Dr. Hakainde Sammy Hichilema named 2025 top global leader by The Telegraph

By Hellen Bwalya

The United Party for National Development (UPND) has commended the international recognition of President Hakainde Sammy Hichilema, who was recently named among the world’s top leaders of 2025 by the British newspaper, The Telegraph.

In a statement released Monday, 29th December 2025 by the Office of the Media Director, Mr. Mark Simuuwe, the ruling party described the accolade as a testament to Zambia’s “New Dawn” transformation and the President’s commitment to bold structural reforms.

Mr. Simuuwe said the UPND attributed the global recognition to significant milestones in the social and economic sectors, specifically highlighting the successful implementation of free education from Grade One to Grade Twelve.

This policy, which UPND notes is the first of its scale in Southern Africa, has been supported by a stabilized national school feeding program across all 116 districts to improve student nutrition and retention.

On the economic front, a glad Simuuwe emphasized the revitalization of the mining sector, which had previously faced near-collapse. Under President Hichilema’s leadership, the administration has moved to restore investor confidence with a production target of one million metric tonnes of copper by 2025. This recovery is mirrored in the tourism sector, where arrivals have surged from 500,000 to over 2.2 million in less than three years following visa regime relaxations and improved marketing strategies,” said Simuuwe.

Simuuwe’s statement further highlighted Zambia’s macroeconomic stability, noting that the Kwacha has emerged as one of the best-performing currencies globally. National foreign exchange reserves have reportedly grown from less than $1 billion to over $5 billion. Additionally, the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) exceeded its 2024 collection targets by K5.6 billion, contributing to a national budget that is now over 80 percent locally financed.

Infrastructure and human capital development were also cited as key factors in the Dr. Hakainde Hichilema’s ranking.

Simuuwe said the UPND New Dawn Administration has overseen the recruitment of over 42,000 teachers and 25,000 health workers within three years. “These efforts, combined with th resumption of direct budget support from the European Union, indicate a renewed international confidence in Zambia’s fiscal discipline and governance,” bragged Simuuwe.

Simuuwe pointed to significant legal and governance reforms, including the enactment of the Access to Information law, the abolition of the death penalty, and the establishment of a fast-track Economic and Financial Crimes Court.

Simuuwe maintained that these steps, alongside the restoration of the rule of law and press freedom, have solidified Zambia’s reputation as a stable, democratizing nation on the global stage.