Zambia has natural resources, agricultural potential, tourism attractions and a population full of ideas and ambitions. Yet having these advantages does not automatically translate into jobs, higher incomes, thriving businesses or improved living standards.
The important question is how the country can turn its economic potential into tangible benefits for ordinary people.
This is the central issue behind the Grow Zambia Agenda, a national economic development programme unveiled by President Hakainde Hichilema during his second-term inauguration on 1 September 2026. The initiative aims to move Zambia from economic stabilisation towards faster economic growth, increased production, job creation and broader economic opportunities.
But what exactly is the Grow Zambia Agenda? What are its main targets? How could it affect farmers, young people, workers, entrepreneurs and businesses? And what challenges must Zambia overcome to turn these ambitions into reality?
Understanding the agenda requires looking beyond the announcements and examining what economic growth means in everyday life.
Table of Contents
What Is the Grow Zambia Agenda?
The Grow Zambia Agenda is a national economic development programme designed to accelerate Zambia’s economic growth by increasing production, attracting investment, creating jobs and expanding opportunities for citizens and businesses.
President Hakainde Hichilema introduced the programme as part of the government’s transition from economic stabilisation towards accelerated growth during his second presidential term.
The agenda is associated with eight major production targets covering agriculture, energy, tourism, mining and livestock. These targets are commonly summarised as 10-10-5-3-3-1-1-1.
The underlying idea is that Zambia should increase its capacity to produce goods and services, develop productive industries, attract investment and enable more citizens to participate in economic activity.
However, an important distinction must be made: announcing an economic target is not the same as achieving it. The targets represent government ambitions, and their success depends on implementation, investment, infrastructure, markets and other economic conditions.
To understand the agenda properly, it helps to examine its objectives and the practical changes it seeks to encourage.
Why Was the Grow Zambia Agenda Introduced?
The agenda was introduced against the background of Zambia’s efforts to stabilise its economy and establish conditions for further economic expansion.
Economic stabilisation and economic growth are related, but they are not the same thing.
Economic stabilisation involves improving the management of the economy, including inflation, public finances, debt and other macroeconomic conditions. Economic growth involves increasing the value of goods and services produced by a country.
Neither automatically guarantees that every household will experience better living conditions.
For example, a country might improve its economic indicators while some young people continue to struggle to find employment. A farmer might produce more maize but earn little because of high transport costs or falling market prices. A small business might have customers but remain unable to expand because electricity is unreliable or financing is expensive.
These examples illustrate why economic policy must consider both national economic performance and the conditions under which people earn a living.
The Grow Zambia Agenda seeks to make increased production and economic expansion central to the country’s development ambitions.
According to the official announcement, the government wants economic growth to create jobs, expand business opportunities and improve the welfare of ordinary Zambians.
The key question is whether increased production and investment will translate into these wider benefits.
What Are the Eight Main Targets of the Grow Zambia Agenda?
The agenda is built around eight headline targets covering important sectors of the Zambian economy.
The figures below describe the ambitions announced by the government, not verified achievements.
1. Produce 10 million tonnes of maize
Agriculture is important to Zambia’s food supply, rural livelihoods and wider economy.
The agenda targets maize production of 10 million tonnes by 2031. Achieving this target would require increased productive capacity, effective agricultural practices, suitable inputs, reliable markets and attention to climate-related risks.
For farmers, increased production could create opportunities to supply millers, food processors, traders and other buyers.
However, producing more maize does not automatically mean every farmer will earn more money.
If supply increases faster than demand, prices could fall. If storage and transport remain expensive, farmers might struggle to sell their produce profitably.
Sustainable agricultural growth therefore requires more than increasing harvest volumes. Farmers also need commercially viable markets and ways to manage production risks.
2. Generate 10,000 megawatts of electricity
Electricity supports economic activity across nearly every productive sector.
Factories need power to operate machinery. Farmers may need electricity for irrigation and processing. Tourism businesses require reliable energy for accommodation and services. Digital businesses depend on electricity to operate equipment and maintain connectivity.
The Grow Zambia Agenda’s target of 10,000 megawatts of electricity-generating capacity reflects the importance of energy to economic expansion.
Nevertheless, installed generating capacity is not the same as dependable electricity supply.
Power stations must operate reliably, and electricity must be transmitted and distributed to the places where it is needed.
The cost of electricity also matters. Businesses must be able to use energy without production costs becoming commercially unsustainable.
3. Attract five million tourists annually
Tourism offers opportunities beyond hotels and major tourist attractions.
Visitors spend money on accommodation, transport, food, guided tours, cultural experiences and other services.
This spending can support employment and create opportunities for small businesses.
For example, a community near a tourist destination might supply fresh produce to lodges, provide transport services or develop locally organised cultural experiences.
However, attracting five million visitors annually would require investment, effective marketing, accessible destinations, reliable services and a positive visitor experience.
The wider economic benefit would also depend on how much tourism spending reaches Zambian workers and locally owned businesses.
4. Increase copper production to three million tonnes
Copper is central to Zambia’s mining industry and export economy.
The Grow Zambia Agenda targets annual copper production of three million tonnes. The government has described increased copper production as an important component of its economic transformation ambitions.
Higher output could support mining operations, engineering, equipment maintenance, transport and other services.
There may also be opportunities for Zambian businesses to participate more extensively in mining supply chains.
However, greater copper production does not automatically guarantee widespread prosperity.
The wider benefits depend on investment, operating costs, employment, government revenue, environmental management and the participation of domestic suppliers.
Copper prices and international demand can also affect the sector.
5. Produce three million tonnes of soya beans
Soya beans are important because they can be used in food products, animal feed and industrial processing.
Increasing production could create opportunities for farmers, agricultural input suppliers, storage operators, transport businesses and food processors.
For example, greater soya-bean production could support businesses that manufacture animal feed for poultry and livestock producers.
But production must be connected to demand.
Farmers need to understand market prices, production costs, storage requirements and the purchasing capacity of potential buyers before expanding their operations.
6. Produce one million tonnes of wheat
Wheat is an important input for flour, bread and other food products.
Increasing domestic production could strengthen local agricultural and food-processing supply chains.
However, wheat production depends on suitable growing conditions, water availability, irrigation where necessary, input costs and market demand.
The economic question is whether domestic production can expand sustainably and competitively.
Where production costs are high, simply increasing output may not provide the expected benefits to farmers or consumers.
7. Produce one million tonnes of sugar
Sugar production connects agriculture with manufacturing and distribution.
The sector can create opportunities in farming, processing, packaging, transport and related services.
Achieving the target would require productive farms, processing capacity, reliable energy, appropriate water management and viable markets.
As with other agricultural products, increasing production is only part of the challenge. Businesses must also be able to operate competitively and sell their output.
8. Develop a beef industry generating US$1 billion in export earnings
The Grow Zambia Agenda also aims to establish a beef industry capable of generating US$1 billion in export earnings.
This ambition concerns more than raising cattle.
An export-oriented livestock industry requires animal health services, suitable feed, veterinary supervision, processing facilities, transport, product traceability and compliance with the standards of destination markets.
If these conditions develop, opportunities could extend to livestock farmers, feed suppliers, veterinary professionals, meat processors and logistics businesses.
However, international buyers may impose strict requirements relating to animal disease, food safety, quality and traceability.
The industry’s development would therefore depend on building a reliable value chain rather than merely increasing the number of cattle.
What Does the Grow Zambia Agenda Mean for Ordinary Zambians?
National development programmes become meaningful when their effects can be seen in people’s economic opportunities and living conditions.
The Grow Zambia Agenda could affect different groups in different ways.
Opportunities for young people
Young people could benefit from increased demand for technical skills, agricultural services, tourism, manufacturing and business support.
Potential areas of work include:
- Electrical installation and maintenance.
- Agricultural technology and irrigation.
- Food processing and quality control.
- Transport and logistics.
- Hospitality and tourism services.
- Engineering and mining support.
- Digital marketing and business technology.
- Accounting and business administration.
These are potential opportunities, not guaranteed jobs.
The actual opportunities available will depend on investment, business expansion and employers’ needs.
Young people can prepare by developing relevant skills, gaining practical experience and investigating which services businesses in their communities need.
Opportunities for farmers
Farmers could benefit from expanded demand for agricultural products and improved connections to processors and buyers.
But a farmer should not expand production simply because the government has announced a national target.
Before investing, farmers need to consider input costs, available land, water, production risks, storage, transport and expected selling prices.
The most useful question is not simply how much a farmer can produce. It is how much can be produced sustainably and sold at a price that covers costs and provides a reasonable return.
Opportunities for entrepreneurs
Economic growth can create demand for businesses that support larger industries.
A small company might supply packaging materials to food processors, provide equipment maintenance to farms, transport goods to markets or offer bookkeeping services to growing enterprises.
These businesses may participate in economic development without owning large farms, factories or mines.
The key is to identify a genuine customer need and develop a commercially viable way to meet it.
Opportunities for rural communities
Agricultural expansion, livestock development and tourism could support rural businesses and employment.
However, the benefits depend on infrastructure, market access, education, finance and public services.
A rural producer cannot easily participate in a growing national market if roads are poor, storage is inadequate or buyers are difficult to reach.
For this reason, rural development must be considered alongside national production targets.
How Does the Grow Zambia Agenda Relate to Education?
One important aspect of the broader Grow Zambia initiative is the connection between education and practical production.
The Ministry of Education has established an official Grow Zambia Production Units platform that describes an approach to connecting classroom learning with practical skills, enterprise and production. The initiative includes thematic areas such as agriculture, design and technology, wholesale and retail, tourism and hospitality, transport, and real estate.
The underlying idea is that learners should have opportunities to apply knowledge rather than study concepts only in theory.
Consider a pupil learning about agriculture.
In Geography, the pupil might study rainfall, soils and agricultural regions. In Mathematics, the pupil might calculate production costs and yields. In Business Studies, the pupil might examine pricing and customer demand.
A properly supervised agricultural project could help connect these subjects to practical situations.
Similarly, a design and technology project could help pupils understand measurement, materials, product quality and problem-solving.
Such activities can support the development of practical skills and entrepreneurial thinking.
However, production activities should complement education rather than replace teaching and learning. Schools also need suitable resources, appropriate supervision and projects that fit their local conditions.
The wider lesson is that education becomes more practically useful when learners understand how knowledge can be applied to real problems.
Why Increased Production Matters for Zambia’s Economy
A central theme of the Grow Zambia Agenda is increased production.
But why is production so important?
Consider the difference between selling an unprocessed agricultural product and developing a business that processes, packages and distributes it.
The first activity can generate income. The second may create additional opportunities in processing, packaging, equipment maintenance, quality control, marketing and distribution.
This is an example of value addition, which means increasing the economic value of a product through processing or other improvements.
Value addition can support economic diversification by creating activities beyond the extraction or production of raw materials.
In agriculture, this might involve food processing. In mining, it might involve selected forms of mineral processing or manufacturing. In tourism, it might involve locally owned services and experiences that encourage visitors to spend more within Zambia.
However, value addition is not automatically profitable. Processing businesses need customers, capital, skilled workers, reliable electricity and competitive production costs.
The best opportunities are those in which additional processing creates enough value to justify its costs.
Zambia’s challenge is therefore not simply to produce more, but to develop productive activities that can compete in domestic, regional and international markets.
What Challenges Could Affect the Grow Zambia Agenda?
The targets are ambitious, and several factors could affect their implementation.
Electricity reliability
Increasing generating capacity is important, but businesses also need dependable supply, functioning transmission networks and manageable electricity costs.
Climate risks
Agriculture is exposed to rainfall variability, drought, pests and other environmental risks. Sustainable production requires appropriate farming methods, risk management and, where viable, irrigation and improved storage.
Access to finance
Farmers and businesses may need finance for equipment, infrastructure, working capital and expansion.
However, borrowing creates obligations. Investments must be based on realistic demand, production costs and repayment capacity.
Market access
Producing more goods does not guarantee that buyers will purchase them at profitable prices.
Roads, storage, logistics, market information and access to regional and international customers are important.
Skills and productivity
Expanding industries need workers who can operate equipment, manage production, maintain infrastructure and solve technical problems.
Training and education must therefore respond to actual economic needs.
Implementation and accountability
National targets require budgets, responsible institutions, measurable milestones and transparent reporting.
Citizens need reliable information to assess whether production is increasing and whether economic progress is improving employment and living standards.
These challenges do not prove that the targets cannot be achieved. They show why implementation matters as much as ambition.
How Can We Tell Whether the Grow Zambia Agenda Is Succeeding?
The agenda’s progress should be assessed using measurable evidence rather than announcements alone.
Useful indicators include:
Production: Are agricultural output, copper production and other targeted activities increasing?
Investment: Are businesses investing in productive capacity, equipment and infrastructure?
Employment: Are more people finding work, and are earnings and job quality improving?
Business opportunities: Are local companies entering supply chains and expanding their operations?
Household welfare: Are incomes, purchasing power and access to essential services improving?
Infrastructure: Is electricity becoming more reliable, and are transport and market-access conditions improving?
Public finances: Is economic expansion occurring alongside responsible management of government revenue, spending and debt?
These indicators help distinguish increases in production from improvements in people’s living conditions.
For example, higher agricultural output would be encouraging, but farmers’ profitability and food affordability would also matter.
Similarly, increased mining output would need to be considered alongside employment, government revenue, local business participation and environmental management.
The broader objective should be to understand whether economic growth is creating durable benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Grow Zambia Agenda
What is the Grow Zambia Agenda? – Quick Answer
The Grow Zambia Agenda is a national economic development programme unveiled by President Hakainde Hichilema on 1 September 2026. It aims to accelerate economic growth, increase production, create jobs and expand business opportunities. Its eight headline targets cover maize, electricity, tourism, copper, soya beans, wheat, sugar and beef export earnings.
What is the main purpose of the Grow Zambia Agenda?
The main purpose is to accelerate Zambia’s economic growth by expanding production, attracting investment, creating jobs and increasing economic opportunities for citizens and businesses.
Who introduced the Grow Zambia Agenda?
President Hakainde Hichilema unveiled the agenda during his second-term inauguration on 1 September 2026.
What does 10-10-5-3-3-1-1-1 mean?
It summarises eight targets: 10 million tonnes of maize, 10,000 megawatts of electricity, five million annual tourist arrivals, three million tonnes each of copper and soya beans, one million tonnes each of wheat and sugar, and US$1 billion in beef export earnings.
How can young people benefit from the Grow Zambia Agenda?
Young people could benefit through jobs, technical training, entrepreneurship and demand for services in expanding sectors. The actual benefits will depend on investment and the development of viable economic activities.
Will the Grow Zambia Agenda automatically reduce poverty?
No. Increased production can support job creation and rising incomes, but poverty reduction also depends on employment quality, household purchasing power, access to services and how the benefits of growth are distributed.
Is the Grow Zambia Agenda only about agriculture?
No. Its headline targets also cover electricity, tourism, copper mining and beef exports, alongside agricultural products such as maize, soya beans, wheat and sugar.
What is the role of education in the Grow Zambia Agenda?
Education can help develop the practical, technical and problem-solving skills needed for productive work. The Ministry of Education’s production-unit initiative seeks to connect learning with practical activities and enterprise.
What is the biggest challenge facing the Grow Zambia Agenda?
There is no single challenge that determines the outcome. Electricity reliability, financing, climate risks, skills, market access and effective implementation are all important factors.
Conclusion: Turning Zambia’s Economic Potential Into Reality
The Grow Zambia Agenda sets out a vision for expanding Zambia’s productive capacity and creating wider economic opportunities.
Its eight headline targets cover agriculture, electricity, tourism, copper and livestock exports. If supported by viable investment, infrastructure, skills and markets, progress in these sectors could create opportunities for farmers, workers, entrepreneurs and communities.
However, the announcement of targets is only the beginning.
The real challenge is to build the conditions required to achieve them sustainably and translate increased production into better livelihoods.
For young people, this means understanding the economy and developing useful skills. For entrepreneurs, it means identifying real market needs and building viable businesses. For farmers, it means combining production with commercial planning and access to buyers. For government, it means implementation, responsible resource management and transparent reporting.
For citizens, it means looking beyond headlines and asking whether economic progress is making a measurable difference.
Zambia’s future will depend not only on what the country has the potential to produce, but also on how effectively that potential is converted into productive businesses, decent work and improved living standards.
The Grow Zambia Agenda provides a set of ambitions against which progress can be assessed. Its lasting significance will depend on what is achieved, who benefits and whether the resulting improvements can be sustained.
Sources and references
The article draws primarily on the following sources.
Primary and official sources
1. ZNBC Newsroom — HH Unveils Grow Zambia Agenda Development Programme, 1 September 2026. Reports the launch and headline production targets. Read the ZNBC report.
2. Republic of Zambia, Ministry of Education — Grow Zambia: Production Units and Practical Learning. Describes the education-related production-unit initiative, thematic areas and curriculum connections. Visit the official Ministry of Education platform.
3. Republic of Zambia, Cabinet Office — Official government portal containing national planning and policy information, including the Eighth National Development Plan. Visit the Cabinet Office website.
Secondary reporting
4. ZNBC Newsroom — Cabinet Sets 2027 Budget Priorities, September 2026. Reports the government’s stated macroeconomic and fiscal policy priorities. Read the budget-priorities report.
5. Zambia Monitor — Zambian govt approves Green Paper on 2027–2029 medium-term budget plan, September 2026. Reports the medium-term budget planning process and stated economic-growth outlook. Read the budget-plan report.
6. Lusaka Times — Hichilema Unveils 10-10-5-3-3-1-1-1 Grow Zambia Agenda, 2 September 2026. Provides additional coverage of the inauguration announcement and numerical targets. Read the inauguration coverage.
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