Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has urged swift and coordinated action to protect the country’s fuel security amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Speaking during an urgent meeting with the National Oil Marketing Association at State House in Lusaka on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, Hichilema warned that the conflict—linked to military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel—poses significant uncertainty for Zambia’s energy sector.
He emphasised the need for both immediate interventions and long-term strategies, noting that the duration of the conflict remains unclear. The meeting brought together Government officials and petroleum supply companies as concerns mount over volatility in global fuel markets.
The President stressed the importance of collaboration to safeguard recent economic gains and mitigate the crisis’s impact. He also cautioned oil marketing firms against hoarding fuel to exploit potential price increases, describing such actions as sabotage.
Meanwhile, the association’s vice-president, Pinchi Simukwai, reaffirmed the industry’s commitment to maintaining stable fuel supplies, despite rising operational costs driven by increased freight and insurance expenses linked to the Middle East conflict.