President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration is steadily turning campaign promises into measurable progress, particularly in the area that matters most to ordinary citizens – jobs.
From a record recruitment of teachers and health workers to aggressive engagement with global investors at the 2026 Mining Indaba in South Africa, the New Dawn government is demonstrating that employment creation is not just a slogan but a structured national mission.
When the United Party for National Development (UPND) campaigned in 2021, it pledged to tackle unemployment by rebuilding public services and revitalising key economic sectors. Five years later, that commitment is taking concrete form. The recruitment of a record number of teachers and health workers stands as one of the clearest indicators that the manifesto promise to create jobs was not mere rhetoric. 
Thousands of young Zambians who had trained as teachers and nurses but remained unemployed for years have now been absorbed into the public service. Classrooms that were once overcrowded are seeing relief as more teachers enter the system. Rural health posts that struggled with skeletal staff are now better manned, improving service delivery and restoring dignity to communities that had long felt neglected.
This large scale employment drive has not only reduced joblessness among qualified professionals but has also stimulated local economies. Each newly-employed teacher or nurse represents a household with stable income, increased spending power, and renewed hope. In districts across the country, the ripple effects are visible in small businesses, rental markets, and agricultural supply chains.
The recruitment of teachers and health workers also signals a broader policy philosophy. The UPND administration has chosen to invest in human capital as a foundation for long-term economic growth. Needless to say, education and health are not just social services but economic enablers since a healthy and educated population is more productive, innovative, and resilient. By prioritising employment in these sectors, the government is strengthening the pillars upon which sustainable development rests.Yet the administration is not stopping at public sector recruitment.
President Hichilema’s trip to Cape Town for the 2026 Mining Indaba underscored a parallel strategy aimed at expanding private sector driven employment. The Mining Indaba was Africa’s largest mining investment conference, bringing together global investors, executives, and policymakers who shape the future of the industry.
In his message to the Indaba, President Hichilema made his mission clear. He stated that his attendance was focused on securing more investment into Zambia that will create more jobs for Zambians. This clarity of purpose reflects a government that understands the centrality of mining to the national economy and to employment prospects.
State House chief communications specialist Clayson Hamasaka reinforced this position, explaining that the President’s objective is straightforward, to present Zambia as open for business, reliable in its commitments and a partner of choice for responsible mining investment in Africa.
The Mining Indaba provided a direct platform to engage decision makers who control capital flows and project pipelines.
The results of the government’s mining sector reforms are already becoming evident. Zambia’s copper production in 2025 reached 890,346 metric tonnes, representing an eight percent increase from the previous year and the highest output in years. This growth is not accidental. It follows deliberate policy measures to restore investor confidence, resolve longstanding disputes and create a predictable operating environment.
The commissioning of First Quantum Minerals’ 1.25 billion dollar expansion at Kansanshi, which has extended the mine’s life by 20 years and safeguarded thousands of jobs, is a powerful example of what stable leadership and clear policy direction can achieve. Mines that were previously on the brink of closure and retrenchment are now operating, hiring, and investing. Mopani and KCM, once symbols of uncertainty, are regaining momentum.
Every mining investment has multiplier effects. Beyond direct employment in the mines, there are opportunities for contractors, transporters, suppliers, and small-scale entrepreneurs.
Increased copper production translates into higher government revenues, which in turn fund schools, clinics, and infrastructure.
Projects such as the 371 kilometre road upgrade from Mutanda to Kaoma under the We Corridor Project illustrate how mining driven growth can catalyse broader development.
Zambia’s ambitious target of reaching three million tonnes of annual copper production is not merely about statistics. It represents a vision of expanded opportunity for young people entering the labour market each year. Achieving this target would mean more jobs, more skills transfer, and more participation by local businesses in the mining value chain.
President Hichilema’s presence at the Mining Indaba in South Africa, therefore, complemented the domestic employment drive already underway. By combining record public sector recruitment with a proactive investment diplomacy strategy, the administration is addressing unemployment from multiple angles.
While challenges remain, the trajectory is encouraging. The fulfilment of the manifesto pledge to create jobs through the employment of teachers and health workers demonstrates credibility. The push for increased mining investment signals foresight. Together, these efforts suggest a government that recognises that sustainable employment requires both immediate action and long-term planning.
As Zambia positions itself as a competitive and responsible mining destination, and as public services continue to absorb qualified professionals, the promise of jobs is steadily becoming a lived reality for many citizens. In the long run, this balanced approach may well prove decisive in addressing unemployment and securing shared prosperity for the nation.
