Zambia seeks int'l help as it falls far short of vaccination target

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) – Zambia is nowhere near achieving its target of vaccinating 70% of eligible citizens against COVID-19 by the end of the year, the country’s president said on Thursday, appealing to the international community for help.

“We have only covered 3% of the target population by the end of September. We need more vaccines and resources to protect our people against the pandemic,” President Hakainde Hichilema said at a news conference in the capital Lusaka.

He said the government has appointed a special COVID-19 adviser to work closely with the Health Ministry to mobilize more international support for Zambia’s fight against the pandemic.

Zambia, a country of some 18 million, has vaccinated just about 731,450 people from a target of 3.6 million, according to latest data.

The COVID-19 caseload in the country stands at over 209,000, including 3,648 deaths and 204,983 recoveries.

- ‘Positive signs’

Hichilema, 59, who just clocked a month in office after being elected in August, also spoke about his interactions at the UN General Assembly session in New York.

He said there were positive signs in discussions held with various partners, adding that investors and top organizations such as the International Monetary Fund have expressed confidence in his government’s economic plans.

An economist by profession, Hichilema centered his electoral campaign on a promise to revive the economy of the debt-stricken Southern African country, which is the top copper producer on the continent.

At Thursday’s news conference, the president reiterated his vow to avidly pursue reforms in multiple areas to enable Zambia and its people to reach their full potential.

He also stressed that his administration will strictly enforce the rule of law and use all its power to root out corruption and other such detrimental activities.​​​​​​​