HH Joins Zambians in Celebrating Africa Freedom Day
President Hakainde Hichilema has marked Africa Freedom Day 2023 by celebrating with a speech, wreath-laying and an official event at State House.
Before Africa Freedom Day had begun, President Hichilema marked the eve of the day with a speech to celebrate “our freedom and our achievements”.
He was glad that “much of Africa has achieved political freedom,” but reminded his audience that “many of our people still face economic challenges”. He encouraged Zambians and Africans alike to “cherish our rich heritage, culture, diversity, and the continuous progress we are making towards democracy, peace, development, and prosperity”.
As has been his focus throughout the first half of his term as president, Mr. Hichilema emphasised the importance of economic wellbeing, saying that “political freedom must be accompanied by economic freedom”. HH said that Africa Freedom Day would be marked in Zambia with the theme of “acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade area implementation”, to meet “the need to drive trade and investment among African countries to achieve strong and sustainable economic development”. Mr. Hichilema said this would lead to more jobs, greater wealth, and improved welfare for all African people, and boost Zambian businesses. He also said Zambia’s government was prioritising the development of strong infrastructure to enrich the entirety of the nation and put the country in a position where it could be “a net exporter of energy, agriculture and indeed manufacturing-related goods and services” for stronger growth.
Mr. Hichilema urged all Zambians to empower the youth to contribute to the future of Zambia becoming the best it could be, and to fight for the “economic emancipation of the whole of Africa and its people”. The President called upon the private sector “to explore the abandoned trade and investment opportunities” that had been historically neglected, but are now being revitalised, in Zambia. He said that he was fully confident that “Together, we can work towards achieving economic freedom”, and praised the united spirit of Zambians, adding that “we owe it to our forefathers and mothers to love and care for one another, as we work together for a brighter and stronger future”.
Today, the 25th of May, President Hichilema paid tribute to the independence movement of Zambia, laying a wreath at Lusaka’s famous freedom statue of a man breaking free from his chains. The statue was erected in 1974 on the 10th anniversary of Zambia’s independence, and features on many Zambian icons including all denominations of the Kwacha. Every year, Zambian Independence Day, on the 24th of October, is marked with a wreath that is laid at the statue in memory of freedom fighters who gave their lives in the fight for independence.
President Hichilema returned to State House, where African Freedom Day was further commemorated with speeches and thanks for independence movements in Zambia itself and across the African continent.