ZAMBIA’S FOREIGN POLICY AND PARTICIPATION AT THE 3RD RUSSIA-AFRICA SUMMIT
As the Socialist Party, we view the outcome of the 3rd Russia–Africa Summit in Moscow as a reminder of the shifting dynamics of global diplomacy and the necessity of a balanced, non-aligned foreign policy.
While we acknowledge that Mr Hakainde Hichilema’s administration sent a ministerial delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, we believe that Zambia’s consistent absence at the Head of State level represents a missed opportunity to directly advance our national interest in an increasingly multi-polar world.
True diplomacy requires active engagement at the highest level of statecraft. Having previously attended the 2nd Russia–Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, I witnessed firsthand the immense potential of these forums to deliver concrete developmental partnerships.
Past summits have established critical frameworks, including the Action Plan for 2023–2026, which laid the groundwork for extensive trade, investment, and technological exchange across the continent.
Historically, these engagements have facilitated vital agreements on food security, agricultural inputs, and nuclear energy cooperation, including Zambia’s own long-standing framework for a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology.
Our relationship with the Russian Federation must be understood through the lens of historical reliability and mutual respect.
For Africa, Russia has consistently demonstrated that it is a partner that delivers on its promises. Crucially, Russia is neither our old nor our new coloniser; it does not approach African nations with the paternalistic strings or conditionalities often imposed by other traditional powers. President Vladimir Putin has proven to be a man of his word, treating African sovereign states as equals.
With deliberate strategic effort, Zambia can unlock more substantial, uncompromised developmental support from Russia than from any other quarter.
It is a stark illustration of misplaced priorities that Mr Hichilema has repeatedly found the time to travel to the United Arab Emirates for various business meetings and corporate engagements, yet cannot find the time to travel to Moscow for a major strategic continent-wide summit.
By limiting our presence to ministerial representation in Russia while prioritising other corporate travels, Zambia compromises its ability to engage in direct, high-level bilateral negotiations with key global actors.
In international relations, being at the table at the executive level matters. Relying exclusively on one geopolitical bloc or specific corporate interests restricts our strategic options and undermines the foundational principle of active non-alignment that has historically defined Zambia’s sovereign foreign policy.
The Socialist Party advocates for a pragmatic, courageous foreign policy that engages all global partners—East, West, North, and South—on the basis of mutual respect and national sovereignty.
We urge the government to move past selective engagement and ensure that Zambia is fully represented at the highest level in all key international forums to secure the economic, technological, and agricultural partnerships our people urgently require.
Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party [Zambia]