As Zambia prepares for the August 13, 2026 general elections, the defining economic question is whether policy can transform growth into jobs, citizen ownership, trade, investment and household security. The Tonse Pamodzi Alliance manifesto responds through H.O.P.E., meaning hard work, open government, people-centred development and economic transformation benefiting all. Its central philosophy places Mother Zambia and the youth at the heart of renewal while emphasising macroeconomic stability, industrialisation and value addition.
1. Trade as an Engine of Transformation
The manifesto seeks to move Zambia from dependence on raw commodities towards manufacturing through industrial hubs, agro-processing parks, mineral beneficiation, local procurement and stronger SME participation. It targets economic growth of at least 7 per cent, single-digit inflation, a competitive exchange rate and commercial lending rates below 20 per cent.
2. Ghana and African Economic Diplomacy
Importantly, the manifesto does not specifically name Ghana. However, its commitment to economic diplomacy, African integration and investment partnerships provides a strong foundation for deeper Ghana Zambia cooperation. Its foreign policy explicitly proposes using international relations to facilitate investment, infrastructure, human development and trade.
That opportunity already has institutional foundations. The second Ghana-Zambia Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation, held in Lusaka in October 2025, identified trade and investment, mining, energy, agriculture, education, youth, science and technology among priority areas for bilateral cooperation.
In April 2026, a 16 member Zambian business delegation visited Accra for digital economy engagements designed around regulatory cooperation, investment, innovation, business partnerships and wider market access.
Ghana’s hosting of the AfCFTA Secretariat makes the relationship strategically important. AfCFTA seeks to promote intra-African trade, investment, industrialisation, regional value chains and a stronger African voice in global trade negotiations. Zambia can therefore view Ghana as both a bilateral partner and a commercial bridge into West Africa.
3. Investors, Women, Youth and Households
For investors, the manifesto proposes transparent contracts, stronger infrastructure, local supply chains and closer links between foreign direct investment and Zambian SMEs. This matters because mining currently generates about 72 percent of Zambia’s export earnings, while the industry says more than US$10 billion in mining investment has been attracted since 2021.
Women and youth are positioned as productive actors. The manifesto proposes one million formal youth jobs over five years, alongside a Youth Innovation Fund, Women Enterprise Fund and SME Development Bank. Female labour force participation was only 30.1 per cent in 2024 compared with 46.1 per cent for men. An illustrative scenario suggests that closing half the female employment gap could add about 455,000 employed women and generate K20.7 billion to K62.1 billion in annual output, depending on productivity.
For households, transformation must ultimately mean affordable food, energy, transport, employment and higher incomes.
Conclusion
The manifesto connects domestic economic management with African integration and international diplomacy. If implemented through credible institutions, predictable policies and measurable outcomes, Zambia could use Ghana, COMESA, SADC and AfCFTA to deepen African commerce while attracting global capital, technology and markets. The greater opportunity is to make Zambia not merely an exporter of resources, but a producer, investor destination, trading hub and influential economic partner linking Southern Africa, Ghana, the continent and the wider international community.
