President Hakainde Hichilema has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding access to education, creating employment opportunities and accelerating infrastructure development during a community engagement in Siavonga District in Zambia’s Southern Province. Speaking to residents, the President highlighted the progress his government has made over the past four years while outlining plans to continue investing in key sectors that directly improve the lives of citizens. He stressed that education, healthcare, economic growth and community development remain central to the government’s long-term vision for the country. The engagement provided an opportunity for local residents to hear directly from the President about ongoing development programmes and future priorities. His remarks focused on ensuring that the benefits of national development continue reaching communities across Zambia through practical investments and inclusive policies.
During his address, President Hichilema emphasised that sustaining the progress already achieved depends on continued public support for his administration. He noted that many development initiatives are already delivering positive results, but maintaining that momentum requires stability and cooperation between government and citizens. According to the President, the government’s development agenda is designed to create lasting improvements in education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic opportunities. He encouraged communities to remain engaged in national development efforts while supporting programmes that are intended to benefit future generations. His message reinforced the importance of collective responsibility in achieving Zambia’s long-term development goals.
Education featured prominently in the President’s address, with Hichilema reaffirming his government’s commitment to the Free Education Policy. He described the initiative as a long-term programme that aims to ensure every child in Zambia has access to quality education regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. The President said the policy continues to remove barriers that previously prevented many children from attending school. Since its introduction, free education has significantly increased school enrolment across the country, creating a greater demand for classrooms, teachers and learning facilities. He stressed that investing in education is one of the most effective ways to build a skilled workforce and strengthen Zambia’s future economic growth.
President Hichilema also explained that continued public support would enable the government to expand education infrastructure to meet the growing demand created by the Free Education Policy. As more children enrol in school, additional classrooms, schools and educational facilities are needed to ensure learners receive quality instruction in suitable learning environments. He said the government remains committed to constructing more schools across the country so that every learner has access to adequate educational facilities. Expanding infrastructure will also help reduce overcrowding in classrooms while improving learning conditions for both teachers and pupils. These investments form part of a broader strategy to strengthen Zambia’s education system over the long term.
Employment creation was another major focus of the President’s engagement with the Siavonga community. Hichilema emphasised that sustainable economic growth remains the foundation for creating meaningful job opportunities for Zambians. He explained that as the economy continues to grow, more opportunities become available across both the public and private sectors. According to the President, government policies are designed to attract investment, stimulate business activity and support industries capable of employing thousands of people. He reaffirmed that creating jobs will remain a priority as the country continues implementing national development programmes.
Highlighting his administration’s achievements, President Hichilema revealed that the government has recruited more than 45,000 teachers and over 20,000 health workers during the past four years. These recruitments represent one of the largest public sector employment drives in recent years and have helped strengthen essential public services across Zambia. Increasing the number of teachers has supported the successful implementation of the Free Education Policy by improving teacher availability in schools nationwide. Similarly, recruiting additional health workers has expanded access to healthcare services while strengthening hospitals, clinics and rural health centres. The President noted that these investments demonstrate the government’s commitment to improving both education and healthcare while creating thousands of employment opportunities.
Looking ahead, Hichilema assured residents that even more jobs would be created as additional development projects are rolled out across the country. Infrastructure projects, public service expansion and continued economic growth are expected to generate employment in construction, education, healthcare, agriculture and other sectors. The President explained that these initiatives are intended not only to improve public services but also to stimulate local economies by creating direct and indirect employment opportunities. As development projects expand into more communities, local businesses and suppliers are also expected to benefit from increased economic activity. This approach reflects the government’s broader objective of ensuring that development translates into improved livelihoods for ordinary citizens.
Agriculture also received significant attention during the President’s address, particularly with regard to supporting farmers during the upcoming marketing season. Hichilema announced that the Food Reserve Agency, commonly known as the FRA, would begin opening depots to facilitate the commencement of the 2026 crop marketing season. The opening of these depots will provide farmers with designated locations where they can sell their produce efficiently and access government-supported markets. This move is expected to improve grain marketing while helping farmers receive timely payments for their harvests. Supporting agricultural production remains an important component of Zambia’s economic strategy, particularly given the sector’s contribution to employment, food security and rural development.
The President also highlighted the impact of the Constituency Development Fund, commonly referred to as the CDF, which has seen a substantial increase under his administration. He noted that funding has grown from K1.6 million to K40 million for each constituency, providing communities with significantly greater resources to implement local development projects. The expanded CDF has enabled constituencies to invest in schools, health facilities, roads, water infrastructure, youth empowerment initiatives and other community priorities. By decentralising development funding, local communities have greater influence over projects that directly address their specific needs. The President said this approach has empowered citizens to participate more actively in shaping development within their own constituencies.
The community engagement in Siavonga reflected the government’s broader efforts to maintain direct communication with citizens while updating communities on national development priorities. Through discussions on education, healthcare, employment, agriculture and infrastructure, President Hichilema outlined a vision focused on inclusive growth and improved public services. His address reinforced the importance of sustained investment in people through education and job creation while ensuring communities benefit from increased development funding. As Zambia continues implementing major national programmes, the government aims to build stronger institutions, expand economic opportunities and improve living standards across the country. The engagement in Siavonga highlighted both the achievements made so far and the administration’s commitment to delivering continued development that supports the aspirations of all Zambians.