Kalemba News

Trump has slapped us on both cheeks, we are on our own – Hichilema

Written by

Melony Chisanga

in

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PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says Zambia’s treasury needs to be stronger now that US President Donald Trump is back into the White House.

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Addressing the Energy Financing Group at State House today, President Hichilema stated that the global geo-politics have changed with the come back of Trump, adding that Zambia and other African countries were now on their own.

“We need the treasury to be stronger. Let’s not deceive ourselves. The global geo-politics have changed with Mr Trump coming into the White House. We cannot expect ARVs to be bought for us. We have to buy the ARVs. So the treasury must become stronger. We are on our own. I hope we agree that we are on our own,” stated the Head of State.

The President stated that Trump should have hammered Zambia a long time ago so that the growth of the country’s financial institutions could be looked into in order to grow the economy.

“I want to thank Mr Trump, I think he has slapped us not on one chick but on both cheeks. We should have been hammered a long time ago so that we look at growth of all our financial institutions. If the economy is growing, it should be driven by your growth,” President Hichilema said.

Meanwhile, President Hichilema told the group at State House that the current administration is one of the few on the African continent setting targets for industries like mining where government has targeted 300 million tonnes of Copper.

“We hope to hit one million tonnes of Copper. I told you that when you put me in office, I will be the chief investment officer and marketing officer, I’m doing my job, now do your own – which is beneficial to your own,” he added.

The Head of State further advised the private sector and the country’s power utility to work together in order to restore the energy sufficiency.

“Let’s not point fingers at Zesco. It’s we who damaged the Zesco balance sheet, it’s a politician who was forcing Zesco to buy expensive power and sell it cheaper. I will not allow any such decisions to be made. Let’s make Zesco to restore the balance sheet, you as the private sector.”

“I have told Zesco that don’t see private players as your competitor,” said President Hichilema.

By Catherine Pule

Kalemba, March 6, 2025

Comments

2 responses to “Trump has slapped us on both cheeks, we are on our own – Hichilema”

  1. Dotty avatar
    Dotty

    Good morning Mr president I salute you , you are the first president who says what I think is write for the people. I follow you on the presidential desk just to hear your important speeches . You are indeed a people president and you have touched each and every problem . People may say all the want but you just forge ahead and this makes us have our support from copperla (copper belt )community.Please keep up with your good work & May God keep on blessing you . I just want more favor which when you do the economy will change and revenue for ZRA will rise . Iam a female business person i run an SME and I have seen and experienced that, if you are not given a good business environment a company will collapse and start having difficulties in paying these taxes hence less revenue collections . But if you mr president who has the powers to create the business environment were as in most businesses are given to Zambian reputable companies who have a good record & experience in the past business years with various mining houses can be awarded sustainable contracts & supplies that will be helpful and boost the economy. This also enables the people of zambia to spend & support families within zambia unlike foreign companies who take out most of the chunk when they are paid by these mining companies.these factors that are causing companies not to strive . I submit

  2. R K Mutungulu avatar
    R K Mutungulu

    Mr president go ahead with the works we are behind you,i see your works very important

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