Governance expert and human rights advocate Wesley […]

Governance expert and human rights advocate Wesley Miyanda has urged the Government to adopt a coordinated national strategy for the Lobito Corridor, warning that Zambia risks failing to unlock the project’s full economic potential without proper planning and institutional coordination.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times -ZBT, Miyanda said the Lobito Corridor should not be viewed merely as a transport and transit route linking Zambia and Angola, but as a strategic economic asset capable of driving industrialisation, creating jobs and accelerating sustainable economic growth.

 He said he agreed with concerns recently raised by the Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD), which cautioned that Zambia could miss out on the corridor’s benefits if implementation is not guided by a clear national strategy.

“The Lobito Corridor has the potential to boost Zambia’s trade competitiveness, attract investment across various sectors and deepen regional integration through improved transport efficiency and expanded market access,” he said.

He noted that while many Zambians have heard about the Lobito Corridor and seen Government engagements with leaders from Angola and other partner countries, there is still limited public understanding of the project’s wider economic significance.

 As a landlocked country, he said, Zambia depends on reliable transport corridors to access international markets, adding that the Lobito Corridor offers an opportunity to improve the movement of imports and exports by connecting the country to the Port of Lobito on Angola’s Atlantic coast.

Miyanda also endorsed CTPD’s recommendation for the establishment of a National Corridor Development Agency to coordinate implementation of the project, strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and promote community participation.

 He said such an institution would provide strategic oversight, improve coordination among Government agencies and the private sector, and ensure Zambia maximises the longterm economic and social benefits of the corridor. “The Lobito Corridor should be fully leveraged as a catalyst for industrialisation, job creation and sustainable economic growth, rather than being seen simply as a transport route,” he said. He urged policymakers to place the corridor at the centre of Zambia’s long-term development agenda to ensure the country fully benefits from increased trade, investment and regional integration opportunities.

Article by Karen Ngulube