From Pledges to Paychecks

ZDA records US$19.07 billion in actualised investments and nearly 150,000 jobs since 2021

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

LUSAKA, Zambia — July 27, 2026 — The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has actualised US$19.07 billion in investments and created 149,956 jobs since 2021, signalling growing investor confidence even as billions of dollars in approved projects remain in the implementation pipeline.

ZDA Director General Albert Halwampa told journalists at a media briefing that the realised investments represent 19.65 percent of the US$97.07 billion in investment pledges recorded between 2021 and June 2026.

Mr. Halwampa said the actualised investments came from 838 enterprises monitored by the Agency out of 2,332 companies licensed or expanded during the period. He explained that most of the remaining projects are still under implementation or have not yet commenced operations.

He said the monitored enterprises created 149,956 jobs against 604,530 projected jobs, representing an actualisation rate of 24.8 percent.

Mr. Halwampa said the manufacturing sector attracted the largest share of actualised investments at US$7.33 billion, representing 38.5 percent of total realised capital. Mining followed with US$6.62 billion (34.7 percent), while transport attracted US$1.60 billion (8.4 percent) and energy recorded US$1.43 billion (7.5 percent).

He said agriculture attracted US$669.91 million (3.5 percent), construction accounted for US$521.79 million (2.7 percent), while services, ICT, tourism and other sectors contributed US$901.33 million (4.7 percent).

On job creation, Mr. Halwampa said mining remained the largest employer with 48,007 jobs, representing 32 percent of all actual jobs created. Manufacturing followed closely with 46,759 jobs (31.2 percent), while agriculture created 18,627 jobs, transport 14,743, and services accounted for 8,065 jobs.

Mr. Halwampa said Lusaka Province attracted the highest amount of actualised investment at US$9.04 billion (47.4 percent), followed by the Copperbelt Province with US$4.40 billion (23 percent) and North-Western Province with US$3.34 billion (17.7 percent).

He said Central Province recorded US$1.30 billion (6.8 percent), while other provinces collectively accounted for US$999.03 million (5.2 percent) of actualised investments.

Mr. Halwampa said Lusaka recorded the highest number of jobs created at 58,752, followed by the Copperbelt with 56,633 jobs. Central Province created 12,973 jobs, while North-Western Province recorded 11,875 jobs.

He attributed the investment performance to government reforms, including the Investment, Trade and Business Development Act of 2022, the restructuring of about 94 percent of Zambia’s external debt, the establishment of the Mineral Regulation Commission, electricity open access reforms, expansion of the FISP e-Voucher programme, and opportunities arising from the Lobito Corridor.

Mr. Halwampa said while the investment figures demonstrate increased investor confidence, the major task ahead is ensuring that approved projects move from commitments into fully operational businesses capable of creating more jobs and contributing to economic growth.