Mopani operations at Nkana, Mufulira suspended over safety breaches
Why Zambia Verifies Qualifications: Understanding ZAQA’s Mandate
ZRA seizes US$145,000 in Gatbro raid
ACC challenges CPI report on corruption fight
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MINING operations at (MCM) at its Nkana and Mufulira sites have been suspended due to non-compliance with regulations, which has resulted in a series of fatal mine accidents.
This year, both the Nkana site in Kitwe and the mine in Mufulira have recorded accidents that have claimed the lives of miners subcontracted from one of the mine’s contractors.
The fatalities prompted a high-level delegation from the Minerals Regulation Commission (MRC), led by the Director General, to engage the mine.
In a statement, Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development Principal Public Relations Officer Kalani Muchima said the engagement reviewed all reported mine accidents and critically examined the effectiveness of the safety controls in place to prevent such incidents.
Mr. Muchima said the commission found the mine wanting on a number of key safety areas.
“Following the deliberations, the Commission observed that the Mopani Mufulira Mine Site had not complied with the provisions of Part 218 of the Mining Regulations, which require the Mine Manager to establish and maintain a system for accounting for all persons working underground at any given time.
“In light of this non-compliance, the Commission evoked the provisions of Section 56 of the Minerals Regulation Commission Act No. 14 of 2024 and has suspended underground operations at the Mopani Mufulira Mine Site. Operations will remain suspended until the mine rectifies all deficiencies identified in its personnel accounting system,” he said.
He also revealed that the Commission resolved to conduct a comprehensive audit of all operations at the Mopani Mufulira and Nkana mine sites.
“This audit is a proactive measure aimed at strengthening compliance with Safety, Health, and Environmental (SHE) requirements across Mopani’s operations,” he said.
(Mwebantu, Saturday, 14th Februray, 2026)
Why Zambia Verifies Qualifications: Understanding ZAQA’s Mandate
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As Zambia’s education and training system continues to expand and diversify, questions have increasingly arisen about how qualifications are confirmed, recognised, and trusted. In response to this public interest, the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA) explains its mandate and clarifies why the verification of qualifications is important, and situates this process within national, regional, and international best practice.
Background to Qualifications Governance in Zambia
Since Independence, Zambia’s education and training system has expanded significantly, supported by functionally dedicated institutions anchored on pieces of legislation. For instance, the Examinations Council of Zambia, established in 1983 under the Examinations Council of Zambia Act, has been responsible for assessing learners and awarding school qualifications. In the Technical and Vocational subsector, the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority, established under the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Act No. 13 of 1998, has been mandated to regulate, coordinate, and assure quality in technical and vocational education and training. Further TEVET (Amendment) Act No. 11 of 2005 mandates TEVETA to conduct assessments and award qualifications to all learners in this Subsector while the Higher Education Subsector institutions have traditionally been independently designing learning programmes and conferring qualifications on their graduates.
However, the rapid growth of post-secondary and higher education, especially from the 1990s onwards, revealed gaps in coordination, quality assurance, and international comparability of qualifications. These challenges and in tandem with existing international protocols compelled Government to establish regulatory bodies, including ZAQA, to ensure coherence, credibility, and global recognition of Zambian qualifications.
Legal Framework and ZAQA’s Mandate
ZAQA operates under the Zambia Qualifications Authority Act No. 8 of 2024, which mandates the Authority to develop and maintain the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), register qualifications, and verify and evaluate both local and foreign qualifications.
Zambia is also a State Party to the UNESCO Addis Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees and Other Academic Qualifications in Higher Education in African States (2014) and the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications (2019). These binding international instruments require countries to designate a competent national authority to ensure that qualifications presented for employment, further study, or cross-border recognition are authentic and verifiable. ZAQA fulfils this role for Zambia.
What Is Verification of Qualifications?
Verification is the process of confirming that a qualification is genuine, properly awarded, and recognised. It is conducted after a qualification has been issued and is distinct from assessment or examination. The process involves confirming the legitimacy of the awarding body, authenticating learner records with the institution concerned, and ensuring that the qualification meets national and international standards. For foreign qualifications, evaluation also determines their appropriate level on Zambia’s NQF.
Why Verification Is Necessary
Verification protects employers, learning institutions, and the public from fraudulent or misrepresented qualifications. It promotes fair recruitment, safeguards genuine learners, and enhances confidence in Zambia’s education and training system. Following the enactment of the ZAQA Act No. 8 of 2024, which made verification mandatory for employment and enrolment, ZAQA detected a significant increase in misrepresented qualifications (1,996 in 2025), revealing challenges that previously went undetected under a voluntary system. This underscores the importance of independent verification in protecting national interests.
International Best Practice and Third-Party Verification
Globally, best practice requires that qualification verification be conducted by an independent third party, separate from awarding bodies. This principle is articulated in UNESCO Conventions and regional frameworks such as the SADC Qualifications Framework and African Continental Qualifications Framework.
In this context, there is no duplication of roles between ZAQA and awarding bodies. Awarding bodies are responsible for assessing learners and awarding qualifications, while ZAQA’s mandate is to independently verify qualifications after they have been awarded for use by third parties such as employers, learning institutions, and foreign authorities. Importantly, Section 5(1)(i) of the Zambia Qualifications Authority Act No. 8 of 2024 expressly provides that ZAQA shall verify a local qualification in consultation with an awarding body. Verification is therefore a collaborative process, in which ZAQA works closely with awarding bodies to authenticate learner records and confirm the legitimacy of qualifications, while maintaining the independence required of a competent third-party verification authority. In line with international practice and Zambia’s obligations under global recognition frameworks, ZAQA serves as the national reference point for international stakeholders when Zambian qualifications cross borders, ensuring credibility, comparability, and trust in Zambia’s qualifications system.
Conclusion
Verification of qualifications is not a revenue-raising exercise, but a statutory quality assurance function carried out in the public interest. ZAQA remains committed to transparency, collaboration with awarding bodies, and protecting the integrity of Zambia’s education system. Through verification, Zambia strengthens trust in its qualifications, supports labour mobility, and upholds its national and international obligations.
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THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has raided Gatbro International Limited and instituted inquiries and investigations into alleged multiple tax evasion and related financial irregularities involving the company and its associated entities.
ZRA manager for corporate communications Oliver Nzala said Irfaan Ismail Yosouf had been identified as the principal beneficial owner of the company, while Shalida Yosouf and Jamil Mitha, together with Shiraz Gathool, Nadeem Yousuf Muhammed and Mohammed Khanat, were directors.
Mr Nzala said preliminary findings indicated suspected under-declaration of imported goods, possible non-disclosure of actual sales revenue and potential misrepresentation of financial records.
He said it was further alleged that the company may have failed to accurately declare the true value and volume of goods imported, thereby reducing its tax liability.
“Furthermore, there are suspicions that the correct amounts of Value Added Tax (VAT) and Income Tax may not have been remitted, contrary to the provisions of the Income Tax Act and the Value Added Tax Act of Zambia,” Mr Nzala said.
He said a detailed analysis had identified patterns of intra-group transactions among Gatbro International Limited’s associated entities, which may have enabled the movement of income, costs and goods across affiliated companies in a manner that affected the group’s taxable position, including the possible externalisation of taxable income.
“The group’s multi-sector operations, spanning fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) distribution, hospitality, real estate, mining and energy, provide structural flexibility that may facilitate the reallocation of illicit financial flows and movement of assets within the network. The full extent and purpose of these transactions remain under examination and will be subject to a detailed forensic review,” Mr Nzala said.
He said the investigation encompassed several entities identified as operationally linked, including companies involved in distribution, mining, energy, property, hospitality and tourism, with operations in Lusaka, Mumbwa, Lower Zambezi and Mfuwe.
Mr Nzala said senior management, directors of associated offshore entities and certain operational personnel were also subject to review in line with established procedures.
He said US$145,000 was seized by the Authority during the raid.
Mr Nzala said investigations were ongoing and that all findings at this stage remained allegations subject to verification through due process.
He said the Authority remained committed to upholding the law objectively and professionally, adding that any taxpayer found to have contravened tax legislation would be dealt with in accordance with the laws of Zambia.
Mr Nzala said ZRA assured the public that revenue protection, transparency and accountability remained central to its mandate, and that updates would be provided as appropriate, consistent with legal and investigative considerations.
(Mwebantu, Friday, 13th Februray, 2026)
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THE Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has challenged the recently released Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) by Transparency International Zambia (TIZ), which indicates a decline in Zambia’s fight against corruption.
On Tuesday this week, TIZ released the 2025 CPI, showing that Zambia’s score dropped from 39 out of 100 in 2024 to 37 in 2025.
However, the ACC has noted that the assessment is largely based on opinions regarding perceived risks and vulnerabilities within governance systems, rather than on confirmed incidents of corruption.
ACC Head of Corporate Communication Chilufya Chisanga said that while the decrease was noted with concern, it followed earlier improvements, including a four-point increase in 2023 and a two-point rise in 2024, and that the progress made in recent years should therefore not be overlooked.
“The ACC acknowledges the decline in Zambia’s ranking. However, it is important to emphasise that the CPI measures perceptions of public sector corruption rather than actual levels of corruption. The assessment is largely based on opinions and perceptions regarding risks and vulnerabilities within governance systems,” Ms Chisanga said.
She said that in the report, Zambia was primarily assessed on the perceived risk of increased abuse of office by public officials who may divert public funds through strategic business interests and political supporters ahead of this year’s General Election.
Ms Chisanga said that with Zambia heading towards the 2026 elections, there was a perception that public funds could be diverted to companies, individuals or groups to fund political party campaigns.
“According to TIZ, this perception is heightened by the absence of legislation regulating political party financing. However, it must be stated that these concerns relate to perceived risks rather than confirmed occurrences,” she said.
Ms Chisanga said the Commission stood ready to respond decisively to any potential abuse of public resources and to ensure that perpetrators were held fully accountable under the law.
She said the Commission further noted with concern the heavy reliance by TIZ on the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) Trends Report as a primary reference.
Ms Chisanga said that while the FIC report provides valuable intelligence for law enforcement agencies, it does not constitute conclusive evidence of actual corruption, as such intelligence must be subjected to thorough investigation before definitive conclusions are reached.
She said that while the ACC respected the CPI report and its contribution to public discourse, reliance solely on perception-based assessments did not fully reflect the significant progress achieved in the fight against corruption over the past five years.
“With the support of Government, stakeholders and citizens, the Commission has demonstrated sustained commitment through several key strategic interventions, including strengthened accountability measures evidenced by proactive investigations, successful prosecutions and the recovery of stolen assets exceeding K500 million,” Ms Chisanga said.
She said the Commission remained committed to strengthening anti-corruption strategies in line with the National Policy on Anti-Corruption.
(Mwebantu, Friday, 13th Februray, 2026)
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