He described the agreement as a significant milestone in promoting the free movement of people across Africa.

Speaking to the National Assembly of the Republic of Zambia on Friday, February 5, President Mahama revealed that the visa-free arrangement was among 10 MoUs signed to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

“This afternoon, we have signed 10 Memorandums of Understanding as the framework for our cooperation. Prominent among these is the MoU to allow visa-free travel for all categories of passport holders between Ghana and Zambia,” he said, emphasizing that the move supports Africa’s integration agenda.

President Mahama also highlighted the importance of deeper regional collaboration to boost trade, investment, and shared prosperity, while commending Zambia for stabilizing its macroeconomic environment. He praised the improved performance of the Zambian kwacha and ongoing economic reforms, noting that these developments send positive signals to investors and regional partners.

The President further expressed confidence in Zambia’s democratic institutions ahead of the country’s general elections in August 2026 and reaffirmed Ghana’s support for peaceful, free, and fair polls.

He added that both nations have revitalized the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation, providing a structured framework for collaboration across key sectors, including trade, energy, tourism, mining, agriculture, education, science and technology, youth development, and defence.

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The Ghanaian leader will travel from Dubai, where he attended the World Governments Summit, aboard an aircraft provided by the President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

A ceremonial welcome is scheduled at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, with President Hichilema, members of the diplomatic corps, senior officials from both countries, and cultural performers expected to attend.

A key highlight of the visit will be President Mahama’s address to the Zambian National Assembly, where he is expected to present Ghana’s vision for deeper regional integration and a more prosperous Africa.

Ghana’s High Commissioner to Zambia, Elizabeth Nyantakyi, said the engagement would further strengthen bilateral ties and revealed that several Memoranda of Understanding are expected to be signed, including a visa waiver agreement to boost cooperation and people-to-people relations between the two countries.

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The President is travelling on an aircraft provided by the UAE government, following an official invitation to the high-level forum, which gathers global leaders, policymakers, and business executives to discuss governance, innovation, and international development.

After the summit in Dubai, President Mahama will travel to Zambia for a three-day state visit at the invitation of President Hakainde Hichilema.

The fixture, scheduled to kick off at 4:00 pm, marks an important moment for Ghana’s growing futsal programme.

The Black Stars Futsal team will be aiming to make full use of home advantage as they seek an energetic performance in their quest to qualify for Africa’s premier futsal tournament.

Ghana will face Zambia again in the reverse fixture in Lusaka after Tuesday’s encounter, with both matches determining who secures a place at the 2026 CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations.

Mali had looked set to claim all three points after dominating long spells of the contest, but a late lapse in concentration allowed Zambia’s talisman to strike at the death and earn the Chipolopolo a valuable point.

The Eagles started brightly and imposed themselves from the opening exchanges, controlling possession and pushing Zambia deep inside their own half. Mamadou Sangaré and Lassine Sinayoko were at the heart of Mali’s attacking play, while El Bilal Touré tested the Zambian back line with his movement.

Despite Mali’s dominance, clear chances were limited, with Zambia goalkeeper Willard Mwanza producing a series of important interventions to keep his side in the contest. His most significant moment came when he saved a penalty from Touré, preserving parity at a crucial stage of the match.

Mali’s breakthrough finally arrived just after the hour mark. A loose ball inside the area fell to Sinayoko, who reacted quickest and smashed a powerful effort beneath the crossbar to give the West Africans a deserved lead.

Zambia responded by increasing the tempo and committing more bodies forward. Fashion Sakala led the counter-attacks with pace and direct running, but Mali’s defence, marshalled effectively by Diaby, held firm for much of the second half.

With twenty minutes remaining, Mali coach Tom Saintfiet sought to protect the advantage by introducing fresh defensive legs, replacing Dorgeles Nene and Touré with Doumbia and Diarra. Sinayoko nearly sealed the contest moments later, his curling effort shaving the top corner.

However, Zambia refused to relent. Deep into stoppage time, a lapse in marking proved costly as Daka rose highest in the box to power home a header, silencing the Casablanca crowd and rescuing a dramatic draw.

The final whistle confirmed a frustrating outcome for Mali, who had controlled much of the contest but failed to capitalise fully. Zambia, meanwhile, showed resilience and belief, underlining their capacity to remain competitive until the very end.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, FAZ General Secretary Machacha Shepande revealed that both parties had agreed to an amicable separation, describing the move as a strategic decision “to help chart a new way forward for the Chipolopolo.”

Grant, who took charge on December 22, 2022, guided Zambia to consecutive Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifications – first for the 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast and subsequently for the upcoming 2025 edition in Morocco.

His spell in charge restored Zambia’s presence at Africa’s flagship competition after a prolonged absence, offering renewed optimism to fans of the 2012 African champions.

However, despite those qualification successes, concerns had been mounting over the team’s overall performance and direction.

Zambia’s inconsistent displays in international friendlies, coupled with their early exit from the 2023 AFCON, raised questions about progress under Grant’s leadership.

The Chipolopolo’s struggles in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and a disappointing campaign at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) further fueled debate over the team’s competitiveness, ultimately leading to the decision to part ways with the former Chelsea and Ghana coach.

Zambia now faces a tough assignment at the Morocco 2025 AFCON, where they are drawn in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Mali, and Comoros.

FAZ assured supporters that details regarding the next steps – including the future technical setup of the national team – will be announced in due course.

The 41-year-old trainer was appointed in January 2023, replacing Mercy Tagoe-Quarcoo.

Despite qualifying the Queens for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the first time since 2018, she felt short of guiding the side to book qualification for the Olympic Games.

Following the expiration of her two-year deal, Häuptle opted against extending her stay as the head coach of the Black Stars.

Speaking to CAFOnline, Häuptle described her journey with the team as a great one.

“Yes, it’ll be my very first WAFCON, my first major tournament on the continent. With Ghana, I had qualified the team after three years of work. That was a great journey,” she said.

Having been appointed as the head coach of Zambia’s Copper Queens earlier this year, Häuptle says it is an honour to lead the side for the WAFCON.

“Now I have the pleasure of participating with Zambia. For me, it’s a kind of fulfilment,” she said.

“It’s also a chance to prove our worth at the highest level. We’ve invested so much into this team, with so much passion.

“And in Zambia, we all share one vision: to bring a trophy home. That’s a huge motivation for me. I just want to make sure we move forward step by step, with curiosity and enthusiasm. I can’t wait for the tournament to begin,” he added.

The match is set to take place at the Folip Gardens Hotel football grounds in Cairo, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 GMT.

This fixture provides an opportunity for Head Coach Desmond Ofei and his technical team to fine-tune strategies and assess the effectiveness of the tactical plans implemented during the team’s recent training sessions.

Zambia’s U-20 side, who are also currently in Egypt ahead of the tournament, have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Egypt, South Africa, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania.

The Black Satellites arrived in Cairo on Saturday to continue their build-up to the competition, which officially begins on Sunday, April 27, and runs until May 18, 2025.

Ghana will kick off their Group C campaign on Friday, May 2, with a challenging opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Swiss coach officially assumed the role on a three-year contract after opting not to renew her position with Ghana’s Black Queens.

Häuptle was introduced as the new coach on Friday at Lusaka’s Pamodzi Hotel.

Speaking at the unveiling, Häuptle expressed her enthusiasm for taking on the role, revealing that coaching the Copper Queens had long been a dream of hers.

“It was always a wish for me to take over this team because there are so many fantastic players, there is so much potential I see in this team and of course, I know that the expectations are very high,” she said.

Häuptle praised the team’s previous achievements, particularly their bronze medal at the 2022 WAFCON, and emphasized her ambitions.

“The team already got bronze (at the WAFCON 2022) and it’s our objective to go and top this result.”

Her long-term vision includes leading the team to qualification for major tournaments, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Olympics, with a focus on advancing past the group stage.

She stressed the importance of development, stating, “Furthermore, we want to qualify for the big tournaments, be back at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Olympics and pass the group stage. We also need to ensure that we do the right development steps, and results don’t just fall from the sky.

“We must have a lot of preparatory games that we invest in our youth teams with U17 World Cup, so I am very curious to take over the work and I will ensure that I give my all,” she added.

Häuptle succeeds Bruce Mwape as head coach, with reports suggesting her monthly salary will be $8,000.

The announcement was made on Friday at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel, where the Swiss coach signed a three-year contract to lead Zambia’s national women’s team. Häuptle replaces Bruce Mwape, who previously held the position.

Nora chose not to renew her contract with Ghana after her two-year deal expired, leading to her departure.

Now, she will focus on guiding Zambia in its preparations for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) scheduled for July.

Her immediate task will be to get the team ready for the tournament, including organizing a series of friendly matches.

Zambia had previously eliminated Nora’s Black Queens from the qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games in a two-legged tie.

Following Häuptle’s exit, the Ghana Football Association appointed Kim Lars Bjorkegren as the new head coach of the Black Queens.

The Swiss coach, who took over the Black Queens in 2023, led Ghana to a significant achievement by securing qualification for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

This marked a major milestone, especially as the team had failed to qualify for the tournament since 2018.

In an interview with Swiss media outlet 20 Minutes, Hauptle shared the challenges she faced during her contract renewal discussions with the GFA.

She explained, “It wasn’t easy to give up the project. My contract was running out at the end of the year, and we had discussions. But there were a few pieces of the puzzle that were not clear, which were relevant to my success.”

She emphasized that she could not make compromises on key issues, adding, “Nothing happened; we are parting on good terms and with a lot of respect for each other.”

Following her departure from the Black Queens, Hauptle has taken on a new role as the head coach of Zambia’s national women’s team, the Copper Queens. She will lead them in this year’s WAFCON, where Zambia is placed in Group A alongside Morocco, Senegal, and DR Congo.

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Häuptle has taken up a new role as head coach of Zambia’s Copper Queens after failing to extend her contract with the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

The Swiss tactician signed a three-year deal with the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) last Saturday.

In an interview with Citi Sports, Dansua expressed dissatisfaction with the GFA’s handling of Häuptle’s contract renewal. She suggested that inadequate resources and interference in the coach’s work may have contributed to her exit.

“Yeah, it’s a shame. It may boil down to interference in her work. There may also be a lack of resources,” she said.

“When you compare female football to male football, you see that almost 90% of resources go to the men’s teams, especially the national team.”

She also pointed to insufficient media and political support for women’s football as factors influencing Häuptle’s decision to leave.

“Maybe she wasn’t happy doing her work. She wasn’t enjoying sufficient media and political support in Ghana. That’s why she decided to go that way.”

The GFA has yet to announce a successor for Häuptle, raising concerns about the Black Queens’ preparations for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), set to take place in Morocco later this year.

Häuptle, 41, joins the Copper Queens following her tenure as head coach of Ghana’s Black Queens, where her contract expired without renewal.

She initially took over the Black Queens in 2023, succeeding Mercy Tagoe-Quarcoo, who had been in charge since 2019.

During her time with Ghana, Häuptle led the Black Queens to qualify for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and secured the 2023 WAFU Zone B Women’s Cup title.

Under her leadership, the Black Queens displayed significant improvement, including a strong performance in the Women’s Olympic qualifiers, where she missed out narrowly to her soon-to-be new employer, Zambia

Despite the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) offer to extend her contract, Häuptle declined and opted for a new challenge with Zambia.

Her appointment comes after FAZ parted ways with former head coach Bruce Mwape. The decision was finalized during an FAZ Executive Committee meeting on December 21.

Häuptle is set to be officially unveiled next week and will earn a monthly salary of $7,000.

Before her stint with the Black Queens, Häuptle served as a technical advisor for Ghana’s U-20 women’s team during the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

The country’s football association (Faz) expressed its “deep shock” at the accident, which occurred on Saturday while the squad was travelling to a third-tier league game in the north west of the country.

“We are in touch with the football, civil and law enforcement authorities in the province to furnish us with full details,” Faz president Andrew Kamanga said.

Twelve other people were injured in the accident, and five of those have been evacuated to the capital Lusaka for treatment.

The names of those killed and injured have not been released.

Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Patrice Motsepe said he and the governing body “hope and pray” that those injured will fully recover soon.

“I convey my personal and Caf’s deepest condolences,” Motsepe added in a statement.

“May God comfort and console the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased and the Football Association of Zambia.

“May the souls of the departed players rest in eternal peace.”

Artur de Almeida e Silva, the president of the council of Southern Africa’s regional FAs, said the loss of young lives in such a manner was “truly heartbreaking”.

“Football is a sport that unites us, bringing joy and pride to communities across our region,” he said in a letter to his counterpart at Faz.

“In this tragic moment, we share in your grief and offer our heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends who are mourning this immense loss.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are still receiving treatment for their injuries.”

Elijah Muchima announced that approximately half of the 25 samples taken from milling companies were found to contain exceedingly high levels of aflatoxins, a poisonous substance produced by fungi.

Maize is the staple food in Zambia and Mr Muchimi said the test results were “of great concern due to the several health implications for [the] population”.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says there is evidence aflatoxins can cause liver cancer in humans.

Authorities launched an investigation into the nation’s maize supply after Diamond TV, a Zambian broadcaster, found dozens of dogs had died from aflatoxin poisoning.

It was suspected they died after eating dog food containing with contaminated maize.

In their investigation, the authorities took samples from 10 milling companies that make maize-based dog food and also process the grain to make maize meal, which is consumed by humans.

The health ministry has not reported any human deaths resulting from contaminated maize. However, sources at the Zambia National Public Health Institute say they are currently trying to ascertain if the spoiled grains have had on impact on the general public.

Following the authorities’ investigation, “affected batches” of maize meal have been recalled and seizure notices have been issued to “affected companies”, Mr Muchimi said. He did not name these companies or any specific maize meal brands.

Prior to Diamond TV’s report, only Farmfeed, a dog-food processing company, had recalled its products.

In his press briefing on Tuesday, Mr Muchimi said climate change and the impact of Zambia’s recent drought had “exacerbated the occurrence of aflatoxin this season”.

Like much of southern Africa, Zambia was hit by a severe drought earlier this year. An estimated one million subsistence farmers experienced damaged crops and maize supplies in the country are still critically low.

Maize provides around 60% of the population’s daily calorie intake, according to the US agriculture department, causing politicians and the public to worry about the contaminated batches.

“Govt says 400 dogs have died due to toxins in some brands of [maize] meal. I’m a victim too. I lost over 6 big dogs over a period of 1 week,” Sunday Chanda, an opposition member of parliament, wrote on social media platform X.

“Govt says ‘it’s still investigating how wide the toxic maize has spread’. Listen, the bad [maize] meal is still out there being consumed!”

Another Zambian X user questioned why the health minister had not named the maize meal brands that were being recalled.

“We have the right to know what we’re feeding our families,” they wrote.

The Millers Association of Zambia, which represents milling companies across the country, said its businesses were working hard to ensure that the problem is resolved and the public is safe.

“We are still investigating the source of this contaminated grain and have heightened our surveillance of the product on the market,” Andrew Chintala, president of the association, said.

“We have not been testing much for aflatoxin previously because this is the first time we’re experiencing this case of high aflatoxin, for which we are still investigating the cause.”

Mr Muchimi said the government had also extended surveillance throughout the country and stepped up sampling efforts.

Source: BBC

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In a thrilling 11-goal encounter at the Stade de Nice, Zambia went toe-to-toe with Australia’s Matildas but the Copper Queens suffered a 6-5 defeat in the last minute despite a historic hat-trick by Barbra Banda.

The Zambian captain Banda opened the scoring with a spectacular 30-yard curler just seconds after kick-off.

Despite Australia’s quick equaliser, Banda went on to complete a hat-trick, becoming the first player to score three hat-tricks in Olympic football history.

Banda’s heroics, coupled with a brace from teammate Rachael Kundananji, weren’t enough to secure victory.

The Zambians conceded four goals as the match approached the hour mark before Michelle Heyman clinched a dramatic late winner for Australia.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Falcons, still reeling from their opening 1-0 loss to Brazil, faced a stern test against world champions Spain and stumbled 1-0 from a late goal.

Randy Waldrum’s side put up a resilient defensive display but struggled to capitalise on their chances.

Their resistance was finally broken in the 86th minute when Alexia Putellas scored the decisive goal for Spain directly from a free-kick.

With two losses from two matches, both African sides face an uphill battle to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Nigeria’s hopes hang by a thread as they prepare to face Japan on Wednesday, 31 July 2024, at 15:00 GMT at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.

Zambia will take on a tough Germany side in their final group game on Wednesday.

The country’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) alleges that Andrew Kamanga obtained government funds under false pretences and was part of a conspiracy to defraud.

The DEC says the 57-year-old used the money to fund trips for two associates to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast earlier this year.

Madalitso Kamanga and Jairous Siame – the two individuals who travelled to the tournament as part of Faz’s support staff – have also been charged, along with Faz general secretary Reuben Kamanga.

An investigation revealed that neither Madalitso Kamanga nor Siame held official or executive positions within Faz.

The quartet are alleged to have acted together to obtain 341,902 Zambian kwacha ($13,150 £10,580) from the government for expenses and a further 99,980 kwacha ($3,850 £3,095) for return flights to Ivory Coast.

The DEC says the fraudulent activity occurred between 1 January and 15 February, coinciding with the Nations Cup finals where Zambia exited at the group stage.

An Faz spokesperson said Andrew Kamanga’s arrest was “part of a long-term plan to bring [into] question” his reputation ahead of the governing body’s elections next year.

Faz is set to hold its annual general meeting in Lusaka this weekend and the spokesperson added that the position of the organisation’s president was not under threat.

“There is no immediate risk of Mr Kamanga being out of Faz because this is just an arrest and the matter has to go to court – if at all there is any merit,” they said.

A DEC statement added that the suspects are “finalising bond processes” and “will appear in court soon”.

Addressing the nation on Thursday afternoon, Mr Hichilema said 84 districts out of a total of 116 were affected.

Zambia has been experiencing poor rain, with fears mounting that the country may experience hunger and struggle to meet its electricity demands as most of its energy is from water sources.

Water levels at Kariba Dam – which Zambia and neighbouring Zimbabwe use for hydroelectricity – had fallen to about 11.5% of usable storage as of last December.

The president said the drought would affect the generation of more than 450 megawatts of power.

He said almost half of the land used for planting crops had been affected by the dry spell.

Mr Hichilema said his government would work to ensure that additional maize and other food was brought into the country to make up the deficit.

He said he would use Zambia’s defence forces “in this fight to save our lives and save families and create a longer term solution to drought”.

“We will work together to get together farmers to plant more crops. We shall also enhance the social support programmes for the farmers that have been affected by the drought,” he said.

“We call upon all our local and international partners to avail any excess food on hand to provide relief. Some partners have already extended their commitment to offer their support, such as the British, the UN system, the World Bank Group and others.”

He called on farmers to use irrigation methods to cope with the dry spell. An estimated one million farmers have been affected by the drought.

Mr Hichilema said his government would work with different stakeholders, opposition politicians and the church to tackle the situation.

Social media has been awash with videos and pictures of fields with dying crops.

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Ghana’s dream of competing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games was shattered following a 3-3 draw with the Copper Queens at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, after succumbing to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Barbra Banda’s late goal secured Zambia’s triumph, while Ghana ended the match with 10 players after Jennifer Cudjoe’s dismissal in the 95th minute.

Despite the setback, Hauptle said the defeat is a valuable learning opportunity, highlighting the team’s resilience on the field.

The focus now, she said will be on the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Expressing her sentiments after the match, the Swiss trainer remarked, “Overall, we are disappointed. Credit to Zambia; today, we approached the game differently, and it was an open contest. Honestly, in the final 15 minutes, we had several opportunities to capitalize on, but we couldn’t convert them. That’s football.

“We will take away important lessons from this match. I cannot fault my team; they gave their all. In the end, Zambia capitalized on a free kick, but we will learn and grow from this high-pressure experience.”

In April, the Copper Queens will face Morocco in a crucial final qualifying round, aiming for a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Meanwhile, Nigeria and South Africa are set to clash in another pivotal encounter.

The Black Queens will now redirect their focus for the upcoming 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, slated to be held in Morocco later this year.

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Despite the Ghanaian squad’s best efforts to secure a win, they faced a formidable opponent in Barbra Banda, who scored two crucial goals for the home team to clinch a 3-3 draw.

Zambia’s aggregate score of 4-3 confirmed their qualification.

Ghana’s Black Queens were determined to overturn their 1-0 loss in the previous match at the Accra Sports Stadium. Although Gifty Assifuah, a new addition to the starting lineup in place of Freda Ayisi, equalized the score for the Black Queens, Banda’s opening goal set the tone for the game.

The halftime break saw both teams locked at 2-1, with the home team leading on aggregate.

The second half saw Ghana’s Doris Boaduwaa impressively taking the lead with a goal in the 55th minute. However, Zambia quickly retaliated with Kabange Mupopo scoring six minutes later to even the score.

Azumah Bugri, a substitute, managed to secure a late goal, which seemed to point towards extra time. Unfortunately, a late foul by Jennifer Cudjoe led to her being sent off with a second yellow card, paving the way for Banda to score her second goal from the resulting free kick.

Despite the Black Queens’ valiant efforts, Zambia’s Copper Queens emerged victorious with a 4-3 aggregate win, effectively ending Ghana’s hopes of Olympic qualification.

Now, Nora Hauptle and her team must focus on preparations for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place in Morocco.

Despite an impressive 3-3 draw against the Copper Queens in Ndola, following a 1-0 loss in the first leg at the Accra Sports Stadium, Ghana’s hope was dashed with a 4-3 aggregate scoreline.

The match appeared destined for extra time until Barbra Banda, the Copper Queens’ captain, delivered a heartbreaking blow with a free-kick goal in the 96th minute, breaking the hears of the Queens despite Azumah Bugre’s earlier equalizer in the 65th minute.

Reflecting on the game, Hauptle said “We knew that we needed to score to get back into the game. Zambia had a good moment, a good transition, and they got it at once, and I think we started to play football.”

“We had good control of a lot of moments… In the last minute, my team was brave, my team was playing football and [they] were fighting. I cannot blame them. In the end, sometimes it’s hard” he added.

Despite the disappointment, Hauptle acknowledged Zambia’s performance.

“We would have loved to go into overtime [but] all in all, disappointing for us but kudos to Zambia” she said.

The elimination postpones Ghana’s female team’s aspirations for a first-ever Olympic Games appearance, redirecting their focus towards the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for Morocco later this year.

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Scheduled for Wednesday, February 28, the Queens will take on the Copper Queens in the second leg of the 2024 Olympic Games qualifier with kick-off scheduled at 16:00 GMT.

Following a 1-0 loss to Zambia in the first leg at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, February 23, the Black Queens are gearing up for a challenging rematch.

Addressing Ghana’s Parliament during his State of the Nation Address, President Akufo-Addo recognized the team’s commendable efforts and wished them success.

“Mr. Speaker, the senior Women’s team the Black Queens who do not get half the attention the Black Stars get, have been performing quite creditably. They had gone for ten (10) matches without any loss until last December when they lost narrowly to Namibia in Windhoek in the final qualifying round for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations,” he remarked.

“Even though they lost narrowly to Zambia in the first leg of the qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games, let us wish them well in the second leg to be played in Lusaka tomorrow, and hope they give us something to cheer about,” he added.

The victor of the Ghana-Zambia encounter will face the winner of the Morocco-Tunisia clash.

Morocco secured a 2-1 victory in the first leg against Tunisia.

This loss, with a 1-0 score, occurred during the 2024 Olympic Games. The game took place at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Black Queens, playing on home turf, entered the match with an aggressive offensive strategy, hoping to secure a lead to carry into the second leg of the third-round qualifiers.

Despite their determined effort, they were unable to find the net and were narrowly defeated at the end of the 90-minute match.

The Copper Queens scored their only goal of the game in the first half, courtesy of top forward Racheal Kundananji. This early strike proved decisive in determining the game’s outcome.

With this defeat, the Black Queens now face heightened pressure heading into the second leg of the qualifiers, which is scheduled to take place in Zambia on Wednesday, February 28th.

The match will be held at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

“Trade and investment are particularly important for our countries because even our political stability depends on economic stability and development,” President Hichilema told Minister Botchwey at a meeting at State House in Lusaka on Tuesday. 

Ms Botchwey’s visit to Lusaka saw her signing two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with her acting Zambian counterpart, Mr Mulambo Haimbe, on behalf of their respective governments.

One memorandum covers mechanisms for promoting commercial, economic, cultural, technical, scientific and political cooperation between Ghana and Zambia.

The other memorandum covers defence cooperation, including training and development.

Ms Botchwey and President Hichilema also addressed her candidacy for Commonwealth Secretary-General behind closed doors.  

Zambia is one of 21 African countries which belong to the 56-member organization that has a combined population of 2.6 billion people and an annual GDP of $13 trillion and counting.

Commonwealth Heads of Government are due to choose a new leader in October to replace the incumbent, Baroness Patricia Scotland, whose second and final term expires at the end of 2024.

In her remarks, Ms Botchwey recalled the strong historical bonds between Ghana and Zambia.

“Our two countries go back a long way, all the way to the years of our independence struggles led by Presidents Nkrumah and Kaunda,” she said.

Ghanaian diplomats in Lusaka said a strong affinity for Ghana remained in Zambia.  Scores of Ghanaian professionals and academics settled and worked in the southern African country from the early post-independence years through the eighties. 

“Our people left a good legacy here and it’s a viable foundation for furthering a strong business relationship especially as we now have AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area),” senior diplomat said.

In a comprehensive lecture given by Ms. Botchwey following the announcement of her candidacy in Accra earlier this month, she outlined her vision for what she called “a new Commonwealth.” 

It included a focus on trade and investment; harnessing ICT for skills, innovation and start-ups to provide jobs for young people, and a Commonwealth-wide migration compact to help stem the tide of illegal and perilous migration.

She called for “a strong Commonwealth voice for the concerted action” against climate change which, she said, threatened all member states, but small island developing states more particularly.

Morocco’s stand-in captain left the pitch with an ankle injury at halftime but not before a smart close-range finish in the 38th minute lifted Morocco to seven points, ahead of second-placed Democratic Republic of Congo, who drew 0-0 with Tanzania.

Zambia finished third in the group on two points, which was not enough to take one of the four places in the last-16 reserved for the best third-placed finishers.

Instead the Ivory Coast sneaked in, sparking celebrations in the Laurent Pokou Stadium from locals who had come to support Morocco knowing that if Zambia lost, their team would qualify.

Their reward, however, is a meeting in the last-16 on Monday with holders Senegal, who were the only side to win all their group games. The Ivorians will have a new coach in Emerse Fae who takes over from Jean-Louis Gasset, who was fired on Wednesday.

Morocco’s victory was deserved despite them changing much of their lineup, resting key players, and being without coach Walid Regragui, who was banished to the stands after the Confederation of African Football suspended him hours before kickoff.

He received a four-match ban, two of which were suspended, after being involved in an on-field spat with DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba at the end of their match in San Pedro on Sunday, which then led to scuffles between opposing players and staff on the pitch and alleged fighting in the tunnel at the stadium.

Zambia’s key striker Patson Daka had an early chance but failed to control a clever ball over the top of the Morocco defence before the World Cup semi-finalists took over and dominated proceedings.

There were chances for Ismael Saibari and Nayef Aguerd before Ziyech reacted quickest and hit home a rebound after a build-up involving Saibari and Achraf Hakimi.

Ayoub El Kaabi had a strong effort saved two minutes after Ziyech’s goal and Saibari was denied from a good opportunity two minutes into the second half.

Zambia’s best opportunity for the draw they needed to advance came when Lameck Banda snapped an effort narrowly wide in the 59th minute.

Morocco now meet South Africa in San Pedro in the last-16 next Tuesday while DR Congo are up against Egypt on Sunday.

Tanzania had led from the 11th minute when Simon Msuva punished some sloppy play with a powerful strike and Zambia’s problems grew worse when Rodrick Kabwe earned a second yellow card just before half-time.

But just when it appeared Avram Grant’s side were running out of time, Daka got across his man to divert a corner inside the far post.

Tanzania were under new, temporary, management in the form of Hemed Morocco after Adel Amrouche’s meltdown following the 3-0 loss to Morocco saw him banned for eight games and subsequently sacked.

They offered the ideal response when they took the lead 11 minutes in, with Mbwaba Samatta picking off the ball in midfield and striding forward to tee up Msuva, whose shot was still rising as it found the top corner.

Zambia wasted opportunities to level, with Fashion Sakala heading wide from point-blank range on the half-hour mark, and then somewhat harshly lost Kabwe to a needless second yellow in the 44th minute.

With the extra man, Tanzania were on top for much of the second half. They might have had a second when Mohamed Hussein’s cross deflected off Frankie Musonda and bounced narrowly wide, while substitute Morice Abraham brought a good save from Zambia goalkeeper Lawrence Mulenga.

Daka had already wasted a good chance when he shot straight at Aishi Manula just after the hour, but with time running out the 25-year-old scored to avoid a costly defeat.

Poor sanitation in some densely populated urban areas was a good breeding ground for cholera, he said.

To decongest major towns, residents should relocate to rural areas where there was enough space and “perfect sanitation”, Mr Hichilema added.

More than 7,500 cholera cases have been reported nationwide since last October.

In the last 24 hours, there were more than 500 new cases and 17 deaths, the health ministry said.

The reopening of schools has been delayed as part of a series of preventative measures.

The disease has so far spread to eight of Zambia’s 10 provinces.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is to send about one million cholera vaccine doses in the coming days in a bid to contain the outbreak.

On Wednesday, Mr Hichilema visited the Heroes Stadium Cholera Treatment Centre, where there are more than 1,000 patients, in the capital, Lusaka.

He said the government would take some “hard to swallow” measures in an effort to eradicate the waterborne disease.

He appeared to blame some Zambians who moved to towns “without a clear objective” for the mushrooming of poorly planned informal settlements.

Some young people were “hanging around and doing nothing” in towns instead of moving to rural areas to farm, the president said.

“There is so much land in the villages, there is clean water. We can build nice homes in the villages, which are not polluted,” Mr Hichilema said.

The authorities would upgrade existing slums in towns, and .prevent the emergence of new ones, he added.

Neighbouring Mozambique and Zimbabwe have heightened surveillance to prevent cross-border transmission.

For months now, Zimbabwe has also been battling to stem the spread of cholera because the country lacks clean water.

The bacterial disease is spread by contaminated water or food, and causes severe dehydration from vomiting and diarrhoea. It can kill within hours if left untreated.2

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A committee of bondholders agreed to extend maturities and slash interest payments on terms matching recent breakthrough deals with China, Zambia’s biggest lender, and other official creditors, the southern African nation’s finance ministry said on Thursday October 26, 2023.

President Hakainde Hichilema’s government has suffered a long delay in restructuring $13 billion in external debt, including $3 billion of foreign currency bonds, since a 2020 default under his predecessor. 

Chinese and other official creditors failed for years to agree on where losses would fall, meaning Zambia’s restructuring was widely seen as a precedent for other developing countries that had borrowed heavily from Beijing.

The process has also been viewed as a test case for a G20 “common framework” for sovereign debt restructuring.

The agreement with bondholders comes after Zambia formalised deals to rework $6.3  billion of official debts earlier this month, allowing the country to proceed with a $1.3 billion International Monetary Fund bailout. 

Both agreements provide upfront relief but have also been made possible by a promise to repay more debt if Zambia’s economy fares better than expected in the next few years.

This will be based on exports and tax revenue data and an IMF assessment of how much debt Zambia can sustain.

The deal “brings us closer to the completion of Zambia’s debt restructuring, which will release significant resources for our developmental agenda”, said Situmbeko Musokotwane, Zambia’s finance minister. 

The bondholder deal will now need to proceed to an offer to exchange old bonds for newly issued debt.

“We hope for the swift implementation of this agreement in principle by the end of the year,” Musokotwane said. Asset managers represented on the bondholder committee include Amundi, Greylock Capital Management and RBC BlueBay.

The deal will reduce the face value of the bonds by 18%. Bondholders have gone beyond official creditors and agreed to directly write off $700mn of their claims, which have grown to $3.8 billionn as post-default interest on bonds originally due in 2022, 2024 and 2027 piled up.

Chinese creditors have avoided face-value cuts on their Zambian loans.

Zambia’s finance ministry said that the cut to overall future cash flows on the private bonds will be “significant”, but has not disclosed precise terms. The scale of debt relief will depend on whether better economic performance for Zambia in the next three years triggers higher payments on a third of the new restructured bonds. These will either mature in 2035, or not be paid back until 2053 if Zambia misses IMF targets.

 “The proposal represents an innovative and sustainable solution that we hope will set a positive precedent for future sovereign restructurings under the Common Framework,” the bondholder committee said.

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A senior Zambian police officer is among those arrested.

He has been charged with espionage.

Court papers are also reported to list a former Egyptian military officer and businessman.

The Egyptian authorities have claimed that the aircraft is privately owned, and only transited through Cairo.

The suspects face up to 30 years in jail if convicted.

Mwape is accused of rubbing his hands over the chest of one of his players during a training session in New Zealand on 29 July.

“A complaint has been received,” a Fifa spokesperson said.

But the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) said “it has not received any such complaint” and it is a “surprise”.

The alleged incident is said to have taken place during a training session two days before their final group match against Costa Rica, which Zambia won 3-1 for their first victory at a World Cup.

Fifa’s spokesperson added: “Fifa takes any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously and has a clear process in place for anyone in football who wants to report an incident.”

Zambia have returned home, having been eliminated after finishing third in Group C.

“All the training sessions for the Copper Queens [Zambia] were filmed by the FAZ media team and offers no such footage,” the FAZ said.

“Additionally, a Fifa film crew attached to the Zambian team at the World Cup was present at all training sessions.

“We, however, wish to reassure the public that FAZ maintains the highest standards of integrity and transparency and always demands unwavering ethical conduct of the players and officials on and off the field of play.

“We therefore would not hesitate to take disciplinary measures and act on any misconduct once we are in receipt of an official complaint or when presented with evidence pertaining to an alleged incident.”

A New Zealand police spokesperson said: “We were made aware of an alleged incident and after making initial enquiries, no further action was required to be taken.”

Sexual abuse allegations against Mwape, who took charge in 2018, also emerged last year on social media. The FAZ said at the time that it had received no official complaint, but had opened an investigation, adding that “we consider these allegations very serious”.

Mwape was repeatedly asked about those allegations at the World Cup but he denied any wrongdoing and insisted they were “fake”.

Lushomo Mweemba opened the scoring for Zambia inside the first three minutes and Barbra Banda added a second from the spot midway through the first half.

Costa Rica’s Melissa Herrera pulled a goal shortly after the break, but Racheal Kundananji completed the win, netting a third in injury time.

Both sides had already been eliminated after two matches.

Zambia had lost 5-0 against both Japan and Spain, but their campaign at least ends on a high.

They made a brilliant start in Hamilton as Mweemba scored their first World Cup goal, volleying home Avell Chitundu’s corner after two minutes and 11 seconds.

Skipper Banda doubled their advantage from the spot – the 1000th goal in the Women’s World Cup – after her shirt was pulled by Katherine Alvarado in the penalty area.

Costa Rica, who were also chasing a first World Cup win in just their second tournament, rallied and struck the crossbar through Maria Paula Coto just before the break.

After the restart Amelia Valverde’s team halved the deficit with Herrera nodding in Valeria del Campo’s header across goal.

An equaliser seemed inevitable with Zambian keeper Catherine Musonda catching Priscilla Chinchilla in the box, but a lengthy video assistant referee review ruled out a penalty kick due to an offside in the build-up.

Herrera then found the net for a second time midway through the second half, but her strike from a tight angle was ruled out for offside.

With Costa Rica pushing for an equaliser, Banda’s disguised pass sent through substitute Kundananji who sealed a famous win.

Zambia finished third in Group C, ahead of Costa Rica in fourth.

The Spanish opened their Group C campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win against Costa Rica last week, having a total of 46 shots on goal.

They picked up where they left off against Zambia, racing into a ninth-minute lead when Teresa Abelleira drove in a stunning strike from distance.

Hermoso doubled the lead just four minutes later, heading home a cross on her 100th appearance for her country.

Redondo then rounded the goalkeeper in the second half before Hermoso scored her 50th international goal late on after a lengthy video assistant referee check.

Hermoso almost had a hat-trick soon after but her shot was pushed on to the crossbar, but Spain got their fifth when Redondo drove home in the final few minutes.

The victory also ensured Japan – who beat Costa Rica 2-0 earlier on Thursday – also progress and the two sides will meet in a battle for first place on Monday, 31 July (08:00 BST).

Putellas returns as Spain send out warning

Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas was named on the bench in Spain’s opener against Costa Rica after working her way back to full fitness following a long-term injury, but she was handed a start against Women’s World Cup debutants Zambia.

The Barcelona midfielder showed no signs of rustiness as she was heavily involved in the action from the outset, and it was her cross that produced Spain’s second as she picked out Hermoso at the far post.

The two early goals hinted at a big win for Spain but Zambia – who would be eliminated with a defeat – did well to hold their opponents at bay until 20 minutes before the end.

By then, Zambia’s tiredness and Spain’s quality told as they added three further strikes to fairly reflect their overall dominance.

They also secured a second clean sheet of the tournament and a 13th win from the 15 games they have played since they were beaten by England in the Euro 2022 quarter-finals, with this latest victory sure to make their rivals sit up and notice.

Ms Harris, who is on a nine-day trip to three African countries, is due to visit Zambia over the weekend – the latest of 18 top American officials who have visited the continent since January this year.

She was in Zambia as a child visiting her grandfather VP Gopalan, an Indian civil servant who was posted there to help settle refugees after it gained independence.

The US embassy in Lusaka is quoted by The Times as having appealed to the public for help locating Mr Gopalan’s former home while seeking to retrace Ms Harris’ “childhood connections with the country”.

The trip to Africa is expected to strengthen the US’ partnerships throughout the continent on “security and economic prosperity”, according to a statement by her office.

Football’s fan following knows no bounds and players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar Jr. and many others are famous even in countries where football isn’t followed much.

Since football is a global sport, there is huge money involved in it. The winner of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Argentina, went home with a cheque of US$42 million (Rs 344 crore approx) while runners-up France pocketed an amount of US$30 million (Rs 245 crore approx).

But not every league is able to pay a handsome sum of money to the players. Recently, football player Kennedy Musonda was awarded five crates of eggs for his Player of the Match performance in the Zambian league. Playing for Power Dynamos, Kennedy scored one goal against Nkana.

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The official who bestowed Kennedy with the award said that the player received two crates for the goal he scored while the other three crates were for his heroics. “Congratulations, enjoy your eggs,” the official said during his speech.

Kennedy’s teammates were in splits as he was given five crates of eggs. The Player of the Match also delivered his speech after his heroics in the fixture. This wasn’t the first time when a player was given a “strange award” for his heroics.

Last month, a bodybuilder in Bangladesh was given a blender for finishing second in the competition. Frustrated with the final result, he kicked the blender and got banned for life for his actions.

Kennedy kept his calm and delivered a polite speech after being bestowed with the Player of the Match award.

Mr Mulala’s wife is reported to have found him lifeless in the garden of their home and quickly called for the emergency services who pronounced him dead at the scene, according to a statement by the South African Police Service.

Tributes have been pouring in with the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) leading the way.

FAZ General Secretary, Adrian Kashala told South Africa’s Times Live newspaper; “We remain with wonderful memories that the late Philemon honoured us with on the pitch.”

Mr Mulala moved to South Africa in the 1980s to play for the Kaizer Chiefs and later, the Cape Town Spurs.

The South African Police Service has said that an inquest docket has been opened and investigation into the matter continues.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have removed the three dogs from their home and put them in shelters.

The Israeli has agreed a two-year contract, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) announced on Thursday.

“I was looking for the right challenge and that’s why I chose Zambia,” Grant said at a press conference in Lusaka.

“I came here because of the challenge and I hope when I leave here I will look around and say we did a good job and made a good foundation for the future.

“I think Zambia has the potential, we have set the targets of what we want to achieve.”

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Grant has previous experience managing in Africa, having led Ghana to the final at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, where they were beaten on penalties by Ivory Coast, but resigned after finishing fourth in the same competition two years later.

The 67-year-old, who has won honours as a manager in his home country, as well as in England and Serbia, replaces former Zambia international Moses Sichone who had been acting as caretaker following the departure of former Croatia international Aljosa Asanovic in September. Sichone is expected to retain his position as assistant coach.

Grant will be tasked with reviving the ailing fortunes of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winners. The Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) failed to qualify for this year’s tournament in Cameroon and finished third in their qualifying group for the 2022 World Cup.

However, Zambia have several talented young players, including Rangers forward Fashion Sakala and Leicester City striker Patson Daka, who won the Under-20 Nations Cup in 2017 and reached the quarter-finals of the U20 World Cup the same year.

Grant’s first game in charge will be at home to Lesotho in March, a qualifier for the 2023 Cup of Nations being held in Ivory Coast.

The Israeli has agreed a two-year contract, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) announced on Thursday.

“I was looking for the right challenge and that’s why I chose Zambia,” Grant said at a press conference in Lusaka.

“I came here because of the challenge and I hope when I leave here I will look around and say we did a good job and made a good foundation for the future.

“I think Zambia has the potential, we have set the targets of what we want to achieve.”

Grant has previous experience managing in Africa, having led Ghana to the final at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, where they were beaten on penalties by Ivory Coast, but resigned after finishing fourth in the same competition two years later.

The 67-year-old, who has won honours as a manager in his home country, as well as in England and Serbia, replaces former Zambia international Moses Sichone who had been acting as caretaker following the departure of former Croatia international Aljosa Asanovic in September. Sichone is expected to retain his position as assistant coach.

Grant will be tasked with reviving the ailing fortunes of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winners. The Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) failed to qualify for this year’s tournament in Cameroon and finished third in their qualifying group for the 2022 World Cup.

However, Zambia have several talented young players, including Rangers forward Fashion Sakala and Leicester City striker Patson Daka, who won the Under-20 Nations Cup in 2017 and reached the quarter-finals of the U20 World Cup the same year.

Grant’s first game in charge will be at home to Lesotho in March, a qualifier for the 2023 Cup of Nations being held in Ivory Coast.

The woman, whose identity has been withheld by police, is alleged to have told her uncle that she had been abducted by unknown people as she was going to church.

Zambia police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga says the woman left home under the pretext that she was going to church, but instead went to her boyfriend’s house where she allegedly falsely claimed to have been abducted.

Her uncle was called by the “abductors” who claimed that she had been injected with an unknown substance and was being held captive at a secret place.

The “abductors” further demanded a ransom of 50,000 Zambian kwacha ($3,100; £2,800) otherwise they would harm her.

Police then investigated the claim which they say turned out to be false, and were able to retrieve the woman from her boyfriend’s house.

She has since been charged and arrested for the offence of cheating, which is against Zambian law.

If found guilty, she could be fined and sentenced to prison for up to three years.

She hasn’t been able to comment on the allegations, but is set to appear in court soon.

Abductions are not common in Zambia, but recently, police arrested two suspects responsible for the abduction of 13 women and girls who had been held captive for varying periods up to six months.

The Premier League club said Mwepu would be at an “extremely high risk of suffering a potentially fatal cardiac event” if he continued playing.

Mwepu had recently fallen ill on a trip with the Zambia national team to Mali.

He was unable to train after arriving in West Africa last month and spent four days in hospital.

Mwepu had tests on his return to England and Brighton said the results meant the “only option” was for him to retire.

“These tests have concluded that his illness is due to a hereditary cardiac condition, which manifests later in life and was not previously evident on regular cardiac screening,” Brighton said in a statement.

“Sadly, this can be exacerbated by playing sport so Enock has been advised that the only option, for the sake of his own safety, is for him to stop playing football.”

Mwepu said he was retiring with “sadness”, adding he had lived his dream by reaching the Premier League but that “some dreams come to an end”.

“This is, however, not the end of my involvement in football, I plan to stay involved in some capacity,” he said in a statement on Twitter,

The versatile player joined Brighton from Red Bull Salzburg on a four-year deal for an fee reported to be £18m in July 2021.

He scored three goals in 27 appearances for the club and last played in the 5-2 win over Leicester City in September.

Brighton’s head of medicine and performance Adam Brett said: “It is a terrible blow for Enock, but he has to put his health and his family first and this is the right choice, however difficult it is to quit the game he loves.

“Given this is Enock’s career and a decision which can’t be taken lightly, we have taken our time to be as thorough as possible, completed advanced cardiac investigations and collaborated with clinical experts to gain the best second opinions for Enock.

“We will be helping him make sure the condition is managed with the appropriate treatment for him to otherwise live a long and healthy life.”

Chitalu Chilufya is accused of conspiracy to defraud the state $17m (£15m) over the supply of health kits when he served as minister in the last administration, according to a statement by the anti-corruption commission.

He was charged alongside former permanent secretary Mulalelo Kakulubelwa and three directors of a local pharmacy.

They all denied the charge and were released on bond.

They were among prominent personalities arrested on Wednesday over various alleged offenses.

Opposition politician Kelvin Bwalya Fube was arrested by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) for alleged failure to report a suspicious transaction, contrary to money-laundering laws.

Journalist Margaret Musonda was arrested for being in possession of property worth over $1.1m suspected of being proceeds of crime.

They have not pleaded to the charges and were released on bond.

The women, aged between 17 and 28, include a mobile money booth operator who became the face of the abductees after a video in which she appeared being beaten with a metal rod while pleading for mercy went viral about six months ago.

The abductors were demanding a ransom.

Police had launched a manhunt which yielded nothing.

But on Monday, one of the abductees managed to scale a wall of the house where they were being held in the capital, Lusaka’s Chalala residential area.

She then alerted neighbours who broke in to rescue the rest of the women.

Robby Chitambo, who was the first to respond to the distress call, mobilised his friends to break into the house, and narrated graphic details of what he saw.

He said he found a casket, used condoms and sanitary pads in the house before calling police who later arrived at the scene.

“We helped the ladies by taking them out. One of them is pregnant. We found a casket and a shrine inside the house. There were also charms, pads and condoms everywhere,” he narrated.

In a statement, Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba said that all the victims were taken to a medical facility.

He said they had arrested a suspect who was helping police with investigations.

Zambians on social media have welcomed the development.

“What’s the equivalent of a knighthood in Zambia… Whatever it is, safe to say #RobbyChitambo is a perfect fit,” a Twitter user said.

Martin Stampa from Zambia stayed in a house for 15 years, and he was paying 3,500 kwacha, which is the equivalent of GHS 1,800, every month.

His wife was the one who always took the rent to his “landlord.”

On one fateful day, the couple had an altercation after the wife, Lushomo, discovered that her husband was having an extramarital affair.

Hateful words were exchanged, and Martin allegedly told his wife that he got a side chick because he wanted someone who was intelligent and who had smart conversations.

This riled Lushomo, who ended up spilling the beans and telling Martin that he’s not intelligent enough as he has been paying her R3626 every month because the house they stay in belongs to her.

On seeing the house’s title deeds, Martin lost consciousness and collapsed. People had to drench him with bucketfuls of water to wake him up.

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Not only the first North African country to host a Wafcon, Morocco’s 2-1 victory against Botswana makes them the first country from the region to qualify for the Women’s World Cup.

Earlier, goalkeeper Hazel Nali was the hero for Zambia in their penalty shootout win against Senegal, after extra time had finished 1-1 in Casablanca.

All four Wafcon semi-finalists automatically qualify for the 32-team tournament in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.

Botswana and Senegal have a final chance to join their conquerors in the tournament when both play in repechage ties at the weekend to decide Africa’s two teams to contest an intercontinental play-off next year.

Impressing again with their flowing football, Morocco earned their fourth win in as many games in the capital Rabat to see off a Botswana side who fought to the end.

Livewire Sanaa Mssoudy opened the scoring three minutes in when smartly flicking home Fatima Tagnaout’s free-kick, but Botswana hit back just four minutes as Keitumetse Dithebe curled home a stunning free-kick.

Just before the hour, the irrepressible Tagnaout delivered again as her cross was headed home by Yasmin Mrabet for a goal greeted by flares in the packed-out stands.

Morocco has invested hugely in women’s football in recent years and reaching the Women’s World Cup has been a stated aim.

• Zambia edge tight contest

A year after their Olympic debut, Zambia have reached their first Women’s World Cup, which they first tried to do in the mid-1990s.

Their qualification is all the more impressive given the absence of star striker Barbra Banda, who has missed the tournament over ‘gender eligibility’ issues.

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Just seconds after keeping out Ndiaye Diakhate’s spot-kick, Nali stepped up herself to clinch the shootout 4-2 and send Zambia to their first Wafcon semi-final.

After a tight opening between sides playing a Wafcon knockout tie for the first time, Senegal took the lead when Nguenar Ndiaye ran in unmarked to head home skipper Mbayang Sow’s deep free-kick just after the hour.

Just as the Senegalese looked to be cruising, Zambia were handed a gift when goalkeeper Tenning Sene dropped Lushomo Mweemba’s long-range free-kick under no pressure to present Avell Chitundu with a sitter after 70 minutes.

Extra time was lively late on as Senegal’s Mama Diop had an opening in the final moments, before Zambia went close through Ochumba Lubandji’s fine strike and the impressive Mweemba’s header against the crossbar.

In the shootout, Senegal missed their first kick as Korka Fall shot wide before Sene thought she had made amends when denying Mweemba, only for Nali to take them into Monday’s semi-final against either South Africa or Tunisia.

The latter two meet in Thursday’s second quarter-final, with nine-time and defending champions Nigeria facing three-time runners-up Cameroon beforehand.

Despite being allowed to play in last year’s Olympic Games, the 22-year-old forward has failed to meet the criteria required by global governing body Fifa, whose gender rules the Confederation of African Football (Caf) defers to regarding WAFCON.

“All the players had to undergo gender verification, a Caf requirement, and unfortunately she did not meet the criteria set by Caf,” Andrew Kamanga, the president of Zambia’s FA (Faz), told BBC Sport Africa.

“It’s unfortunate that we find ourselves going into the tournament without our best players.”

Zambia opened their Group C campaign with a 0-0 draw against three-time runners-up Cameroon on Sunday and face Tunisia on Wednesday prior to finishing the group with a clash against debutants Togo at the weekend.

Banda shot to global prominence when becoming the first player to score back-to-back Olympic hat-tricks in Tokyo.

When asked by BBC Sport Africa on Sunday how it was possible for Banda to have played in the Olympics but not at WAFCON, Caf’s communications director Lux September responded by saying “there is no such decision from the Caf medical committee”.

The answer has irritated Kamanga however, who has told BBC Sport Africa that “whatever happened was purely a Caf requirement”.

Banda – who was pulled from the squad by Faz after she failed the verification on the eve of the finals – is one of the most prolific strikers in African women’s football and is currently in Morocco and training with the Copper Queens squad, despite being unable to play.

“Everybody at home [in Zambia] has been made to believe that Faz did nothing and decided on their own to exclude the player,” Kamanga added.

“We the federations are compelled to undertake the tests and then we pass on the information to Caf, and Caf, equally, test the players if needs be in the tournament.

“So it will be unfair to turn around and say Caf is not part and parcel of whatever has transpired.”

BBC Sport Africa understands that three other Zambian players were affected by gender eligibility but chose not to feature for the national team, whose squad features 22, rather than the permitted 26, players.

Banda was originally named in Zambia’s WAFCON squad after taking medication to help reduce her levels of testosterone, which are naturally overly-high, but she has still not met the regulations, BBC Sport Africa understands.

The forward is contracted to Chinese side Shanghai Shengli but is reported to be on the verge of a possible move to Spain’s top flight.

• Gender debate

Gender verification is not new to sport, nor is the fierce debate that accompanies it.

Multiple Olympic athletics star Caster Semenya of South Africa has been in a battle with World Athletics for many years in a bid to challenge its gender eligibility rules.

She is currently awaiting a verdict in her case from the European Court of Human Rights after previously losing appeals at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and Switzerland’s Federal Supreme Court.

In football, Fifa’s eligibility rules – which the 2022 Women’s Nations Cup defers to – were put in place over a decade ago, in May 2011.

According to the Fifa document, the rules were introduced to ensure a level playing field and “safeguard2 the separation between male and female players.

“Androgenic hormones have performance-enhancing effects which may provide an advantage in football,” the Fifa document states.

As a result, the amount of naturally-occurring testosterone in female players is limited to certain levels, with players who are over those levels needing to reduce them through medication (or, in extreme cases, surgery) before they can be passed eligible to play.

• Inconsistent application of rules

Faz says it is concerned at the implementation of the rules set by Fifa, which oversees Olympic football events among countless other tournaments.

“Barbra carried the team on her shoulders during the qualifiers for the Olympics, as well as the tournament itself,” Kamanga explained.

“She’s done a good job, but we also need to now address this issue, which seems to have technically taken her out of the tournament.

“The elephant in the room is to deal with this issue of gender verification, which seems to be discriminatory, in the sense that you seem to have it in this competition [but not others].

“But these are professional players, who are also playing professional football in different leagues, where that requirement doesn’t seem to be in tandem with what Caf is asking.

“Equally, if you take it to the next level in the Fifa competitions, you now start questioning why it should only be enforced in this competition, when it should really cut across all competitions. I think this is where we seem to be at cross purposes.”

Having faced criticism for travelling with a player who they knew would not meet the set criteria, Kamanga explained that they travelled with Banda in the hope that her testosterone-reducing medication could have enabled her to play.

“The medical team recommended she be given an opportunity without being dropped outright and she was still given that opportunity up to the last minute when the final team was announced,” the Faz president explained.

“But most importantly, she’s the captain of the team and she’s equally important for team-building and ensuring spirit in the team.”

Led by Zambia’s Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Paul C. Kabuswe, the delegation focused particularly on issues relating to the mining sector in Ghana.

Speaking during a brief meeting, chaired by a Deputy Minister of Mines, George Mireku Duker, on behalf of the sector Minister, Samuel A. Jinapor, Mr Kabuswe said his visit to Ghana was to basically study Ghana’s small-scale mining sector, exchange ideas and learn best practices in the mining space.

He noted that for Africa to thrive and prosper through its own efforts and resources, there must be stronger and closer collaboration among African countries.

“We need to collaborate and share ideas to help harness our resources as Africans and liberate ourselves economically. This is because we are not yet economically powerful as a continent and so it is time to sit together and exchange views and not stay aloof,” he said.

Mr Kabuswe said Zambia had recently discovered gold and wanted to embark on very robust minerals exploration to ensure the gold did not end up in wrong hands.

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He added that the Zambian government was mapping up the entire country to, among others, help understand the extent of mineral deposits in the country.

The minister noted that his country had taken the decision to clean up the licensing system.

“Mining starts at the licensing stage and if you don’t get it right from the beginning, you miss the point. Therefore, you must get it right from the beginning,” he explained.

He said to ensure an all-inclusive system, the government had set itself on a path to reorganise the mining sector in Zambia with a new mining policy framework.

He noted that Africa had the human resource to achieve whatever goals it set for itself.

Improvement

Responding, Mr Duker updated the delegation on Ghana’s efforts to improve the mining sector through a strong regulatory framework and decentralisation.

He expressed delight that Zambia had shown interest in Ghana’s mining sector, adding that about 500 companies had also shown similar interest, especially the opportunities that existed in the country.

On value addition, Mr Duker said the government, through the ministry, had set up agencies, such as the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation and the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation, to promote and develop an integrated bauxite, aluminium, iron and steel industry.

He said as part of Ghana’s contribution to the Minamata Convention, the government had procured mercury-free mining equipment which efficiently recovered more gold for artisanal and small-scale miners and also encouraged responsible mining.

The delegation also paid a similar visit to the Minerals Commission and the Precious Minerals and Marketing Company, which among others, promotes the development of precious minerals and jewelery in the country.

“His life of service to our country, and to our continent, represents the highest form of patriotism,” President Hakainde Hichilema said.

Mr Banda, a former diplomat, was serving as vice-president when, in 2008, President Levy Mwanawasa suffered a stroke and later died. He then took office, becoming the country’s fourth president, and won the subsequent election.

But he stepped down in 2011 after losing that year’s poll to Michael Sata. Mr Banda was widely praised at the time for accepting defeat, rather than challenging the result.

His time in office was dogged by corruption allegations and in 2013 he was arrested after being accused of stealing millions of dollars.

The ScorpionFest show was deemed a huge success after the dancehall musician gave out an electrifying performance at the Bakau Sports Stadium in Zambia on February 26.

Meanwhile, a day after the show, Stonebwoy paid a courtesy call on a Ghanaian community dubbed Ghana Town that has many Ghanaians living in the popular suburb in Zambia.

He promised to be visiting them often, saying: I decided to come and visit my family in Ghana Town. I have some of my mothers and fathers coming from here.

Ghana Town in Zambia is a native town to some Ghanaian immigrants, mostly fishermen, who left Ghana circa 1958 to seek greener pastures outside of Ghana.

Most of them hail from the Western Region of Ghana and the languages they speak are mostly Fante and Asante Twi.

Initially, these settlers were supposed to travel to Sierra Leone but the captain of their ship didn’t dock, according to history, hence they were taken to Senegal before they moved on to Gambia, up till today.

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The suspect, identified as Elizabeth Mweete of Kuku Town, assaulted her husband Alex Muleya, 39, on Tuesday, December 28. 

Police spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, in a media statement on Wednesday, December 29, said that the victim sustained severe burns on the back, on the left side of his face and eye and is currently admitted to Chawama level one Hospital.

“Police in Lusaka have launched a manhunt for Elizabeth Mweete aged 32 after she assaulted her husband Alex Muleya aged 39 of House number 116 Kuku Compound by pouring hot cooking oil on him.

“The incident occurred on 28th December 2021 around 22:30 hours at the couple’s house,” he said.

Mr Hamoonga appealed to members of the public who may know the whereabouts of the suspect to report to any nearest police.

Meanwhile, a video has emerged where the victim narrated how his wife poured hot cooking oil on his body over another man. 

According to Mukeya, he received a phone call from an unknown person who informed him that the man his wife Elizabeth Mweete was allegedly having a relationship with had died.

“One guy called me and said, hey guy do you know that the guy who was going out with your wife is no more? I said what? I put my phone on loud and my wife heard the story, I don’t know maybe that is what upset my wife,” said Muleya.

Source: Lindaikejiblog

Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi described the late former president as an “iconic statesman of the highest credentials” for his “selfless dedication to the interests of his own country as well as the well-being of neighbours and humankind at large”.

He said Kaunda was Botswana’s “best friend during the worst of time” for his role in the the country’s struggle for independence.

President Masisi has announced seven days of mourning for the late Zambian leader:

PRESS RELEASE pic.twitter.com/fPACK3701P

— Botswana Government (@BWGovernment) June 17, 2021

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country was mourning “a beloved and rightfully revered father of African independence and unity – President Kenneth ‘KK’ Kaunda”.

This evening we bow our heads in grief at the passing of a beloved and rightfully revered father of African independence and unity – President Kenneth “KK” Kaunda. We are united in our sadness with the Kaunda family and the government and people of the Republic of Zambia.#RIPKK pic.twitter.com/kyyPQbgfVq

— Cyril Ramaphosa ?? #StaySafe (@CyrilRamaphosa) June 17, 2021

The country’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), hailed Kaunda as a giant of South Africa and the continent’s liberation struggle.

“Dr Kaunda holds a special place in the hearts of our movement, our country and the South African people. He opened up Zambia and made it the home and headquarters of the ANC for over 30 years,” the party said in a statement.

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan said Africa had “lost a liberation fighter, patriot and true Pan-Africanist”.

I'm deeply saddened by the passing on of the First President of Zambia, H.E Kenneth Kaunda. Africa has lost a liberation fighter, patriot and true Pan-Africanist. My condolences to President @EdgarCLungu , the berieved family and all Zambians. May his soul rest in peace! Amen.

— Samia Suluhu (@SuluhuSamia) June 17, 2021

Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo remembered him as one of the last icons of independence struggle who made sacrifices in different ways.

“My prayer is that the death of this great African son and leader will remind us of the sacrifices that he and his contemporaries who fought for Africa’s independence made”, he said.

A Magistrate’s Court in the capital, Lusaka, found her guilty after her Ministry misspent $4.3m (£3m) meant for poor families.

In 2018, President Edgar Lungu fired Ms Kabanshi as well as suspended 80 officials from the ministry of general education after an estimated $1.6m of donor funds was allegedly embezzled.

The scandals prompted the UK, Finland, Ireland and Sweden to suspend funding to the southern African country.

Ms Kabanshi was facing two charges of wilful failure to comply with the law.

She is expected to appeal against the judgement.