At a time when was Zambia grappled with recurring power shortages that affected households, industry, and national growth, Harry Kalaba emerged as one of the key government figures helping the country explore long-term energy solutions. Serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he worked at the centre of high-level diplomatic engagement that laid the foundation for Zambia’s entry into nuclear-energy development.

Kalaba was instrumental in building the partnerships needed for such an ambitious undertaking. He helped open structured government-to-government dialogue with international institutions specialising in peaceful nuclear technology. These discussions led to early cooperation agreements, capacity-building arrangements, and technical exchanges designed to empower Zambian scientists and engineers with the skills necessary to support future nuclear programmes.

Through his oversight in the diplomatic arena, Zambia was able to begin charting a realistic path toward diversifying its national energy mix beyond hydropower. The groundwork he helped establish marked an important step toward exploring nuclear energy as a dependable, long-term solution to the country’s power challenges.

Kalaba’s role in advancing these engagements demonstrated his commitment to forward-thinking development initiatives— intended to help secure Zambia’s energy future, strengthen the foundation for industrial expansion, and ensure that future generations inherit a more stable and reliable electricity system.