Top news items in major Zambian media outlets

LUSAKA, May 12 — The following are news highlights in Zambia’s major media outlets on Saturday.
–The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) will in the next three years spend 2.5 million U.S. dollars on nature conservation in three catchment areas of western Zambia.
WWF acting country director Seif Hamisi said the initiative, to be implemented in Barotse, Liuwa and Kabompo catchment areas, was aimed at finding better ways of conserving wildlife and endangered species in the three catchment areas to enable local communities to benefit from the natural resource. (Zambia Daily Mail)
–Zambia and the Gulf Cooperation Council, a regional body of the Middle East, have agreed to strengthen coordination and explore areas of investment and trade.
This was arrived at following a meeting between Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji and officials from the regional body in Saudi Arabia, where the Zambian minister further urged Middle East countries to explore investment opportunities in the southern African nation. (Times of Zambia)
–The Zambian government has criticized local contractors over their tendency to over-price projects when dealing with the government and for their shoddy performance when awarded contracts.
Minister of Works and Supply Felix Mutati said local contractors needed to be sensible when dealing with the government as overpricing and shoddy works slowed down economic development.

Xinhua