By Mwansa Kaumba
President Hakainde Hichilema says there should be fewer international trips, and where travel is necessary, delegations must be smaller and limited to those with a role to play.
In a statement after he swore-in Patricia Malaila as deputy Auditor General, President Hichilema said public resources must be put to good use at all times.
He called on Malaila to remain firm and focussed on deliverables while working in unison with others.
”We also urged her to ensure that audits are completed on time, so that transparency and accountability in the management of public resources yield tangible results,” stated President Hichilema. “We must put public resources to good use while remaining accountable, because that is what brought us to public office. This means fewer international trips and, where travel is necessary, smaller delegations limited to those with a role to play, so that public resources are saved and invested in sectors such as education, health and infrastructure.”
And Hichilema will undertake a working visit to the United Arab Emirates from September 29 to 30, 2026, where he is expected to hold bilateral talks aimed at strengthening investment, trade and economic cooperation between Zambia and the UAE.
In a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, President Hichilema will hold an official bilateral meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The talks are expected to culminate in the signing of Memoranda of Understanding aimed at deepening cooperation between the two countries.
The visit will focus on attracting investment and advancing joint ventures in key sectors including mining and mineral value addition, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, transport and logistics, tourism and healthcare.
Zambia and the UAE are also expected to discuss trade facilitation and efforts to conclude negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
The President will also attend the Zambia-UAE Business and Investment Forum and engage UAE business leaders, as well as the Zambian community in the UAE.
The engagements are intended to strengthen private-sector partnerships and boost investment and trade under the Government’s Grow Zambia Agenda.
The Ministry says Zambia and the UAE have longstanding bilateral relations, with cooperation covering trade, investment, infrastructure, energy and tourism.
The relationship was further strengthened by Zambia’s opening of an embassy in Abu Dhabi in 2023 and the UAE’s deployment of its first resident ambassador to Zambia in September 2026. President Hichilema will return to Zambia at the conclusion of his engagements.
