By Ellen Hambuba
President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has called on African governments and businesses to work together to build industries that process resources locally and create employment.
President HICHILEMA says this transformation depends on strong partnerships between the public and private sectors, noting that sustainable job creation can only come from business-led growth supported by sound policy decisions.
Speaking at the Zambia-Ghana Business Forum in Lusaka today, President HICHILEMA said African economies have for decades relied on the same economic model, leaving the continent dependent, underdeveloped, and exposed to external shocks.
He said technology must play a central role in Africa’s economic shift by enabling producers to identify markets, match supply with demand, and trade more efficiently across borders.
President HICHILEMA said digital platforms, data, and innovation should be used to strengthen intra-African trade rather than deepen reliance on external markets.
The President also linked value addition to food security, saying Africa has the capacity to produce enough food for its population but lacks efficient systems to move surplus produce from areas of abundance to regions facing shortages.
Meanwhile, Ghanaian President JOHN MAHAMA warned that Africa would not attain lasting prosperity unless it decisively moves away from exporting raw materials while importing finished goods.
President MAHAMA called for stronger value addition and the development of integrated African supply chains.
He said that although Zambia and Ghana share a long history rooted in liberation struggles, democracy, and Pan-Africanism, trade and investment between the two countries remain well below their potential.
President MAHAMA described this gap as both a challenge and an opportunity that now requires urgent action.
He said Africa must turn inward with clear intent at a time when global trade is becoming increasingly fragmented and protectionist, adding that the African Continental Free Trade Area presents a rare opportunity to build regional value chains and reduce dependence on external markets.
