By MONICA KAYOMBO,Zambia, Lusaka
ZAMBIA and the Kingdom of Morocco have reaffirmed their enduring friendship and commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation, with both countries highlighting the benefits of their growing partnership in key areas including education, mining, trade, tourism and infrastructure development.
The commitment was reaffirmed in Lusaka last month during celebrations to mark the 27th anniversary of the enthronement of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, an occasion which also provided an opportunity for the two countries to reflect on the strength of their relations and the opportunities for greater cooperation.
The Zambian Government was represented by Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Permanent Secretary (Administration), Dr Gabriel Pollen, who was Guest of Honour, while the Kingdom of Morocco was represented by Chargé d’Affaires Mr Mourad Benaida, who spoke on behalf of the Moroccan Embassy.
The celebration brought together senior government officials, diplomats, ambassadors, high commissioners and other invited guests.
Speaking on behalf of President Hakainde Hichilema, the Zambian Government and people of Zambia, Dr Pollen congratulated King Mohammed VI and the people of Morocco, describing the occasion as a reflection of the unity, strength and progress of the Moroccan people.
“This occasion, not only marks the accession to the throne of His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, but also symbolizes the unity, strength and impressive progress made by the people of the Kingdom of Morocco over the years,” Dr Pollen said.
He said Morocco’s development under King Mohammed VI had included the establishment of a world-class manufacturing sector, while the country had also emerged as an important sporting and tourism hub on the African continent.
Dr Pollen noted that Morocco hosted the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and had won the bid to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
He further noted that Morocco attained the status of Africa’s most visited country by tourists in 2025, while continuing to preserve its rich cultural heritage.
“These achievements have been realized whilst preserving the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage,” Dr Pollen said, attributing the developments to the leadership of King Mohammed VI.
But beyond celebrating Morocco’s achievements, the occasion provided an opportunity for Zambia and Morocco to reflect on the progress made in their own relationship and the benefits that have come from years of diplomatic engagement.
“On this historic day, we are reminded of the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation that characterize our bilateral relations,” Dr Pollen said.
He recalled King Mohammed VI’s historic visit to Zambia in 2017, saying the visit helped solidify the existing bilateral relationship between the two countries.
The high-level exchanges have continued, with Dr Pollen highlighting the May 2026 visit to Morocco by former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon Mulambo Haimbe, SC, as another important milestone in strengthening the relationship.
During that visit, Zambia and Morocco underscored the importance of developing an ambitious and forward-looking roadmap aimed at fostering high-impact cooperation in the coming months.
According to Dr Pollen, such high-level engagements have contributed to enhancing bilateral relations and have created opportunities for the two countries to move beyond diplomatic friendship towards practical cooperation that delivers benefits to their respective populations.
A major platform for this cooperation is the Zambia-Morocco Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC), whose inaugural session was held in Morocco in December 2024.
The session resulted in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding covering important sectors, including education, mining, trade, tourism and infrastructure development.
The agreements have provided a framework through which Zambia and Morocco can strengthen economic and social ties, exchange expertise and create opportunities for investment and development.
For Zambia, the partnership with Morocco offers opportunities to tap into Morocco’s experience in areas where the North African country has made significant progress, while Morocco stands to deepen its engagement with Zambia and the wider southern African region.
Dr Pollen assured the Moroccan side that the Zambian Government remained committed to ensuring that the agreements translate into tangible outcomes.
“The Zambian Government remains committed to implementing these MOUs/agreements to fully realise the potential of our bilateral cooperation,” he said.
The focus now, therefore, is on implementation and ensuring that the agreements signed between the two countries result in practical benefits for citizens, businesses and institutions.
The cooperation in education, for example, provides opportunities for skills development and knowledge exchange, while collaboration in mining can support investment, technology transfer and the development of value chains.
In trade, stronger relations can open new markets and create opportunities for businesses from both countries, while tourism cooperation can encourage greater movement of people and promote the rich cultural and natural attractions of both nations.
Infrastructure cooperation, meanwhile, has the potential to support Zambia’s development ambitions by facilitating investment, technical cooperation and knowledge sharing.
The deepening relationship also reflects a broader African approach in which countries are increasingly seeking partnerships among themselves to promote economic development, regional integration and shared prosperity.
Dr Pollen also commended Morocco for its efforts to promote peace and stability on the African continent, including its efforts towards finding a solution to the question of Western Sahara.
He reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to working with Morocco in strengthening relations for the benefit of both countries.
The Moroccan side, meanwhile, used the occasion to reflect on the significance of Throne Day and the progress made by Morocco under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, while reaffirming the importance attached to the country’s relationship with Zambia.
The celebration came at a time when Zambia and Morocco are seeking to build on the momentum created by recent high-level visits and bilateral agreements and to transform their longstanding friendship into deeper, mutually beneficial cooperation.
The relationship between the two countries has therefore evolved beyond traditional diplomatic ties, with the growing emphasis now being placed on partnerships that can contribute to economic development, skills development, investment, trade and people-to-people relations.
The continued engagement also demonstrates the value of sustained diplomatic relations in creating opportunities for countries to learn from each other, combine their strengths and pursue common interests.
As the Lusaka celebration drew to a close, Dr Pollen conveyed wishes for continued good health, peace and prosperity for King Mohammed VI and the people of Morocco.
A toast was proposed to the continued personal well-being of King Mohammed VI, the good health of Morocco’s Ambassador to Zambia, Mr Khalid Afkir, and the enduring friendship between the peoples and governments of Zambia and Morocco.
The Lusaka celebration thus served not only as a commemoration of Morocco’s Throne Day, but also as a strong reminder of the unity and friendship that have characterised Zambia-Morocco relations, while setting the stage for the two countries to turn their existing agreements and goodwill into concrete development opportunities.
For Zambia and Morocco, the message was clear, the strength of their friendship lies not only in the diplomatic ties built over the years, but in their ability to work together to create practical benefits and a more prosperous future for their peoples.
