Re-elected on August 13, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema officially began his second five-year term on Tuesday in Lusaka. Addressing a crowd of thousands gathered at the National Heroes Stadium, the head of state set out a particularly ambitious economic goal: to triple the size of the national economy by 2031.
“During this term, we are moving from stabilizing the economy to growing the economy,” Hichilema said in his inauguration speech. His objective is clear: to accelerate wealth creation and enable more Zambians to increase their incomes.
This new roadmap is called the “Zambia Growth Agenda,” which is set to replace the “New Dawn” platform that guided the president’s first term.
From Stabilization to Growth
For Hichilema, the second five-year term must now be one of economic acceleration. After devoting much of his first term to debt restructuring and implementing IMF-backed reforms, the president now wants to attract more investment and stimulate strategic sectors.
Mining, energy, agriculture and manufacturing are among the main drivers on which the government intends to rely to transform the Zambian economy.
The challenge, however, remains considerable. The country is emerging from a difficult period marked by droughts, electricity shortages, the depreciation of the national currency and a lengthy battle to restructure its debt.
A Call for National Unity
Beyond economic issues, the Zambian president has also placed unity at the heart of his second term. Following an election campaign marked by political divisions, Hichilema called on his fellow citizens to move beyond partisan affiliations.
“The person who voted against us is not our enemy,” he said, stressing that Zambians must remain “one people,” regardless of their political choices.
Zambia Wants to Strengthen Its Role on the International Stage
On the diplomatic front, Hichilema also intends to strengthen Zambia’s role as a regional player and promoter of dialogue. He reaffirmed Lusaka’s commitment to continuing to play a mediating role and to promoting peace within the international community.
For the president, economic development cannot be separated from stability: “There can be no sustainable development without peace, stability and sustainability.”
According to the official results of the electoral commission, Hichilema won the August 13 presidential election with around 60% of the vote, compared with 38% for his main opponent, Brian Mundubile.
Elected for a second term, Hakainde Hichilema also knows that this will be his final term as head of state. With the Zambian Constitution limiting the presidency to two terms, the 2026–2031 period will therefore be his last five-year term.
