On 19 November 2024, His Excellency Dr. Tobias Mulimbika, Ambassador of the Republic of Zambia to Japan, was invited to give a lecture on the bilateral relations between Zambia and Japan, and the investment opportunities in Zambia. The lecture moderated by Dr. Eiichi Yoshida, Professor of YCU’s School of International Liberal Arts, was attended by 75 participants.
The timing of the lecture coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Zambia and Japan, and with the efforts of the Yokohama city government toward hosting in Yokohama the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in August 2025.
During the lecture, Ambassador Mulimbika introduced his country by quizzing the participating students on various facts about Zambia such as its population, climate, traditional culture, etc. He also mentioned the relations between Zambia and Japan while touching on the history of Zambia—especially how the country entered the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games as the British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia but had become the Republic of Zambia by the time of its Closing Ceremony on the very day of its independence on 24 October.
The Republic of Zambia is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa and surrounded by 8 countries such as Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Botswana. According to the Ambassador, the country is an ideal logistics hub for investments because of this situation. Adding to this the low median age of its population, there are many opportunities for young people, including those from Japan, to invest in industries such as mining, agribusiness and agro-processing, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, tourism, and science and technology. Dr. Mulimbika delivered a strong message of expectations toward the young generations.
In the Q&A session after the lecture, students had many questions for Ambassador Mulimbika. One student asked whether there was any friction or conflict within Zambia with regards to the intake of refugees from surrounding countries given the plurality of tribes in the country. To this, the Ambassador explained that the government of Zambia makes serious efforts in keeping with the guidelines set by the United Nations on international protection toward setting up special areas with appropriate accommodations as well as preparing for other infrastructure and public health aspects. He added that the government also implements good policies such as rule of law, and appreciating cultural diversity among the 73 tribes present in Zambia. Lastly. the ambassador emphasized that one defining characteristic that ensures conflicts do not occur with refugees is the kindness of the Zambian people, always ready to help others.
Ambassador Mulimbika closed his lecture with a strong message of hope for more cooperation and exchange between Zambia and Japan, and between the universities of both countries.
