Overview
This research paper analyzes how President Hakainde Hichilema has repositioned Zambia internationally since 2021 by combining an assertive economic diplomacy with a tradition of ‘positive neutrality’. It examines Zambia’s role as a test case for the G20 Common Framework, the politics of its opaque debt—especially to Chinese lenders—and the efforts to unlock an IMF programme and broader creditor coordination. The paper explores Zambia’s strategic place in critical mineral supply chains, notably copper, and the ambition to reach 3 million tonnes of annual output by 2032. It details regulatory reforms, legacy disputes around KCM and Mopani, and the need for predictable governance, anti-corruption, and regional integration to attract sustainable investment. Infrastructure, agriculture, defence partnerships, and civil society dynamics are discussed as cross-cutting enablers or risks to development. Regionally, Zambia is presented as ‘land‑linked’, with partnerships across SADC/COMESA corridors and new bilateral initiatives such as the DRC battery value-chain MoU and South Africa trade links. Internationally, the government is rebuilding Western ties while maintaining relations with China and diverse partners from the Gulf to Japan and Russia. The paper concludes that institutional strengthening, transparent communication, and adherence to international norms are essential to convert foreign partnerships into broad-based socio-economic gains.