HICHILEMA URGES SPENDING CUTS TO FUND HEALTH SECTOR
February 17, 2025
Addis Ababa – President Hakainde Hichilema has emphasized the urgent need to eliminate wasteful expenditure and redirect resources towards the health sector, following the suspension of USAID funding to Africa.
Mr. Hichilema warned that the aid freeze would have a severe impact on Zambia’s healthcare system, particularly in areas like HIV/AIDS prevention, malaria control, and maternal health.
Speaking at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa after a high-level meeting with UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, Hichilema described the decision as a wake-up call for Zambia and the continent.
The head of state stressed that African nations must take greater responsibility for their own development by prioritizing essential sectors such as health, agriculture, and education.
“This is a moment of reckoning for Africa. We must take charge of our own destiny by ensuring that every Kwacha is spent wisely. We cannot continue relying on external support while failing to manage our own resources effectively,” Mr Hichilema said.
To mitigate the effects of the USAID funding cut, the President called for a crackdown on excessive and non-essential government spending.
Mr. Hichilema insisted that financial discipline was crucial to sustaining critical health programmes that millions of Zambians depend on.
The USAID funding freeze has sent shockwaves across Africa, with several countries facing disruptions in key health services.
Hichilema reaffirmed his government’s commitment to finding alternative funding sources while strengthening economic management to protect vital social services.
“In difficult times, we must make tough but necessary choices. Cutting unnecessary expenses will allow us to fund essential services like healthcare, education, and agriculture,” he added.
In recent weeks, new American President Donald Trump announced that there could be a need to cut funding for various USAID projects worldwide.
With donor support declining, Zambia faces a critical test in self-reliance. The President’s call for fiscal prudence signals a shift towards more sustainable domestic resource mobilization in the face of global financial uncertainties.
(C) UPND MEDIA TEAM
HICHILEMA URGES SPENDING CUTS TO FUND HEALTH SECTOR
