Caritas Zambia Faults “vagueness” in President's Speech, Calls for Clear Strategies on National Challenges

Lusaka, 18 September, 2025 / 8:38 PM

Caritas Zambia has faulted what it describes as the “brevity and vagueness” with which the presidential speech was delivered during the official opening of the Fifth Session of the 13th Parliament.

In a statement issued Monday, September 15, the Executive Director of Caritas Zambia, Fr. Gabriel Mapulanga, underscores the need for the government to outline “clear and comprehensive strategies” to address the challenges that the southern African country is grappling with.

He highlights, in particular, load shedding, the high cost of living, and the nation’s unemployment crisis.

“While we appreciate the acknowledgment of progress, we are concerned about the brevity and vagueness with which the President addressed the pressing challenges facing the nation,” Fr. Mapulanga says.

He adds, “Issues such as load shedding, which continues to affect the daily lives of Zambians despite the recent rainfall and the filling up of Kariba Dam, require more detailed and actionable solutions.”

Fr. Mapulanga observes that while President Hakainde Hichilema’s “expression of regret over the load shedding is appreciated,” tackling the matter with “concrete plans and timelines” is essential to restore public confidence.

The Zambian Catholic Priest also calls for urgent action against the country's rising cost of living and the unemployment crisis, emphasizing that the two challenges require “comprehensive attention.”

“With over 100,000 young people graduating from schools, colleges, and universities every year, the current employment rate of 2,000 to 20,000 per year is woefully inadequate,” he says, and adds, “This reality underscores the need for a robust job creation strategy that can absorb the growing number of graduates and provide opportunities for the youth.”

Fr. Mapulanga warns that without meaningful employment, the economic progress President Hichilema highlighted in his September 12 address will not translate into improved livelihoods for many Zambians.

He says that the lack of specific solutions or timelines for ending load shedding and addressing unemployment in Zambia “leaves many questions unanswered and undermines the progress otherwise highlighted.” 

“We look forward to seeing more focused efforts in the coming days to address these critical issues and to build on the progress made. The nation remains hopeful for tangible improvements in the areas that directly impact the quality of life for all Zambians,” says the Caritas Zambia official.