By Magret Mwanza
President Hakainde Hichilema’s recent address to Parliament was a defining moment of leadership clarity. It was not a ceremonial speech. It was a progress report from a President determined to rebuild a nation that had been pushed to the brink by years of economic recklessness and institutional decay. His message was clear and uncompromising. Zambia is no longer drifting. Zambia is recovering. Zambia is advancing.
In his address, President Hichilema reaffirmed that economic transformation remains the central pillar of his administration. He highlighted that economic growth has rebounded significantly since 2021, while Zambia has successfully restructured the overwhelming majority of its external debt.
This achievement alone has restored confidence among investors and cooperating partners who had lost trust in Zambia’s financial credibility. This is not theoretical progress. It is measurable recovery. The President further emphasized reforms in key sectors such as mining, agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. These sectors are not accidental priorities.
They are the engines of job creation and national prosperity. Zambia’s economic future lies in production, value addition and industrialization. President Hichilema understands that a country cannot consume its way to prosperity. It must produce its way there.
One of the most powerful pillars of his vision remains human development. Free education has returned millions of children to school, restoring hope and opportunity to families that had been excluded by poverty.
This single policy will shape Zambia’s future workforce and strengthen the country’s long-term economic foundation. At the same time, the recruitment of thousands of teachers and continued investment in skills development demonstrates a government investing not only in today’s stability but in tomorrow’s prosperity. Equally significant was his firm commitment to governance, accountability and the rule of law. President Hichilema made it clear that Zambia’s future cannot be built on corruption and political impunity.
It must be built on discipline, transparency and institutional integrity. This is the foundation upon which serious nations rise. What distinguishes President Hichilema’s leadership is not rhetoric but direction. He is not governing for applause. He is governing for results. He has restored credibility to government, confidence to investors and hope to citizens. He has replaced chaos with order and uncertainty with purpose.
Zambia today stands at a decisive turning point. The damage of the past cannot be erased overnight, but the path forward is now clear. Under President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership, Zambia is stabilizing, rebuilding and positioning itself for long-term prosperity. This is what vision looks like. And this is what responsible leadership delivers.
Indeed it’s your vision Sir, that suits your needs and interests
But doesnt offer much to us now and security to future generations
He is not the right fit. But when I check both opposition and ruling party, we seem not to have somebody with the capacity and competence to salvage this country economically. With ‘our’ foreign owned mines, their priority is their country of origin, and they are not to blame. We will continue getting the crumbs.
https://youtu.be/PH3_wwmORmQ?si=nxiBLe0PFMK4wewj
https://youtu.be/2eP7SxXHqDI?si=NDfoTusliPwdhYUp
HH has at least gotten the basics right …inflation is down ,GDP growth has picked up ,forex reserves are up ,Zambia’s credit ratings have stabilized and foreign debt dynamics are healthier than back when PF regime defaulted .
Good job, let’s now build on these to get economic and industrial take-off possible in the long run.
Take off? We ve been taking off since October 24, 1964. We never get to the destination.
Progress report my foot. How about a progress report on unemployment on corruption (especially in the police force) on the bloated civil service which can’t deliver, on loadshedding which has killed industry, on UNZA whose ratings have dropped to lowly low,
Needed also is a progress report on Chipolopolo who use our tax to travel to competitions they never win.
Continued..
A progress report on pollution should stress Chinese destruction of kafue river marine life. A pollution report on Kabwe is overdue:
“The United Nations ranks Kabwe among the most polluted places on Earth. Around 200,000 people are affected. Nearly every child has dangerously high levels of lead in their blood”
The report should highlight the DeadNBC and its role in stifling free speech and supporting dictatorship.
This very selective analysis of progress is for uneducated Zambians who are being cheated with free-No, poor education. Every one can see the massive failures of our loafing govt
What’s happening in Kabwe?
Apart from pollution what’s the progress report on general health?
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Zambia does appear to be at an important crossroads. The foundations of stability are being laid, and policy direction is
clearer than in recent years. But stabilization is only the first stage of transformation. The real test of leadership will be
whether these reforms produce tangible improvements in everyday life and whether institutions, rather than individuals,
become the true anchors of progress. Yes confidence has returned but now delivery must follow.
What’s happening in Kabwe?
“The President further emphasized reforms in key sectors such as mining, agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. These sectors are not accidental priorities. They are the engines of job creation and national prosperity.”
‘Reforms’ are the engines of job creation and national prosperity. Meanwhile, according to the WB, poverty, people living at $3,- per day, is 71.7% of the population.
This is what 30 years of neoliberalism has brought.
Kabwe, the most polluted city in Africa has attracted a lot of attention from international media as local media sleeps.
This city of almost 300,000 people, was identified by a 2022 U.N. report as a “sacrifice zone” — one of the most polluted places on the planet.
Watch BBC and see how Zambian children living in Kabwe are being stunted.
All this while politicians dance for the President at the airport?