President Rupiah Banda is tomorrow expected in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s capital city, Kinshasa to join several other invited Heads of State and notable guests to commemorate the 50th Independence anniversary for that country. The Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire, a vast country endowed with immense economic resources, gained its independence from Belgium on June 30th 1960.
President Banda has not only been invited in his capacity as Chairperson for the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region-ICGLR, but also as a member of the Southern African Development Community-SADC, COMESA and indeed as a neighbouring Head of State.
Zambia’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Maybin Mubanga told ZANIS in an interview that President Banda is expected to arrive in that country around 09 hours. Mr. Mubanga said President Banda will be accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, Chief of Protocol Bob Samakai and other government officials.
Mr. Mubanga explained that Zambia played a significant role in the peace process for the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo saying peace in that country is cardinal for the enhancement of trade between the two countries. He noted that the 50th Independence anniversary and relative peace that the Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing have a big positive impact on Zambia especially that the country shares the longest border with Zambia.
He said preparations for the arrival of the President have been completed adding that that it is exciting to have President Banda in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mubanga has appealed to Zambians to guard the peace that the country is enjoying, jealously.
He said it is important for Zambians to draw an example from the Democratic Republic of Congo that instability derails development.
He advised Zambians to allow President Banda run the affairs of the nation without unnecessary interference.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is now recovering from a series of civil strife which claimed millions of lives either as a direct result of fighting or because of disease and malnutrition.
Current President Joseph Kabila became President of the Democratic Republic of Congo when his father Laurent was assassinated in 2001.
He was later elected President to rule the vast country in a historical Presidential first democratic election in 2006 to bring a new era of stability after years of war and chaos.
Over 20 heads of States have been invited to witness the historical event.
The King of Belgium and former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa are among the invited guests who have already arrived in DRC.
Others expected are Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, His Majesty King Mswati, Uganda President Yoweri Mseveni and Rwandan President Paul Kagame among others.
Meanwhile, President Kabila today unveiled a statue for the first President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kasavubu who ruled the country from 1960 to 1965.
The emotional ceremony was witnessed by the late President’s family who were led by his first daughter. After unveiling the statue, President Kabila who looked very touched went round greeting the crowd much to the excitement of hundreds of people who witnessed the event.
The celebration mood is high in the capital Kinshasa as all streets have been decorated with this country’s flags and posters alongside other flags for invited countries in the region and abroad
ZANIS
Kamwendo Munjila, no time to solve problems at home.
Happy celebration, Mr president!
hey,truly this man travels a lot eh?
zambian aviation minister…bon voyage
President Banda has not only been invited in his capacity as
1. Chairperson for the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region-ICGLR, but also as a
2. member of the Southern African Development Community-SADC,
3. <COMESA and indeed as a neighbouring
4. Head of State.
Knowing Alabee, he is scheming separate trips for each title!!
The journey to Namibia was a State visit at the invitation of President Hipikifunye Pohamba. He counld not send the VP. A VP can not go for a State visit. The journey to DRC is the 50th Anniversary of Congo’s independence. It is a major event and the President could not riggle out of it without appearing to snub our Congolese neighbours. Remember our longest border is with Congo starting from Mpulungu, through Kaputa, Chienge, Mwense, Mansa, Mkushi, Ndola, Mufulira, Kasumbalesa and Solwezi. You can’t ignore such a neighbour if you want to ensure peace for your country. By the way please continue insulting. I suppose it makes you feel so brave.
has this man ever turned down an invitation? I bet they ask to be invited!
hahaha!!! # 5 thats just brilliantly funny!!!!
and this is true. there is a zambian hooker in sandton who claims to be Rupia’s woman, she claims he is so mad about her, she further claims that he offers 10000rand each time he meets her
#9 In what capacity do you know that particular woman?
Independence celebrations…………………… Iyo kwena twasangwako. Bon voyage ‘Mr Holiday is forever’ don’t forget to bring us some cinkondya and sombesamaki. Safe flight.
Those in corridors of power i have a question. Does Goerge get allowances for acting as President everytime Mr Holiday is forever goes out?
Whatever! (word press, this is a legit comment. Some of us can express ourselves with one word)
Banda is scare to be in Zambia because there are just too many pressing matters to attend to i.e. sorting out bouncing cheques by minister, disciplining triggerhappy ministers, answering to “slip of the tongue boobles – dont need donors’ help”, hearing what Mpombo is reaving, and worst of all the PACT’s growth from strength to strength.
Vasco Da Banda!!
National issues and international invitations are all important, but P1 i think is national issues, when is this man going to attend to national issues before they get worse? HELP PLEASE!:)
If this man was travelling on the scheduled flights like some us or on a frequent flyer programme, he would have clocked Gold Class or even Platinum Class on any airline (and he could have been using the airmiles after he leaves the presidency! However, I suppose the presidential jet has clocked so many miles that by October, 2011, it would have been depreciated to below nominal value! Then it can be sold to the person to holder- RB!
Well, I have received a letter today. May be I can invite Nyamasoya to the grand opening of the envelope.
#14 Pact yakuthi? You dont even have a manifesto up to now and you say you are going from strength to strength? Half of you are against the draft constitution and the other half is telling people how to make submission and you think you are getting stronger? Dream on. In case some of you did not do geography, Zambia shares a long border with the DRC. It would be highly unusual indeed if RB did not attend the 50th independence of DRC especially given the turmoil that has engulfed the country in the past and continues apace in certain regions of the country. It is in our best interest to support the DRC as it tries to turn itself around. Last year, Zambia earned more than $1 billion in trade with the DRC so it is proper for RB to be present at these celebrations.
I bet when RB is alone he pinches himself, he can’t believe he is the the minister of Travel and Tourism oh my bad, the President of Zambia. Arrivederci! RB enjoy yourself.;)
What we should be asking is how long the president will be in Kinshasa for. If he is away for one day only, I dont see why we have to play the same old broken record again and again.
Sansakuwa.
My heart real goes out to you,you re trully doing yr best.
How many presidents came for our independence celebrations; im sure a number of them were invited
what difference does it make whether he’s away for a day or a year,even his supporters are running out of answers now,the other one says a VP cannot attend a function on behalf of the president,iliko bad
RB is suffering from old age travelism….he did not travel for the 20 years he was at his farm. But now he has a chance to do so….go go kamwendo munjila but we will not mourn you when you fall from air. WACHILAMO FYE …:)>-:)>-
This African Head of states are heartless, the one trow a party for some thing he doesn’t know and call his buddies he has been looting the country with to come celebrate. Go see the street of Kinshasa,shame… your your traveller president must be ashamed to attend such ceremony, where is the head of state of Ghana, USA.RSA,Nigeria etc. shame … Ask Barrack Obama why he wouldn’t attend such a ceremony?
Let them party while the people are going hungry and children dying of famine in countries where milk and honey are supposed to be flowing. They will reap some days the result of their wickedness.
RB is barely in the country, when does he do his work! No wonder the country is in a mess!
Ok The Impostor of my name and Picture has now gone out of line and it is time to act. I have let him be my impostor for a while because he was towing the party lines. But he has committed two sins. 1) Attack Senior Citizen 2) Attack our president. Anyway It looks like Zambians here in the USA are good at being impostors. Anyway am here for a short course which ends next week and am going back to my base station in South Africa. I will not blog till then. So treat the current MMD Chief Bootlicker as an impostor until you see the real one in mid July blogging with a South African Flag.
Besides check ,my past posts from South Africa. I write Bootlicker as one word as opposed to this imposter
From Congo he is going to be invited by Zuma to watch Argetina vs Germany on saturday.How many other Presidents attend our independence nonsense?
I thought he should be recuperating from a knee something,he is less than a week in the country
Whats wrong with this man,i think the wife must be very frustrated he cant even perfom his duties at home always on air,we have an ambassador there who can represent us if this ambassador is dull we have his foreign affaires minister kabinga pande but RB cant think all these,awee he needs prayers we’re tired with these endless trips.am sure in his office there so many pending files to be signed please traditional leaders talk to this man before he finishes our money its like he has no advisors.awe fyacilamo umuntu talatusha na bwinobwino from namibia there he is palwendo.
happyanniversary to RD CONGO.zeian u so jelous guys..
28
We don’t care!
Ask you grandfather Senior citizen how many I.D’s he uses on Zambian blogs.
Oh sorry ask him about Ba Joze, Chekwe and Muzo.
These are the latest renditions of sadness.
We can only PRAY that the challenger jet has missed a service or two.
Maybe there is a congo rebel itching to fire his shoulder launched missile while drunk.
The country is in a mess because RB is always travelling with no time to sort out issues at home. So what do you expect from the poor people of zambia. It is very shameful, RB with luck of wisdom and knowledge he would say donors are blackmailing zed. RB is being influenced by chiluba, as he chiluba is the one who stole donor money and now he has taught RB to do the same. Donors keep your taxpayers money in your countries. Donors you meant well for zed.
:-?:-\”:-w Now listen hear RB. Its time to go…
Iwe chi #19, just shut the f.uc.k off! You freeloader, good for nothing critic. Just like your name sansakuwa mu chimbuzi.
Why is he always hunting for the unknown. cant he put himself down and think for once. the nation needs thinkers and tourists. why this rubbish of wanting to be seen everywhere. Anyway, he is trying to capitalize on tax payers’ money to explore the world. Hope he discovers something like Vas co dagama did.
he has become a tourist in his own country, what a shame. the reason they invite him time and again is because they know he has no time to think. he can’t even think to turn them down. What a voyager moving from one toilet to another searching for a better one that does not exist. the time you are wasting looking for a cleaner one you would have made your own clean and make yourself comfortable than always admiring the one for your neighbor which is equivalent to yours in the actual sense.
Numba 6, you dont know wat your talking about!dull