HICHILEMA’S NUMEROUS INTERNATIONAL TRIPS
By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba
While in Opposition, President Hakainde Hichilema was very critical of his predecessor’s trip calling them wasteful and careless especially what he termed amidst economic crisis and austerity measures government was implementing.
But since assuming office in August 2021, he has taken about 30 international trips, despite the deep crisis facing the economy.
Zambia’s economy is facing some of the strongest headwinds with its economy at the brink of collapse, facing the highest cost of living, high unemployemnt, a volatile exchange rate, and high price of the staple food, mealie and high cost fuel.
President Hichilema says economic solutions are underway with the IMF Bail-out approved by the IMF Board of Directors, and Zambia’s foreign debt on the way to being restructured, which he says will give budget headroom for job creation and implementation of economic and social projects.
He is also hopeful that the foreign direct investment he is wooing to the country will create jobs and help grow the economy.
Below are some of his international trips he has taken since he took over office in August 2021.
PRESIDENT HICHILEMA INTERNATIONAL TRIPS
2023
1. 15th-19th January 2023- UAE, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
2. 12th-14th January 2023- Luanda, Angola- State House
2022
3. 11th December-20th December, Washington, USA-AFRICA LEADERS’ SUMMIT
4. 6th November-8th November, Sharma El Sheik, Egypt,COP 27, UNFCCC 27th Conference.
5. 27th-28th October-Maseru, Kingdom of LESOTHO Inauguration of Prime Minister, Sam Matekane.
6. 12-13th October, Swakopmund, Namibia, International Trade Expo
15th September- Luanda- Angola, Inauguration Joao Lourenco
7. 17th-24th September, New York, 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
8. 16th-18th August- Kinshasa, DRC, 42nd SADC Ordinary Heads and Government
9. 2nd-4th August 2022- Tanzania, State Visit
10. 23rd-25th June 2022, Coomonewealth Headsnof State and Government(CHOGM), Kigali, Rwanda
11. 21st-22nd June Brussels ,Kingdom of Belgium, European Union Parliament
12. 15th June – Nairobi, Kenya- State Visit
3rd-5th June- Kingfom of Eswatini- State visit
13. 08th -11th May, 2022-Capetown, South Africa, Mining Indaba
14. 17-18th February,2022- Brussels, Belgium EU/AU Summit
15. 19th-20th February-Vatican, Rome- State Visit
16. 5th February-8th February, Addis Ababa,Ethiopia, 35th Ordinary Session of the African Union,
17. 26th January-27th January, Pretoria- Book launch
18. 19th -21st January- Dubai, UAE, Dubai Expo 2020.
19. 12th January, Lilongwe, SADC Extra-Ordinary Summit.
2021
20. 18th September, 2021 -6 day visit to the United Nations General Conference ( UNGA), New York and Washington.
This was his first foreign trip as President of Zambia to the United States.
On 21st September,2021, President Hichilema also met with US Vice-President Kamala Harris along with various US government officials.
21. 1st November, 2021, 9-day visit to Scotland attending the Conference of Parties (COP26). President Hichilema attended the Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. He addressed the Assembly on 2nd November 2021
22. Durban, South Africa, two-days visit to attend the Intra-African Trade Fair with a call on African.attended the ribbon ceremony of the second edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair 2021.
23. 21st November, 2021 Botswana, two-days trip and joined fellow leaders from Zimbabwe, Botswana and Nambia in commemorating World Children’s Day at the Kazungula Bridge.
24. 23rd November, 2021- two-day visit to DRC. President Hichilema attended the DRC-Africa Business Forum held in Kinshasa.
25. 6th December, 2021 one-day visit to Malawi. This was his first official bilateral state visit to Malawi. He met with President Lazarus Chakwera on his one-day state visit. Both leaders agreed to boost trade relations between the two countries.
26. 11th January 2022, a 3-day visit to Malawi , SADC Heads of State Extra-Ordinary Summit.
27.18th January 2022-a 3-day trip to UAE to the official opening of the Zambian National Day at Expo 2020.
28. 27th January 2022-South Africa- Private visit to launch a book, “Expensive Poverty” by Brenthurst Foundation Executive Director, Greg Mills.
President Hichilema paid a courtesy call on President Cyril Ramaphosa at Mahlamba Ndlopfu, the official residence of the President.
