Central Province Permanent Secretary, Milner Mwanakampwe, says Zambia is committed to removing trade barriers hindering economic activities with other strategic countries in Africa.
Dr Mwanakampwe says President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership is working tirelessly to play its leadership role in continental integration.
ZANIS reports that the Provincial Permanent Secretary was speaking when a delegation from the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry paid a courtesy call on him in Kabwe.
“We are excited that His Excellency, President Hakainde Hichilema, will be one of the leaders who will pioneer and play a pivotal role in ensuring that there are no unnecessary boundaries to trade across the African Continent,” Dr Mwanakampwe said.
He further noted the need for Africa to trade as a united continent rather than operating in fragmented economic blocks for the good of the African people.
“Africa is one and should be trading as one. Other continents are trading as one, barriers should never separate African countries, and different currencies should not stop us from trading. Our forefathers traded freely across borders,” indicated Dr Mwanakampwe.
And, Dr Mwanakampwe also stressed the need for harmonised standards and technical regulations across the continent.
“It is important that standards and technical regulations are harmonised so that African countries can trade more freely,” he stressed.
Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Senior Technical Regulations Officer, Pamela Lubasi, explained that the Ministry’s engagement was focusing on issues affecting Zambia and Africa at large.
“This courtesy call is not just about Central Province but about how Zambia positions itself within the African and global trading environment. We are engaging stakeholders to align local realities with national and continental trade strategies,” Ms Lubasi said.
She stressed that Zambia must strengthen its participation in regional frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), while ensuring that local businesses are prepared to compete and benefit.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Senior Technical Regulations Officer, Mutende Kawimbe noted that many trade challenges in Zambia reflect broader national and continental realities.
