Zambia is looking to Rwanda for lessons on how youth programmes, sports infrastructure and the creative sector can be turned into engines for economic opportunity.

The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts says it is exploring a benchmarking visit to Rwanda as part of efforts to understand how the country has used sport and youth development to support wider national goals.

The proposal was raised by Permanent Secretary Kangwa Chileshe during a meeting with Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Zambia, Emmanuel Bugingo.

At the centre of the discussions is a simple question: how can Zambia get more value from the people, facilities and sporting events it already has?

Mr Chileshe said Zambia was particularly interested in Rwanda’s approach to youth empowerment, including programmes focused on discipline, mindset change, orderliness and responsible citizenship.

But sport appears to be one of the biggest areas of interest.

Zambian officials want to study how Rwanda uses facilities such as the 10,000-seat BK Arena, a multipurpose venue that hosts sporting events as well as concerts, conferences and other activities.

The idea is that major sports facilities should not sit idle between competitions.

Instead, they can become year-round venues generating revenue while supporting entertainment, tourism and business.

Rwanda has also built partnerships that connect sport with tourism and international branding, including collaborations with major sporting platforms and clubs.

Its partnership with English Premier League side Aston Villa is part of that broader strategy to use sport to promote the country internationally.

For Zambia, the proposed visit could therefore go beyond studying infrastructure.

The ministry wants to understand the systems and partnerships behind Rwanda’s model and consider what could realistically be adapted to Zambia.

The two sides also discussed Rwanda’s Umuganda community service programme, which promotes community participation and environmental cleanliness.

The proposed cooperation comes as Zambia continues to look for ways to expand opportunities for young people, athletes and those working in the creative industries.

The planned benchmarking visit would give Zambian officials an opportunity to examine what Rwanda has done, what has worked and what lessons could fit the Zambian context.

The bigger opportunity may be to shift the conversation around sport from simply hosting competitions to building an industry around them, with links to tourism, entertainment, investment and jobs.