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President Hakainde Hichilema has reaffirmed Zambia’s strong partnership with the United Nations, calling it “our United Nations” and urging the organisation to act swiftly to restore global order and prevent further economic disruption.
Hichilema said Zambia’s relationship with the UN had remained strong over the years, even before his administration took office, and would continue long after his tenure.
Speaking in Lusaka on Monday during a meeting with UN Country Representative, Beatrice Mutali, Hichilema expressed appreciation for the UN’s specialised agencies and experts supporting various projects across the country.
He said global geopolitical tensions and the erosion of the rules-based order posed serious threats to peace and economic stability, stressing that Zambia relied on the UN to help restore global balance.
“The UN system should ensure all member states, regardless of size, are taken care of and heard,” Hichilema said.
He reiterated Zambia’s longstanding call for reform of the United Nations Security Council, saying global governance must become more inclusive and representative.
“So that the small, the medium size, the large members of the global UN system or family are taken care of and they are heard,” he said, adding that reforms would strengthen the UN’s ability to address emerging challenges.
Hichilema warned that global instability was impacting Zambia’s already strained economy, citing disruptions to supply chains for fertilisers and petrochemicals caused by international conflicts.
“We will always rely on the UN and other partners to bring the world back into what we believe is the correct thing — the rules-based international order,” he said.
He emphasised the need for strong international cooperation to tackle global challenges.
“The UN is our true partner, and we are part of the UN. Zambia is committed to the organisation and its principles, and the UN must step up its efforts in restoring world order,” he said.
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Earlier, Mutali said the UN remained committed to supporting Zambia’s development agenda, including preparations for the 2026 Zambian general election.
She said the UN had been working with the government to strengthen the healthcare system, particularly in the Copperbelt and Central Provinces, by reducing delivery bottlenecks and improving responsiveness during shocks.
Mutali highlighted the UN’s support in modernising Zambia’s national health procurement and supply chain through Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency, enhancing visibility from procurement planning to last-mile delivery.
“A benchmarking visit to India in February exposed technical experts to the EVIN digital solution, showcasing digital monitoring capabilities,” she said.
She added that the UN was helping strengthen Zambia’s national regulatory system with the goal of elevating it from level one to level three — a critical milestone for local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Mutali said the organisation had supported solarisation of health centres and installation of medical oxygen plants in public hospitals across seven provinces.
Additionally, she noted that the UN had helped improve the supply and distribution of reproductive health commodities, ensuring over 70 percent availability in regional hubs.
“This reduces the risk of unintended pregnancies and the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,” she said.
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