Zambia, EU reaffirm partnership at UN event, as Haimbe denies report of protests by Zambians

Zambia and the European Union have reaffirmed their partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation in investment, economic development and critical-mineral value chains during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, reaffirmed Zambia’s standing as a beacon of democracy and encouraged both sides to look ahead while maintaining respect for the rule of law.

President Hakainde Hichilema was represented at the meeting by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Mulambo Haimbe, who led the Zambian delegation, according to a statement issued in New York on Wednesday.

Síkela reaffirmed EU’s commitment to a forward-looking partnership with Zambia and underscored the importance of the country’s continued support for the UN Charter, multilateralism and the rules-based international order.

The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation through investment, value addition and economic cooperation aligned with Zambia’s Grow Zambia Agenda.

The EU expressed particular interest in Africa’s role in electric-vehicle battery and critical-mineral value chains, while Zambia welcomed the Global Gateway initiative and EU development cooperation, including budget support of about 110 million euros.

Zambia also thanked the EU for deploying an election observation mission during the August 2026 general elections and said post-election developments should not divert attention from opportunities to deepen economic cooperation.

The two sides further agreed to continue working together on international peace and security, reaffirming that strengthening the Zambia-EU partnership remained a priority.

Meanwhile, Haimbe denies reports of protests by Zambians in the diaspora at the United Nations headquarters in New York, saying the Zambian delegation had been warmly received during the opening of the 81st UN General Assembly.

Reports published before the opening said some Zambian diaspora groups planned demonstrations in New York over the August election and other domestic issues.

“There is no such thing as protests against Zambia. Let us not listen to the allegations on social media that there is any sort of protest against Zambia,” Haimbe said in a statement issued in New York on Wednesday.

The General Debate opened with UN Secretary-General António Guterres warning of deepening global divisions, while General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman stressed the importance of trust.

On the margins of the General Assembly, Haimbe signed a joint communique establishing diplomatic relations with the Principality of Andorra with Foreign Minister Imma Tor Faus, opening opportunities for cooperation in tourism, digital governance, financial services, education and climate action.

Zambia also participated in a high-level event marking two years since the adoption of the Pact for the Future, co-hosted with Namibia, where it reaffirmed that implementation of the agreement was a collective responsibility.

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