You Can't Share Poverty

You Can't Share Poverty, Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema delivers a clear-eyed account of what it takes to turn around a struggling economy and restore trust in government. Part political memoir, part reform playbook, this is a book about leadership under pressure; and the real-world consequences of policy decisions. Hichilema traces Zambia's journey from post-independence optimism through decades of state control, economic decline and rising debt, to the moment his administration took office in 2021 facing near bankruptcy.

Drawing on his own experience; from rural beginnings and a career in business to repeated electoral defeats, imprisonment, and eventual victory in 2021; he reflects on the challenges of rebuilding trust, restoring economic stability, and creating jobs in a rapidly changing global environment. The book also looks forward, examining the opportunities presented by critical minerals, regional trade, agriculture and tourism, and what African countries must do to compete in a changing global economy. Throughout, Hichilema argues that growth; not redistribution; is the only sustainable path to jobs and rising living standards. Direct, practical and grounded in experience, You Can't Share Poverty offers valuable insights for readers interested in governance, economic reform and the future of Africa.