Malawi's former president, Peter Mutharika, has taken an early lead in this week's election, in which he faced off against incumbent Lazarus Chakwera.

The Health Directorate in the Zambezi Region is on high alert following reports of Mpox and cholera in neighbouring Zambia. 

Its director, Woita Kapumburu, said authorities in the region have already assembled a team of experts to continuously monitor the situation at all entry points.

Zambia has granted an amnesty for illegal firearms with a reward of the equivalent of about N$1,000 for every weapon surrendered.

Zambia has cumulatively recorded a total of 1,299 suspected MPOX cases and three recorded deaths.

Currently, 25 of those cases are home-managed.

The family of the late former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has asked the Supreme Court of Appeal to overturn the Pretoria High Court decision to deny them permission to appeal against the earlier lower court ruling over the repatriation of the body.

Counting ballots is underway in Malawi following the general elections that took place on Tuesday.

Malawi's electoral body chairperson, Annabel Mtalikanja, announced that all polling stations closed at 20:00 last night and counting is underway at polling stations across the country.

General elections are underway in Malawi, with over seven million registered voters electing their next president, members of parliament and ward councillors.

The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) is in Lusaka, Zambia, for the 74th Airports Council International Africa's board and committee meetings, regional conference, and exhibition.

Today marks exactly three months since the death of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, but his burial remains uncertain. Lungu had been in South Africa for a routine medical check-up since January, when news of his death broke on 5 June.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said the abrupt cut in health support by donors is painful but long overdue.

Hichilema, however, said his government will enhance its partnership with the church that has been running mission hospitals on the continent.