Africa’s Obesity Advocates Push for a Bigger Role in Health Systems

By Alain Kabinda 

From Ghana to Zambia and South Africa, advocates are bringing evidence and lived experience into health policy discussions, calling for obesity to be recognised as an essential part of the region’s response to NCDs and Universal Health Coverage.

As African countries work to build stronger health systems and expand access to healthcare, advocates are calling for a health challenge that affects millions across the continent to receive greater attention: obesity.

From national engagement in Ghana to high-level discussions at the 76th Session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for Africa (AFRO76), World Obesity members and advocates are helping to ensure that obesity is not overlooked in wider conversations about noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), primary healthcare and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Their work is also highlighting another critical element of health policy: the voices of people living with obesity themselves.

The experience by Ms. Brenda Chitindi, Executive Director of the Zambia Heart and Stroke Foundation and a World Obesity lived experience advocate, demonstrate how national and regional advocacy can connect evidence, lived experience and policy.

At AFRO76, Ms. Brenda Chitindi represented World Obesity alongside other organisations, bringing the perspectives of people living with obesity and the wider obesity community into regional health discussions.

In a statement on progress towards implementing the WHO African Region's Framework for Sustaining Resilient Health Systems to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Promote Health Security 2023–2030, Ms. Brenda welcomed progress while urging Member States to make obesity prevention and management part of efforts to strengthen UHC and primary healthcare.

Her intervention drew attention to the rapidly increasing prevalence of obesity across the African region and its links with other major NCDs, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Integrating obesity prevention and management into primary healthcare could deliver what advocates describe as a “double dividend” — improving health outcomes while also generating economic benefits and addressing a major driver of multiple diseases.

It emphasised the importance of listening to people who live with obesity and involving them in the design and implementation of health services.

When people living with obesity are involved in shaping care, services can become more person-centred and better equipped to address stigma and the barriers that prevent people from seeking or receiving appropriate support.

Ms. Brenda's participation at AFRO76 therefore represented more than advocacy on behalf of people living with obesity. It reflected a wider effort to ensure that people with lived experience have a seat at the table when decisions about their health are being made.

Alongside her advocacy at AFRO76, Ms. Brenda also helped raise awareness of MAPPS II – Management and Advocacy for Providers, Patients and Systems, World Obesity's global initiative examining how obesity prevention, treatment and care are addressed across health systems.

MAPPS II brings together research and multi-stakeholder engagement, involving healthcare professionals, policymakers, civil society, people living with obesity and their caregivers.

The initiative is designed to build a clearer understanding of what happens in practice: where health systems are responding effectively to obesity, where gaps exist and what can be done to strengthen prevention and care.

South Africa is one of six MAPPS II deep-dive countries, where researchers and stakeholders are examining barriers and opportunities in obesity prevention and care.

A national roundtable in Cape Town brought together more than 25 participants from government, healthcare, research, civil society and lived experience.

The gathering provided an opportunity to bring different perspectives together and explore how obesity can be better addressed within existing health systems.

MAPPS II is also building a broader regional evidence base. The forthcoming MAPPS II Atlas includes South Africa, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya among the countries represented from the WHO African Region.

As governments across Africa seek to strengthen primary healthcare and advance UHC, decisions about which conditions receive attention, resources and services have significant implications for health equity.

Obesity is closely connected to several other major health challenges, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Yet access to prevention, treatment and long-term care can vary considerably.

For advocates, this creates a strong case for obesity to be addressed as part of integrated health-system planning rather than through isolated programmes.

The evidence emerging from MAPPS II, combined with engagement from healthcare professionals, policymakers, civil society and people with lived experience, can help build that case.

Evidence and stakeholder engagement from MAPPS II will contribute to national and global discussions on health-system priorities in the lead-up to the 2027 United Nations High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage.

For the obesity community, the meeting provides an important opportunity to reinforce a fundamental argument: universal health coverage cannot be achieved if major drivers of disease and health inequity are overlooked.

That means ensuring that obesity prevention, treatment and care are considered within broader health-system strategies.

The focus is increasingly moving beyond individual responsibility towards questions of prevention, access to care, health-system capacity, policy and equity.

Advocates like Ms. Brenda Chitindi are helping to drive that change by connecting national experiences with regional and global policy discussions.

Her work, alongside the evidence being generated through MAPPS II, is helping to build a stronger argument for obesity to be treated as an integral part of the NCD and UHC agenda.

As countries prepare for the next major global discussion on universal health coverage, the challenge will be turning that growing recognition into concrete action.

For people living with obesity across Africa, that action could mean health services that are easier to access, more responsive to their needs and free from stigma.

And for health systems, it could mean recognising that achieving better health for all requires addressing obesity alongside the other major challenges shaping the region’s health future.

 NGOCC Urges Hichilema to Prioritise Women, Inclusive Growth in Second Term

By Alain Kabinda

The Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has urged President Hakainde Hichilema to make inclusive governance, women’s participation and shared prosperity key priorities during his second five-year term.

Congratulating President Hichilema on his inauguration, NGOCC Board Chairperson Beauty Katebe in statement issued to Daily News said the new term provides an opportunity for the President to build on his first-term efforts and deepen an agenda that benefits all Zambians.

Ms. Katebe said the President’s “Grow Zambia” agenda should be guided by unity in diversity, stressing that the Head of State has a responsibility to serve all citizens, including those who did not vote for him.

Ms. katebe commended President Hichilema for extending a conciliatory message to the opposition and urged him to take further steps towards national healing.

The organisation called for people currently detained in connection with the just-ended general elections to be brought before the courts of law without delay.

She has further called on President Hichilema to use the 11 nominated parliamentary seats to deliberately increase women’s representation in the National Assembly.

The organisation said preliminary election results once again indicate that women remain significantly underrepresented in Parliament, falling short of the 50 percent gender parity threshold.

Ms. Katebe urged the President to appoint more women to Cabinet and other key decision-making positions.

 Ms. Katebe said increased participation of women in political leadership would help advance Zambia’s constitutional commitments and international obligations on gender equality, including the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

The organisation said Zambia’s transition from economic stabilisation to growth must result in tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens.

Ms. Katebe also emphasised the need for economic gains to benefit women, who it said constitute a large proportion of Zambia’s poor.

The organisation cautioned that economic expansion should not be measured only through national statistics, but by whether families experience improved livelihoods and greater economic opportunities.

“Expansion must indeed be felt in our homes, not only in national statistics,” Ms. Katebe said.

Ms. Katebe said President Hichilema faces the considerable task of repairing relationships across the political divide and strengthening national cohesion.

Ms. Katebe also urged the President to lead from the front in ensuring that his second term delivers inclusive governance, meaningful participation of women and shared prosperity.

The organisation said the President should lead with humility, inclusiveness and an unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of all Zambians.

Ms. Katebe has also wished President Hichilema wisdom, peace and steadfast resolve as he begins his second term.

The organisation also called on citizens to play their part in building a united, peaceful and prosperous Zambia.

 

Duma Calls for Policy Shift to Unlock Zambian Business Potential

By Alain Kabinda

Policy Analyst Zondwayo Duma has called for a fundamental shift in Zambia’s economic policies to ensure that local businesses benefit more meaningfully from the country’s abundant natural resources.

Mr Duma says Zambia’s mineral and land wealth has not translated into broad-based prosperity for citizens, raising questions about how the country attracts investment, develops local enterprises and distributes economic opportunities.

In a media statement, Mr Duma said the continued existence of poverty in a resource-rich country required serious reflection on the policy choices that have shaped Zambia’s economic development.

He said Government must move beyond simply attracting external investors and place greater emphasis on building the capacity of Zambian-owned businesses to participate in major economic sectors.

Mr Duma said local content policies should not be limited to encouraging companies to procure goods and services from Zambian suppliers.

He argued that local enterprises must have the financial, technical and productive capacity to compete effectively for contracts generated by major investments, particularly in the mining and natural resource sectors.

“Local content policies must extend beyond procurement to ensure that Zambian companies have the genuine capacity and capabilities to participate,” he said.

According to Mr Duma, this requires deliberate supplier-development programmes that equip local businesses with the skills, technology, financing and standards necessary to compete.

He said Government should therefore take an active role in developing suppliers rather than leaving local companies to compete against established international firms without adequate support.

The policy analyst said Zambia's economic transformation would depend heavily on the growth of strong domestic enterprises capable of participating in regional and international value chains.

He said institutions such as the Zambia Development Agency and the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission should be refocused to become stronger drivers of industrialisation and local business development.

Mr Duma argued that these institutions should do more than facilitate investment and empowerment programmes, but should help create an environment where Zambian companies can expand, innovate and compete.

He said stronger domestic businesses would allow more economic value to remain in Zambia through employment creation, local procurement, tax revenues, skills development and reinvestment.

Mr Duma said Zambia’s policy framework has historically placed significant emphasis on attracting external investors, while domestic business development has received comparatively less attention.

He said foreign investment remains important to economic development but should be structured in a way that creates opportunities for local enterprises to grow alongside major investors.

Without deliberate intervention, he warned, Zambian businesses risk remaining marginal players in sectors based on the country's own natural resources.

This, he said, could perpetuate an economic model in which Zambia exports its resources while importing many of the goods, technologies and services required to exploit them.

Mr Duma’s concerns come amid continued discussions around how Zambia can extract greater economic value from its natural resources.

He said the country needs policies that encourage value addition, industrial development and stronger domestic supply chains rather than focusing primarily on the extraction and export of raw materials.

For businesses, this could create opportunities across manufacturing, mining supply chains, agriculture, logistics, technology and other supporting industries.

A stronger local supply chain could also reduce the amount of money leaving the country through imports while creating new markets for Zambian producers and service providers.

Mr Duma said Government has a critical role to play in creating the conditions under which local businesses can grow.

This includes ensuring that institutions responsible for investment promotion and economic empowerment are equipped to identify gaps in local industries and help businesses close them.

He said supplier development should be treated as an economic development strategy rather than simply a procurement requirement.

“Government must take an active role in supplier development if local enterprises are to compete effectively,” he said.

Such an approach, he argued, would enable local businesses to move from being small contractors and suppliers to becoming competitive companies capable of serving large domestic and international markets.

Mr Duma warned that failing to address the structural weaknesses affecting local enterprises could continue to limit the impact of Zambia’s natural-resource wealth on ordinary citizens.

He said the disconnect between a country rich in land and minerals and citizens who continue to experience poverty must be urgently addressed.

For the private sector, the issue is ultimately about creating a more inclusive business environment where investment generates opportunities throughout the economy rather than concentrating benefits among a limited number of companies.

Mr Duma said honest dialogue on policy shortcomings was necessary to identify practical solutions and deliver sustainable economic transformation.

He stressed that Zambia needs meaningful reforms rather than promises if it is to achieve inclusive growth and shared prosperity.

The challenge, he said, is not whether Zambia possesses sufficient resources to become prosperous, but whether its economic policies can effectively transform those resources into competitive Zambian businesses, jobs, industrial capacity and lasting wealth for citizens.

 

A Twice-Yearly Shield: Zambia’s New Hope in the Fight Against HIV

By Alain Kabinda

For a woman visiting the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Women and Newborn Hospital in Lusaka, HIV prevention may soon become less about remembering a pill every day and more about making two decisions a year.

That possibility is emerging with the introduction of injectable lenacapavir, a new HIV prevention option that is administered twice a year.

More than 200 women at the UTH Women and Newborn Hospital have already been initiated on the injection, marking an important step in Zambia’s efforts to prevent new HIV infections.

And for many women, particularly those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, staying HIV-negative is not only about protecting their own health. It can also mean protecting their children from the consequences of an infection acquired during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The arrival of lenacapavir therefore represents more than the introduction of another medicine. It offers women another choice in how they protect themselves from HIV.

Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP, has given people at risk of HIV an effective tool for preventing infection. But taking a tablet every day can be difficult for some people.

Instead of requiring daily tablets, the injectable prevention option is administered twice a year, potentially reducing the burden associated with daily medication.

For women who struggle with taking a pill every day, the twice-yearly injection could provide greater convenience and privacy.

Speaking during the handover ceremony and marking the arrival of the shipment. in Lusaka U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia said the medicine could help save lives by giving women another way to protect themselves from HIV.

                                                            Mr. Frank Garcia

“This is a Zambian achievement, led by Zambians for Zambians,” Mr Garcia said.

He highlighted a significant aspect of the development: while the medicine is supported by the United States, its implementation is being led by Zambian health workers and institutions.

Mr Garcia said U.S. support was intended to strengthen Zambia’s health institutions and leadership rather than replace the work of local authorities.

At the centre of the initial rollout is the UTH Women and Newborn Hospital, where health workers are gaining practical experience in administering the injection and supporting women receiving it.

And Senior Medical Superintendent Dr Mukatimui Kalima Munalula said more than 200 women had already been initiated on injectable lenacapavir, including some male partners.

“What we are doing here will help us to generate information that can be used to roll out the service to the rest of the country,” she said.

Dr Munalula says the lessons emerging from UTH will be critical to future expansion.

The experience being accumulated at UTH could become important as Zambia considers expanding access to the new HIV prevention option beyond the capital.

Health workers are learning how women respond to the intervention, how services can best be delivered and what may be required to make the programme accessible on a larger scale.

Behind every new HIV prevention intervention lies a history of lives lost and families changed by the epidemic.

Meanwhile Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Donor Coordination George Sinyangwe offered a deeply personal reminder of that history.

                                                  Dr. George Sinyangwe 

Mr Sinyangwe said he had lost four brothers to HIV, despite all of them being educated, with some reaching PhD level.

“I am the only one remaining,” he said.

It has taken parents from children, breadwinners from families, professionals from workplaces and loved ones from communities.

Mr Sinyangwe said HIV had once contributed to a dramatic decline in Zambia’s life expectancy, but increased access to treatment and other interventions had helped reverse some of the damage.

He said life expectancy had recovered to around 64 years, while HIV-related deaths had fallen sharply.

Every new prevention tool represents another opportunity to ensure that fewer families experience the loss that his family endured.

The introduction of lenacapavir also highlights the long-standing health partnership between Zambia and the United States.

Mr Sinyangwe described the United States as the single largest external supporter of Zambia’s HIV response, with assistance spanning prevention and treatment.

The medicine, manufactured by U.S. pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, is being made available free of charge at Zambian health facilities.

For women and families who may otherwise worry about the cost of HIV prevention, removing the price of the medicine could make the intervention more accessible.

The partnership also reflects a broader shift in HIV prevention: from simply making medicines available to ensuring that people have prevention options that fit their lives.

For a woman who is HIV-negative, preventing infection during pregnancy and breastfeeding is important not only for her own health but also because acquiring HIV during these periods can create risks for her child.

The introduction of injectable PrEP at the Women and Newborn Hospital creates an opportunity to integrate HIV prevention more closely into services that women already use.

Rather than treating HIV prevention as a separate intervention, health workers can make it part of a broader conversation about maternal health, family wellbeing and protecting children.

The more than 200 women already initiated on lenacapavir represent an important beginning, but Zambia’s HIV prevention needs extend far beyond one hospital.

The success of the programme will depend not only on the availability of the medicine but also on health workers, supply systems, community awareness, counselling and the ability of women to make informed choices about HIV prevention.

The challenge will be ensuring that a promising innovation does not remain concentrated in a few facilities or become accessible only to women living near major urban centres. For Lenacapavir does not end Zambia’s HIV challenge.

Rather, it adds another tool to an arsenal that includes condoms, HIV testing, oral PrEP, treatment and other prevention strategies.

Not every person at risk of HIV will want the same prevention method. Some may prefer daily tablets, while others may find a twice-yearly injection easier to maintain.

For a country that has witnessed the devastating human cost of HIV, the promise is straightforward: fewer new infections, healthier mothers, protected children and more families spared the grief of losing loved ones.

And for the women receiving the injection, the meaning may be even simpler—a little more freedom, a little less daily burden, and another opportunity to remain HIV-negative.

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 BETUZ Renews Call for Better Conditions for Teachers

By Alain Kabinda

The Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) has called for improved conditions of service, better remuneration and greater professional recognition for teachers, particularly those working in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

BETUZ Acting CEO-DGS Christopher Simukonda made the call during the flag-off of 90,000 World Teachers Day shirts earmarked for distribution to union members across the country.

Mr Simukonda said the recognition of teachers should go beyond commemorative activities and be matched with practical measures aimed at improving their welfare and dignity.

He said teachers continue to make significant sacrifices in classrooms, often working under difficult conditions while carrying the responsibility of preparing learners for the future.

“Behind every shirt is a teacher who wakes up very early to shape the future of a child, a teacher who serves in the classroom, often under very difficult circumstances, a teacher who sacrifices today to build a better Zambia tomorrow,” he said.

Mr Simukonda described teachers as critical to Zambia’s national development, saying the education sector remains the foundation for building the country’s human capital.

“Teachers are not merely employees within the education sector. They are the architects of national development and the foundation upon which Zambia’s human capital is built,” he said.

He said BETUZ would continue engaging Government and other stakeholders on issues affecting teachers, including improved salaries, timely promotions and upgrades, professional recognition, continuous professional development and better working conditions.

Mr Simukonda said teachers serving in rural and hard-to-reach communities require particular attention because of the additional challenges they face in delivering education services.

He said BETUZ would continue advocating for teachers through constructive but firm engagement to ensure that their welfare and professional standing remain a national priority.

Mr Simukonda said the 90,000 shirts should be viewed as more than World Teachers Day merchandise, describing them as a symbol of unity, solidarity, professional pride and recognition.

“These shirts are more than fabric, cotton and colour. They carry a message, they carry our dignity. They represent unity, solidarity, professional pride and recognition of the teacher,” he said.

He said the procurement of the shirts, which are expected to reach almost every BETUZ member, demonstrates the union’s commitment to its membership.

Mr Simukonda urged teachers to wear the shirts with pride as a symbol of their unity and professional identity.

He further stressed that investing in teachers was essential to Zambia’s development, warning that failure to adequately support educators could undermine the country’s education system and broader development aspirations.

“When you invest in the teacher, we invest in the future of Zambia. The future of this nation depends upon education,” he said.

The distribution of the 90,000 shirts is expected to begin with the dispatch of the consignment to provinces for onward distribution to BETUZ members across the country.

 

 

 Zambia and Brazil Deepen Trade and Investment Ties at Lusaka Business Forum

By Alain Kabinda

LUSAKA — Zambia and Brazil have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade, investment and economic cooperation during the Zambia–Brazil Business Forum held in Lusaka under the theme “Cooperation, Trade and Investments.”

The forum brought together government officials, business leaders and private-sector representatives to explore opportunities in agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, mining, renewable energy, infrastructure, tourism and logistics.

Speaking at the forum, ApexBrasil President Laudemir Müller said trade between Brazil and Africa had grown significantly over the past two decades, rising from approximately US$5 billion in 2002 to US$28 billion in 2013. However, he noted that trade had subsequently declined to about US$11.5 billion in 2020.

Mr. Müller said Brazil was now working to rebuild its commercial engagement with Africa, adding that total trade had reached US$24 billion in 2025.

“Africa is a priority because of the deep cultural ties that unite us and for strategic reasons,” said Mr. Müller, describing the continent as essential to addressing global challenges, including food security, energy transition and industrial development.

He also said that Africa’s youthful population, agricultural potential and reserves of critical minerals made it an important partner for Brazil. According to Mr. Müller, Africa is expected to account for approximately one quarter of the world’s population by 2050 and possesses around 60 percent of the world’s uncultivated agricultural land.

Mr. Müller also highlighted ApexBrasil’s growing support for commercial engagement with African countries. Since 2023, the agency, in partnership with Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has undertaken eight business missions to 20 countries involving more than 600 companies.

He said ApexBrasil had conducted 92 trade initiatives in Africa, including 50 trade missions, and participated in 31 international trade fairs involving approximately 700 companies.

In 2025, more than 1,000 companies supported by ApexBrasil exported to African markets, while 200 companies began exporting to Africa with the agency’s assistance. A further 600 companies reportedly expanded into new African destinations.

Turning specifically to Zambia, Müller said bilateral trade remained far below its potential. Trade between the two countries stood at approximately US$7.5 million in 2025, a figure he described as inadequate given the size and capabilities of the two economies.

He further identified agriculture as a key area for cooperation, saying Brazil could support Zambia’s efforts to raise productivity and modernise the sector through the supply of agricultural machinery, bio-inputs, animal genetics and tropical farming technologies.

“Zambia seeks to raise productivity and modernise its agriculture, and Brazil is the natural partner for this jump,” Mr. Müller said.

He added that Brazilian companies could also provide specialised machinery and technical expertise to support local processing and increase value addition in Zambia.

Mr. Müller said Brazil could share its experience in renewable energy, biomass and biofuels to help Zambia diversify its energy mix and expand access to power for industries and rural communities.

He further pointed to the Lobito Corridor as a potential area of cooperation, saying the regional logistics project could create new opportunities for trade, investment and industrial development.

During the forum, ApexBrasil and the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at bringing Brazilian and Zambian companies closer together and promoting commercial partnerships.

And Speaking at the same forum ZDA Director General Mr. Albert Halwampa said Zambia welcomed Brazil’s continued interest in deepening economic relations with the country.

He said the two nations shared common interests in sustainable development, agricultural transformation, energy, mining, manufacturing and infrastructure.

“Zambia’s stable political environment, abundant natural resources and strategic location in the SADC region make it an ideal destination for Brazilian capital and expertise,” Mr. Halwampa said.

He said the Zambian Government is committed to improving the ease of doing business, facilitating trade, promoting value addition in agriculture and mining, and supporting skills transfer and innovation.

Mr. Halwampa urged businesses from both countries to take advantage of the forum and convert discussions into concrete projects and investments.

Officiating the forum Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Ms. Lillian Saili Bwalya said the forum had been convened at a critical time as Zambia pursued trade expansion and industrialisation as drivers of economic growth.

She described the gathering as an important milestone in strengthening commercial and investment relations between Zambia and Brazil.

Ms. Bwalya said the forum would enable Brazilian businesses to explore the Zambian market and identify opportunities for joint ventures with local companies, particularly in agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and value-added industries.

She identified agricultural processing, manufacturing, minerals beneficiation, healthcare, infrastructure, renewable energy, plastic products, light engineering and information and communications technology as sectors with significant potential.

Ms. Bwalya said Zambia was implementing reforms to reduce the cost of doing business, simplify registration procedures and improve the regulatory environment in order to attract investment.

She also emphasised Zambia’s strategic position as a gateway to markets in Southern and Central Africa.

According to Bwalya, Zambia provides important trade routes to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and Zimbabwe, while also supporting trade flows linking Tanzania, South Africa and the southern DRC.

“These linkages make Zambia a strategic access point for regional trade and investment,” she said.

Ms. Bwalya encouraged Brazilian companies to use the forum to connect with Zambian enterprises and establish long-term partnerships.

She expressed confidence that the meeting would lay the foundation for increased trade, investment, knowledge sharing, business matchmaking and cooperation in the small and medium-sized enterprise sector.

The Zambia–Brazil Business Forum concluded with calls for stronger private-sector engagement and practical follow-up to ensure that the memorandum of understanding results in increased investment, job creation, technology transfer and shared economic benefits for both countries.

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 The Race to Turn Infrastructure into Jobs and Local Growth

 

By Alain Kabinda 

When Zambia gathers construction companies, Government institutions, investors and manufacturers at the Build Zambia Expo and Conference next month, the biggest question may not be how many people attend.

The Build Zambia Expo & Conference 2026 is being officially launched in Lusaka, with organisers challenging the construction industry to move beyond speeches and exhibition stands and turn business conversations into procurement opportunities, partnerships and jobs.

The Expo is Scheduled for September 23 to 24 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, the expo which is being positioned as a marketplace for the construction industry rather than simply another annual exhibition.

Speaking during the launch Permanent Secretary for Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Prof. Albert Malama, who unveiled the event, said infrastructure was fundamental to Zambia's economic transformation.

But he challenged Government agencies attending the event to come prepared to engage industry directly.

“The success of the expo should not be judged by how many people walk through the doors, but by the quality of participation and the value created,” Prof. Malama said.

His remarks capture the central ambition of the event: replacing passive exhibition with active business engagement.

The expo will include a Hosted Buyer Programme, expected to bring up to 100 qualified buyers from Government institutions, local authorities, mines, utilities and property developers.

Rather than simply browsing exhibition stands, buyers will meet suppliers with specific requirements.

For local companies, this could provide a rare opportunity to put their capabilities directly in front of organisations controlling major construction demand.

Yet the timing of the expo is significant because Zambia's local manufacturing sector is facing its own challenges.

UMCIL-Kafue Steel, one of the country's major steel producers, has warned that local manufacturers could miss out on the construction opportunities being created by infrastructure development.

And UMCIL Executive Director for Corporate Affairs Dr Phil Daka said the company's monthly steel production had fallen from 12,000 tonnes to 8,000 tonnes.

The company currently has about 5,000 tonnes of steel in stock, worth nearly US$4 million.

Dr Daka said approximately 350 jobs had been lost as production declined.

The country needs infrastructure and construction materials, while local manufacturers have the capacity to produce some of those materials. Yet manufacturers can struggle to secure sufficient demand to keep factories operating at full capacity.

The question, therefore, is whether Zambia's construction expenditure can be used to strengthen local industry instead of merely creating demand for imported products.

Dr Daka has called for stronger preference for locally manufactured steel in public projects and for a better industrial electricity tariff.

His argument is that Government procurement can do more than deliver roads, buildings and other infrastructure.

When a Government project purchases locally manufactured steel, for example, the economic impact potentially extends beyond the contractor.

It supports the steel producer, transporters, workers, suppliers and other businesses connected to the manufacturing chain.

“Let us manufacture in Zambia. Let us buy in Zambia. And together, let us Build Zambia,” Dr Daka said.

And speaking at the Launch NCC Executive Director Prof. Paul Makasa said the council was developing the expo as Zambia's “Premier Construction Marketplace and Industry Development Platform.”

An industry development platform should go further by identifying weaknesses, building relationships and creating opportunities for businesses to grow.

With a target of 500 delegates and 45 exhibitors, the organisers are hoping to create enough concentration of buyers, suppliers and policymakers to generate meaningful commercial discussions.

Also Kafue Steel joined as a sponsor, reinforcing the connection between construction demand and local manufacturing.

The expo will also feature a Skills Arena, where participants will compete in plumbing, electrical installation, carpentry and shopfitting.

Even the availability of financing, materials and contracts cannot guarantee quality infrastructure without skilled artisans and professionals capable of turning plans into physical structures.

The Skills Arena therefore provides an opportunity to showcase practical skills while highlighting the need to strengthen Zambia's construction workforce.

For young people looking for employment opportunities, a growing construction sector could offer pathways into skilled trades and entrepreneurship.

Prof. Malama has already cautioned that the event should not be judged by attendance figures alone.

For Zambia, building infrastructure is only part of the development equation. The country also needs to build the industrial ecosystem around that infrastructure — factories capable of supplying materials, companies capable of competing for contracts and workers equipped with the skills required to deliver quality projects.

The Build Zambia Expo arrives at a moment when the country is seeking economic growth, industrialisation and greater private-sector participation.

If Government, investors and construction companies can translate infrastructure demand into opportunities for local manufacturers and service providers, the impact could stretch far beyond the projects themselves.

It will require procurement decisions that recognise local capacity, competitive local industries, reliable energy supplies and constructive partnerships between Government and business.

As Zambia prepares for the September expo, the challenge is therefore bigger than building exhibition stands.

It is about building an economy in which infrastructure investment becomes a catalyst for local production, entrepreneurship and employment.

The real Build Zambia Expo will begin when the contracts are signed and the machines in Zambian factories start running at full capacity.