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Findings from the most recent Afrobarometer survey show that most Zambians are supportive of international trade and political cooperation but want African countries to have a stronger voice on global platforms such as the United Nations.
The survey indicates that while most Zambians are still more likely than not to welcome the economic and political influence of China, perceptions that China’s impact on Zambia is both substantial and positive have declined sharply over the past decade.
Presenting the findings in Lusaka on Thursday, Edward Chibwili, a Research Fellow at the Institute of Economic and Social Research (INESOR), a research wing of the University of Zambia (UNZA), said Zambians remained generally positive about the influence of other global and regional actors.
“It shows that most Zambians were far more positive than negative in their assessments of the influence of the United States, SADC, the African Union (AU), and the European Union (EU),” Chibwili said.
“They tend to express satisfaction with the way Zambia’s needs and interests were recognised in SADC and AU decision making,” he added.
The survey further revealed that while most Zambians endorsed open trade, nearly one-third would prioritise trade with African countries.
However, awareness of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) remains low, with only slightly more than one in 10 Zambians familiar with the initiative.
“Although few Zambians feel under-represented in SADC and AU decisions, there is strong support for enhancing Africa’s global voice,” Chibwili noted.
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On global conflicts, the study found that most Zambians view the Russia-Ukraine war with caution, preferring that the country maintain a position of non-alignment.
Chibwili said: “At the same time, Russia was the only country in the survey whose influence Zambians were more likely to perceive as negative than positive.”
“While a clear majority of citizens support international trade, very few know about the AfCFTA, suggesting a need for a public-awareness campaign if Zambians are to support and take advantage of this initiative,” he added.
According to Afrobarometer, seven in 10 Zambians (71%) reported having heard about the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Among those who were aware of it, more than three-fourths (78%) said Zambia should adopt a neutral stance, while small minorities would rather support Ukraine (7%) or align with Russia.
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