President Hakainde Hichilema has urged the international community to address the historical injustices regarding Africa’s underrepresentation on the United Nations Security Council.
He noted that more than 60 percent of matters before the Security Council concern Africa, hence legitimising the demand for equal representation.
President Hichilema has further observed that despite Intergovernmental Negotiations on UN reforms having been ongoing for many years, no meaningful progress has been achieved.
He adds that this situation is proving to be a limiting factor of Africa’s ability to resolve its continental conflicts.
The Head of State said this in a speech read on his behalf by Minister of Defense, Ambrose Lufuma, during the official opening of the 13th Ministerial Meeting of the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council, in Lusaka today.
ZANIS reports that among the UN Security Council reforms being advocated for are veto power, two permanent seats, and five seats in the non-permanent category.
“The voice of Africa must be heard! The UN Security Council must be reformed, and this must happen now!” the Head of State stressed.
The President, however, pointed out that international interest in Africa’s natural resources and youthful population is increasing despite various challenges.
President Hichilema also reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to advancing the demand for reforms in the UN Security Council.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahammoud Youssouf, who was represented by AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Bankole Adeoye, called on C-10 member states to roll out Security Council reforms to individual Africans.
He stressed that these injustices due to Africa’s underrepresentation affect all individuals of African descent, including those in the diaspora.
And President of the United Nations General Assembly, Philemon Yang, who was represented by Chef de Cabinet, Ivor Funga, expressed optimism that action to advance reforms will be taken before the next General Assembly.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mulambo Haimbe, announced that actionable recommendations will be produced at the end of the ministerial meeting.
Thankfully it’s being held in Lusaka, otherwise we were going to spend dearly on bakamwendo munjila’s travels!
Let’s sort out the economy. It should not be reduced to cash for work. And since cash work was introduced to cushion the vulnerable due to the drought. And that we now have had good rainfall , why is it now being extended into an election year as announced yesterday. Mingalato always being unleashed all the time.
Not every part especially Southern Province received good rain – many have lost their crops due to planting when there was rain and then receiving no rainfall for more than a month at the most important period of a crops growth !
Historical injustices Sir.????
For how many decades are we going to sing this song ??
In the future todays events through Africa will also become Historical injustices
Our solutions must come from within Africa Stop seeking outside help and funds
and stop making us vicitms all the time !! It will get us nowhere
Or maybe we could just sort out our own issues, like corruption, tribalism, greed etc, instead of crying about how other have treated us. If we were a progressive people everyone would respect us. China a hundred years ago was a bristish colony, with poverty just like Africa. They didn’t make it out of their hell hole by moaning about “injustice”. The put China first and industrialised. We are still stuck on looking for foreign investors. Biggest boasts some people have is that they have given KCM, Lubambe, mopani mines to foreigners. We are a joke as a people.
Lets change this attitude in 2026
Mwata, I agree with you. Our lazy politicians call us Zambians as lazy. An enabling environment needs to be created for the public sector to thrive. Taxes are just too high, I understand that there are few tax payers, but reduce the bloated government further, for example merge ministries of youth sport with community development, merge ministries of green economy and water so that we can save resources. Leave the constitution alone for now, as KBF said today a constitution is not a braii where government picks what ever it wants and says this is what is supposed to be in your constitution.
I meant private sector to thrive
But what will a permanent seat on the UN Security Council do for Africa? The AU as resident multilateral body on the continent is nowhere to be seen in major conflicts raging in Africa now; Sudan, the Sahel region, DR Congo, Cameroun, Somalia etc. Is it absence of a permanent seat on the UNSC that the AU is showing no leadership in tackling these crises. Sudan is also a member of the Arab League. Where’s the Arab League’s position on Sudan?
Historical injustices indeed, today 5th June ZESCO power at PHI Mtendere came at 18 30 but by 22 30, it’s already gone. What type of 7 hours is this? Injustices continue with ZESCOs continued failure to manage its own loading schedule
ZESCO is a total sham