ZAMBIA is increasingly turning to private capital to accelerate infrastructure development, with the Government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) programme now overseeing a portfolio of approximately 70 projects valued at more than US$14.2 billion.
Speaking during an information exchange session at the Zambia International Trade Fair in Ndola, PPP Office Principal Business Development and Promotions Officer Stephen Chanda said the Government has signed 19 PPP concession agreements worth approximately US$9.1 billion since 2022, with most projects now under implementation.
Flagship projects include the Ndola-Lusaka Dual Carriageway, which is nearing 80 percent completion, the Kasumbalesa Border Infrastructure Project, the Sakanya Border Infrastructure Project, and the operational Chingola-Chililabombwe Road. Additional projects are advancing at Nakonde, Katima-Mulilo, and other strategic border facilities aimed at strengthening regional trade, logistics, and connectivity.
Dr. Chanda said the national PPP pipeline currently comprises 51 projects valued at about US$5.1 billion. Combined with signed projects, the PPP Office is managing a portfolio worth more than US$14.2 billion. Of the total portfolio, 19 projects representing 36 percent are under implementation, while 51 projects representing 64 percent remain in the pipeline.
He noted that PPP investments have expanded significantly; rising from approximately US$35 million in signed projects in 2022 to cumulative signed investments of about US$9.1 billion by 2026. Projects valued at more than US$780 million have already been signed this year alone.
As stated by Dr. Chanda, the programme is generating tangible economic benefits through infrastructure expansion, skills development, and employment creation. More than 15,000 direct jobs and over 30,000 indirect jobs have been created across sectors including roads, border infrastructure, housing, tourism, logistics, and real estate development.
He added that the Government is strengthening local participation through mandatory minimum subcontracting requirements of 10 percent and the introduction of Small and Medium PPP Projects reserved for Zambian investors, particularly projects valued at US$10 million and below.
Dr. Chanda said PPPs are enabling the Government to expand infrastructure while preserving fiscal space by allowing private investors to finance, construct, and operate strategic assets before transferring them to the State at the end of concession periods. The Government also earns revenue throughout concession life cycles through revenue-sharing arrangements ranging from five to 25 percent, depending on project structures.
Significant progress is also being recorded in higher education infrastructure. Mulungushi University has signed a US$249 million concession agreement that will deliver more than 19,000 student bed spaces and supporting facilities, making it the largest higher-education PPP investment in Zambia. At the University of Zambia, 6,480 additional student bed spaces are being developed through PPP arrangements, while concession agreements are being finalized for Copperbelt University. Similar initiatives are advancing at Mukuba University and other public institutions.
These investments form part of the Government’s broader strategy to leverage private capital to modernize tertiary education infrastructure, improve student welfare, expand access to higher education, create employment opportunities, and reduce pressure on public resources.
The progress being recorded across infrastructure, education, and private investment underscores the growing role of PPPs in supporting economic transformation, strengthening competitiveness, creating jobs, and building a more productive and connected economy. As Zambia continues implementing reforms across key sectors, private capital mobilization is providing an increasingly important foundation for sustained growth and long-term development.