President Hichilema Receives New Envoys and Bids Farewell to UN Resident Coordinator

President Hakainde Hichilema held two engagements at State House today, both centred on Zambia's relationships with the wider world.

In the morning, the President bid farewell to Ms Beatrice Mutali, the outgoing United Nations Resident Coordinator, who concluded her tour of duty at the end of August. Ms Mutali reflected on what the two sides had achieved together and called for continued partnership for the greater good of all Zambians.

President Hichilema thanked her for her dedicated service to the country and wished her success in her future assignments. Zambia, he said, will continue to work closely with the United Nations across social and economic development, health, and the general well-being of its people.

In the afternoon, the President received Letters of Credence from envoys newly accredited to Zambia, representing eight countries: Canada, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, Guinea and Nigeria.

The new Ambassadors and High Commissioners begin their tours at what the President described as a pivotal moment. Zambia is moving from an era of economic stabilisation to one of growth — a phase in which economic diplomacy becomes imperative. With macroeconomic stability achieved, the focus now turns to delivering the Grow Zambia Agenda through enhanced trade and targeted investment.

The President also emphasised the need to boost intra-African trade and to safeguard peace, both on the continent and globally, as the foundation for sustainable progress. "Instability anywhere is instability everywhere," he said.

He wished the envoys fruitful tenures and looked forward to strengthening partnerships for the mutual benefit of their peoples.

Taken together, the two meetings bookended a single theme: a country closing one chapter of its international partnerships and opening another, with growth rather than stabilisation as the organising purpose.