Stay Non-Aligned
By Francis Maingaila
Lusaka, Zambia24 -- (22-03-2026) -- The Zambian Civil Liberties Union (ZCLU) has urged Zambia to adopt a non-aligned, strategic, and self-confident approach that ensures a level playing field for all investors while strengthening regulation, transparency, and local participation in the economy as global powers intensify competition over the country’s critical minerals.
ZCLU Executive Director Isaac Mwanza told Zambia24 that the ongoing debate around the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Zambia and the should be used as an opportunity to redefine how Zambia engages foreign partners, rather than reducing it to a narrow political contest.
“The issue is bigger than the MoU itself. It reflects shifting global power dynamics where Zambia has become a strategic arena, but it must act with agency,” Mwanza said.
He stressed that Zambia should leverage growing international interest to secure better investment terms, enforce its laws consistently, and promote joint ventures that ensure skills transfer and long-term national benefit.
The proposed MoU has attracted public scrutiny, with concerns centred on transparency, sovereignty, and its broader implications. Observers note that the agreement comes amid heightened global efforts to secure access to minerals critical to clean energy transitions.
Zambia, endowed with vast reserves of copper and cobalt, is increasingly drawing attention from major economies, including , which has maintained a strong presence in the country for decades.
China’s foothold is largely rooted in historical cooperation, particularly through infrastructure projects such as the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), constructed in the 1970s when Western financing was unavailable.
The railway, linking Zambia to the port of Dar es Salaam in , provided a vital trade route during a period of geopolitical isolation and reinforced long-standing ties between the two countries.
Despite China’s visible infrastructure footprint, the United States and partners such as the have played a significant role in Zambia’s development, particularly in health and economic support.
From the late 1960s, the United States assisted Zambia during a fuel crisis triggered by sanctions against Southern Rhodesia.
In recent decades, American support has totalled billions of dollars, largely directed toward healthcare, including HIV/AIDS interventions under programmes such as PEPFAR.
Additional funding through the Millennium Challenge Corporation has supported improvements in water supply, sanitation, and urban infrastructure, particularly in Lusaka.
However, Mwanza cautioned that such assistance must not be used to influence Zambia’s sovereign decisions.
“Development assistance must remain rooted in mutual respect, not obligation. It should not be used as leverage,” he said.
He further called for stronger engagement between foreign investors and local communities, improved corporate social responsibility, and greater investment in people-to-people relations to build trust and mutual understanding.
Analysts say Zambia stands to benefit from intensifying global competition if it maintains a clear policy direction and applies rules consistently to all investors.
China’s investment model, which emphasises infrastructure and rapid delivery, has been attractive to many developing countries, though concerns remain around labour practices, environmental standards, and community relations.
At the same time, Western countries have built stronger social connections through education, scholarships, and cultural exchange programmes.
Mwanza emphasised that Zambia must ensure that all investors, regardless of origin, operate under the same transparent framework.
“Any attempt to favour one partner over another undermines Zambia’s leverage and must be rejected,” he said.
He added that Zambia’s long-term success will depend on its ability to balance competing interests while prioritising national development.
“Zambia is not a passive player. It must define its priorities, enforce its rules, and ensure that every partnership contributes to improving the lives of its people,” Mwanza said.
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