Speaking at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, where he was conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy in Effective Leadership by ZCAS University, President Hichilema said his upbringing instilled values of responsibility, direction and service.
“As a shepherd boy, I understood where to lead cattle for pasture. That is the essence of leadership, knowing the path and guiding others towards it,” he said.
The President noted that the “New Dawn” administration’s reforms in key sectors such as mining, agriculture and energy have begun to yield results, citing reduced load shedding and a bumper harvest despite what he described as one of the worst droughts in recent history.
“Without these reforms, we would not have ended load shedding or produced the bumper harvest we are witnessing today,” he said.
President Hichilema described the honorary doctorate as a humbling recognition, which he accepted on behalf of Zambia’s estimated 21 million citizens.
“I do not take this honour lightly. I take it seriously to ensure that the dignity attached to it is upheld,” he said.
He paid tribute to his family, acknowledging the support of his wife and their three children, and expressed gratitude to citizens and stakeholders for contributing to his journey.
The Head of State said government reforms have enabled key social interventions, including the introduction of free education, removal of examination fees, reintroduction of meal allowances and increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocations.
He stressed that leadership should be defined by service, responsibility, dialogue and non-violence, rather than titles.
“Leadership is about improving the lives of people, especially the vulnerable. It is about making decisions such as restructuring debt so that we can provide social services,” he said.
President Hichilema added that effective leadership requires integrity, accountability and restraint in the use of power.
“You don’t do things because you are being watched, but because you believe it is the right thing to do,” he said.
He further highlighted the need for courage in decision-making, warning that failure to act can negatively impact citizens. He said improving service delivery requires urgency and a focus on results, noting that this informed the establishment of the Presidential Delivery Unit.
“Don’t focus on working hours, focus on deliverables. Every hour is a working hour in public service,” he said.
The President also pointed to progress in the mining sector, including the revival of operations at Kitumba Mine, Konkola Copper Mines and Kalengwa Mine, some of which had been dormant for decades.
“Mining is not done in courts. We had to remove litigation and make clear policy choices to unlock production,” he said, adding that government’s target of producing three million tonnes of copper is deliberate.
He underscored the importance of education as both a social and economic driver, revealing that government has initiated steps to enact legislation that will make free education a legal right.
Drawing lessons from countries such as Singapore, President Hichilema said consistent policy implementation can transform economies. He also called for teamwork in governance and commended his Cabinet for supporting the administration’s agenda.
