He will also visit a bottling plant and a commercial farm.- Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza/Statehouse 07-06-2017
President Edgar Lungu and the visiting President of Madagascar Hery Rajaonarimampianina today met at state house in Lusaka and discussed matters of peace and security of the two countries and the welfare of their people.
The two heads of state and their delegations met this afternoon for official talks at state house on the Island nation’s President’s first day of his state visit to Zambia.
President Rajaonarimampianina is visiting Zambia for the first time as head of state and chairperson of COMESA, a role he assured last year during the COMESA summit held in his country.
President Lungu noted during the meeting that African countries have remain poor despite being endowed with natural resources because of lack of cooperation and trade amongst themselves.
Mr. Lungu said it was important for countries on the continent to share best practices in various sector and work together for the good of their people.
African countries need to cooperate in the development and implementation of their respective National Development Plans as they face similar problems that requires similar solution, he said.
He emphasized on the need to encourage trade within member states of the COMESA region so that more jobs and wealth can be created for the people instead of creating jobs for people outside the region.
President Lungu also stated that as a member of the African Union Security council, Zambia is engaged in ensure peace and security in the region and commended Madagascar for embarking on the national reconciliation within their country.
The President said Zambia wants to see countries in the region such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Lesotho to remain peaceful and encouraged Madagascar to continue upholding peace their country and the region.
“ Zambia will support Madagascar in fostering peace and security and also urged Madagascar not to pull out of the Paris agreement on climate change, “ he said.
He regretted the effects of climate change which resulted in Madagascar being hit by the cyclone early this year.
Meanwhile the Republican President has directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba to dialogue with his counterpart from Madagascar to ensure that the general framework on the Joint Permanent Commission that will allow cooperation between the two countries is signed.
And the President of Madagascar Hery Rajaonarimampianina hailed Zambia for its role in ensuring peace and security in the region and the continent at large.
Mr. Rajaonarimampianina said his country will support Zambia to ensure that peace and security returns in countries that have conflicts.
He said Zambia and Madagascar shares the same vision on peace and security because the continent cannot develop if there is no peace and security.
The visiting President of Madagascar added that Zambia and Madagascar should work together to fight poverty by developing the agricultural sector to ensure that productivity is enhanced.
He however stated that as COMESA Chairperson he will encourage trade between and amongst countries within the region.
He further assured the Zambia President that construction of the COMESA headquarters will soon commence and thanked Zambia for hosting the region economic bloc secretariat in Lusaka.
He noted that no other country is most suited to host the secretariat as Zambia has shown willingness and capacity to continue hosting the secretariat.
President Rajaonarimampianina who is also COMESA chairperson is in the country on a two day state visit.
We can not cooperate with thieves who have by every means possible tried to silence attempts by ZCCM-IH to recover 2.4 billion US dollars from First Quatum. The Post was a casuality of this process, but you can not destroy the spirit of the Zambian people.
We are coming for you!
This is so true as it actually shows HH as an example. he doesnt want to cooperate yet he wants to rule Zambia.
You see the wisdom of our president?
Having said that, HH MUST kept locked until after 2021 – its simple the zambian wish not mine.
#Munone, HH is a threat to the continuation of the epic stealing that is currently on-going. Should HH or anyone else come to power, they will reveal what is now hidden.
The West and most percieved friends of Zambia have been very successful in dividing us in order to continue stealing our resources. WAKE UP you !mbecile
Uko!
There is lack of development simply because of African dictatorship & dictators like visionless Lungu.
All of a sudden visionless Lungu is crying fouls?
Lungu & PF bandits should immediately release HH & all political prisoners, otherwise kiss goodbye to development. Investors & funders from developed countries don’t like dictatorship & Lungu is crying foul because IMF refused PF to be given kaloba.
Let the presidential petition be heard.
The Skeleton Key
~206~
It is easier said than done. For me Africa can develop faster when it becomes United as one nation. But because of It’s current breed of leaders i don’t see that happening any time soon. It is not even on their agendas. They have all concentrated on what makes them being counted among the richest than how to improve the peoples lives. That’s why it’s easier for the west and east to come to African, easily get our resources and go to their respective countries to add more beauty to their lifestyles.
“President Lazy noted during the meeting that African countries have remain poor despite being endowed with natural resources because of lack of cooperation and trade amongst themselves.”
Lazy talking rubbish again
We Tongas want nothing apart from HH being president of Zambia.
No tonga would say that. Surely you are NOT Tonga..okay say “anus” in tonga if you’re …..
MR PRESIDENT SIR. AFRICA LACKS DEVELOPEMENT NOT BECAUSE OF LACK OF COOPERATION BUT BY PLUNDERING LEADERS. LOOK AT THE EMBARRASMENT WE HAVE HAD WITH JUST MAIZE WITH NEIGHBOURING MALAWI. IT IS SO DISGRACEFUL WHEN LEADERS ARE DEALING FOR THEIR OWN POCKETS. WHAT BENIFIT IN TAX EVEN DID ZAMBIA EARN FROM THE MAIZEGATE SCANDAL WITH MALAWI? NO PROPER INVESTIGATION BY ACC BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT DICTATES TO THEM AND IF THERE IS A VERDICT WHY HAS THE FINDINGS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED. WE NEED CLEAN HONEST LEADERS WHO WANT BETTERMENT FOR THE COUNTRY NOT FOR THEMSELVES.