Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema advised citizens to reduce pessimism on digital platforms, arguing that the nation's natural endowments provide sufficient avenues for a productive existence. According to the Lusaka Times, the Head of State made these comments while welcoming the Junior Chipolopolo squad to State House. The team had recently secured the title in the 2026 FIFA Under-15 Tier B global competition. Hichilema suggested that many residents underestimate the difficulties of emigrating, noting that high population density and talent in other regions make life challenging for newcomers.
The President described his administration’s Grow Zambia Agenda as a strategy to broaden the economy through free schooling, meal programmes, and job creation. He stated that the initiative also strengthens social safety nets, including increased cash transfers for seniors. Hichilema positioned himself as the country’s primary investment ambassador, aiming to showcase economic prospects to attract further development.
A central part of the President’s message involved the geographic spread of Zambia’s extractive industry. He identified North-Western Province as an emerging hub and highlighted upcoming sites in Mumbwa, Isoka, and Sinda. The Lusaka Times reported that Hichilema claimed a high-resolution aerial geological survey would make more land tenements available for exploration. He argued that this expansion would widen the national revenue envelope, allowing for greater investment in youth and the arts.
These remarks complemented a speech read by Brenda Tambatamba, the minister in charge of mines and minerals, at a recent expo in Solwezi. In that address, the President stated that the sector had drawn roughly US$12 billion in pledged capital over the last half-decade. He noted that the country supplies approximately four percent of the world’s copper and controls about six percent of known reserves. The government aims to produce three million tonnes of the metal annually by 2031, a goal Tambatamba described as essential for industrialisation and export growth.