President Hichilema’s address to the 14th National Assembly President Hakainde Hichilema has set out a plan to more than double the size of the economy over the next five years. He told the 14th National Assembly that his second term will focus on turning economic stability…

President Hichilema’s address to the 14th National Assembly

President Hakainde Hichilema has set out a plan to more than double the size of the economy over the next five years. He told the 14th National Assembly that his second term will focus on turning economic stability into better living standards for ordinary Zambians.

Officially opening the First Session of the House in Lusaka on Friday, the Head of State gave his address the theme “Grow Zambia: an agenda for inclusive growth and opportunity for every Zambian”. It rests on eight targets: 10 million tonnes of maize, 10,000 megawatts of electricity, five million tourist arrivals, three million tonnes each of copper and soya beans, one million tonnes each of wheat and sugar, and US$1 billion a year in beef exports.

The address announced several new measures:

• Government institutions will buy only electric vehicles.
• Excise duty on fuel has been restored.
• The Energy Regulation Board’s monthly fuel pricing will be reviewed.
• Every district will get a skills training centre, and every province without a public university will get one.
• A healthcare city will be developed in Lusaka.

Mr Hichilema also warned of a Super El Niño. He repeated that there will be no sacred cows in the fight against corruption, and asked MPs to support the 2027 National Budget.

Full speech below.

📄 Full text: President Hichilema’s Address to the 14th National Assembly

Official text, Friday 9 October 2026 · PDF, 19 pages

⬇ Download the full speech (PDF)

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, ON THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE FOURTEENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Lusaka, Friday 9 October 2026

INTRODUCTION

Madam Speaker,

We are greatly honoured to address this august House on the occasion of the official opening of the first session of the Fourteenth National Assembly.

In this address, we will outline our Grow Zambia Agenda and national aspirations for the next five years, and beyond.

Madam Speaker,

We are thankful to the Almighty God for granting us, once again, the privilege to serve the people of this great republic.

We extend our profound gratitude to the people of Zambia for re-electing us to serve a second term. Their verdict is unequivocal: the people have chosen continuity, unity, progress and hard and smart work.

We are deeply humbled by the confidence and trust that the people of Zambia have placed in us.

CONGRATULATIONS

Madam Speaker,

Allow us to congratulate you, together with the First Deputy Speaker and the Second Deputy Speaker, on your election to preside over the business of this august House.

We are confident that you will discharge your duties effectively and uphold the dignity and decorum of the House, going forward.

Madam Speaker,

We congratulate all the Members of Parliament on their election to represent their respective constituencies.

We also congratulate the Members of Parliament who have assumed office through nomination and proportional representation.

Thanks to our reforms and progressive amendments to our Constitution, today we have 20 more women, 15 more youths, and 5 more persons living with disability serving as Honourable Members of Parliament.

Indeed, as a result of proportional representation and from the quota allocated to youths and persons living with disabilities, 6 more women have been selected, further increasing the number of new women in Parliament.

COMMENDATIONS

Madam Speaker,

We pay tribute to you and your two deputies, as well as the office of the Clerk of the National Assembly and your staff, for the effective manner in which you presided over the business of the House during the Thirteenth National Assembly.

Further, we commend Her Honour the Vice-President, Dr. W. K. Mutale Nalumango, MP, for ably discharging her responsibilities as Leader of Government Business in the House.

2026 GENERAL ELECTIONS

Madam Speaker,

As we reflect on the 2026 general elections, despite some challenges, we are proud that our country, once again, conducted peaceful, free and fair elections.

We commend our citizens for exercising their democratic right to vote and electing leaders of their choice. This is a clear demonstration of the continued maturity of our democracy.

We also commend local and international election observers for their respective contributions to the electoral process.

We thank all political parties and candidates who participated in the elections. The election period is now behind us. Let us continue to uphold national unity and work together for the development of our nation. As we stated during our inauguration, whatever our political choices were, we remain one law-abiding people, bound together by Zambia, and a common destiny.

THEME OF THE ADDRESS

Madam Speaker,

During the past five years, our administration undertook a difficult, but necessary, task of restoring macroeconomic stability and laying a strong foundation for sustainable economic transformation.

We have made significant progress in restructuring our public debt, strengthening our fiscal discipline, rebuilding international reserves, restoring investor confidence, and implementing structural reforms, while expanding access to education and protecting vulnerable households.

These efforts were never intended to be an end in themselves. They were intended to establish a stable and strong foundation, upon which to build a more productive, and prosperous economy.

Over the next five years, our focus will be to consolidate and build upon the socio-economic progress achieved so far.

In this regard, the theme of our address is: “Grow Zambia: an agenda for inclusive growth and opportunity for every Zambian.”

Madam Speaker,

This theme embodies our collective aspiration to build a better Zambia: a Zambia in which every citizen has a sense of belonging; a Zambia where every community benefits from national progress.

This theme, therefore, calls upon all of us to work together to accelerate our national development.

MACROECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

Madam Speaker,

Our macroeconomic fundamentals have been restored.

Despite external shocks, including global conflict and a severe drought, we have maintained macroeconomic stability and strengthened the resilience of our economy.

We have achieved positive growth in the gross domestic product over the past five years.

Annual inflation has declined significantly from over 24 percent in August 2021, to a single-digit rate of 6.1 percent in September 2026, bringing inflation back within the Bank of Zambia’s target rate of 6 to 8 percent.

Our currency, the Kwacha, has also strengthened against major convertible currencies and has remained relatively stable, reflecting improved macroeconomic fundamentals and contributing to a more predictable environment for investment, trade and economic growth.

Madam Speaker,

Gross international reserves have increased to their highest levels ever.

Our country’s external debt has been substantially restructured, and we have gone a step further by successfully executing a 1.36 billion US dollar Eurobond buyback, replacing expensive commercial debt with more affordable financing.

Madam Speaker,

Our debt restructuring efforts have released additional resources for socio-economic development.

Going forward, our administration will focus on ensuring that these gains translate into tangible benefits for all citizens, including putting food on the table.

DEVELOPMENT AGENDA FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

Madam Speaker,

To deliver the Grow Zambia Agenda, to more than double the size of our economy since assuming public office, to create jobs and business opportunities, we must work as one nation.

The private sector is the engine of growth, while Government will create the conditions, partnerships and support required for it to thrive.

Government will facilitate a conducive business environment for the private sector and other stakeholders to meet all targets under the Grow Zambia Agenda.

Over the next five years, our Grow Zambia Agenda will focus on the following priority areas:

• Growing the economy;
• Connecting the nation;
• Improving living standards;
• Building an effective, efficient, and delivery-oriented public sector;
• Financing our future.

We will now proceed to outline these priority areas.

GROWING THE ECONOMY

Madam Speaker,

We are determined to grow and diversify our economy, with the ambition of more than doubling its size, from the time we assumed public office.

A larger and more resilient economy will enable us to deliver better public services, protect the vulnerable, create more jobs and economic opportunities, and improve the living standards of our people.

This is outlined within our 10-10-5-3-3-1-1-1 Grow Zambia Agenda.

In this regard, agriculture, livestock, mining, tourism, energy, and manufacturing will be central to our economic growth agenda.

This does not overlook other important sectors such as housing, healthcare or the arts, among others, as they are ecosystem drivers that will stimulate growth in more sectors across our economy.

In this regard, more targets will be added to our Grow Zambia Agenda, going forward.

AGRICULTURE

Madam Speaker,

In the last farming season, maize production increased to a record 5.1 million metric tonnes. We congratulate our hard-working farmers on this remarkable achievement.

Our crop production targets are clear:

• 10 million tonnes of maize;
• 3 million tonnes of soya beans;
• 1 million tonnes of wheat; and
• 1 million tonnes of sugar.

Other strategic agro products such as avocados, and berries, among others, are also following suit.

Madam Speaker,

To achieve these targets, working in partnership with the private sector, we will strengthen agricultural extension services, expand access to affordable financing, and accelerate the development of farm blocks and agro-processing hubs without delay.

We are also committed to putting 500,000 hectares of land under irrigation, to strengthen resilience to the negative effects of climate change.

We are determined to improve access to modern storage facilities and markets for our farmers.

LIVESTOCK

Madam Speaker,

The Government in partnership with the private sector will unlock the vast potential of the livestock subsector. Our target is to earn 1 billion U.S. dollars annually from beef exports and more than double the national cattle population to 11 million animals.

To achieve these targets, we will establish additional livestock disease-free compartments and strengthen quality assurance and traceability systems.

We will develop beef marketing centres across the country and enhance extension services to improve animal husbandry practices and the quality of our livestock.

We will intensify disease control, including surveillance and vaccination programmes, as well as construct and rehabilitate regional veterinary laboratories across the country.

Madam Speaker,

We will promote the production of small livestock, poultry, and dairy cattle among small-scale farmers.

These measures will strengthen the income security of small-scale farmers and enhance their resilience to seasonal and climate-related risks.

MINING

Madam Speaker,

The mining sector remains central to our Grow Zambia Agenda and is experiencing a strong resurgence of activity. This is demonstrated by increased investment in both brownfield and greenfield mining projects.

The Copperbelt is regaining its mining vitality, while copper production in North-Western and other provinces continues to increase.

We have revitalised Konkola Copper Mines, Mopani, 28 Shaft and Kalengwa mines. Further momentum has been generated by developments at Mingomba and Kitumba mines, as well as the Kansanshi S3 and Lumwana Super Pit expansion projects.

We are facilitating this increased investment in existing large-scale and new mining projects.

This increased investment in our mining sector must lead to more jobs and opportunities for our citizens, especially our young people.

We remain resolute in our commitment to increasing mineral production, with a target of 3 million tonnes of copper annually.

Madam Speaker,

We are nearing completion of the national geological mapping programme in order to facilitate more mineral exploration.

We continue to enhance a conducive, transparent and predictable business environment for local and international investors.

We are supporting the modernisation of mining operations and value addition throughout the mineral value chain.

Madam Speaker,

We are streamlining licensing processes and accelerating the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining operations.

Madam Speaker,

We are establishing formal mineral trading centres and gold marketing hubs, while continuing to build the capacity of artisanal and small-scale miners in safe and responsible mining practices, especially for women and the youths.

The Minerals Regulation Commission is now fully operational and will strengthen pro-business regulation and management across the mining value chain.

Madam Speaker,

We invite every citizen, especially members of this august House, church and traditional leaders to help ensure that no parent loses their child through illegal mining.

All mining in Zambia must be legal, formal, commercially viable, safe, and must never threaten the peace and security of our nation.

TOURISM

Madam Speaker,

We are implementing an ambitious programme to transform tourism into a multibillion-dollar industry by doubling annual tourist arrivals from the current 2.5 million to 5 million.

We will intensify and increase the branding and marketing of Zambia as a destination of choice.

Working in partnership with the private sector, we will facilitate improvements to tourism infrastructure and international air connectivity, while positioning Zambia as a regional aviation hub.

Madam Speaker,

The Government will continue to support community participation in tourism, including the conservation and sustainable management of our national parks, game management areas, forests, and wildlife resources.

We will strengthen partnerships with local communities, especially to increase bed capacity, to ensure that they become key participants and direct beneficiaries of the tourism sector.

Working with the private sector, we are drastically streamlining licensing so that the tourism industry continues to facilitate increased local and international investment.

We will also enhance measures to address human–wildlife conflict and safeguard the environment, lives, livelihoods and property of our people.

MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIALISATION

Madam Speaker,

The manufacturing sector is a key driver of economic growth. With support and partnership from the private sector, we continue to produce:

• Fertiliser, lime, and feedstock for the agricultural sector,
• Tiles, cables, wires, and pipes for the infrastructure sector,
• Chemicals and detergents for the energy and mining sector,
• And medicines for the health sector, among others.

Our multi-facility economic zones and industrial parks have become centres of production, investment and economic activity.

Madam Speaker,

Our drive to grow local industries succeeds when production is matched with local and export markets that consume what Zambia produces.

The “Proudly Zambian Campaign” is building national awareness to shift consumer and institutional purchasing towards locally manufactured goods and services.

Every Kwacha spent on a Zambian-made product and service retained in our economy supports jobs, sustains our factories, and strengthens the manufacturing sector.

Government continues to work with the Zambia Association of Manufacturers to deepen this campaign, encouraging public institutions, businesses, and citizens alike to purchase quality Zambian products and services.

Madam Speaker,

The Government is accelerating reforms aimed at reducing the cost of doing business and enhancing the competitiveness of local industries.

Our administration continues to promote the export of finished products to regional and global markets.

We continue to use economic diplomacy to leverage opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area, COMESA, The Commonwealth, and SADC to expand market access for Zambian goods and services.

We continue to invest in the infrastructure required by industrial parks and economic zones. We are also strengthening linkages among economic sectors to promote greater local value addition.

Our goal is to transform Zambia into a competitive, diversified and export-oriented industrious economy.

PROVINCIAL ECONOMIES

Madam Speaker,

We are determined to transform our provinces into vibrant economic hubs by leveraging their distinct resource endowment and comparative advantages.

Strong provincial economies are essential to achieving balanced development and inclusive prosperity.

We are enabling communities to harness local resources to stimulate economic activity, and we will intensify our support for the private sector to establish enterprises that create jobs and opportunities for our people in all provinces.

Our administration, in close partnership with the private sector will, therefore, support initiatives that strengthen regional competitiveness, expand market access, promote value addition and foster innovation.

CONNECTING THE NATION

Madam Speaker,

Adequate and reliable energy, good roads, efficient railways, modern airports, robust digital networks and efficient border points, are essential to transforming our socio-economic fortunes from recovery and stability to prosperity.

ENERGY

During our first term, we implemented reforms to diversify the country’s energy mix. We expanded clean thermal and solar power generation.

The adoption of solar energy at household and institutional levels, has resulted in increased power generation.

Madam Speaker,

The Government will therefore continue to accelerate investment in the energy sector and expand the country’s electricity generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts.

National energy sufficiency and surplus cannot be achieved by Government investment alone.

We will therefore continue to facilitate private sector and citizen-led investment in the energy sector to create jobs, business opportunities and Treasury revenue.

We will upgrade and expand the national transmission network to improve the efficiency, reliability and regional interconnectivity of the power supply system.

Connecting our national grid to regional power pools is now critical. This is the time for enhanced public-private participation in transmission and distribution of electricity.

PETROLEUM

Madam Speaker,

In the recent past, Zambia has been exposed to global volatility in fuel prices due to geopolitical instability.

As we have often said, instability anywhere is instability everywhere. Clearly, global conflicts directly affect the price of fuel in Zambia.

Government took bold steps to stabilise the price of fuel for our citizens, including unprecedented measures such as the temporary removal of taxes on fuel.

These short-term measures were designed on the assumption that stability would soon return to the global fuel market.

To sustain our overall spending obligations, particularly free education, the Constituency Development Fund, the School Feeding Programme, and Social Cash Transfer, we have since reviewed our position on tax waivers for fuel.

As a result of this review, excise duty has been restored on fuel this month.

Moving forward we will adopt additional measures to ensure competitive pricing, and security of supply, of petroleum products.

Madam Speaker,

Working with the private sector, Government will continue to strengthen and promote investment in the fuel supply chain to address local and regional petroleum market needs.

We will aggressively work on the construction of the Angola-Zambia pipeline, the Namibia–Zambia refined-petroleum and natural-gas pipelines, the Tanzania–Zambia multiproduct pipeline and the Zimbabwe–Zambia pipeline.

This will remove our vulnerability of having a single supply route. It will also lead to more job creation, business opportunities, and Treasury revenue.

The existing fuel depots will be fully utilised in Chipata, Lusaka, Mansa, Mpika, Mongu, Ndola and Solwezi.

In addition, new depots will be constructed in other provinces in order to increase the country’s petroleum-storage capacity.

We will strengthen the management of the TAZAMA open-access system to ensure that it remains competitive and facilitates the supply of petroleum products at more affordable prices.

Without delay, the Ministry of Energy will implement our fuel blending strategy, which will reduce our fuel import bill and support our local ethanol industry.

We will facilitate public-private partnerships and joint-ventures to ensure these projects are expedited.

We will review the current Energy Regulation Board monthly pricing mechanism as part of our overall objective to establish a secure, predictable and efficient petroleum-supply system.

Madam Speaker,

Given the instability in global fuel supply caused by geopolitical tensions, this Government has resolved that all Government institutions will now acquire only electric vehicles.

We will invest in charging infrastructure across the country, in partnership with the private sector.

We urge businesses, cooperating partners and all citizens to join us in this transition to cleaner, more affordable and self-reliant transport.

TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

Madam Speaker,

Over the next five years, our focus is on building a modern, resilient, safe and integrated transport system.

Working with the private sector, our mission is to construct, rehabilitate and maintain our road network, while improving connectivity between provinces, districts and economic centres.

In the aviation subsector, we will continue to upgrade airports and expedite new airport construction.

To position and stabilise Zambia as a regional transport and logistics hub, we will accelerate the development of strategic transport corridors, including the Durban, Walvis Bay–Ndola–Lubumbashi, Lobito, TAZARA, and Nacala corridors.

Our borders are the gateways to Zambia and critical arteries for trade, tourism and investment under the Grow Zambia Agenda.

Delays, corruption, and inefficient processes at our entry points constrain our economic growth and undermine investor confidence.

Government will therefore intensify the fight against corruption, remove unnecessary rigidities, digitise border processes and accelerate the transition towards seamless, non-stop borders.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Madam Speaker,

Over the past five years, the information and communication technology sector has recorded remarkable growth, contributing to the rapid expansion of our digital economy.

Mobile-network services now cover more than 92 percent of the population and we call on all mobile network operators to ensure reliable connectivity in every corner of our country.

We will accelerate the expansion of high-speed internet infrastructure and digital connectivity across the country, particularly in underserved rural areas.

Madam Speaker,

The future of Zambia is digital. It is imperative that we actualise our national digital identity system and platforms to unlock opportunities and create efficiencies in our economy.

The digital Government transformation is streamlining services, creating greater transparency, and increasing Treasury revenue.

To attain our Grow Zambia Agenda, Government and the private sector must accelerate our digitalisation journey, as an urgent national priority.

Government must complete the digitalisation of all ministries and services. The private sector too, must partner with Government to digitalise all our sectors.

This will increase revenue, efficiency, and quality delivery of services.

Madam Speaker,

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping economies across the world, and Zambia must not stand on the sidelines.

AI is already being used by many of our citizens and it has the potential to allow our public service to be efficient, smart and contribute to our Grow Zambia Agenda.

We must build the foundations that this emerging technology requires: internet access in every corner of our country, stronger data infrastructure including our own data centres, the talent to harness its potential, and policies on cybersecurity that keep up with the tools and technologies they govern.

Technology must serve the people, and not the reverse.

The measure of success of our AI integration will be whether a young woman in Mongu or a business owner in Kitwe finds new opportunities because of it.

We will embed digital and AI skills in our schools and colleges and formulate AI literacy outreach programmes in communities so that Zambians become builders of this technology, not only consumers of it.

Following our recent visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), we have initiated collaboration with the UAE Government to facilitate further digitalisation of public services and the adoption of artificial intelligence to enable effective service delivery.

We will insist that AI in public services is positive, transparent, accountable, and free from bias, and we will protect our workers as industries adapt through upskilling and reskilling programmes.

Zambia will embrace artificial intelligence with ambition, with wisdom, with security considerations, and with our people at the centre.

IMPROVING THE LIVING STANDARDS

Madam Speaker,

In the last five years we have stabilised our economy. Our focus in this term is to improve the living standards of our people as we implement our Grow Zambia Agenda.

Growing our economy will allow us to continue to invest in essential services such as education, health, water and sanitation, housing, and social protection.

Through economic growth and investment in the social sector for vulnerable communities, we can improve living standards for all of our citizens.

EDUCATION

Madam Speaker,

To reduce the financial burden on families, we introduced free education and removed exam fees up to secondary school level.

Free education is now law.

We recruited more than 42,000 teachers, constructed additional classroom blocks, provided desks and expanded the school-feeding programme.

Through these interventions, more than 2.6 million learners have returned to school.

Madam Speaker,

We will recruit even more teachers and construct additional school infrastructure, including housing for our teachers.

We will work with the private sector and local communities to create a conducive environment for staff retention.

Further, we will fully implement competency-based curricula to improve learning outcomes and equip our children with practical and lifelong skills.

Madam Speaker,

To deliver our Grow Zambia Agenda, we will ensure that every district has a skills training centre.

Government will transform technical education, vocational and entrepreneurship training into key drivers of employment, innovation and enterprise development.

We will work with the private sector to expand access to industry-relevant skills training and equipment.

We will strengthen apprenticeship and internship programmes and ensure more opportunities for skills transfer in the vocational sector.

Our goal is to equip graduates and non-graduates with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship that respond to the evolving needs of the labour market.

Madam Speaker,

To promote inclusion and equitable access to higher education, the Government will establish public universities in provinces that currently have none.

We will collaborate with the private sector to facilitate investment in student housing, and staff accommodation in these new universities.

We are prioritising the development and modernisation of university infrastructure.

We will continue to support public universities and research institutions to undertake research, promote innovation and develop practical solutions to our national development challenges.

The Government will also continue to provide student loans and meal allowances to eligible students in public universities.

HEALTH

Madam Speaker,

The Government has expanded health infrastructure and recruited more than 18,000 health workers.

We have improved maternal and child-health services, strengthened disease prevention and control, and expanded access to quality healthcare.

Government will continue to expand access to health services by constructing more health infrastructure across the country, recruiting additional health workers, and ensuring the consistent availability of essential medicines, equipment, and medical supplies.

We will also accelerate measures to further reduce maternal, neonatal and infant mortality.

Our focus now will be to work with the private sector to build a stronger and more efficient and resilient health system.

Madam Speaker,

We will continue to participate actively in regional and global efforts to prevent and control communicable diseases.

The Government is also strengthening the prevention, early detection and treatment of non-communicable diseases, including through our local investment of over 30 million U.S. dollars in a world-class Cancer Diseases Hospital.

To further develop the healthcare sector in our country, we have initiated the process to develop a Healthcare City in Lusaka.

This development will have an anchor state-of-the-art hospital, specialist facilities, clinics, accommodation, a shopping complex and support facilities.

This will make Zambia a centre of excellence in healthcare on our continent and a destination for the region’s healthcare needs.

We will pursue sustainable financing for the health sector and enhance accountability, transparency and efficiency in the procurement, distribution and management of medicines and medical supplies.

WATER AND SANITATION

Madam Speaker,

Water is not only a fundamental human right, but is also a development imperative.

Government will pursue targeted reforms to expand access to clean and safe water, especially for vulnerable communities, directing more public investment, while attracting private-sector investment to strengthen and extend water infrastructure.

We will sustain investment in dams, bulk-water supply systems, treatment plants, distribution networks, sewerage systems, wastewater-treatment facilities and rural water-supply schemes.

Government bureaucracies must never hinder the development of infrastructure for the provision of clean, safe water, and irrigation.

The Government will continue to strengthen integrated water-resources management.

We will protect our water catchments, rivers, lakes, wetlands and groundwater resources, while implementing measures to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.

To maintain strong levels of sanitation, we encourage our local authorities to ensure a clean environment, free from litter, across the country.

We wish to commend the efforts of the office of the Mayor of Lusaka to clean up this city. This is something worth emulating by other cities and local authorities across the country.

HOUSING

Madam Speaker,

Access to decent and affordable housing remains a significant national challenge.

To address this challenge, we will leverage private sector partnerships and encourage home ownership schemes, especially for young families.

We will facilitate the construction of more affordable housing and promote the development of well-planned, safe, resilient and inclusive cities, towns and human settlements.

SOCIAL PROTECTION

Madam Speaker,

Every citizen deserves an opportunity to live a decent and dignified life.

Through the Grow Zambia Agenda, we will increase Treasury revenue to expand social protection coverage and strengthen programmes such as the Social Cash Transfer and other initiatives.

We will also improve the management of social-security schemes to enhance their efficiency, accountability and long-term sustainability.

We are broadening pension coverage, improving pension benefits and ensuring the timely payment of retirement benefits.

Madam Speaker,

Our population comprises more than 50 percent women.

Sustainable development will not be achieved if more than half of our population are excluded from participating in our Grow Zambia Agenda.

We have facilitated the progressive amendment of our Constitution to bring more women to the decision-making table, both in this august House and in our local authorities.

As a result of these reforms, this House has more women members than ever before.

We will continue to dismantle the structural and societal barriers which discriminate against women and other marginalised groups.

DECENTRALISATION AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

Madam Speaker,

Government continues to take development closer to the people. We remain steadfast in empowering communities to identify their own priorities and drive local development, through the enhanced Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

We have increased the CDF more than ever before, from K1.6 million to K40 million per constituency and we will continue to strengthen its utilisation to ensure that it responds effectively to local development needs.

ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Government remains committed to serving the people by ensuring that justice is within the reach of every citizen, regardless of income, status or location.

We will continue to strengthen people-centred justice by bringing legal services closer to communities, expanding legal aid, promoting alternative dispute resolution and making justice more timely, affordable and responsive.

RESULTS-ORIENTED PUBLIC SECTOR

Madam Speaker,

An efficient, effective, and results-oriented public service is a cornerstone of national development.

Anchored on hard and smart work, our Government has placed a high premium on service delivery.

We established delivery-focused institutions such as the Public Private Dialogue Forum (PPDF) and the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) to enhance the efficient delivery of public services.

The value of the public service can no longer be measured by reporting at 8 hours and knocking off at 17 hours, without measurable deliverables and benefits to our people.

Going forward, our Government will streamline the capacity of these two complementary and supportive delivery institutions to ensure the attainment of the Grow Zambia targets, to benefit all citizens.

To improve public-sector performance, we will leverage decentralisation, digitalisation and innovation.

Additional Government services will be integrated into ZamPortal and the Government Service Bus to make them more accessible, efficient and convenient.

We will continue to strengthen local authorities and enable them to deliver services that meet the expectations of our citizens.

Further, we will improve the regulatory environment for business and investment, to support sustainable economic growth.

We will reduce administrative barriers, enhance transparency and lower the cost of accessing Government services.

Our objective is to build an efficient, effective, accountable and results-oriented public service.

Madam Speaker,

The Government is resolute in its pursuit of accountability, transparency and zero tolerance to corruption.

We have restored the autonomy of oversight institutions and strengthened the capacity of law-enforcement and oversight agencies.

We have also made significant progress in combating corruption, economic crimes and financial misconduct.

Going forward, we renew our commitment to intensifying the fight against corruption and all forms of economic and financial crimes.

We call upon every citizen to join the Government in this fight. Corruption undermines development, weakens public institutions and deprives our people of essential services.

We reiterate our position, that there will be no sacred cows in the fight against corruption.

As we have stated before, if you engage in corruption, you are on your own.

FOREIGN POLICY

Madam Speaker,

Our foreign policy is founded on two pillars: peace, security and stability for development, and economic diplomacy.

As a Government, we will continue to nurture strategic and mutually beneficial relations with members of the international community.

We will also continue to assert Zambia’s strategic interests and active participation within COMESA, SADC, the African Union, the Commonwealth, the United Nations, and other international organisations to which Zambia is affiliated.

DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW

Madam Speaker,

Since assuming office in 2021, we have worked to restore confidence in our democratic institutions and strengthen respect for the rule of law.

We have significantly curtailed negative cadreism and reclaimed public spaces, including markets and bus stations, making them safer, more orderly and accessible to all citizens.

Our commitment is clear: we will continue to protect our democracy, uphold the rule of law, and safeguard the peace and stability that Zambia has worked so hard to preserve.

This is necessary for Zambia to prosper. We must never take our peace for granted and no lawlessness shall be tolerated, regardless of political or other affiliation.

We want a peaceful and stable Zambia that can attract local and foreign investment, create jobs, grow its economy and secure a better future for all.

GREEN ECONOMY

Madam Speaker,

Our green-economy agenda places environmental sustainability and climate resilience at the centre of inclusive socio-economic transformation.

We will continue to promote sustainable economic growth, protect our natural resources and combat environmental degradation.

We will ensure organised, equitable and profitable participation in the carbon markets and forestry to deliver jobs, business opportunities, and Treasury revenue.

The Government will continue to contribute actively to regional and global efforts to advance sustainable development and mitigate the impact of climate change.

Madam Speaker,

Scientists are predicting that we will experience a Super El Niño, which is likely to result in significant flooding and drought in some parts of our country.

As Government and indeed as citizens, we all have a responsibility to do what we can to put measures in place to mitigate the negative impact of climate change.

We must safeguard the harvest that we already have, remove the bureaucratic barriers to water harvesting, and establish an interministerial team to comprehensively respond to this active and ongoing threat.

SPORTS

Madam Speaker,

Sports development has emerged as an important driver of social and economic development.

There is no minor sport in Zambia.

We are expanding and modernising sports infrastructure across all provinces, strengthening talent identification and development, and supporting greater participation in international competitions.

We are promoting professionalism and we will work closely with the private sector to commercialise sport, to create employment, to generate income and to expand opportunities for our young people.

ARTS AND THE CREATIVE ECONOMY

Madam Speaker,

Our nation is blessed with talented citizens in the arts and creative sectors. These citizens must be able to sustain fulfilling careers in music, film, content creation, fashion, and the creative economy sector as a whole.

We will continue to support the growth, formalisation and sustainability of the creative economy across all the ten provinces.

Working in partnership with the private sector, we will also facilitate the commercialisation and monetisation of artistic and creative works, including through digital platforms.

A thriving creative economy creates jobs, generates wealth, preserves our cultural heritage, and empowers citizens to build sustainable careers in film, music, and the arts.

FINANCING OUR FUTURE

Madam Speaker,

To finance our ambitious development priorities, we will broaden the use of innovative financing instruments, including public–private partnerships, joint ventures, bonds, strategic equity partnerships and capital-market instruments.

We urge this august House to support the 2027 National Budget, in which Government will outline the specific measures we will take to finance our nation’s development.

CONCLUSION

Madam Speaker,

During our first term, we successfully navigated numerous challenges. Today, progress is visible: the economy has stabilised, order has been restored, confidence in our governance institutions has been renewed, and our international standing in the community of nations has improved tremendously.

We acknowledge that there is still more work to be done, and it shall continue to be done.

The path before us is one of hope, responsibility and shared purpose. As we embark on our second term in office, we do so at a time of many challenges, but also great opportunity.

We have laid a strong foundation for the transformation of our country. Together, we can now write the next chapter of Zambia’s development story – to realise inclusive growth and opportunity for every Zambian.

Madam Speaker,

We are determined to translate economic stability into tangible benefits for our people, through the Grow Zambia Agenda.

We will build a strong, diversified and resilient economy; we will create decent jobs and business opportunities for our young people and others; we will continue to address the cost of living by expanding opportunities and benefits for every citizen.

The annual targets we have set are ambitious, but achievable:

• To increase maize production to 10 million tonnes;
• To expand electricity-generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts;
• To increase annual international tourist arrivals to 5 million;
• To increase annual copper production to 3 million tonnes;
• To increase soya beans production to 3 million tonnes;
• To increase wheat production to 1 million tonnes;
• To increase sugar production to 1 million tonnes; and
• To earn 1 billion U.S. dollars annually from beef exports.

To achieve these targets, we must work hard and smart, with purpose and unity.

Prosperity will not come from aspiration alone, it will be built through discipline, innovation and collective action. Together, we must accelerate the development of our country and secure a better future for all.

Madam Speaker,

The Zambian people have entrusted us with a solemn responsibility—a responsibility that demands unity of purpose, a responsibility that requires us to rise above our differences and a responsibility that calls upon us to act at all times, in national interest.

The future we seek cannot be delivered by the Government alone. It requires the active participation of all of us: the Government, the private sector, civil society, traditional and religious leaders and, most importantly, the citizens.

Madam Speaker,

Our journey to prosperity must be anchored in patriotism, peace and national unity. Without patriotism, there can be no national development; without peace, there can be no sustained progress; and without unity, there can be no shared future.

Let us, therefore, move forward together with confidence—confidence in the foundation we have laid, confidence in the direction we have chosen, and confidence in the ability of us, the Zambian people, to rise, overcome and succeed.

Madam Speaker,

It is now our honour and privilege to declare the first session of the Fourteenth National Assembly officially open.

May God bless us all.
May God bless our collective efforts.
May God bless our great nation, Zambia.
We thank you for your kind attention.