By 
President Hakainde Hichilema has explained his recent absence from official functions and international travel, saying it was out of respect for the late former President Edgar Lungu’s funeral—a matter he urged critics to stop speculating about.
Speaking at State House on Wednesday during a meeting with United States Ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales, and several Cabinet Ministers, President Hichilema said the decision was in line with Zambia’s traditional values and customs.
“I have not been travelling outside the country because of the funeral. We need to put this to bed. This is how we respect the dead,” Hichilema said.
He stated that: “I’ve been following social media and seeing speculation that I’m about to die because of my absence from state functions.”
During the meeting, the President also called for a “reset” in bilateral relations with the United States following shifts in U.S. foreign policy, particularly under the administration of former President Donald Trump, which he said had affected countries like Zambia.
He stressed the need to re-evaluate Zambia’s partnerships to leverage new opportunities and ensure mutual benefit.
“The primary responsibility is to do what is right for the people of Zambia, just as President Trump is doing what is right for the American people,” Hichilema said.
He added that: “Zambia will be proactive in responding to the changing context and exploring new areas of cooperation with the U.S.”
The President also warned diplomats against mischaracterizing Zambia’s governance efforts under the guise of free speech.
“Diplomats must respect what we are doing for the people of Zambia. Just like President Trump is doing what is good for Americans, we are doing the same for Zambians—even if we are a small country,” he added.
President Hichilema said the government was focused on securing affordable capital, promoting value addition to raw materials, embracing technological innovation, and encouraging partnerships and joint ventures to grow the economy and create jobs.
He reiterated Zambia and Africa’s historic struggle with unfair financing conditions and renewed his call for a reformed global financial system to address the imbalance.
He expressed particular interest in leveraging U.S. technological advancements to support digital transformation across key sectors such as agriculture, mining, and energy.
“There is a need for affordable digital platforms that can help generate more revenue and improve service delivery,” Hichilema said.
He also emphasized that foreign direct investment (FDI) should involve joint ownership and management, with Zambians actively participating and benefiting from knowledge transfer.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Gonzales acknowledged that the US-Zambia relationship had not lived up to its potential despite the level of development assistance provided over the years.
“The US-Zambia relationship has underperformed and hasn’t reached its full potential. The business environment has not attracted the much-needed American companies,” Gonzales said.
He called for a shift toward commerce-driven development that benefits both nations, reflecting a broader change in U.S. foreign policy that prioritizes mutual trade and investment over aid-led models.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments