Speaking during a bilateral meeting with UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan at State House, President Hichilema said the continent has “awakened” and is now speaking with one voice on the need to transform its mineral wealth into tangible benefits for its citizens.
“I’m just from the AU and we are speaking one language now, that we cannot continue exporting raw materials for centuries. We will not and we don’t want those discussions,” he said.
“We want discussions that will lead us into responsible resource extraction, processing and value addition. That will add growth to our economies for jobs, business opportunities and treasury revenues.”
The Head of State said Zambia is ready to engage in trade and investment partnerships that deliver mutual benefits.
“We don’t want to keep attending conferences while the man in the street cannot feel the benefit of the mineral endowment that we have. We want to trade in investments together — we produce, we process, we market and we sell for mutual benefit,” he said.
President Hichilema added that Zambia’s recent economic reforms demonstrate that structured reforms can deliver positive outcomes. He also thanked UNCTAD for supporting Zambia’s debt restructuring process and the implementation of the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA), a digital customs management platform designed to modernise trade procedures.
Meanwhile, Grynspan described Zambia as a strategic regional hub that has successfully transformed from being landlocked to land-linked.
She noted that Zambia now plays a key role as a transit and energy corridor within regional blocs such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“To transform a weakness into a strength has to be highlighted, with respect to Zambia,” she said.
100 yearss maybe going by present and past standards
Empty threats It’s over a half century and Africa is still selling raw materials. In the same period China has become a producer of everything. The problem is leadership without self belief. And without vision.
Leading for self aggrandisement or to satisfy egos is perhaps for America but the third world has adapted these wrong values. Values? Vices.
Empty threats by barking dogs who won’t bite. Perhaps Traore can claim any such progress. It’s over a half century and Africa is still selling raw materials. In the same period China has become a producer of everything. The problem is leadership without self belief. And without vision.
Leading for self aggrandisement or to satisfy egos is perhaps for America but the third world has adapted these wrong values. Values? Vices.
Censored. Ba LT or… Like Thabo???