Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Tuesday Bwalya has declared that Zambia will no longer depend on exporting raw materials, telling citizens at the 62nd independence anniversary commemorations that government is pushing value addition, local manufacturing and rural industrialization to secure real economic freedom for Zambians.
Dr Bwalya, speaking during the celebrations reported by LusakaTimes.com, said the goal is simple: transform the economy in a sustainable manner, grow the Gross Domestic Product and uplift ordinary Zambians so they live dignified lives in their own land, on their own terms.
What Tuesday Bwalya promised Muchinga
The Permanent Secretary did not mince words about the direction the province is taking. He said Muchinga will pivot away from shipping out unprocessed wealth and instead build local manufacturing enterprises that aggressively drive national development.
“We want to improve social sectors so that we can improve the lives of the people,” he said.
Dr Bwalya stressed that economic growth will not come at the expense of the environment, assuring residents that government is strictly pursuing green policies so that natural ecosystems are preserved for future generations of Zambians.
“Government wants to ensure the environment is not damaged and will grow the economy in a sustainable manner,” he noted.
This is the language of sovereignty: our resources, our factories, our jobs. For too long Zambia has watched its copper, its timber and its produce leave the country raw and come back expensive. The message from Muchinga is that this chapter must close.
Education as the engine of independence
Dr Bwalya linked economic success directly to quality education, saying an empowered Zambian workforce is the engine of development and that true economic independence is impossible without local ownership.
“Economic independence requires the involvement of the people. Hence, quality education is important so we can give skills to our people so we can develop,” he explained.
He reiterated government's commitment to inclusive development, promising that no district or chiefdom in Muchinga or the wider nation will be left behind.
“We will ensure that development reaches all corners of the country,” he said.
Freedom fighters finally get recognition
Responding to concerns from freedom fighters, Dr Bwalya said government has put interventions in place to support the men and women who won this country's liberty. All freedom fighters have been placed on social cash transfer, and those not yet registered were urged to visit the relevant department to receive their support.
He added that freedom fighters have been encouraged to form cooperatives so they can be supported with farming inputs such as fertilizer.
The call for care is not new. Chinsali District Freedom Fighters Association leader Gremson Katongo said Zambia enjoys freedom and unity today because of the founding fathers who fought for the country's liberty, and he noted that only a few surviving freedom fighters remain.
Mr Katongo called on government to look into the plight of these veterans and care for them properly. On a day marking 62 years of independence, that plea carries weight. A nation that forgets its liberators forgets itself.
Chinsali: sacred ground in the independence story
Chinsali District Commissioner Brenda Silwembe said the district is witnessing massive development facilitated through the government's development agenda and the increased Constituency Development Fund.
She cited infrastructure development including the construction of health facilities and schools, alongside youth and women empowerment programs.
Ms Silwembe added that as the independence journey continues, President Hakainde Hichilema remains committed to fostering development in the district and the country at large.
“As we celebrated this year's independence, I implore everyone to renew our commitment to hard work for us to honor the dreams of our founding fathers who fought for the nation to gain independence,” she said.
Chinsali occupies a special place in the national memory. Ms Silwembe described it as a sacred place in the story of Zambia's struggle for independence, saying there is a deliberate need to embrace unity, resilience and the spirit of togetherness.
“As we gather to honor the liberation of Mother Zambia, the theme Zambia @62 Our Journey, Our Growth, Our Future challenges us to reflect deeply on where we are coming from and where we are heading to,” she said.
Why provincial leadership matters in this push
The delivery of national policy in Muchinga runs through the provincial government system, under which the president appoints representatives to each province, as explained by Britannica's overview of Zambia's government structure. That means the commitments made by Dr Bwalya and Ms Silwembe are the administrative machinery through which Lusaka's promises either reach the village or die on paper.
Zambians have heard fine speeches before. What matters now is execution: factories processing what Muchinga grows and mines, cash transfers reaching every surviving freedom fighter, schools and clinics finished on time. The nation that defeated Italy 4-0 at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, a triumph still celebrated in Zambia's football history, knows what Zambian determination can achieve when it is properly organized and backed at home.
What happens next
The anniversary theme, Our Journey, Our Growth, Our Future, now faces its test. Muchinga has committed to value addition, green growth and support for its liberation veterans. Freedom fighters not yet on the cash transfer register are expected to come forward, and cooperatives are being lined up for farming support.
FAQ
What did Tuesday Bwalya announce at the 62nd independence anniversary?
The Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary announced on October 24, 2026 that the province will move away from exporting raw materials toward value addition, local manufacturing and rural industrialization.
How is government supporting freedom fighters in Muchinga?
Dr Bwalya said all freedom fighters have been placed on social cash transfer and are being encouraged to form cooperatives to receive farming inputs such as fertilizer.
What was the theme of Zambia's 62nd independence anniversary?
The theme was “Zambia @62 Our Journey, Our Growth, Our Future,” announced during commemorations in Chinsali, a district described as sacred to the independence struggle.