President Hakainde Hichilema closed public consultations on proposed constitutional amendments, receiving 11,860 submissions, just 0.06% of the population. Civil society, church groups, and opposition parties criticized the process as rushed, inaccessible, and legally questionable. The government is reviewing the Technical Committee’s report, but critics warn that the amendment process risks excluding significant public voices and may not fully reflect citizen input.

Zambia’s Electoral Commission registered 1,453,463 new voters in a 30-day mass registration drive. Copperbelt led with 231,883 new registrations, and Lusaka recorded 200,367. The figure falls short of the 3.5 million target, with a three-day extension still being compiled. The ECZ will now prepare the Provisional Voter Register for inspection in February 2026 and final certification by April 30, ahead of the 2026 General Election.

Zambia’s parliament declared Tasila Lungu’s Chawama constituency seat vacant after her prolonged absence following her father’s death. She requested virtual attendance while in South Africa handling funeral matters, but the request was rejected. Elections for the seat will be held within 90 days. The decision sparked debate over balancing compassionate leave with constituents’ right to representation.

Zambia ranked 103rd of 143 countries in the 2025 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, dropping 1% from last year. The decline reflects shrinking civic space, reduced freedoms of expression and assembly, and weaker government checks. Courts remain relatively independent, but the slide highlights growing authoritarian trends and challenges to public oversight and fundamental rights. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, Zambia ranks 14th.

Zambia became the first African nation to join the HealthAI Global Regulatory Network, partnering with countries including the UK, Singapore, and India to strengthen AI oversight in healthcare. The agreement aims to build regulatory capacity, share best practices, and monitor AI applications, emphasizing patient safety, responsible AI adoption, and positioning Zambia as a leader in African health innovation.

Zambia’s aquaculture sector is rapidly expanding as young entrepreneurs and government-backed programs drive record fish production. With rising demand and high imports, low-interest loans, private innovation and improved hatcheries are helping nearly 20,000 farmers enter the industry. Despite challenges like feed costs and climate pressures, production reached 89,000 tons in 2024, making Zambia a regional leader and showcasing aquaculture as a new engine of economic growth beyond mining.

Zambia’s rejected proposed regulations that would grant the state a free 15% stake in critical-mineral mines, saying the policy conflicts with efforts to attract investment. The draft rules, created by the Mines Ministry, also propose state rights to increase ownership to 40%. Officials say the ideas will be refined. The Presidency insists it won’t support free-carried interests as the nation aims to boost copper production ahead of 2026 elections.

Zambia’s tourism sector surged to 2.2 million international arrivals in 2024. Two million were recorded by October 2025, driven by marketing, infrastructure upgrades, and improved air connectivity. The sector supports 473,000 jobs, contributes significantly to GDP, and positions Zambia as a top Southern African destination for leisure and business tourism. Government initiatives, including eco-tourism, cultural promotion, and investor-ready site upgrades, are expected to sustain growth. Arrivals are projected to surpass 2.4 million in 2025.

Shuka Minerals will receive the remaining funds this month to complete its acquisition of Leopard Exploration and Mining (LEM) and Zambia’s Kabwe zinc mine. The initial tranche, giving Shuka a 22.2% stake, is settled. Further payments from Gathoni Muchai Investments will raise its interest to 49.9%, with full acquisition expected by December 31. The delay shifts some payments from November to December under an increased loan agreement.