President Hakainde Hichilema has called on African countries to unite and negotiate as a single bloc when engaging global powers such as the United States and China, arguing that collective bargaining can secure deals individual nations cannot achieve on their own.
President Hichilema emphasized the importance of recognizing the value of working together without external persuasion.
Speaking during the official opening of the Continental Energy and Infrastructure Investment Forum today, President Hichilema said Africa must adopt a coordinated approach in key sectors, particularly energy and infrastructure, noting that Zambia stands ready to work closely with other countries to accelerate investment across the continent.
“ Zambia stands strong with the support of other countries to fast-track investment in infrastructure and energy,” said President Hichilema.
He observed that energy insufficiency remains a major obstacle to economic growth and restructuring, not only for Zambia but for Africa as a whole.
“Energy is so vital in our quest to grow Africa’s economy, and there is a need to deal with this issue in a very serious way,” said President Hichilema
President Hichilema further called for diversification in the energy sector, urging countries to promote an energy mix that reduces overreliance on hydropower.
He encouraged the adoption of alternative energy sources such as solar and other green energy solutions, even when such sources may not immediately meet heavy industrial power demands.
By Margaret Mwanza
