Hichilema Says Zambia’s Growth Depends on Regional Peace and Security
Zambia’s ambition to grow its economy cannot be separated from what is happening beyond its borders, President Hakainde Hichilema has said, stressing that lasting peace and regional stability are essential for economic transformation.
Speaking during the opening of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Regional Inter-Ministerial Committee meeting in Lusaka, the President warned that insecurity in one country can have consequences for the wider region.
His message was clear: when conflict disrupts communities, the damage goes beyond lives lost. Families lose their livelihoods, businesses struggle to operate, and opportunities for economic growth become harder to achieve.
But when peace takes hold, the situation can change. Communities can rebuild, businesses can create jobs, and people can begin to benefit from the economic opportunities around them.
Hichilema also pointed to the need for African countries to do more with the natural resources they already possess.
As the ICGLR Pact marks 20 years, he called for stronger regional integration that translates into real economic transformation, including adding value to natural resources instead of relying solely on their extraction.
For Zambia, this message connects directly to the Government’s Grow Zambia Agenda, which seeks to expand economic opportunities and make better use of the country's resources.
The President said the agenda should also be viewed through a regional lens, emphasising that Zambia’s progress should contribute to the growth of neighbouring countries.
“When Zambia grows, the whole region should grow with us,” Hichilema said.
The challenge is turning that vision into reality, where peace creates the conditions for investment, local industries, jobs and shared prosperity across the region.
