CHRISTOPHER VANDOME
US vice-president Kamala Harris’s recent visit to Zambia is an example the country’s increased engagement with western nations. It gave fresh impetus to the view that Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema is strongly aligning the country to the west.
But this re-engagement has stopped short of a full pendulum swing. For example, the country retains strong ties to China.
Hichilema came to power in August 2021 on a promise of domestic economic revival, good governance and a business friendly approach. He set out a new direction for the country’s foreign policy in his inauguration speech.
This emphasised economic diplomacy and partnerships across the emerging geopolitical divide between western countries, and China and Russia.
Hichilema’s support for democratic institutions and good governance has unlocked some investment. But this will take time to translate into tangible benefits for citizens. At the same time, China is recalculating the nature of its economic engagement with Zambia. This
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