President Hichilema Calls for ‘Reset’ in U.S.-Zambia Relations Anchored in Trade, Technology, and Mutual Growth
Lusaka, July 2025
President Hakainde Hichilema has called for a bold and deliberate reset in the long-standing relationship between Zambia and the United States, urging a shift from traditional aid-based engagement toward commercially-driven cooperation anchored in investment, technology, joint ventures, and mutual prosperity.
Speaking at a high-level diplomatic meeting at State House with U.S. Ambassador Mike Gonzalez and his delegation, President Hichilema acknowledged the warm historical ties between the two nations, but insisted the time had come for a more structured, results-oriented partnership.
“This is not about mourning the past,” the President said. “We are saying the coin has two sides. What can we do to find convergence between the new thrust in America and our own desire to grow the economy?”
While appreciating the substantial development assistance Zambia has received over the years, particularly U.S. backing in its complex debt restructuring efforts, President Hichilema was clear that the next chapter must be driven by tangible results. He emphasised that true development must go beyond commitments, and translate into job creation, industrialisation, and shared growth.
He laid out four key areas for redefined engagement: mobilising fairly priced capital, accessing appropriate technology, forming joint ventures with American companies, and promoting local value addition in critical sectors like mining.
“We don’t want the old model where foreign direct investment comes in and holds 100 percent ownership,” he said. “We want partnerships at equity and management levels. We want the best skills, even from outside, if they help us employ a hundred Zambians.”
President Hichilema also reflected on Zambia’s improved macroeconomic position. He highlighted milestones including the reopening of long-defunct mining shafts, a revived free education policy that has brought two million children back into classrooms, and a projected annual copper output of nearly one million tonnes.
“Compare that to where we were four years ago,” he said. “We had minus 2.8 percent GDP. This year, we believe we can whisper to six percent. That’s where jobs are, that’s where business opportunities are, and that’s where treasured revenue is.”
He credited the IMF and World Bank, both U.S.-anchored institutions, for playing a key role in helping Zambia restructure its debt. “It gave us headroom to focus on the development agenda,” he noted, underscoring that debt relief was not an end in itself, but a platform for building a stronger, fairer economy.
Turning to democracy and governance, the President was adamant that Zambia’s democratic gains must be accompanied by economic dividends. “Democracy must deliver results. These results must be seen in jobs, in the economy, and in business opportunities not just for foreign investors, but for Zambian citizens and local businesses.”
He also called for quicker decision-making from American firms, noting that Zambia cannot afford sluggish responses in a global economy that moves rapidly.
“We are a small economy in a hurry,” Hichilema said pointedly. “We understand U.S. corporations have structures and stock exchange rules, but we are asking how can those decisions be made faster so we can grow together?”
The President stressed the need for mutual respect in diplomatic and business dealings. “You diplomats must respect that we are doing what is supposed to be done for the people of Zambia first. In doing that, we meet in the middle where American interests align with Zambian interests.”
Closing the meeting, President Hichilema expressed gratitude to Ambassador Gonzalez for responding quickly to his invitation, describing the engagement as timely and necessary. “It shows the depth of our partnership and our shared intention to do more together.”
With his reset message now clearly articulated, President Hichilema has drawn the blueprint for a future in which U.S.-Zambia relations are no longer defined by donor-recipient dynamics, but by shared ambition and mutual reward.
Dr O’Brian Kaaba is a “certified flip flopper”! He’s with the ruling party one day and he’s against it another, signs that he’s just a pawn in an internal factional struggle over the spoils of office. Thus, he lacks credibility and the Judge is unlikely to take his utterances seriously.
Did the US Ambassador say anything in response ba LT?
Trump’s style is ” America first” , to him Africa is just a footnote .That’s the reset you’re dealing with .
That’s why you need patriotic people at the top who know numbers and the economy………
You put someone at the top without economic knowledge is a struggle…….
FWD2031
Well delivered Mr President………
Zambia is at a crossroads……..
Everything boils down to the hard work and work dedication of the people……
If you have a lazy unpatriotic population who
Who don’t know the meaning of sacrifice for the country, even if you are not gaining financially, like cleaning and repairing your neighbourhood, you struggle as a country…….
Zambia is in the middle, we just need concerted effort to make hard work , dedication and patriotism a reality……
I still think an Asian education model , like Chinese, should be replicated in Zambia…….
Even if it means infusing some traditional Chinese ways of village organisation into ours…….
FWD2031
With such comments above, forget about the life of the common man ever improving in Zambia. A leader is clearly challenged and he is being cheered on. His own economic statistcs are clearly against him, and also against the personal time frame he voluntarily gave to improve things but he is being cheered on. Just how mwebanthu sure. Help him by telling him the truth that he is off tangent.
Dabwitso
Which of his own economic statistics are against him , ????
Pleas tell us…….
FWD2031
HH has just been brought down to earth. This is the America he was rushing to visit immediately after elections in a bid to kneel for all kinds of capital with nothing to offer in return. I remember Chiluba did the same. African Presidents think America knows them and will pat their backs for being good house nig***s but they always realise too late that they are indeed just a footnote. Africans need to know that the solution to our problems lies not in Washington but in Lusaka
Hazwida Hadabwa
Where has HH been brought down to
earth ?….
The president was at pains to establish Zambia as open for business to any power , east or west………
Some of wanted HH to be going queuing with other corrupt African leaders in China for handouts………
HH did not do this but established a win win balance for both Zambia and China while opening up to western investor……..
We are here , there and everywhere
FWD2041
First the president told us to reset our China relations. At that time he was one of the blueeyed fancied persons and almost always hosted as such. Today he neither visits them nor receives accolades from them. Stop begging, to work for it. America dumped him. Flipping to the Chinese all weather friendship, he even sent top upnd brass to China for a casual trip.
Reality check had dawned.
Eddie Murphy: COMING TO AMERICA (1988)
Patrice McDowell: Darryl, what happened?
Darryl Jenks: Lisa dumped me .
Chen Daoming: COMING HOME (2014)
Marcia Fieldstone: People who truly loved once are far more likely to love again.
MORAL
From America to China with love.
What a waste of time. Ukushumfwa is something else. The poverty levels are staring in his face but his attention is somewhere else. Awe.
How will Zambia participate in mobilising fairly priced capital? Fairly priced from America? Since when? There is Qatar ready to have Trump forget his statement that hand the President a $400 million presidential flying palace. And Zambia? Kikikikiki To imagine that Trump once called Qatar a funder of terrorism but with some oiling of hands all that is forgotten and Trump can hand the Arabs some fairly priced capital.
How will Zambia participate in mobilising fairly priced capital? Fairly priced from America? Since when? There is Qatar ready to hand the President a $400 million presidential flying palace. And Zambia? Kikikikiki To imagine that Trump once called Qatar a funder of terrorism but with some oiling of hands all that is forgotten and Trump can hand the Arabs some fairly priced capital.
Its sad am sure the Ambassador went to hear what interventions have been brought in to thwart the leaking medical system. He would have wanted to know what was being done to arrest corrupt practices… but I guess it was a time to talk about normalcy for every one else but extended mourning for only one zedian. We say thank you ba kateka.