Government Approves 24-Hour Business Operations, Adopts Key…

Government has approved the extension of business and operating hours to 24 hours for business premises, markets and bus stations to stimulate economic growth, create jobs and improve service delivery. The decision was made during the Third Cabinet Meeting held on March 16, 2026, chaired byHakainde Hichilema. Speaking inLusaka,Cornelius Mweetwasaid the move demonstrates government’s commitment to boosting productivity and supporting business expansion.

Mr Mweetwa also announced that Cabinet approved in principle the repeal of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act and the National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act, which will be replaced with updated legislation aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability and parliamentary integrity. He further revealed that Cabinet approved key legislative reforms, including the Education (Amendment) Bill of 2026, which seeks to entrench free education from early childhood to secondary level. Meanwhile, Cabinet resolved to establish public universities in Eastern, Luapula, Northern, Southern and Western Provinces, in addition to North-Western Province, in order to expand access to higher education across the country.

Universities are not what Zambia needs. Learn from South Africa whose Universities are benign because they aren’t feeding industrial growth. Most African countries including Zambia need technicians and craftsmen.

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There’s already enough Universities producing more than enough intellectuals Mr. Vladimir Choongo. Please delete your comment.

What type of thinking is that? Absolutely backwards thinking. Ati, “Learn from South Africa whose Universities are benign because they aren’t feeding industrial growth”, the same South Africa that is the most industrialized and technologically advanced country on the continent.

And the biggest economy in Africa. The challenges SA faces in industrialization right now is government policies and people like you who think Universities are not critical.

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