Zambia is at peace, open for investment, Hichilema at UNGA ZAMBIA has told the international community that it remains a peaceful and stable country that is open for investment and ready to grow. President Hakainde Hichilema said Zambia’s peace and stability should give investors confidence to partner with the country in driving economic development. The […]

Zambia is at peace, open for investment, Hichilema at UNGA

ZAMBIA has told the international community that it remains a peaceful and stable country that is open for investment and ready to grow.

President Hakainde Hichilema said Zambia’s peace and stability should give investors confidence to partner with the country in driving economic development.

The Head of State said this in his General Debate Statement delivered on his behalf by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Mulambo Haimbe at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

The UN General Assembly’s 81st session opened on September 8, 2026, under the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.

In the statement, President Hichilema said Zambia had recently concluded its general elections and remained committed to peace, democracy, national unity and constitutional governance.

The Head of State said political differences that come with elections should be managed peacefully through established constitutional and legal institutions.

“It is important to emphasise that Zambia is not at war. Zambia is a peaceful, stable and sovereign nation,” President Hichilema said.

The President said Zambia would continue taking measures, within the Constitution and laws, to prevent political disputes from degenerating into violence, armed mobilisation, insurgency or militia groups.

President Hichilema also used the international platform to invite cooperating partners, investors and the private sector to support the country’s Grow Zambia Agenda.

“Zambia is at peace, Zambia is open for partnership, and Zambia is ready to grow,” the Head of State said.

President Hichilema said Zambia was positioning itself as an investment and trade destination in mining, critical minerals, agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, tourism and digital services.

He said the country wanted to move beyond exporting raw materials by promoting value addition, industrialisation, job creation and technology transfer.

The President further called for stronger international action on climate change, saying Zambia was experiencing the effects of droughts, floods and changing weather patterns.

He said the effects were affecting agriculture, food security, water availability, energy generation and livelihoods.

On water security, President Hichilema said Zambia attached great importance to international cooperation on water and was participating in preparations for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.

He said Zambia, together with Finland, was co-chairing an interactive dialogue on water for cooperation, focusing on transboundary water cooperation, scientific cooperation and inclusive governance

Turning to health and human capital, President Hichilema said Zambia had increased domestic budgetary allocations to the health sector from approximately seven percent to more than 10 percent.

He said the increased funding had supported the recruitment of health workers, expansion and modernisation of health infrastructure and improved availability of essential medicines.

“That is what development means,” he said, pointing to quality education, accessible healthcare, reliable water and markets for farmers, decent jobs, electricity, roads, sanitation and access to finance for small businesses.

Kalemba September 27, 2026