We inherited a completely broken down Country, Hichilema tells the BBC
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says his government inherited a completely broken down country when it assumed office in 2021.
He says Zambia had already defaulted on its debt obligations, leaving the economy in distress, but his administration prioritised debt restructuring to restore economic stability.
“We were in debt distress,” Hichilema stresses, adding that, “the economy was declining.”
He adds: “We said we would restructure the debt. And we delivered on that. A clear saving of US$1.9 billion per year.”
President Hichilema further says his government has overseen the highest maize production in Zambia’s history since independence.
“What is that level? Five million tonnes of maize this year,” Hichilema says.
He says the bumper harvest has contributed to a reduction in mealie meal prices.
However, when BBC anchor Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya pointed out that the current mealie meal price was still higher than the price Hichilema found when he took office, the President argued that such a comparison ignored broader economic realities.
“This is not how you measure economics. This is what you call nominal figures. You must be talking about real terms. Real terms bring context in terms of the general price level, over a period of time, and the true value of that price, in today’s currency,” Hichilema said.
©TV Yatu | David Kashiki | August 5, 2026.
PF wrecked Zambia in every conceivable way. Morally, polically, economically, religiously, socially, you name it.
PF was a disaster for our country.