President Hichilema Calls for Acceleration of Lobito Corridor Development

President Hakainde Hichilema says the Lobito Corridor will be integral to the achievement of the Grow Zambia agenda, as it will not only facilitate the transportation of goods but also promote tourism and joint investment within the region.

Speaking when he opened the second Lobito Corridor Coordination Meeting in Lusaka today, President Hichilema also described the corridor as a building block for the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, stressing that population growth on the continent must be matched by economic growth. “Corridors like this are critical building blocks for the realisation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area and reflect the kind of activities that will bring us closer to that agenda,” he said.

The President said that peace, security and stability are essential to economic growth that benefits Africa’s young population.

President Hichilema emphasised that promoting investment around the corridor must be treated as a national agenda.

President Hichilema further called for the prioritisation of the Luacano–Chingola stretch of the corridor, stressing its economic value.

Democratic Republic of Congo Minister of State and Planning, Guylain Mbwizya, called for increased investment and stronger regional cooperation to unlock the full potential of the Lobito Corridor as a catalyst for economic transformation and integration.

And Angola’s Minister of Transport, Ricardo Viegas d’Abreu, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the project, describing it as a key driver of economic transformation and regional integration for Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

World Bank Managing Director for Operations, Anna Bjerde, said the Lobito Corridor should ultimately be judged by the jobs it creates and not simply the freight it carries.