Zambia Roundup: Interpol candidate, Women’s World Cup, asylum seekers

Interpol candidate accused of kidnapping

Mubita Nawa, who was a candidate for the next head of Interpol, was accused of involvement in the kidnapping, detention, and assault of two Indian businessmen. The businessmen allege that Nawa played a role in a conspiracy to extort them for overpayment on a loan from the Zambian government. Nawa and the Zambian police deny the accusations, claiming the businessmen are suspects in a fraud investigation. According to the Guardian, the businessmen have filed legal proceedings against the police and government officials and are seeking the payment owed to them by the Zambian government.

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

Zambia has been drawn against Japan, Brazil, and Poland in the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic. The tournament will run from 16 October to 3 November and will be the final edition with 16 teams before expanding to 24 teams in 2025. Zambia earned their spot by defeating Tanzania 5-1 on aggregate in the first round of qualification.

Climate adaptation projects

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Zambian government are partnering on two climate adaptation projects to protect the ecosystem along one of Zambia's biggest rivers and a national park. The projects, funded by the Global Environment Facility, will support sustainable farming, livestock conservation, and resilience to water scarcity.

EU and UNICEF agreement to address malnutrition

The European Union and UNICEF have signed a Cooperation Agreement worth € 4,528,750 to address malnutrition in drought-affected districts in Zambia.  According to the leading humanitarian website ReliefWeb, the aid will benefit 89,741 women and children through food assistance, cash transfers, and nutrient supplements. The drought has affected 84 districts, leaving over 6.6 million people in need of humanitarian aid. The aid will support the Government of Zambia in responding to the crisis and preventing a nutrition crisis among children and pregnant women. The initiative is part of the Scaling Up Nutrition Phase II, which aims to reduce the stunting of children under 2 in 17 districts of Zambia.

Over 100,000 asylum seekers in Zambia

Zambia currently hosts approximately 101,878 asylum seekers, refugees, and former refugees from various countries, according to Vice-President Mutale Nalumango. The veep speaking at an event in Zambia’s northwestern province to commemorate World Refugee Day on June 20, emphasised the country's commitment to providing shelter and support to those in need, based on the principles of empathy and human dignity, local media Diggers News reports.