The New African Manifesto: Deep Dive into President Hakainde Hichilema’s Strategic Vision for Zambia and the Continent
As a young Zambian witnessing the shifting tides of global politics, it is rare to hear a speech that perfectly balances national interest with continental duty. Recently, our President, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, addressed an audience of international diplomats and African leaders in a way that can only be described as a masterclass in economic diplomacy.
At 25, I represent a generation that is hungry for results. We are tired of "potential" we want prosperity. Watching the President break down the complexities of global finance and regional trade, I felt a renewed sense of pride. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the President’s vision, covering every pillar of his historic address.
(If you don't want to read, scroll down to watch videos of his powerful speech!)👇👇👇
1. Reforming the African Union: From the Bottom Up
President HH was very clear: individual African nations cannot thrive in isolation if the umbrella body “the African Union (AU)” is not functioning optimally. He revealed that he, alongside President William Ruto of Kenya and other colleagues, has been tasked with a serious reform of the AU architecture.
The President argued that the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) cannot succeed if the regional building blocks are weak. He called for a synchronization of:
- SADC (Southern African Development Community)
- COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa)
- EAC (East African Community)
- ECOWAS and North African blocks.
His logic is simple: if the regional bodies are organized and complementary, the continental free trade area becomes an unstoppable force.
2. Ending the "Crime" of Low Intra-African Trade
One of the most passionate moments in his address was his description of our low internal trade as a "crime." President HH is pushing for what he calls "Vested Interest Diplomacy."
He specifically called for:
- Tanzanians investing with Zambians in Zambia (and vice-versa).
- Mozambicans investing in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Deepening ties with Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Ghana and Egypt.
His theory is brilliant: when we own businesses in each other’s countries, we have a "vested interest" in each other’s peace. We won’t allow conflict to destroy a factory or a farm that we jointly own. This is how you build lasting peace through shared wealth.
3. The "Commodity Called Capital" and Global Equity
President HH spoke as a seasoned businessman when he tackled global financial architecture. He highlighted the unfair pricing of capital for African nations.
"There is no reason that for the same business, in the same sector elsewhere, they pay less and we pay more in Africa," he noted.
By challenging how the world prices risk in Africa, HH is fighting to lower interest rates for Zambian entrepreneurs. He noted that under the New Dawn Administration, January inflation has already moved down to 9.4%, a sign that his focus on lowering the cost of doing business is working.
4. UN Security Council: Africa Must Decide for Itself
On the global stage, the President stood firm on the Ezulwini Consensus. He reminded the world that the UN Security Council was formed in 1945 when most of us were not yet independent.
"You really can't be talking about Africa without us," he stated boldly.
He is demanding a permanent seat for Africa at the table where security issues are discussed. Africa should no longer be a subject of discussion; we must be the deciders of our own security considerations and circumstances.
5. The Infrastructure Lifelines: The Three-Rail Strategy
For Zambia to be truly land-linked, infrastructure is key. The President highlighted a historic first, Zambia is currently working on three major railway systems at the same time:
- The Lobito Corridor: Connecting Zambia to the Atlantic via Angola (supported by the EU and US).
- TAZARA: The rehabilitation of the line to the Indian Ocean via Tanzania (supported by China).
- Zambia Railways: The internal rehabilitation of our own national tracks (supported by the EU).
This isn't just about transport; it’s about making Zambia the logistics hub of the entire SADC region.
6. Neutrality in a Multi-Polar World
In a world forcing us to choose between East and West, HH chose Zambia and Africa.
"When we are in Beijing, we are not against Washington. When we do business with Stockholm, we don't worry that Beijing will complain."
He reminded the diplomatic corps that our goal is not to play geopolitical games but to take care of the Zambian child. His priority is moving children from sitting on the floor to sitting at desks. We sign up for a rules-based international order because it protects even the smallest nations.
7. Stability and the 2026 Vision
Finally, the President addressed the importance of domestic stability. He assured the world that the 2026 elections will be credible, peaceful, and transparent. He pointed to recent bi-elections in Kasama and Chawama (formerly a source of "panga politics") as proof that Zambia has embraced a new era of peaceful democracy.
"Stability anywhere is stability everywhere," he noted, emphasizing that Zambia will not "export trouble" to its neighbors.
My Reflection at 25
As a 25-year-old, I am inspired by this level of clarity. President HH is showing us that Africa's problems have solutions that are logical, professional and achievable. He is moving Zambia away from the "withdrawn" state of the past and back into the League of Decent Nations.
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