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Citizens First party leader, Harry Kalaba, has called on President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration to confront the potential loss of U.S. foreign aid with proactive solutions, particularly in the health sector.
Kalaba expressed concern over the decision by former President Donald Trump’s administration to reduce foreign aid, particularly for reproductive health, which could impact Zambia’s healthcare system.
He acknowledged the possible loss of up to US$400 million in medical aid but framed it as an opportunity for the country to develop its own pharmaceutical industry.
“We must stop relying on external aid and start building long-term solutions,” Kalaba said, advocating for the establishment of a robust pharmaceutical industry to serve both local and export markets.
Kalaba criticized the current administration for relying on diplomatic talks with the U.S. and urged swift action to address Zambia’s healthcare needs.
He emphasized that leadership was proven in moments of crisis, and that a government should focus on turning adversity into opportunity.
“If the CF were in power, we would be making moves to establish pharmaceutical companies and produce life-saving drugs for both domestic and international markets,” Kalaba stated.
He further challenged President Hichilema to move beyond political rhetoric and focus on immediate solutions to address Zambia’s economic struggles, including high food, fuel, and electricity costs, and to ensure uninterrupted access to healthcare.
Meanwhile, Golden Party of Zambia (GPZ) leader, Jackson Silavwe, called on the government to present a report to Parliament detailing the cost and economic impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s policy shift on various sectors.
In a statement issued on Monday, Silavwe said the government must quantify the effects of U.S. foreign policy changes following Trump’s election victory and outline homegrown countermeasures for each affected sector.
“A report must be presented to Parliament with proposed homegrown counter measures,” he said, adding that lawmakers should debate the issue in the national interest and swiftly approve a supplementary budget.
Silavwe argued that Trump’s policy shift underscores the need for developing countries like Zambia to reduce foreign dependency and leverage local resources for economic sustainability.
“Zambia must fully take ownership of its development agenda. However, in the short term, GPZ requests old friends like China to offer budget support to stabilize the economy in the 2025 fiscal year,” he said.
He further noted that sudden policy shifts in the West highlight the urgency for economic independence among developing nations.
Silavwe urged political leaders and citizens to work towards achieving economic freedom within the next decade, starting in 2025.
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