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Jubilee Leaders Network, Katemo Road, Lusaka (2026)

01/07/2026

JUBILEE LEADERS NETWORK CALLS FOR REFLECTION ON SOUTH AFRICA

The recent reports of violence, intimidation, and the mistreatment of fellow Africans in parts of South Africa have deeply saddened us. Images of individuals and families living in fear, homes disrupted, livelihoods threatened, and human dignity violated remind us that the ideals of African unity and shared prosperity remain a work in progress.

At Jubilee Leaders Network, we believe that every person deserves to live in safety and dignity, regardless of their nationality or place of origin. Acts of xenophobia and violence weaken not only those directly affected but also the collective vision of an Africa founded on solidarity, justice, and mutual respect.

While these events call for compassion and accountability, they also invite deeper reflection. They expose vulnerabilities that extend beyond isolated incidents and challenge us to examine the systems upon which many of our communities depend. When our economic security, livelihoods, and opportunities are concentrated in structures we do not own or influence, our resilience is diminished. True independence requires more than political freedom; it requires economic capacity, local ownership, and strong community institutions.

This moment should therefore inspire renewed commitment to building sustainable African economies rooted in local enterprise, innovation, and collaboration. Strengthening citizen-owned businesses, investing in local production, supporting community-led initiatives, and expanding regional partnerships are not merely economic choices—they are pathways toward greater dignity, resilience, and shared prosperity.

As an organization committed to leadership and sustainable development, Jubilee Leaders Network calls upon leaders, institutions, businesses, and citizens across the continent to respond not only with words of concern but also with purposeful action. Let us transform this difficult moment into an opportunity to strengthen the foundations of economic self-reliance, social cohesion, and pan-African cooperation.

May this be more than a season of outrage. May it become a season of reflection, coordinated action, and renewed commitment to building an Africa where every person's dignity is protected and every community has the opportunity to flourish.

30/06/2026

Leadership Is Not Just in Politics, It Starts With You

Many people have been asking what we do at the Jubilee Leaders Network . The answer is simple, but powerful.
We believe that leadership is not only about politics. A country cannot grow if we only focus on political leaders. We need leaders in every area of life, business, farming, finance, technology, education, and many other fields.

This is where our work comes in. At Jubilee Leaders Network, we coach, mentor, and support young people and fellow citizens to grow as leaders in whatever they do. You do not need to hold a government position to be a leader. If you are running a small business, working on a farm, learning a skill, or building something in your community, you are already in a position to lead.

We help people understand that leadership is about responsibility, mindset, and action. It is about doing what you do with excellence, thinking long-term, and contributing to something bigger than yourself.

Why is this important?
Because when we have strong leaders in different sectors, our country becomes stronger. When we have disciplined business people, innovative farmers, skilled professionals, and creative young minds, we reduce over-dependence and start building real solutions from within.

At that point, citizens are able to engage government better. We ask for good policies not from a place of weakness, but from a place of understanding and contribution. We know what is needed because we are already building it.

This is how real change happens. It does not start at the top alone. It starts with ordinary people choosing to grow, to lead, and to take responsibility in their own spaces.

At Jubilee Leaders Network, this is part of the future we are building, one leader at a time.

Kennedy Chileshe
Executive Director, Jubilee Leaders Network

30/06/2026

Strengthening relationships is at the heart of meaningful collaboration.

This week, our Director undertook a visit to Kenya as part of ongoing efforts to deepen stakeholder engagement, strengthen existing partnerships, and explore new opportunities for collaboration. Through constructive dialogue and the sharing of experiences, the visit reaffirmed our shared commitment to advancing common goals and creating lasting impact across the region.

Sustainable progress is built on trust, mutual learning, and collective action. We look forward to nurturing these relationships and working together to transform shared aspirations into meaningful outcomes.

25/06/2026

National Reserves are our Country's Financial Safety Net

By Kennedy Chileshe
Executive Director, Jubilee Leaders Network

In recent days, discussions about foreign exchange reserves have become increasingly common in public debates. Unfortunately, many people hear the term "reserves" without fully understanding what it means or why it is important to a country's economic stability.
Simply put, foreign exchange reserves are savings held by a country's central bank, usually in major international currencies such as the United States Dollar, Euro, Pound Sterling, and other internationally accepted assets. These reserves serve as a financial safety net for the nation.

To understand their importance, let us think about a family. A responsible family does not spend every ngwee it earns. Instead, it keeps some savings aside for emergencies such as illness, loss of employment, school fees, or unexpected expenses. Those savings provide security when difficult times arise.
The same principle applies to a country.

Foreign exchange reserves are not money set aside for daily government operations. They are not intended to pay salaries, buy fuel for government vehicles, or cover routine administrative expenses. Those expenditures are normally financed through government revenue, taxes, borrowing, and other budgetary sources.

The primary purpose of reserves is to protect the country during difficult economic periods. For example, if export earnings decline, if there is a global economic crisis, if commodity prices collapse, or if the country faces difficulties obtaining foreign currency, reserves can be used to help stabilize the economy.

Reserves also help maintain confidence in a country's financial system. Investors, businesses, lenders, and international partners look at the level of reserves when assessing the economic health of a nation. A country with healthy reserves is generally viewed as more stable and better prepared to withstand economic shocks.

Another important role of reserves is supporting the stability of the national currency. When foreign currency becomes scarce, the central bank may use reserves to help meet demand and reduce excessive volatility in the exchange rate. While reserves cannot permanently solve all exchange rate challenges, they provide an important buffer during periods of pressure.

This is why economists, central bankers, and financial institutions across the world closely monitor reserve levels. Strong reserves are often seen as a sign of prudent economic management and financial preparedness.

It is therefore important for citizens to be cautious when they hear arguments suggesting that reserves should simply be spent on ordinary day-to-day government expenses. Such arguments often reflect a misunderstanding of the purpose of reserves.

Using national reserves to finance routine expenditures would be similar to a family using all its emergency savings to buy groceries every week. Eventually, when a genuine emergency occurs, there would be nothing left to provide protection. A country that exhausts its reserves unnecessarily exposes itself to greater economic risks and uncertainty.

This does not mean reserves should never be used. There are circumstances where reserves may be deployed to support economic stability, meet international obligations, or respond to exceptional crises. However, such decisions must be made carefully and with a clear understanding of the long-term consequences.

The reality is that foreign exchange reserves are among the most important financial assets a country possesses. They provide confidence, stability, and protection against unforeseen economic challenges.
For this reason, discussions about reserves should be guided by facts, sound economics, and a proper understanding of their purpose. Anyone who casually dismisses the importance of reserves or suggests they are merely idle money waiting to be spent demonstrates a limited understanding of how national economies function.

Economic management requires knowledge, discipline, and long-term thinking. Matters relating to national reserves are too important to be approached carelessly because the consequences affect millions of citizens.

As a nation, we should encourage informed debate and economic literacy. The more citizens understand concepts such as reserves, public debt, investment, and economic growth, the better positioned we will be to hold leaders accountable and contribute meaningfully to national development.

Foreign exchange reserves are not a luxury. They are a necessity. They are the country's financial insurance policy, protecting present and future generations from economic uncertainty. Preserving and strengthening them should therefore remain a priority for any nation that seeks sustainable development and economic stability.

Kennedy Chileshe
Executive Director
Jubilee Leaders Network

21/06/2026

Guard against misinformation

Good morning, fellow country men, women and youth.

I want to share something that has been heavy on my heart this Sunday. One of the biggest reasons I try my best to break down national issues in plain, simple language is because I genuinely hate seeing our people misled. It hurts my spirit to watch hardworking citizens make important decisions based on lies, half-truths, or stories that have been twisted beyond recognition. Too many people are comfortable with confusion. It seems like some folks actually thrive when there is chaos and misunderstanding. They feed on it, and they use it to control us.

But we are wiser than that.

Right now, with elections just around the corner, the misinformation is about to get louder. We all know this. The rumors will fly on social media. The voice notes will circulate. The fake screenshots will be shared. Everyone will have a "secret source" or a "friend inside." And if we are not careful, we will find ourselves fighting our neighbors over things that are not even true. That is exactly what they want. They want us angry and confused, so we stop thinking clearly. When we are divided and misinformed, we are easy to control.

So what do we do? First, we slow down. Before you share anything, ask yourself: Does this make sense? Who benefits from me believing this? Is there an official source? If it sounds too shocking, too evil, or too perfect, it is probably designed to trick you. Take a breath. Wait an hour. Verify. The truth does not need to be rushed; it will stand on its own.

Second, we talk to each other, not just online, but in person. Sit with your elders. Speak with your neighbor. Listen to different perspectives. When you hear something strange, ask questions politely. Most of the time, when you ask someone to explain a rumor step by step, the lie falls apart on its own. Honest people can explain their views clearly. Dishonest ones get angry or dodge the question.

Finally, let us commit to being sources of light, not noise. This Sunday, promise yourself that you will not be a carrier of poison. If you are not sure about a piece of news, do not pass it on. Let us be the ones who calm the room, not the ones who set it on fire. Our country belongs to all of us. We cannot build a good future on a foundation of lies.

Let us go into this election season with open eyes, clear minds, and kind hearts. We owe that to ourselves, our children, and our nation. Have a blessed Sunday, and stay grounded in the truth.

Hon. Kennedy Chileshe
Executive Director
Jubilee Leaders Network

19/06/2026

WHERE YOU PUT YOUR BUSINESS MATTERS MORE THAN YOU THINK

By Kennedy Chileshe, Executive Director of Jubilee Leaders Network

My fellow Zambians, many people dream of starting a business or bringing an investment into this country. But too many fail simply because they do not understand the rules of the game. The Zambia Development Agency, or ZDA, is the government body that gives out investment licenses. But here is what most people do not know: not every business is treated equally. The government has what they call priority sectors. If your business falls into these sectors, you get help. If it does not, you struggle alone. Let me explain plainly so that you do not waste your money or your time.

So what are these priority sectors?

The ZDA looks mainly at Agriculture, Energy, Tourism, ICT (which is our computers and phone networks), and Construction. If you want to grow maize, build a solar plant, open a lodge, lay fibre optic cables, or construct houses and roads, the government is ready to welcome you with open arms. But there is another sector that is equally important. That is Manufacturing. Yes, manufacturing is a major priority. Whether you want to process maize into breakfast meal, turn cotton into clothes, or make metal products from our copper, manufacturing is what Zambia needs right now. We cannot keep exporting raw materials and importing everything we use. That is poverty thinking. Manufacturing creates jobs. Manufacturing keeps money in Zambia.

But here is the secret that many investors miss. Location matters. It matters a lot. You can have the best business idea, but if you put it in the wrong place, you will pay more taxes and get fewer benefits. The ZDA looks at where you set up. If you build your factory in an ordinary area in Lusaka or Kitwe, you will get your license, but the benefits will be small. However, if you put your business in what they call a Multi-Facility Economic Zone, or MFEZ, things change completely. Places like Lusaka South MFEZ or Chambishi MFEZ are special areas where the government gives huge incentives. You can pay zero percent tax on profits from exports for up to ten years. That means you keep all your money to grow your business. The same applies if you choose to invest in rural areas. The government wants development to spread across the whole country, not just the cities.

Now let me speak plainly about money. The ZDA also looks at how much you plan to invest. If you are a Zambian owner, you need to invest at least fifty thousand American dollars (K900,000) to qualify for the good incentives. If you are a foreign investor, the minimum is one million American dollars. These numbers are not meant to chase anyone away. They are there to make sure that serious investors come who will create real jobs and not just small shops.

My fellow citizens, the message is clear. If you want to invest in Zambia, put your money in priority sectors like Manufacturing. Choose your location carefully. Go to a Special Economic Zone or a rural area where the government will support you. And before you do anything, visit the ZDA office at Privatisation House in Lusaka. They will give you free advice. Do not guess. Do not listen to hearsay. Get the right information. That is how you succeed. That is how Zambia grows. God bless you all.

Visit ZDA offices in Lusaka for free consultations.

16/06/2026

Why Do Foreigners Own Everything? The Hard Truth We Must Face

By Kennedy Chileshe, Executive Director of Jubilee Leaders Network

My fellow Zambians, we have all heard the complaint. We say it at the bus stop, we say it at the barbershop, and we say it at family gatherings. “Everything in this country is owned by foreigners.” We point fingers at the Chinese, the South Africans, the Europeans, and we ask, “Why are they the ones building big businesses while we are left to struggle?”

I am here today to tell you that the answer to that question is painful. It is not the foreigners who are our greatest enemy. Our greatest enemy is the person we see in the mirror every morning. The problem is not that they are too strong. The problem is that we are too divided and too self-centered.

The Foreigner’s Secret: They Work Together

Let us look at the facts. When a foreign investor comes to Zambia, they do not come as a single person with a pocket full of cash. They come as a company, a group, a partnership. The Zambia Development Agency offers tax exemptions to attract investment, both local and international investment. This creates a lot of anger among citizens because some think it is a reserve if foreign investment. But have we asked ourselves why these investors are able to take advantage of those offers while we sit on the sidelines?

The answer is simple: Capital.

Foreign companies can raise millions of kwacha because they pool resources. They have a group of people who trust each other. They sign agreements. They build equity. They form a board. They create an institution that can survive beyond one person. We, on the other hand, prefer to work alone. Most Zambians want to be "big bosses" who do not answer to anyone. We are individualistic.

The Zambian Mentality: Why We Struggle

Consider the idea of starting an Oil Marketing Company (OMC) like Indeni Energy, which is a state-owned enterprise that has evolved into a licensed company to meet national fuel demand. Imagine if we, as a community, said, "Let us put our money together to buy a fuel tanker and start our own OMC."

How many of us would contribute?

Even if we did, what would happen? Some of us would be looking for the smallest loophole to steal from the group. We would want to be the one holding the cash box. We would want to pocket the profits. This is the sad reality. The IMF recently noted that only 10% of Zambian firms have access to bank credit, meaning most of us rely on personal savings because we cannot trust each other enough to form strong groups that banks can lend to.

The Cooperative Solution: Look at Our Farmers

But there is hope. We do not need to copy foreigners to succeed. We need to look at our own brothers and sisters who are already doing it right. In the Eastern Province, groups like the COMACO cooperative network have brought together over 230,000 farmers. They work together. They share information. They bulk their crops together so they can sell at better prices.

In Pemba District, the Kaba Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Limited started by contributing goats. They did not wait for a handout. They pooled their goats together, sold them, and used the money to register an Airtel Money booth and invest in farming equipment. They realized that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

These cooperatives do not steal from each other. Why? Because they have checks and balances. They have elected leaders. They have rules. They have transparency.

Why the Playing Field Seems Uneven

Many citizens are angry because they feel the government prioritizes foreign investors. The tax breaks given to mining giants often make Zambians feel like foreigners get a free ride while we are taxed heavily. The incentives are for both local and international investment.

The government is looking for guaranteed growth. Until we, as Zambians, can present ourselves as a "sure bet" by forming companies, cooperatives, and trusts, we will continue to think we are overlooked.

We must stop looking for quick money. We can build wealth in Agriculture, mining, tourism and many other sectors.

We need to build institutions. We need to contribute to the Zambia National Building Society. We need to form village banking groups. We need to support our local cooperatives. Most importantly, we need to stop seeing our fellow Zambian as a competitor to be cheated, and start seeing them as a partner to be trusted.

When we change our mentality, the government will has enough tax incentives for us to benefit from. When we are united, we will be able to raise the capital that foreign companies raise. When we stop stealing from ourselves, we will build equity.

We are the masters of our own destiny. Let us build institutions that will last for our children. Let us stop blaming the foreigner and start looking at ourselves. The solution is in our hands. Let us work together.

God bless Zambia.

Kennedy M Chileshe - KMC
Executive Director,
Jubilee Leaders Network

16/06/2026

This Is Our Zambia, Let Us All Join the Moving Train, Not Just Watch From the Sidelines

Kennedy Chileshe, Executive Director, Jubilee Leaders Network

My fellow Zambians,

I want to share some encouraging news about our country. But please, do not just read this as a story about big companies and foreign investors. Read it as a call to action for every one of us.
Recently, the head of Zambia Sugar, Mr. Oswald Magwenzi, said something that should make all of us proud. He announced that his company has invested over US$130 million in Zambia.

Why would they put in that much money? Simple.
Because their shareholders now have full confidence in the good business environment that our government is creating. But here is my message to you: This is not just about them. It is about us. When investors come, they do not carry us on their shoulders. We must get up and walk with them.

Zambia Sugar is showing us the way. They called sugar cane a "miracle crop" because they are using it to produce sugar, electricity, fuel, and fertilizer. That means you and I can benefit. More electricity for our homes. Cheaper fertilizer for our small farms. More jobs for our children.

One of their biggest projects is called Twazabuka, worth K1.7 billion. It is a modern warehouse that will be finished by August 2027. This project will make sure we never run out of sugar. But more importantly, it shows that ordinary Zambians can also think big. At the same event, President Hichilema gave a simple promise. He said the government will help Zambian businesses sell their goods even outside our borders.

So my question to you, my fellow citizen, is this: What are you building? What small business can you start or grow?
Do not wait for a foreigner to do everything. Do not sit on the sidelines clapping while others build our nation. Be a farmer. Be a trader. Be a tailor. Be a carpenter. Open a small shop. Start a transport business. The government is making the road smooth. But you must be the one to walk on it.

Zambia is not just becoming investor-friendly. It is becoming citizen-friendly. But citizens must also be action-friendly.
Let us all join this moving train. Let us be players, not just spectators. Together, we will build a Zambia that works for all of us.

Hon. Kennedy Chileshe
Executive Director,
Jubilee Leaders Network

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