On January 10, 2025, President Paul Kagame welcomed a special message from President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia. The message was delivered by Zambia’s Ambassador to Rwanda, Lazarous Kapambwe, who visited Village Urugwiro in Kigali.
The bond between Rwanda and Zambia continues to grow stronger, built on cooperation in several key areas. In May 2024, Ambassador Emmanuel Bugingo presented his credentials as Rwanda’s new Ambassador to Zambia, a step that further strengthened the relationship between the two nations. During his visit, Bugingo conveyed President Kagame’s greetings to President Hichilema and expressed his commitment to deepening cooperation in areas like technology, trade, and investment.
The two countries have long shared a solid partnership, and this was evident during President Kagame’s visit to Zambia in April 2022. In Livingstone, he was warmly received by President Hichilema. During that trip, President Kagame toured key sites like the Victoria Falls and Mukuni Big 5 Safaris, highlighting the shared tourism and trade potential.
Rwanda and Zambia continue to strengthen their cooperation through several agreements. These cover sectors such as agriculture, livestock, investment, and technology. There are also partnerships between the private sectors of both countries, as well as agreements in health and immigration services.
In June 2023, President Hichilema visited Rwanda, where he and President Kagame discussed ways to enhance the partnership. They also attended the Inclusive FinTech Forum 2023 in Kigali, focusing on technology in finance and banking.
The leaders met again in February 2024 in Addis Ababa during the 37th African Union Summit. There, they continued talks on how to further boost the relationship between their nations.
The message delivered by Ambassador Kapambwe on behalf of President Hichilema comes at a time when Rwanda and Zambia are making significant strides in strengthening their ties. Both nations are focused on ensuring the well-being of their citizens through collaboration and mutual support.