Vice President George Kunda has said Zambia is hopeful that stability and reconciliation will be restored to Ivory Coast following the official investiture of Alassane Quattara yesterday as President of the West African country.
Dr Quattara’s official installation as Ivorian President comes after five months of the country’s political unrest which was triggered by Former President Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to step down after last year’s elections.
Mr Kunda who witnessed the colourful ceremony in the Ivorian political capital Yamoussoukro said Zambia supported Dr Quattara by attending the event following an invitation from the Ivorian Government which had sent its Prime Minister earlier this year, to report progress made on that country’s democratic process.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS shortly before departure for home at Abidjan’s Houphouet Boiny International Airport last night after attending the installation of Dr Quattara, Mr Kunda who described the event as successful noted that Zambia’s good democratic credentials and the peace that it continued to enjoy had earned it recognition in Africa hence it is widely consulted on such matters.
The Vice President attended the ceremony yesterday alongside several eminent world leaders among them France’s President Nicholai Sarkorzy, United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki Moon, Senegalese leader Aboudalaye Wade, African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Jean Ping, Idriss Derby of Chad and Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
‘’We are regarded very highly in Africa because of peace we have been enjoying for 47 years hence we are consulted. We look forward to a stable Cote D’I Voire and reconciliation for the people’’, he said.
And the Vice President has said there is need for political stability in Africa as this is the only way the continent can progress adding that without peace there will be no investment contributing to high poverty levels.
Mr Kunda stressed that with peace and tranquility in Africa it will be easy to attract investment and secure the future of not only Zambia but the entire continent.
In this light, he urged leaders in the country and Africa to ensure that they promote peace to avoid conflicts.
‘’It is incumbent upon us leaders to preach peace to avoid conflicts,’’ he added.
On infrastructure development, the Vice President further spoke highly of the level of development in Ivory Coast particularly in the country’s political and commercial capitals, Yamoussoukro and Abidjan saying this was the move to be taken by African countries including Zambia.
Mr Kunda noted that the visit to Ivory Coast had given him and his entourage an opportunity to see the level of development in that country saying that Zambia should draw lessons from infrastructure development and cited the superior buildings in the West African countries.
He also acknowledged that Zambia was already engaged in infrastructure development as this was the only way to progress.
ZANIS
Peace is good.Now tame your MMD crack squard headed by William Banda and don’t steal PF’s victory this year or else Rupiah will go the Gbagbo way. How can we develop with rampant corruption in the Rupiah regime? That’s why we are changing govt this year.
VOTE MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA AND PF COME 2011.
BE PART OF THE BALLOT REVOLUTION.
Beware of small tribal parties which split votes.
Red Lip You and Bwezman are the next Gbaboe Mubarak should you refuse to handover power to President Michael Chilufya Sata.Mwa Mukolooooooooooooooo.Pa Bwatooooooooooooooooo
Yes there is peace in Zambia but it is under threat from id.iots like George Kunda and Rupiah Banda.Â
You are next Red Lip! You and that infamous kateka you call you president. This year you are losing, so we ask you to peacefully step aside and don’t rush into swearing in RB under the cover of darkness like you did last elections …