President Hichilema sets out vision for regional economies ahead of 2026 election

President Hakainde Hichilema used this year's Presidential Delivery Unit Delivery Day in Lusaka to set out an ambitious post-election economic agenda, pledging to double the size of the Zambian economy if returned to office in August.

Central to the vision is a restructuring of how provinces operate. Hichilema said each province would function as a regional economy with its own balance sheet, making direct contributions to national growth rather than acting as passive recipients of central government spending. Provinces with strong natural resource endowments would be expected to lead. Luapula and Western, both rich in water resources, are earmarked to drive fish production for domestic consumption and export.

The President acknowledged that the PDU, established to accelerate delivery of essential services had initially met resistance but said it had since proved its worth. He called on civil servants to honour government commitments, framing public service as fundamentally about improving citizens' lives.

PDU Head Kusobile Kamwambi outlined the unit's operational progress, highlighting a new internal activity tracker designed to monitor priority programmes, support timely reporting and strengthen performance management through improved data systems.

Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa, represented by his deputy Siazongo Siakalenge, pointed to Eastern Province as a model of what coordinated implementation can achieve, citing gains in infrastructure and agricultural productivity. ZCCM-IH Board Chairperson Phesto Musonda added that government policy in the mining sector had contributed to rising production figures.