Accra, Ghana – Zambia’s Foreign Minister, Hon. Mulambo Haimbe, called for a united front among African nations at the 45th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Executive Council in Accra, Ghana. The Minister is leading the Zambian delegation at the two-day meeting (July 18-19) that focuses on critical issues facing the continent.
A key point of discussion is the approval of the 2025 AU budget, essential for implementing the continental body’s plans and flagship projects. Minister Haimbe stressed the need for member states to strategically allocate resources to areas that will accelerate progress. These include building resilience against climate change, bridging the financing gap, and investing in infrastructure to boost regional integration.
Haimbe acknowledged the challenges hindering the Agenda 2063, the AU’s strategic framework for Africa’s transformation. The ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the impact of climate change have hampered progress on the plan’s second ten-year phase.
To get back on track, the Minister emphasized the importance of aligning national development plans with Agenda 2063. He also called for strengthening systems and coordination mechanisms to ensure effective implementation.
Education emerged as another focus area. Aligned with the 2024 AU theme of “Educating Africans Fit for the 21st Century,” Zambia highlighted its efforts to mainstream Agenda 2063 goals into its development plans. These include increased investment in education, free education initiatives, teacher recruitment, and scholarships for technical and vocational training.
The Minister pledged Zambia’s continued commitment to prioritizing Agenda 2063’s high-impact areas as the country drafts its ninth National Development Plan in 2025.
Beyond national efforts, Haimbe underscored the importance of strategic partnerships. He urged member states to leverage these partnerships by presenting a unified front to address various socio-economic challenges faced by African citizens.
The swift adoption of a framework to guide and maximize benefits from partnerships with global players was another key request from the Minister. He emphasized the need for close monitoring of these partnerships and called for member states to play a leading role in agenda-setting, coordination, and management to ensure a deadlock around partnership classification and participation is broken for the continent’s benefit.
The Executive Council meeting precedes the 6th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, and Regional Mechanisms scheduled for July 21st. During this meeting, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is expected to deliver a statement via video in his capacity as Chairperson of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Authority.
