Lobito Corridor: Hichilema calls for faster implementation of projects
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema called on Zambia, Angola and the DRC to accelerate implementation of the Lobito corridor projects, speaking at the corridor's second coordination meeting in Lusaka, and urged the three states to move beyond political commitments and carry out the reforms and projects already agreed. He called for lower trade costs through one-stop border posts, 24-hour operation of crossing points and digital trade-facilitation tools, and for greater private-sector involvement, including joint ventures with mining companies on the Zambian stretch between Luakano and Chingola. Zambian Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said discussions on road connectivity in the Zambian section were complete, that procurement procedures and works should begin soon, and that negotiations on the railway component had advanced.
Why it matters: The corridor's rail and road components are the export route for copper and cobalt from Zambia and the DRC to the Atlantic, placing the project within the briefing's critical minerals theme.