The Great Lakes Regional Centre for Promotion of Good Governance Human Rights and Civic Education is expected to be officially launched in Zambia next week.
Zambia Permanent Representative to the Great Lakes Region Steke Mwale announced this at a press briefing in Lusaka today ahead of Third Summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (IC/GLR) to be hosted by Zambia on August 10, 2009.
Ambassador Mwale said 20 Heads of States among them Republican President Rupiah Banda will officially witness the launch of the centrer.
Mr. Mwale said a site for the center has already been located but could not give more details.He said this is because government was still is negotiating for the purchase price.
He also disclosed that 58 chief executive, who are civil servants have been attached to the Centre’s Secretariat to implement and domesticate issues for the region.
In the Pact of the GLR, it looks at peace and security, democracy and good governance, economic development and regional integration and humanitarian and social issues.
The Executive Secretariat International Conference on the GLR in collaboration with the Zambian government convenes the Third Summit and Heads of State in Lusaka, Zambia on August 10, 2009 to assess the progress made since Nairobi 2006.
The IC/GLR’s objective is finding a lasting solution to multiple and endemic problems facing the region and to create conducive environment and tools for security, stability, reconstruction and development.
On August 8, 2009 an IC/GLR Inter-ministerial meeting will convene before IC/GLR National coordinators meet on August 6, 2009.
Recently, Zambia’s foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande announced in Lusaka that Zambia will host the IC/GLR top among other things discuss and review developments and progress made in the region in the last two meetings in November 2004 and December 2006 in Tanzania and Kenya respectively.
And answering questions from Journalists, Mr. Mwale said the GLR is concerned on the economical and political tension is Zimbabwe.
Ambassador Mwale expressed hope that the 20 Heads of states coming to attend the Summit will address the Zimbabwe plight.
“The GRL is equally concerned about the economical and political tension in Zimbabwe, being a co-opted member of the GRL. But I hope the 20 Heads of states coming to attend the Summit will address the Zimbabwe plight because when you are not infected then you are affected,” Ambassador Mwale said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mwale has said the pact on Security, stability and Development in the GLR has set up a Special reconstruction and development (SRAD) Fund aimed at building up peace in the region.
The Fund is similar to that of the 1945 World War II that left nations devastated after the war but this Fund helped rebuild the region.
“The GLR is very serious in terms of peace building is concerned and this is why we have set up this Fund to help rebuild the region in terms of peace building,” Mr. Mwale said.
ZANIS
vyakulolavye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These are all useless initiatives that will not help Zambia. Bakaboke ni bakaboke, what can you tell them? Have you heard them argue – yah, they are bad!!
I see nothing wrong with this project. The future will show.
Lets hope these guys wont turn Zambia into another battle front int the greakt lakes confusion of wars and rebels…
This is welcome. A multinational office set up in any country brings benefits to that country.
I am very ignorant about this ‘Great Lakes’. Can someone please tell me which countries consist of this club? Thanks.
@ Peter
The great lakes consist of countries around lakes Tanganyika, Victoria, Kivu, Albert and Malawi. These are Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Congo DR, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia.
However, The region is known for its conflict between its major enthnic groups, Hutus and Tutsis of Burundi, Rwanda and Congo.
The region is also rich in Oil, Gas, Coltan, Diamond and other minerals, and the control of these resources, coupled with lack of democratic institutions have caused great havoc in the region.
I have worked for the great lakes region in zambia and i know they are doing some good work.