Their Imperial Highnesses Prince Kiko and Princes Akishino of Japan have arrived into the country.
The plane carrying the Royal couple touched down at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at about 12:35 hours, aboard a South African Airways Airline.
Their Imperial will visit the official residence of the Ambassador of Japan for a meeting with JICA officials in the country.
Later they will attend a dinner to be hosted for them by Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Kiyoshi Koinuma at his residence.
Tomorrow, Sunday , the couple are scheduled to travel to Livingstone and will among other activities visit Livingstone Museum and conduct a tour of the Victoria Falls.
On Monday their Imperial Highnesses are also expected to pay a courtesy call on Justice Minister and Secretary General of the Patriotic Front, Wynter Kabimba.
Their Imperial Highnesses are scheduled to leave the country on Wednesday 2nd July after visit Zambia’s President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.
Earlier in the week, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Zambia Counsellor Hideki Yamaji says the expected state visit of Prince Akishino, the second son of Japanese Emperor Akishino, and his wife Princess Kiko will strengthen the already existing diplomatic ties of Zambia and Japan.
Meanwile, Kabwata Cultural Village in Lusaka was yesterday afternoon a hive of activities when it hosted visiting Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko.
The visiting Japanese Royal couple were accompanied by Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkandu Luo to one of the country’s oldest cultural village.
The entourage arrived at the cultural village at 15-30 hours local time.
Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata, her Permanent Secretary Stephen Mwansa, Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Kiyoshi Koinuma, Zambia’s Ambassador to Japan Mwewa Chibesakunda, Lusaka Deputy Mayor Portifer Tembo, and other senior government officials from the Japanese and the host Zambian government received the visiting Royal couple.
They were entertained by a number of Zambia traditional dances and songs including the Likumbi Lyamize cultural group amid tight security by some patriotic Japanese nationals staying in Zambia.
Prince and Princess Akishino later toured stands that displayed a number of handcraft pieces and various chitenje materials at the Village.
The Royal couple which later watched a number of traditional dances in the main arena of the cultural village stayed on for an hour before they left.
Earlier Tourism and Arts Minister Kapata said Zambia and Japan enjoys warm and cordial relations that have continued to exist for many years since Zambia attained her independence in 1964.
Ms. Kapata further said Japan has assisted the Zambian government in key sectors such as health among others.
She cited the Children hospital that was constructed at the University Teaching Hospital as a gift to the Zambian government as part of cementing the bilateral ties between the two countries.
The Minister commended the Japanese Royal couple for choosing to visit Kabwata Cultural Village and urged it to consider visiting other rich tourism heritage sites like the Mighty Victoria Falls when they visit the tourist capital, Livingstone tomorrow.
“I invite Their Imperial Highnesses to explore Zambia and visit the Mighty Victoria Falls including others tourism sites as you go to Livingstone tomorrow.
“ Thank-you very much for choosing Kabwata Cultural Village and l hope you have enjoyed our rich cultural heritage here at the Village. Feel welcome to Zambia, “ Ms. Kapata said.
The Minister said the frequent high profile goodwill visits of leaders from other countries to Zambia are good for the country.
She stated that the recent visit of the Chinese Vice President Dr. Li Yuanchao and the coming of the prince and his wife was good for Zambia especially as the country commemorate the 50 independence jubilee.
The Zambian government has invited the Prince and Princess to be part of the commemoration of this historic occasion and celebration of the Jubilee year.
Prince Akishino 48, and his wife arrived in the country yesterday afternoon at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport aboard a South African plane.
Their Imperial Highnesses are scheduled to leave the country on Wednesday 2nd July and proceed to neigbouring, Tanzania for other important agenda/s.
During their tour of duty in Zambia, the royal couple will call on Acting President Wynter Kabimba, former first republican president Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, tour Livingstone and attend a reception for the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Zambia.
The Royal Couple will also among other programs engage with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) officials in Zambia.
Meanwhile, Japan has so far spent about K16 million on Japanese cultural grant aid projects in various sectors in Zambia.
The grant has been used to support sectors such as the agriculture, education, transport, and health and infrastructure development, water and sanitation programs and on poverty reduction programmes in rural areas.
And the old man chose this month when he is suppose to be at a leaders summit, attend court, welcome visitors like the Japanese who genuinely helped our schools via JICA back in the day to take a working holiday in Israel. Only a fo0l would believe this! !
And “Kicking the bucket ” too!!
@ Jay Jay- Do you really think there are people on this blog who believes that Sata is on well planned working holiday? Unless those with intellectual poverty. Sata collapsed at State House and was quickly taken to South Africa and later to Israel. He is currently undergoing serious treatment in the intensive care unit. It is sad that things happened with a difficult week ahead- court cases, AU meeting, Japanese arrival- and Sad that Israel because of good health services in cancer treatment and other cocktail of diseases was chosen despite its outgoing leader trekking to the US.
Poor Sata is really missing out- its better to hide than embarrass your self with all the appointments which includes court cases, AU meeting, Japanese arrival… Guy Scott said he will come when he is ready- I wish he comes back in 2050.
is every comment supposed to be to be about the president and the pf? even when reading an article talking about football. Zambians? i wonder.
Yes, as its this government’s incompetence that is slowing down everything. ..you have an sick absentee predident, a veep who can’t act as a president, a cabinet that is filled to the rafters with useless deadwood and empty tins. An acting president who is a party SG acting as head of government.
Please give me 10 reasons why I shouldn’t blame these empty tins?
I’m waiting or else wake up! !
*….a sick absentee predident. …
And you see nothing wrong with this picture…. a high profile visitors being welcomed by a mere minister of chiefs? Protocol. …. Its this selfsame reason we do not get visitors coming to Zambia anymore.
Wake up and critically analyse issues use that matter between your ears!!
you’re very right!Just by the heading,i knew it wii be diverted to the president and PF,ifyabupubafye daily,aaah!!
Mukafwa nechikonko
What is wrong with our reporting.KK is no longer our president but 1st republican president.
And Winter should be recognised as acting president.
Why coming this time whn we r mourning our President. Why where u not coming “All those day”.
I beliv u HATED OUR SATA since he is gone u r now able to come…..!!!
I think you might have the order of the names wrong LT. : Akishino is the prince and Kiko is the princess.
I thought it is Princess Kiko and Prince Akishino, all the best !
Uhm! The plane carrying the Rpyal couple was aboard a South African Airways Plane! They came on two planes! Incredible!
Ba Jay Jay just shut up. We know we have the hatred as equal as that of the devil himself. You will never say anything good about Sata. You think the prince and princess from Japan never knew that Sata is away? This is what Sata has done and doing: link 8000, pave2000, L400, Chiawa bridge, new hospitals, Robert Makasa and Palabana universities and more, upgrading of Levy hospital, building of schools, new airports especially Kenneth Kaunda and Harry Nkumbula, bumper harvest, Chingola-Kitwe dual carriageway, Jimbe road etc. They are not waiting for the elections to approach to build one or two roads. Zambia Railways viable, ZAMTEL viable. Since the PF takeover, we have hosted Cosafa games, Youth swimming games, won Alcon, been visited by high profile world leaders,
Ignore Jay Jay li T sana!
my brother tell them these tonga fools will never appreciate .they are full of jealous .tell them that there ka small evil god will never be president
Chi Jay jay lifuutu….
hahaha! Tu PF utuli four. This is the highest number of PF supporters I have seen in a loooong time. Keep it up. Morons.
The heading is wrong.
Everything Zedians do is dead wrong.
They were net by president Luo since we have too many of them in pf.
This heading is incorrect…
Iincorrect??Prince Kiko and Princes Akishino
Correct? ??Prince Akishino and Princes Kiko