Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, has launched the Zambezi Economic Free Zone in Kazungula District, Southern Province, a project that is estimated to create over 1,000 direct jobs and transform the local economy.

The President who spoke during the groundbreaking ceremony of the 17,000-hectare development in Kazungula on Saturday, described the initiative as transformative with the potential to stimulate economic growth and attract significant foreign investment.

The project which is spearheaded by investors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is situated in Chief Sekute’s area and aims to boost investment in key service sectors, including housing, healthcare, education, convention centers, and corporate headquarters.

“The anticipated benefits include skills development, technological advancements, and substantial infrastructure improvements,” Hichilema said.

He emphasized that the zone would position the country as a hub for global investment and innovation while delivering tangible benefits to local communities with the global recognition of free economic zones as catalysts for growth.

“These zones offer incentives, simplified regulations, and enhanced infrastructure, creating an environment conducive to investment, job creation, and the transfer of skills and technology,” he noted.

President Hichilema added that the project was “designed to attract investors, retirees, and workers from around the world, including Zambian stakeholders, encouraging their active participation in this unique development model” as well as drive economic development not only in Kazungula and Livingstone but across Zambia.

President Bola Tinubu has, once again, urged Nigerians to continue to endure the hardship and pains his reforms and policies have inflicted on them, as his administration is working diligently to ease the pains as quickly as possible.

Tinubu, who gave the assurance at the 48th convocation ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Saturday, emphasised that his government would ensure that the country benefited every citizen by correcting the mistakes made by past administrations, promising not to engage in blame games, but commit to improving the country through his economic reforms.

The President who was represented at the event by the Special Adviser on Economy, Office of the Vice President, Tope Fasua, acknowledged that he is aware of the harsh economic situation of the country, and begged Nigerians to endure what he described as unintentional hardship, adding that he does not take pleasure in inflicting pains on Nigerians but assured there was light at the end of the tunnel as his reform policies were aimed at making Nigeria works for everyone.

“Fellow Nigerians, I am not unaware of the harsh economic situation of our country neither do I take pleasure in inflicting pains and anguish on my compatriots,” the President said in his keynote address at the convocation.

“However, we were faced with the stark reality of the results of some policies hitherto executed by past administrations but which had no direct positive impact on the generality of our people.

“Our reform policies are aimed at making Nigeria work for everyone, but the pains that come with the reform must be endured in the meantime.

“We have gladly accepted the assets and liability of our heroes’ past without any intention of apportioning blame or pointing an accusing finger at any individual or group of people.

“As we are trying to fix, reconfigure, and correct past mistakes and errors, we implore all Nigerians to cooperate with us, to endure this unintentional hardship so that; like the graduates of today, we all can celebrate and be celebrated at the end of the day. I am certainly seeing the light at the end of our tunnel.”