Speaking when he officiated at Israel’s 78th Independence Day reception in Lusaka Tuesday, Permanent Secretary for Special Duties at Cabinet Office Lackson Kasonka said the occasion marked a significant milestone in the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

He noted that 2025 had been a pivotal year for Zambia-Israel relations, highlighted by reciprocal high-level visits.

“This celebration is particularly significant for Zambia, as it marks the first National Day commemoration since the reopening of the Embassy of the State of Israel in Lusaka, an important milestone in our bilateral relations. The year 2025 stands out as a pivotal moment in Zambia-Israel relations. Not only did Honourable Mulambo Haimbe, SC, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, undertook a successful Working Visit to Israel in June 2025, but His Excellency Mr.Gideon Saár, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, also paid a reciprocal visit to Zambia,” he said.

“These engagements culminated in the historic reopening of the Embassy of the State of Israel in Lusaka in August 2025, after more than five decades. This milestone was further reinforced by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Consultations”.

Kasonka added that Zambia was looking forward to further engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation.

He said Zambia was already benefiting from cooperation frameworks signed between the two countries.

“In this regard, Zambia looks forward with great anticipation to the inaugural Session of Zambia-Israel Bilateral Consultations scheduled to take place later this year in Israel. We are confident that this engagement will provide an important platform to further consolidate cooperation, share experiences, and unlock new as well as strengthen existing economic opportunities for the benefit of our two peoples,” said Kasonka.

“I am pleased to note that this framework has already begun to yield tangible benefits for the people of Zambia. Notable among these are collaborations in the health sector, including the partnership between the Israeli Government and the National Heart Hospital in Lusaka where our doctors are getting expert training in heart surgery, as well as scholarship opportunities in agriculture, which are equipping our young people with critical skills to drive innovation and entrepreneurship”.

Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to Zambia Ofra Farhi described the celebration as deeply personal and symbolic of renewed diplomatic presence in the country.

She recalled Israel’s founding moment, saying it remained central to the country’s identity.

“I am deeply moved to celebrate Israel’s 78th Independence Day here, in Zambia, with you. For me, this is a milestone of particular significance. After years of serving as a non-resident Ambassador, I now stand before you as a resident Ambassador, finally established here in Lusaka. The moment we just witnessed on screen, the declaration of independence by David Ben-Gurion, father of our nation, moves me every time. For me, it is not just history. I see my parents dancing in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, celebrating the return of the Jewish people after 2000 years of exile,” she said.

Farhi said the relationship between Zambia and Israel was rooted in the vision of founding leaders.

She added that bilateral cooperation was being translated into tangible development programmes through Israel’s international development agency.

“This partnership stands on the shoulders of two visionary giants. On one side is Prime Minister David Ben Gurion and on the other is Dr Kenneth Kaunda, the founding father of the Zambian nation and its first President. Both were visionaries who understood that sovereignty was only the first step on an infinite path toward growth and prosperity. The most tangible expression of this partnership is MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation. Since then, thousands of Zambians have received training in Israel and in Zambia,” she said.

Farhi highlighted several ongoing projects supported by Israeli organisations in Zambia.

“Today, Israel’s presence in Zambia is felt through both our heart and our technology. The representatives of Israeli NGOs with us today are engaged in sacred work: Save a Child’s Heart not only saves the lives of Zambian children through surgeries in Israel but also builds a future here. At the same time, we are working to establish an Intensive Care Unit at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Livingstone and to train local teams to help transform Zambia into a regional medical hub,” she said.

She added that partnerships in innovation and agriculture were also key areas of cooperation.

Farhi further called for continued unity and cooperation between the two nations.

“Innovation: Africa, in partnership with Water4Mercy, delivers water and light to the most remote villages through solar energy and Israeli technology. CultivAid is establishing a professional agricultural training center to ensure that Zambia realizes its immense potential as the region’s breadbasket,” said Farhi.