Former Executive Directors Deliver Special Lectures in Zambia on Japan’s Development Experiences

Godfrey Hampwaye moderated the session; he was previously a senior lecturer at the UNZA (Department of Geography and Environmental Studies) and is the current SAIPAR Researcher. In their opening remarks, Onesmus Munyati, dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at UNZA, and Yonebayashi Norihito, Chief Representative at the JICA Zambia Office, expressed the hope that Japan's knowledge-sharing about the history of its development would inspire Zambian youth and contribute to the further development of the country. Subsequently, a member of the JICA Zambia Office presented the four pillars of JICA’s projects in Zambia: private sector development, agriculture, social development, and infrastructure development.

Takahara explained that resource-poor Japan considers its human capital a national asset and has focused on capacity development. He also enumerated the qualities and limitations of the Japanese teamwork (group) system, which has contributed to Japan’s growth by enabling individuals to work collectively and overcome insufficient individual strengths.

Kitano elucidated the history of Japan's rapid economic growth after World War II: Japan enhanced connectivity through donor-funded infrastructure development. Kitano also mentioned the negative aspects of fast growth, for instance, pollution. He expressed the hope that Zambia's recent focus on fostering the private sector would continue to exert a substantive impact on its future development. As an example, he mentioned the development of a special economic zone in southern Lusaka that he had observed during his visit.

During the Q&A session that followed the speeches, participants asked how Japan achieved free education despite being financially impoverished after World War II, how the country is tackling its recent population decline and accelerated aging, and how Research and Development institutions and private companies have contributed to Japan's regional development. A lively discussion ensued among the speakers and the participants.