zambia - The African Mirror

Sep

2023

World’s oldest wooden structure unearthed in Zambia

ARCHAEOLOGISTS working in Zambia have made a revolutionary discovery that has the capacity to reshape our understanding of early hominid behaviour. According to the Lusaka Times, the scientists unearthed pre-historic wooden logs, firmly embedded in the riverbank, which indicate that nearly half a million years ago, Stone Age communities used wood for the construction of structures - possibly shelter. "The research… has generated significant excitement in the archaeological community. It is led by Professor Larry Barham from the University of Liverpool, who heads the Deep Roots of Humanity research project responsible for excavating and analysing this ancient timber," the Lusaka…

Jul

2023

By The African Mirror

Morocco gets kind draw in Africa qualifiers for 2026 World Cup

FOOTBALL

WORLD Cup semi-finalists Morocco have been handed a gentle path to the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada after the draw was made for the African qualifiers in Abidjan. The top team in each of the nine groups, which each contains six countries, qualifies automatically for the World Cup. The four best runners-up will enter an African playoff stage, where the winners will feature in the inter-confederation playoffs to be held in March 2026. It means Africa is guaranteed nine places at the expanded 48-team finals, with a 10th side possibly added via the playoffs. Morocco has…

Jul

2023

By CONRAD ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Angola, Congo and Zambia bet on iconic railway to tap critical minerals

NEWS

UNTIL the 1970s, the Lobito rail corridor was one of the busiest transport routes in Africa, linking Southern and Central Africa's inland markets with the rest of the world and serving as the shortest export route for goods and commodities flowing to Europe and America. The iconic railway built nearly 100 years ago was part of a vast extractive network facilitating trade in, among other things, copper, cobalt, coal, zinc, lead, timber, sugar, maise, and coffee. However, after civil war broke out in Angola in 1975, rail operations were suspended by Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and…

Jul

2023

By MARK GLEESON

Africa have more teams but not increased hopes at World Cup

FOOTBALL

MORE African teams at an expanded Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand this year might mean more chance of improved results for the vast continent, but realistically they may be lucky to do much more than get past the first round. There will be four African countries in the 32-team field, up from three in the last two editions. But Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia are not expected to make anything like the impact that Morocco did at the men’s tournament in Qatar last year when they became the first African side to reach the semi-finals.…

Jun

2023

By MARK GLEESON

Equatorial Guinea, Zambia qualify for Cup of Nations finals

SPORT

EQUATORIAL Guinea and Zambia qualified for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals as World Cup semi-finalists Morocco lost in their first competitive game since their Qatar heroics. Equatorial Guinea and Zambia took the list of teams confirmed for next January’s finals to nine with more expected on Sunday, when a further nine qualifiers take place across the continent. Morocco qualified in March without playing but lost 2-1 to South Africa in Johannesburg to cede the leadership of Group K. Since becoming the first African team to make the World Cup semi-finals, Morocco has played three friendlies, including beating Brazil,…

May

2023

By BIRD STORY AGENCY

Africa’s debt financing in the spotlight

BUSINESS

IN the face of economic challenges, Rwanda has achieved a significant milestone by successfully repaying its $400 million debut Eurobond, after defaults by Zambia and Ghana, which were unable to repay US$3 billion and US$13.2 billion respectively. A statement from the Rwandan Ministry of Finance to The East African, a regional media outlet, indicated that the loan, which was due this month, is now fully repaid, thanks to IMF financing and prudent saving. The report further details that the released amount - US$63 million, equivalent to 15.1% of the 2013 Eurobond - was to repay IMF’s Special Drawing Rights loan…

Mar

2023

By MARK GLEESON

Daka double puts Zambia on brink of Cup of Nations qualification

FOOTBALL

PATSON Daka scored a double to guide Zambia to a 2-0 away win over Lesotho in Africa Cup of Nations qualification and strengthen their chances of qualifying for next year’s finals. The Leicester City attacker played a centre-forward role for his country and tucked away opportunities in the 14th and 69th minute, both set up by Scottish-based Fashion Sakala. It was a second successive win since Avram Grant took over as coach and puts Zambia top of Group H, from which only one team qualifies. The group also includes the Ivory Coast, who are participating in the qualifiers but already…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Women sports leaders celebrated

SPORT

LORI EWING FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura has applauded the eight nations who are debuting at the Women's World Cup, urging the players to take pride in their ability to inspire. Haiti, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Ireland, Vietnam and Zambia will debut at the global women's soccer showcase that runs from July 20-August 20 in Australia and New Zealand. "Seeing you ladies who are mothers, sisters, students and athletes. Women they identify with, excelling on the pitch," Samoura said in a statement. "This will encourage a generation of young girls and women to aim high, to aim big. To advocate…

Feb

2023

By The African Mirror

Zambia criticises debt restructuring delays – FT

BUSINESS

ZAMBIA'S finance minister criticised the prolonged nature of the country's debt restructuring talks, the Financial Times reported, after a Chinese call for the World Bank and other multilateral lenders to offer debt relief sparked concern about further delays. In an interview with the newspaper, Situmbeko Musokotwane said that "time is of the essence" to finish a restructuring of about $13 billion of external debt this year. Multilateral lenders, who don't usually take haircuts, should participate in debt relief for Zambia, a Chinese foreign ministry official said last month. This insistence was one of the main sticking points in talks, a…

Jan

2023

By The African Mirror

Global tech billionaires eye Zambia’s electric vehicle battery mines, European Union eyes its avocados

NEWS

SETH ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY MARKET optimism is spurring a rush of investments into Zambia's agriculture and mining sectors, giving the economy new growth impetus. Investors include Kobold, a consortium linked to tech titans Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson, now tipped to stir up Zambia's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) scene with planned investments into its mining sector. The California-based mineral exploration firm is eyeing the country's mines for electric vehicle components, leveraging reformist President Hakainde Hichilema's efforts to revitalise the economy. Upon his landslide poll victory in 2021, part of Hichilema's economic blueprint entailed placing an electric vehicle…