…It’s Time to Man Up
3rd Feb 2025
Harry Kalaba, the CF President, has urged the UPND government to wake up to the sad reality that the United States, under President Donald Trump, shall not continue spoon-feeding Zambia in various areas such as the medical sector. He emphasized that Zambia must start standing on its own instead of crying over spilt milk.
Kalaba said the decision by Trump to cut greater foreign aid, especially on reproductive health, which runs into billions of dollars annually, is ultimately a good thing for Zambia in the long term.
“If the freeze comes into effect, Zambia could lose up to $400 million in medical aid, which is catastrophic, but then you flip the coin and turn lemon into lemonade,” Kalaba said. “Zambia must start a pharmaceutical revolution from this catastrophe. Citizens First will ensure we incentivize the creation of a pharmaceutical industry to boost both the supply for our local demand and for export, creating jobs for our people. I wish President Hichilema could rise to the occasion. Telling us that they are in conversations with the US government is not enough.”
Kalaba stressed that moments like these are when true leadership is demonstrated.
“If CF was in power right now, we would have immediately set in motion steps to establish a pharmaceutical industry, leveraging the various resources in the medical industry and Zambia’s rich endowment of natural resources,” Kalaba said.
“Instead of crying and saying we still have five months or 90 days, we would have big companies begging and lining up to partner with us to roll out pharmaceutical companies, producing life-saving drugs of all kinds for local and international export, given our competitive central location in Africa,” he added.
President Hakainde Hichilema, Kalaba said, needs to stop the bragging and blame games and take action to alleviate the suffering of the people. He emphasized that Zambia cannot afford to have access to health services affected on all fronts.
“Zambians are in dire need of leadership that can quickly turn the country’s fortunes around, reduce the cost of food, fuel, and electricity, and ensure uninterrupted access to affordable healthcare. Wallowing in self-pity will not help,” Kalaba said.
Zambia is one of several developing countries that could be adversely affected by Trump’s sweeping executive orders as he prioritizes his “America First” agenda.
Kalaba concluded by stating that real leaders are known by the actions they take during tragic moments and challenges, and so far, the UPND leadership has failed on all fronts.
SOURCE: Harry Kalaba – CF President