Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Macenje Mazoka, has called on African countries to build bridges, foster inclusive growth, and reaffirm a shared destiny rooted in hope and opportunity.
Ms. Makoza made the call at the 10th African Leadership Magazine (ALM) Africa Business Leadership Summit convened at the Landmark Hotel in London under the theme “Africa Forward: Powering Leadership, Investments, and Competitiveness”.
The summit, chaired by former Tanzanian President and Chair of the ALM Global Advisory Board, Jakaya Kikwete, brought together over 300 high-level leaders, including Heads of State, industry captains, policy experts, and global investors, for transformative dialogue spanning trade, innovation, leadership, healthcare, and policy.
Ms. Mazoka called on African nations to adopt a transformative mindset, one that views crises not as setbacks, but as opportunities for leadership, innovation, and collective advancement.
Referencing Zambia’s recovery from drought, energy shortages and the debt restructuring process, Ms. Mazoka portrayed Zambia not as a victim, but as a model from which others in Africa and the Global South could draw lessons, adding that Zambia’s challenges had become valuable learning experiences and emphasized the importance of sharing the lessons so that other nations could avoid similar hardships.
In her call to action, the High Commissioner highlighted three key priorities: regional integration as the bedrock of peace and economic resilience, pointing to Zambia’s “good Neighbour” diplomacy as an example; a unified embrace of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to strengthen intra-African trade and reduce reliance on foreign aid, and use of technology and youth innovation to dismantle outdated structures, including inefficient border systems and trade bottlenecks.
Ms. Mazoka also stressed that no African nation could succeed in isolation, emphasizing that security, prosperity, and investment were all rooted in regional solidarity, shared infrastructure, and a collective vision driven by the continent’s young people.
This is contained in a statement issued to RCV News in Lusaka today, by First Secretary Press at Zambia’s high commission in London, Speedwell Mupuchi.
By Angel Kasabo
