You Can’t Share Poverty

*You Can’t Share Poverty* is Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema’s clear-eyed account of what it takes to turn around a struggling economy and restore trust in government.

Part political memoir, part reform playbook, the book explores 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 – he reflects on the challenges of rebuilding trust, restoring economic stability and creating jobs in a rapidly changing global environment. The book also looks ahead, 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 economic 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 anyone interested in governance, economic reform and the future of Africa.