Zambia

Schools in Zambia reopened for the first time this year, after several five-week delays after the Christmas holidays following an ongoing cholera epidemic in the country

The country aims to produce 3 million tonnes of copper per year within a decade, up from the current 830.000 tonnes, said the Minister of Mines and Mining Development

The reopening of schools has been further postponed to 12 February 2024, a decision that follows advice of Council of Ministers for National Disaster Management and Mitigation; calendar for schools and institutes has been changed to make up for lost time

Health authorities recorded 4.162 cases of cholera with a peak of 257 new cases in just 24 hours, with 8 people dying; the total number of deaths is 124 since the outbreak of the disease in January 2023

The Access to Information Bill has been passed by Parliament in a historic development: it is a key step towards transparency and accountability, aiming at empowering the public by providing wider access to information held by government officials

Chipata Central Hospital is admitting an average of 28 mental health patients per month, with schizophrenia being the most common mental illness; Eastern Province Clinical Care Specialist Francis Mubanga recalled a general increase in mental health cases

The third International Conference on Public Health in Africa 2023, which will attract over five thousand delegates from all over the world, is scheduled for 27-30 November 2023 in Lusaka, organised by the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

The National Assembly suspended 17 deputies of opposition parties for a period of 30 days, following an alleged incident of misconduct during a parliamentary session last week

Zambia's central bank has increased the statutory reserve ratio, the rate at which commercial banks keep funds at the central bank, following consistent pressures in the foreign exchange market

The Lusaka Hospital for Oncological Diseases is undergoing rehabilitation, replacing old radiotherapy equipment and introducing new advanced diagnostic equipment

The Move on Zambia festival, organised by the Zambian-Italian Cultural Centre and the Italian Embassy in Lusaka, was held in Lusaka from 5 to 7 October with a combination of two parts, one dedicated to the environment and the other to music