President Hakainde Hichilema has urged African governments to embrace the role of the private sector in an effort to achieve the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through digital platforms.
President Hichilema noted that in order to record economies of scale, governments should work with the private sector that facilitates sufficient production to meet demands within the continent and beyond.
He was speaking during a plenary session at the ongoing three–days 2025 AfCFTA forum at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.
President Hichilema further noted the need to break down the limiting laws that hinder trade so that Africa can move forward.
The President also implored the private sector, whom he said are drivers of commerce, to regard governments as their partners so that issues that need intervention are addressed in time.
He said it was time for African countries to trade with each other.
“It is our job as governments to break the barriers so that we can quickly address Africa’s needs, including the investments in the digital area,” President Hichilema said.
The Head of State has however said this action does not mean Africa will not do business with the global market.
And the President of Botswana, Duma Boko, cited some critical steps required for Africa to enhance the implementation of the protocol on digital trade, including concluding negotiations on the digital trade protocol which will result in the harmonisation of rules that will facilitate trade amongst African states.
President Boko emphasised the need to domesticate the agreements in the protocol, adding that this will create obligations of regional instruments to be enforced into domestic laws for each country.
“We commit at a political level to drive in the process of ensuring ultimate adoption at continental level and then driving legislative reform in the domestic space so that these instruments are domesticated,” he said.
The President of Botswana further said there is need to remove legal reforms, some of them inherited, that impede the smooth flow of goods and services across countries.
And the US-Africa Business Centre at the US Chamber said it remains committed to supporting the implementation of the protocol on digital trade for Africa through value chain development.
US-Africa Business Centre at the US Chamber President, Kendra Gaither, said the US-Chamber has a programme that connects small African businesses to partners on the continent.
