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PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says Zambia’s treasury needs to be stronger now that US President Donald Trump is back into the White House.
Addressing the Energy Financing Group at State House today, President Hichilema stated that the global geo-politics have changed with the come back of Trump, adding that Zambia and other African countries were now on their own.
“We need the treasury to be stronger. Let’s not deceive ourselves. The global geo-politics have changed with Mr Trump coming into the White House. We cannot expect ARVs to be bought for us. We have to buy the ARVs. So the treasury must become stronger. We are on our own. I hope we agree that we are on our own,” stated the Head of State.
The President stated that Trump should have hammered Zambia a long time ago so that the growth of the country’s financial institutions could be looked into in order to grow the economy.
“I want to thank Mr Trump, I think he has slapped us not on one chick but on both cheeks. We should have been hammered a long time ago so that we look at growth of all our financial institutions. If the economy is growing, it should be driven by your growth,” President Hichilema said.
Meanwhile, President Hichilema told the group at State House that the current administration is one of the few on the African continent setting targets for industries like mining where government has targeted 300 million tonnes of Copper.
“We hope to hit one million tonnes of Copper. I told you that when you put me in office, I will be the chief investment officer and marketing officer, I’m doing my job, now do your own – which is beneficial to your own,” he added.
The Head of State further advised the private sector and the country’s power utility to work together in order to restore the energy sufficiency.
“Let’s not point fingers at Zesco. It’s we who damaged the Zesco balance sheet, it’s a politician who was forcing Zesco to buy expensive power and sell it cheaper. I will not allow any such decisions to be made. Let’s make Zesco to restore the balance sheet, you as the private sector.”
“I have told Zesco that don’t see private players as your competitor,” said President Hichilema.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, March 6, 2025
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PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has expressed confidence in his administration for largely bringing back the mining sector to what it was in the 1980s, when it was mostly successful and stronger.
Speaking at the Presidential Annual Greetings of the diplomatic corps in Lusaka yesterday, President Hichilema stated that the mines were drastically down when the UPND government took office but they are now restored back to life and highly contributing to the growth of the economy.
“All the old mines are back including those that had shut down for 46 years. Kalengwa mine was shut for 46 years. Thank you for the British investors that are going back to the Kalengwa mine. Chinese ambassador thank you for Luanshya Mine, for 23 years. In fact [at] Kalengwa, all the presidents before me left it closed, [since] President Kaunda, and so it was a delight to be in Kalengwa.”
“Luanshya Mine and its investment and dewatering are fantastic to us. Restoring First Quantum, Lumwana mine, Mopani mine, Abhu Dhabi team. I also want to thank those who have helped us following the trips we made into EU, US, China, one of the projects we are proud of is Ming’omba. Out of the trips, conversations [went] very rapidly. Now we have probably the richest mine in our country,” said President Hichilema.
He added that the country has so far proceeded with exploration in geo physical mapping around the country and the indications given early are promising.
Meanwhile, the Head of State announced that the country’s agriculture sector would have been reasonably restored if there was no drought.
President Hichilema said the country will now pay particular attention to gravitate agriculture into one that will produce the minimum quantity of food that the country needs for both human and animal consumption.
“We hope the rains don’t stop before end of March so we restore our agriculture sector but there’s still a lot to rebuild what we lost during the worst drought in living memory. The drought hammered us in 2024. We will have reasonably restored our agriculture sector. It brought about food and enegy insecurity and the economy down.”
“One of my fears was us having a decline in economy. Going to 2025, the president is going to pay particular attention to gravitate agriculture to produce the minimum quantity of food that we need for our human and animal consumption. And we are still endowed with water. If we had focused on irrigation agriculture some ten years ago, one, two years of drought, we would still have enough food. So we want to be in that position in two years from now very ambitious,” said the President.
He reiterated that the target for maize still stands at 10 million tonnes in order to make Zambia a bread basket for the region.
“We want to produce 10 tonnes per hectare. We want joint investments in agriculture. This is an opportunity not a challenge. This year we will put much effort. Africa is a continent of young people and we want to create jobs for them, we need to expand the economy,” explained President Hichilema.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, January 24, 2025
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THE Ministry of Agriculture has encouraged farmers across the country to report any army worm infestations to their camp extension officers.
Agriculture minister Reuben Mtolo stated the ministry procured and distributed 55,000 litres of low risk Fall Army Worm chemicals to all the 10 Provinces of the country for strategic purposes which will be given out to every affected farmer for free.
Mtolo said the rapid intervention is essential to suppress pest populations, protect crops and mitigate further damage.
The minister urged state holders at every level to work together to ensure a coordinated, efficient and effective response.
He assured the public of government’s unwavering commitment to mitigating the threat of army worms by providing resources to all the affected farmers.
“The Ministry of Agriculture wishes to inform the nation and farmers that it has initiated urgent and decisive measures aimed at combating the widespread infestation of Fall Army Worms that is threatening Zambia’s food security,” stated Mtolo.
“As a Ministry mandated to facilitate the development of a sustainable and diversified agricultural sector for enhanced food and nutrition security, and income generation, we are aware that the Fall Army Worm infestations which have been reported in all the provinces, can have a devastating effect on the national food security.”
“To safeguard the livelihoods of farmers and ensure the nation’s food security, the Ministry is rolling out a comprehensive Response Plan designed for effective and rapid action.”
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, January 4, 2025
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