The lyrics from a chart busting Bob Marley song, “until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regards to race…” inspired by a 1963 speech to the UN by Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia still ring true to this day in the ears of many.
The song remains enchanting today as it was as a result of the deep message it carries that cuts across gender, religious and racial divides, but then you may ask, why start a story with His Majesty Haile Selassie’s wisdom?
In 1965, the great Emperor stepped onto Zambian soil on a three day State Visit hosted by President Kenneth Kaunda just a year after independence from Britain.
Emperor Selassie opened the door to many eminent guests that would grace Zambian back in the day.
Relations between the two nations—Ethiopia and Zambia—remained warm bolstered by their leaders continental commitment to liberation and their collective affinity to equal rights for all.
Conversely, Dr Kaunda was accorded a State Visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1970.
Since then, visits between heads of states of the two great African countries became dear.
Forty seven years after Dr Kaunda’s State Visit to Ethiopia, however, what seemed like a diplomatic relationship long forgotten has been rekindled by President Edgar Lungu.
President Lungu becomes the first post-independence Zambian leader to host an Ethiopian head of state in the name of Mr. Hailemariam Desalergn after Dr Kaunda.
The state visit highly anticipated by media locally and abroad was set and executed between March 28 and March 31, dates that shall clearly remain etched on many Zambians minds and recorded as ‘significant’ when the history of Zambia’s diplomacy under President Lungu is written.
This is not because President Lungu broke a ‘47 year old relationship jinx’ by hosting his Excellency the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Mr Desalergn. It is important because it shows Zambia as a global player.
It’s in my view because Prime Minister Desalergn’s visit is one of the many that is becoming a common positive occurrence in Zambia.
If your perception is average, you take these visits for granted.
Critics forget that after the exit of Dr Kaunda, Zambia’s diplomacy dipped down to levels were the country was perhaps referred to mostly when there was crisis, a shortage of bathing soap or cooking oil.
Today, Africa’s second largest copper producer (Zambia) under President Lungu, a lawyer turned politician, has become a focal continental point of reference.
Steady democracy and violent-free elections top the agenda of international discussions when Zambia is referred to, even though no nation is perfect.
Zambia according to the IMF is a preferred international investment destination for many global business leaders.
It is associated to political stability, which begets investment, a budding democracy, a country and President (Edgar Lungu) that respects the rule of law. Very crucial ingredients for a greater investments drive.
President Lungu himself, emerging out of two sound election victories in 2015 and 2016, is also seen by colleagues and critics alike, as a modern time African leader that deserves their time and attention according to pundits.
As global leaders flood the Edgar Lungu Presidential Court, the international media spot-light has in turn harshly increased onto Zambia in a remarkably positive way.
Pundits are asking, where Zambia is? Who Edgar Lungu is? Including what does it take to do business with Zambia?
Prime Minister Desalergn is used here merely as a positive example of a greater good picture of what is happening in Zambia’s Economic Diplomacy under President Lungu, but examples abound.
In February 2016, we saw President Lungu score another first yet again when he became the first Zambian leader to be invited to the Vatican by the Holy Father Pope Francis.
His pilgrimage with wife Esther Nyawa Lungu, both devout Christians was described as a “major diplomatic religious coup” for Zambia.
Pundits believe the seemingly simple gesture went leaps and bounds in as far as uniting Zambians under the umbrella of Christianity and boosting unity is concerned.
This is largely because the Pope is the ‘Rock Star’ of Christianity, the religion of more than four million Zambians, and definitely a media icon (the Pope) of unquantified proportions—what he touches the, world sees forever.
President Lungu’s Holy See visit was followed by yet another invitation to France by President Francois Hollande, a ground-breaker that enhanced France-Zambia relations after a long dry spell.
These visits are symbolically and diplomatically crucial to Zambia as President Lungu personally pushes Zambia up the proverbial food chain of the global diplomatic map in my view.
At the time I did the ‘Holly See-Zambia’ or indeed ‘Edgar Lungu-Pope Francis’ analysis, only six Catholic Popes on record had held meetings with only twelve US Presidents since 1919.
Mr Lungu on the other hand became the first Zambian President, by invitation to break bread and wine with the Pope in 50 years of Zambia-Vatican relations.
In Paris, President Lungu became the second Zambian leader to enjoy an Official Visit at the Élysées Palace after President Frederick Chiluba in 1992.
As I have said in the past and I say again, for us as diplomats, every visit by President Lungu abroad, and that of other heads of states visiting Zambia is a diplomatic coup.
These visits only positively re-enforce Zambia’s image abroad and that of President Lungu.
Is it not the great thinker Vince Lombardi who told us, “the price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand?” Is that what President Lungu is doing as the Chief Diplomat?
Investors, multi-lateral and bi-lateral, put their money on what they can see and measure. Zambia and President Lungu are visible and measurable.
Of course critics abound and argue that it is expensive to host and travel, but not doing so in my view is worse. It’s better to have a sketchy plan than no plan at all.
Tanzanians today have Zambia etched in their memories because, President John Pombe Magufuli made out his first invitation card as head of state, in Edgar Lungu’s name.
The same is the case with South Africa, Botswana, Ghana, Swaziland, Kenya, Mozambique, Angola, Egypt, Togo etc., whose leaders have either hosted President Lungu and Zambia or ever been hosted by President Lungu and Zambia. The que today is long.
The fact that Presidents are willing to spend more than one night in Zambia also signifies that the country has passed the global security test as a peaceful country with no terror red flags. The economic diplomacy die, in this case has been well cast.
The next step is to translate the economic diplomacy seed into real GDP that must help slash poverty, as per Edgar Lungu pledge.
As chief diplomat, President Lungu has set the tone, walked the walk and talked the talk.
It is up to the technocrats to translate the diplomacy good-will into money, for a good seed dies if not well nurtured.
Prime Minister Desarlegn may leave Zambia with great memories and in his judgement there may be no partiality to borrow Emperor Selassie words but the truth is Zambia’s economic diplomacy could only rise now.
In the United States, we saw BO or the man known as Barak Obama travel to an estimated 58 countries during his two terms in order to push for economic diplomacy while David Cameron closed his miles at 42 countries.
Zambia and Ethiopia signed trade agreements during this visit which is a great start.
In the future the two friendly countries might even discuss the need or no need for VISA requirements into the AU HQ because presently believe all African countries need to apply for VISA’s to enter Ethiopia, save for Kenya.
Free movement of goods and services could be the tete a tete between President Lungu and Prime Minister Desarlegn.
Perhaps a great way to end this missive is through an Emperor Haile Selassie inspired Bob Marley lyric that says, “that until that day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship, rule of international morality Will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained …”
Economic diplomacy strides are limitless between these two countries and indeed several others President Lungu intends to visit in future, as he reshapes Zambia politics and diplomacy during his first full five year term.
This article was authored by Mr Anthony Mukwita, the Charge d’ Affaires at the embassy of Zambia in Sweden. Mr Mukwita is a former Managing Director of Zambia Daily Mail, a first prize winner of the World Bank ‘Best Investigative Journalism award’ and author of the best-selling book ‘Against all Odds-President Edgar Lungu’s Rough Journey to State House.’ He holds a Master’s Degree in Professional Communications with distinctions and has written widely locally and internationally. He writes in his own capacity.
Mxxm…..some April Fool day article….Dont take Antony Serious
Does Mukwita ever perform his diplomatic duties? The chap is such a bootlicker!
@Samba I read the article and I said to myself ‘who has written this very biased article’ then I see Anthony Mukwita at the end! I say to myself NO WONDER!
He is killing his people in his Ethiopia.
When I read first paragraph, I concluded its written by a PF bootlicker, it could be Mwamba, that other
Kikiki this mukwita Anton is useless, the chap lacks data even when he claims to be a journalist, surely soap, bunga and cooking oil was not post kaunda but in kk’s unip era, the id iot has forgotten that he first tasted an apple during chiluba’s reign. If there is a Zambian president who was visited by a lot of heads of state it’s kk, but on the economic front he was so dull just like lulu, maybe too much visits makes one lose focus.
At his age Mukwita could never have tasted an apple for the first time during Chiluba’s era. Mukwita was enjoying apple’s before the economic woes which started in the middle or late 70s. This was a time of plenty. This was a time when HH was educated freely from grade 1 to University. Despite his short comings, there many years of good things too during KK’s reign.
This tells me how naive you are in Zambian socio-economic-political history. Please do some research before posting responses because there are bloggers who may no more than you know. It is not only being critical for the sake of it, but being critically factual and thruthful.
Soap, bunga and cooking oil shortages were kk’s middle names iwe ka mukwita.
Political Flatulence, the issue Mukwita is addressing is not about food shortages during KK’s time, but what the visits by foreign Presidents entail in terms of how positively Zambia is perceived internationally. You answering a wrong question.
That is why UPND people always mis-read things. No wonder they claim to have won when they clearly lost. Failure to comprehend simple facts!!!!
What breaking of jinx when as a matter of fact lungu is a jinx on this country. Since he illegally took over everything is falling apart. Please stop writing these essays to lick his behind. If you are after job then go talk to him directly in state house. Have some integrity
Mukwiti head is literally up lungus backside. It is amazing what poverty can do. This is why Zambia has gone to dogs. When an illegal president employs cadres they will always sing praises and never constructively disagree with some of decisions the drunk rat makes. This country is a goner
ECL is hosting and being hosted in the diplomatic circles and all can do is wish it was HH. But alas, for you and UPND it will only be wishes and no reality. For Lungu it is a reality of being a President of Zambia. like him or not, he is and will remain Zambian President until his mandate is done. Unfortunately for you and your HH, it will be all pain and crying foul. You will continue to kiss dust, until you know that Zambians are repelled by tribal and regional politics and hence, HH will never rule this country. That is how the cookie crumbles NEZ!!!!!
This is really breaking the diplomatic jinx of two appalling leaders of Zambia and Ethiopia. The author is simply paying homage to his god (Lungu) for a job he holds. Mukwita thinks both Zambians and Ethiopians are oblivious to the fact that KK and Emperor Haile Selassie were two great leaders of Africa. We do not buy the narrative of exchanging oppressors to liberators as that of Lungu and Dessarlegn. The Ethiopian leader has incarcerated the Oromo people for years and many have fled Ethiopia. Dessarlegn does not allow political gatherings in Ethiopia so is Lungu in Zambia. The last elections in Ethiopia was a one man show and Lungu manipulated elections in Zambia. Mukwita write something Zambians can read, your article is as worthless as fake news is deleted.
Yaba iwe Mukwita, please don’t rub it into them, I mean the UPNDonkeys. Look you are making them cry ifilamba early in the morning.
Instead rub it into terrible mule arse. Terrible mule like it to much
When Haile Selassie was overthrown by the military, Ethiopia was ruled by military junta such as Mengistu Haile Mariam. These were brutal characters and led Ethiopia into history books with millions dying of hunger. Did you expect Zambia to be associated with such brutal dictators? Mukwita is such a c^nt.
By God’s grace Zambia is becoming centre of the continent & eventually of the world. World leaders who know have already recognised this. God is always working with & through nations that have openly accepted and embraced Him. The Lord has already granted His promise in Psalms 23 to Zambia. Come regional drought, global economic melt down, etc. Zambia is protected & blessed. Let’s all embrace the favour & blessings God is giving Zambia & worship & praise Him like never before. God Bless Zambia!
You are a stu.pid f.ool. Open your eyes.
Haters will Hate
A frog can wear lipstick but it will Never win a Human being a beauty contest. Lungu can host as many Heads of State as he wants but that will Never legitimize his Presidency. He will remain a Vote Thieving President until the Petition is heard and he is declared the Winner and duly elected President by the Court. Lungu should stop fooling himself becoz he will Never be recognized as a Legitimate President until the Petition processes are completed. Lungu needs to prove in Court that he won the 2016 Elections fairly and genuinely. Lungu can’t do this becoz evidence abounds that HH won the Election but Lungu stole it and is clinging to power illegally.#Let the Petition be heard in Court.
Hazaluza Hagain, camubaba!
The article is so poorly written. Are you sure this is Mukwita ba Lt? With such trash grammar?
When i was reading the article i thought it was Amos Chanda , Presidents Aid.. Then i saw Anthony Mukwita, the Charge d’ Affaires at the embassy of Zambia in Sweden.,, I realised thats why H.E Edgar Lungu was so happy about the book written of him, then i thought that’s why some of those so called facts are so baised in that book of his..
Why are some people ex pecting a political appointee to miraculously produce an objective article or book? As if they themselves would do so. He has to feather his nest. How many journalists have we lost to the arselicking Industry? Just about all of them. Richard Sakala, Chanda Chimba, Fred Mmembe, Amos Chanda, please bloggers add some more