Government calls for increased private sector investment

The Zambian government has intensified its call for robust private sector participation to unlock the untapped tourism potential of the Northern Province. Speaking on the strategic imperative of economic decentralization, Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary Evans Muhanga stressed that sustainable growth in regions outside traditional tourism circuits requires aggressive capital injection from commercial players. He pointed out that the province boasts an array of historical landmarks, breathtaking waterfalls, and vibrant cultural heritage that remain underutilized due to infrastructural and capital gaps. Mr. Muhanga noted that while the government continues to lay down macroeconomic foundations and policy incentives, private investors must step forward to develop modern hospitality facilities, reliable transport networks, and diverse adventure tourism packages. The call aligns with the broader national agenda of economic diversification, moving Zambia away from its historical heavy reliance on copper mining toward service-driven and sustainable industries. Northern Province, with icons such as the Chishimba Falls and rich Bemba cultural history, represents a prime frontier for this transition. Industry stakeholders have generally welcomed the government's overtures, noting that regional tourism holds immense promise for rural employment and micro-enterprise development. However, analysts emphasize that bridging the investment gap will require more than rhetoric; it demands targeted interventions addressing high financing costs, localized infrastructure deficits, and streamlined licensing procedures. Investors frequently cite poor feeder roads and erratic energy supplies in remote districts as major deterrents, factors that require coordinated inter-ministerial solutions. As the Ministry of Tourism pushes forward with regional destination marketing initiatives, local authorities in Kasama and surrounding districts are being urged to work closely with tradition