster: On the Zambia–Zimbabwe border, a capsized, overloaded ferry on Lake Kariba has pushed the death toll to 94, with investigations pointing to negligence and human error after weather warnings. El Niño Farming Fixes: Malawi is urging a rethink of farm input subsidies ahead of El Niño, recommending different support for northern versus southern zones—an approach that also flags opportunities for Zambia’s northern regions. Climate Health Watch: A new study warns climate change could shift childhood malaria hotspots across sub-Saharan Africa, potentially increasing risk in cooler highlands. Digital Outbreak Response: Zambia’s CIDRZ and partners are rolling out ZEBRA, a digital platform to coordinate infectious disease response and reduce paper-based delays. Green Jobs & E-Waste: Zambia, Japan and ILO are backing a sustainable e-waste management project aimed at creating green jobs while protecting the environment. Wildlife Tourism Update: King Lewanika Lodge in Liuwa Plain National Park has reopened after refurbishment, adding solar power and new visitor facilities.

Zambia Election Aftershocks: Hakainde Hichilema has been declared re-elected with about 60% of the vote, beating Brian Mundubile (~38%), but the win comes amid opposition claims of irregularities, violence at polling stations, and arrests during a “militia activity” raid—raising concerns about how stable governance can support environmental and public service delivery. Public Health Tech for Outbreaks: CIDRZ and partners launched ZEBRA, a digital platform to coordinate infectious disease response across Zambia, with a Kafue user-testing workshop aimed at making outbreak management more paperless and faster. Wildlife Tourism in Liuwa Plain: King Lewanika Lodge in Liuwa Plain National Park reopened after refurbishment by Ker & Downey Zambia, adding solar power, new game vehicles, and migration sleepouts—boosting conservation-linked tourism. Climate and Health Research: A Nature study warns climate change could shift childhood malaria hotspots across sub-Saharan Africa, potentially increasing risk in cooler highland areas. Regional Climate Land Focus: COP17 on desertification opened in Mongolia under “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope,” highlighting drought resilience and sustainable land management.

Lake Kariba Ferry Disaster: Zimbabwe police say the death toll from the Lake Kariba ferry capsizing has climbed to 94, with investigations pointing to possible overloading, navigational decisions and whether weather advisories were followed; authorities say the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency vessel “Mbuya Nehanda” carried about 180 passengers and goods, far above capacity, as recovery continues on the border lake. Zambia Election Under Scrutiny: A democracy expert warns Zambia’s 13 August election may have been flawed, citing unusual vote discrepancies between presidential and parliamentary results in some constituencies, while reports also highlight arrests tied to alleged “militia activity” and concerns over restrictions and the vote-counting process. Energy Transition Finance: The African Development Bank names Zambia among 13 priority markets for a proposed $200m African energy transition fund aimed at renewables, battery storage and grid upgrades, with investments planned across the continent. Regional Industrial Push: At the SADC summit in Durban, leaders renewed calls for regional integration and industrialisation, with the UN Economic Commission for Africa urging SADC to turn mineral and farm wealth into processing, value chains and jobs. E-Waste & Green Jobs: Zambia, Japan and the ILO launch a sustainable e-waste management project aimed at creating green jobs while protecting the environment.

Zambia Election & Investor Outlook: President Hakainde Hichilema won a second term with about 60% of the vote, beating Brian Mundubile’s roughly 38%, after a tense poll that saw counting suspended and resumed under security concerns—investors are reading this as policy continuity, with a new IMF programme likely to be the next big test for turning stabilisation into growth. SADC Industrial Push: At the SADC summit in Durban, leaders renewed calls for faster regional integration and industrialisation, with UN Economic Commission for Africa urging SADC to process minerals and farm produce into higher-value goods and regional value chains. Energy Transition Funding: The African Development Bank’s $200m African Energy Transition Fund (ATAF) lists Zambia among priority markets, targeting renewable power and battery energy storage investments across the region. Lake Kariba Disaster Update: Police released more names of victims from the ferry capsizing on Lake Kariba, bringing positively identified deaths to 83, with families still waiting as unidentified bodies remain. Climate-Smart Food Security: Zambia recorded a record maize harvest of about 4.9 million tonnes, driven by expanded planting and above-average rainfall, with forecasts pointing to El Niño risks ahead. Renewables for Resilience: A Zambia-Japan-ILO sustainable e-waste management project is set to create green jobs while protecting the environment.

Zambia Election Results: Zambia’s Electoral Commission has declared President Hakainde Hichilema re-elected for a second five-year term, winning 61.4% of the vote (2,965,326) against Brian Mundubile’s 38% (1,856,217), after a vote-counting pause and renewed security amid claims of attacks and stolen ballot papers. EU Election Watch: The EU Election Observation Mission says polling was calm overall, but highlights delays, overcrowding, and barriers to participation, especially for women and persons with disabilities, while noting late legal changes distorted the playing field. Energy Sector Approvals: Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board approved 23 licences and 20 construction permits worth about ZMW 18.4 billion for electricity, renewable energy and downstream petroleum, including utility-scale solar projects and petroleum retail stations. Lusaka Forest Under Pressure: A report spotlights ongoing illegal tree cutting in Lusaka East Forest Reserve 27, warning it undermines water catchment functions and livelihoods downstream. Lake Kariba Disaster: Recovery efforts continue on the Zimbabwe-Zambia Lake Kariba ferry tragedy, with the death toll reported rising to 92 as questions remain over passenger numbers and safety capacity.

Lake Kariba Disaster: Recovery teams on Lake Kariba have pulled more bodies from the Mbuya Nehanda ferry tragedy, pushing the confirmed death toll to 84, with authorities still trying to reconcile how many people were aboard versus the vessel’s approved capacity—raising fresh safety and accountability questions for the shared waterway. Lusaka Forest Reserve Under Pressure: A new report spotlights ongoing illegal tree cutting in Lusaka East Forest Reserve 27 (FR27), warning that the loss of forest cover is not just an environmental issue but a direct threat to Lusaka’s water catchment and downstream livelihoods. Zambia–China AI Talks: Zambia and China opened talks on deeper AI cooperation, but Zambian officials set clear sovereignty conditions—calling for locally tailored approaches, ethical alignment, and data governance that fits Zambia’s context. Energy Licensing Boost: Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board approved 23 licences and 20 construction permits worth about ZMW 18.4 billion for electricity, renewables and downstream petroleum projects, including solar and fuel-retail infrastructure. Election Integrity Concerns: EU observers flagged delays, overcrowding and barriers to participation in Zambia’s election, while Catholic bishops raised alarm over the suspension of vote tallying and the role of security agencies—alongside warnings about misinformation, including a fake EU statement circulating online.

Zambia Election Integrity Under Scrutiny: Zambia’s presidential vote count continues with Hakainde Hichilema leading after more constituencies, but tensions remain high as opposition candidate Makebi Zulu alleges irregularities and demands polling-station by polling-station reconciliation using original Gen-20 forms. Church Watchdog: The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops says the ECZ’s suspension of tallying and concerns over ballot custody by security personnel could erode public confidence. Misinformation Alert: The EU Election Observation Mission warns of a fake “official” document circulating online about Gen-20 verification, urging people to verify before sharing. State Resources Allegations: EU observers also accuse the ruling UPND of misusing state resources during campaigns. Lake Kariba Disaster: On the environment-and-safety front, recovery from Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba ferry tragedy keeps rising, with reports putting the death toll at 80 as search teams expand across the lake and into waters near Zambia. Green Jobs via E-Waste: Zambia, Japan and the ILO launch a sustainable e-waste management project aimed at creating green jobs while protecting the environment.

Lake Kariba Disaster: Zimbabwe authorities recovered 22 more bodies on Saturday, pushing the ferry capsizing death toll to 68, with search teams still working as officials say the overloaded boat was authorised for 90 but carried far more. Lake Kariba Update: Another 25 bodies were later recovered, raising the toll to 72, while survivors are recorded at 77 and several victims remain unaccounted for. Regional Cooperation on Water Search: Zimbabwe is calling for expanded search access into Zambian waters, underscoring cross-border coordination needs for future lake safety and rescue. E-Waste & Jobs: Zambia, Japan and the ILO launched a Japan-funded Sustainable E-Waste Management for Youth Employment project in Central Province, aiming to cut environmental harm while creating green jobs and circular-economy enterprises for youth, women and persons with disabilities. Elections & Civic Space: International observers warned Zambia’s election credibility is at risk amid intimidation claims, ballot theft and a temporary halt in counting, while EU and civil society groups also raised concerns about misuse of state resources and the legal basis for suspending results tabulation. Batoka Gorge Procurement: Batoka Gorge is moving toward formal procurement, with Zambia and Zimbabwe committing public equity to accelerate implementation of the 2,400MW hydropower project.

E-Waste & Jobs: Zambia, Japan and the ILO launched a Japan-funded Sustainable E-Waste Management for Youth Employment Project in Central Province, aiming to cut environmental harm while creating green jobs for youth, women and persons with disabilities through circular-economy skills and green enterprise support. Lake Kariba Disaster: Zimbabwe police say the Lake Kariba ferry capsizing death toll has climbed to 72 after recovering 25 more bodies, with rescue teams still searching for the missing after the overloaded RIDA vessel overturned in rough waters on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border. Election Environment & Rights: EU observers say Zambia’s 2026 election campaign was an uneven playing field, citing misuse of state resources by the ruling UPND; meanwhile CSOs are alarmed by the ECZ’s suspension of nationwide tallying and are demanding a clear legal explanation. Wildlife Awareness: A new Pan-African TV series, “Wild Africa,” premieres on Channels Television, spotlighting conservation heroes and endangered wildlife to push protection of wild spaces across the continent.

Zambia Carbon Market: Zambia launched a national carbon registry on 7 August to record and monitor carbon-market activity, aiming to improve transparency, cut double-counting risk, and unlock climate finance for projects like forestry, conservation, clean cooking, renewable energy and waste management. Election Security: Zambia’s Electoral Commission suspended nationwide vote counting after reports of attacks on polling staff and theft of marked ballot papers, then resumed counting after saying the security threat was contained—leaving results still tightly watched. Wildlife & Conservation Media: The Pan-African series “Wild Africa” premieres on Channels Television (Aug 15), spotlighting conservation heroes and endangered wildlife to raise awareness across African audiences. Aviation Leadership: Zambia Airways appointed Ethiopian executive Aman Wole Gurmu as CEO (took office Aug 1) to strengthen operations, expand routes and improve customer experience. Energy Reliability (Region): Eskom reiterated its push for a more reliable power system while acknowledging ongoing outages affecting households and essential services. SADC Election Observers: The ECF-SADC observer mission extended its Zambia election mandate to Aug 19 to keep monitoring tallying and the post-election environment.

Zambia Election Update: The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) resumed vote counting after a nationwide halt triggered by reports of attacks on polling staff and theft of marked ballot papers, with the first batch of results expected late Friday; tensions remain high as parties await official presidential figures. Carbon Markets Push: Zambia launched a national carbon registry on 7 August to improve carbon accounting and transparency, aiming to unlock climate finance for projects like forestry, renewable energy, clean cooking, and waste management. Wildlife & Media Spotlight: Wild Africa unveiled a new TV series on Nigeria’s endangered species efforts, using conservation storytelling to raise awareness across Africa. Regional Climate Pressure: Europe is battling multiple wildfires amid record heat, with reports linking extreme conditions to climate change—an urgent reminder for Southern Africa’s own fire and drought risks. Food Security Angle: Malawi’s maize market is under pressure from cheaper Zambian supplies, while experts warn that extreme weather and rising costs are squeezing smallholder productivity.

Zambia Carbon Market Push: Zambia launched its national carbon registry on 7 August 2026, aiming to improve carbon accounting, transparency and readiness for Article 6 climate trading—potentially unlocking finance for forestry, clean energy, conservation and waste projects. Election Security Hits Counting: Zambia’s electoral commission suspended nationwide vote counting after alleged attacks on polling staff and theft of marked ballots, promising a review within 24 hours as the country waits for official results. Food Pressure in the Region: Malawi’s maize market is squeezed by cheaper Zambian supplies, with Zambia’s higher production and export room putting price pressure on Malawi’s smaller harvest—amid warnings that extreme weather and rising costs are hurting smallholders. Ocean Minerals Debate: Mauritius, Mozambique and the Republic of the Congo joined a growing African push for a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining, arguing for stronger science and ocean protection as critical-mineral races intensify. Wildlife Under Climate Stress: A study warns that climate-driven drier conditions inside protected areas could push elephants toward farms, likely worsening human-elephant conflict across Southern Africa, including Zambia. Mining Pollution Fallout: Residents and civil society say a 2025 tailings dam failure on the Copperbelt released toxic waste into the Kafue River system, with ongoing impacts on soils, water and wildlife. Circular Economy Funding: A Southern Africa circular innovation challenge is offering R250,000 plus mentorship for waste-reducing, regenerative business prototypes, with Zambia among eligible countries.

Mining pollution legacy: A 2025 tailings dam failure at Sino-Metals Leach in Zambia’s Copperbelt still haunts communities, with a new assessment linking toxic releases (arsenic, lead, zinc) into the Kafue River system to wildlife deaths and contaminated soils and water. Election day, with environmental stakes in the background: As Zambia votes, reports point to logistical delays at some stations and generally peaceful polling, while political tensions and calls for transparency continue to draw international attention. Natural capital funding: The African Development Fund approved a grant (about US$4.23m) to help integrate natural capital into development decisions across 13 countries including Zambia, running from Oct 2026 to Sept 2029. Biodiversity and climate pressure: A study warns that population growth, expanding farms and drier conditions inside protected areas could intensify elephant crop-raiding conflicts across Southern Africa, including Zambia. Regional agriculture support: COMESA launched the COMESA Seed Information System and seed labelling in Lusaka to cut seed trade barriers and improve access to certified seed for climate-resilient farming. Clean energy lessons from the region: A South African school’s biogas project uses cattle dung to cut firewood use and emissions, offering a practical model for rural energy and forest protection.

Mining & Water Safety: A new study says a 2025 tailings dam failure at Sino-Metals Leach in Chambishi released toxic arsenic, lead and zinc into the Kafue River system, with ongoing wildlife deaths and contaminated soils still affecting communities. Election Day Tensions: As Zambia votes, U.S. senators and other regional voices are urging peaceful, fair polls amid reports of intimidation and arrests, including claims of a raid on a campaign media centre. Voter Snapshot: Southern Province is seeing lower turnout with shorter queues, while Lusaka reports heavy early voting and orderly lines. EU Scrutiny: European observers are monitoring the process for transparency and inclusiveness. Clean Energy Push: Zambia is highlighted for commissioning its first solar-hydro hybrid plant as Africa scales renewable power. Regional Disaster Watch: Lake Kariba’s ferry capsize in Zimbabwe—linked to overcrowding and rough weather—has killed at least 44, underscoring safety and enforcement needs across shared waters.

Lake Kariba Ferry Disaster: Tragedy struck across the Zambia–Zimbabwe border as an overcrowded RIDA ferry on Lake Kariba capsized in rough weather, with the death toll rising to 44 and 77 survivors pulled from the water; police say the vessel’s capacity was 90 but ticket records showed 114 adults plus an unknown number of children, while authorities warn the number of casualties could still climb as search teams continue. Election Pressure and Peace Calls: As Zambia heads to the 13 August polls, U.S. senators urged Zambia to hold peaceful, free and fair elections, while SADC’s Peter Mutharika called for tolerance and credibility; locally, Catholic candlelight prayers for peace drew controversy over symbolism. Governance and Environment Link: With the campaign spotlight on economic recovery and governance, regional leaders also warned Southern Africa must invest in resilience and cooperation—an issue that matters for climate shocks, water, and disaster preparedness.