President Lungu’s directive that Zambia's shopping malls stock and sell local products is good intentioned, but  it can spur unintended effects if not implemented within an inclusive framework. The Zambian government  must address factors that make Zambian products less attractive to local consumers or fail to reach the local mall shelves. It should recognize that based on comparative advantage, not all products manufactured in Zambia are meant for the Zambian market. An emotional rather than scientific implementation might send negative product profiling signals to other producers eyeing the Zambian market, eventually depriving Zambians of essential goods. How Lungu’s government will walk this delicate tightrope will be of interest to the wider Africa.