PRESIDENT HH’S UAE VISIT, STRATEGIC -Lengwe Cornelius Bwalya
Lusaka: 27.09.2026
The two day planned visit by President Hakainde Hichilema to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is strategic, says Rhoma Foreign Relations Institute (Rhoma Institute) Executive Director Mr. Lengwe Cornelius Bwalya.
This comes in the light of the announcement made by Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane , that President Hakainde Hichilema will take working visit to UAE from September 29-30,2026.
“This is the first international trip that President Hakainde Hichilema is under taking since his renewed mandate last month and it is a strategic step towards consolidating existing bilateral trade and investment cooperation between our two nations “ Mr Bwalya said
Furthermore, Mr. Bwalya stated that “Remember the International Resources Holdings (IRH) under their subsidiary Delta Mining Limited of UAE hold a 51% stake in Mopani Copper Mines on the Copperbelt, which is a key strategic asset in our “Grow Zambia Agenda” for the 3 million tones of copper production target. So this visit goes reaffirmed our two countries commitment to such investment”
Additionally, Zambia is seeking to enhance bilateral cooperation under our flagship Economic Diplomacy with countries that share and buy into our national economic interests through trade and investment and the UAE among others are key global partners that President Hichilema is seeking to strengthen bilateral bonds with, hence this visit Mr Bwalya emphasized.
As ever, we can not build a nation or bring development to Zambia in isolation, we have to interact with like minded nations for trade and exploring investment opportunities under comparative economic advantages, Mr Bwalya reiterated.