LUSAKA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The suspension of funding for various projects by the U.S. government serves as a wakeup call for African countries, prompting them to grow their economies by enhancing bilateral trade and investment among themselves, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has said.
The move announced by U.S. President Donald Trump also calls for prudent management of resources by African countries, state media the Zambia Daily Mail quoted Hichilema as saying on Monday.
"It is long overdue because it underscores the importance of us on the continent growing our economies, focusing on growth, growth, and more growth," he said during talks with Winnie Byanyima, executive director of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS and UN under-secretary-general.
While discussing the suspension of U.S. funding, the Zambian president said the strength lies in the prudent management of African resources.
On her part, Byanyima called on African countries to unlock more domestic resources and invest them in the health sector. ■
