Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar inaugurated Israel’s new embassy in Lusaka on Wednesday, marking the renewal of Israel’s diplomatic presence in Zambia after more than five decades. The ceremony was attended by Zambian Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe, government officials, ambassadors, and dignitaries.
“This is an exciting moment to raise our flag and hear HaTikvah in Zambia after 52 years,” Sa’ar declared. “It is the beginning of a new chapter between our nations - an alliance of believers.”
The Foreign Minister emphasized the deep historical and spiritual ties between the two countries, noting that both Israel and Zambia are “nations of faith” whose relationship is rooted not only in shared interests but also in shared values. “We believe in Zambia’s future. We chose to begin in Zambia because we see it as a strategic partner in southern Africa,” Sa’ar said.
Sa’ar recalled the longstanding connection between Israel and Zambia, dating back to Zambia’s independence in 1964, when the country’s first president, Kenneth Kaunda, established relations with the Jewish state. Diplomatic ties were severed in 1973 along with many other African nations but were restored in 1991. In 2015, Zambia opened its embassy in Israel, and President Edgar Lungu’s move was remembered with gratitude. Sa’ar also paid tribute to the continued friendship under current President Hakainde Hichilema, who visited Israel in 2023.
During his remarks, Sa’ar highlighted Zambia’s support for Israel at the International Court of Justice, commending its “moral stance” in standing with Jerusalem against what he described as a distorted international procedure.
The Foreign Minister stressed that the embassy’s reopening will pave the way for practical cooperation. Israel is already engaged in projects in Zambia, including establishing a trauma and emergency unit in a hospital in Livingstone and hosting hundreds of Zambian students in agricultural internships in the Negev. “With our technology, we are making the desert bloom, and we are sharing that knowledge with Zambia,” Sa’ar said, quoting Psalms: “Like streams in the Negev.”
He further praised Israeli NGOs such as Save a Child’s Heart, Innovation Africa, Tevel B’Tzedek, and CultivAid for their contributions to Zambia.
Sa’ar expressed gratitude to Israeli Ambassador Ofra Farhi and the Foreign Ministry’s Africa Division for their efforts, promising that the new embassy would deepen ties across multiple fields. “Israel is returning to Zambia, strengthening the alliance of believers between our nations and peoples,” he concluded. “We will strengthen our relations, deepen our partnerships, and work together for a better future.”