Tuesday, March 19, 2024

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson commends Zambia’s regional peace efforts

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US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has commended Zambia’s efforts in fostering peace and security in the region. Mr. Tillerson has also hailed Zambia’s democratic credentials which have been witnessed smooth transitions resulting in the country’s vision for achieving broad economic growth.

In his congratulatory message of Zambia’s 53rd Independence Day Celebrations, Mr. Tillerson says over the last 53 years, Zambia has continued with its development as a nation that shares many common values and interests with the United States.

“We applaud your history of democracy and democratic transitions and vision for achieving broad economic growth. On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, congratulations to the people of Zambia as you celebrate the 53rd anniversary of your nation’s independence.

“Over the last 53 years, we have seen Zambia’s continued development as a nation that shares many common values and interests with the United States. Zambia continues to be a strong regional leader in fostering peace and security,” Mr. Tillerson said in a statement released on the Department of State website.

Mr. Tillerson has further hailed Zambia’s remarkable strides in fighting HIV/AIDS in the country. He said Zambia’s future rests on continued advancement in all of these areas, including constructive dialogue, reconciliation, and respect for due process and civil rights. He says the United States stands as a ready partner with the Zambian people in its developmental agenda.

In another development, Georgetown University Professor Mark Vlasic has also sent a congratulatory message to the Embassy of Zambia in Washington D.C. on Zambia’s Independence Day.
Meanwhile, Zambians across the US have held flag-raising ceremonies to celebrate the country’s 53rd Independence Day Celebrations.

In Chicago, the Zambia Heritage Association of Chicago (ZHAC) organized the flag raising Ceremony on the Eve of the Independence Day at Chicago City Hall. ZHAC Vice President Ireen Nyaikola White noted that Zambia is one of the most peaceful countries in the world and thanked the City authorities for allowing the association to raise the Zambian flag at City Hall. Ms. Nyaikola-White said ZHAC will on Saturday, October 28, 2017 honour senior members of the community and observe a moment of silence in remembrance of all Zambians who have died in the diaspora. While the association chairperson Tamiwe Helen Sichinga also thanked Zambia’s Charge’ D’Affaires Joseph Chilaiyza for gracing this year’s Independence celebrations in Chicago.

In his independence message, Mr. Chilaizya urged the Zambian community to reflect on the country’s blessings of peace and stability that Zambia has enjoyed over the years.

“As Zambia commemorates its 53rd Independence Anniversary, we reflect on the blessings of peace and stability that our country has enjoyed and give thanks to God for the endowment of natural resources he has given for our prosperity.

“We reflect on the sacrifices the founding fathers and mothers made to attain this independence and freedom that we usually take for granted. We reflect on their dream for a prosperous and free country based on strong Christian and Zambian values of mutual respect, love, peace and good neighborliness, unity, equality for all regardless of ethnicity, religion, and gender.

“On the eve of our Independence Day which is also the United Nations Day, we feel proud to raise our flag as a symbol of this partnership for freedom with the land of the free-the United States of America,” Mr. Chilaizya said.

28 COMMENTS

  1. MMM THIS IS THE ONLY NEWS WEBSITE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD THAT HAS THIS ARTICLE – DOES MR REX TILLERSON KNOW ABOUT IT ?

    • ZAMBIA HAS ACHIEVED A LOT AS COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN AFRICA AND OTHER CONTINENTS, POLITICALLY, SOCIALLY, ETC, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE ACHIEVED VERY LITTLE INDUSTRIALLY FOR ECONOMIC VIABILITY. HOWEVER, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT ZAMBIA SPENT MOST OF ITS RESOURCE (HUMAN, MONETARY, MATERIAL, ETC) IN HELPING TO LIBERATE ALL THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN COUNTRIES INCLUDING THOSE THAT WERE INDEPENDENT BUT SIMPLY MISMANAGING THEIR INDEPENDENCE, SUCH AS ZAIRE (OR DR CONGO). WE SHOULD NOT BE BRINGING OURSELVES DOWN JUST BECAUSE NON-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS BEING CORRECTED NOW. ZAMBI, AFTER 10 YEARS WILL BE UNRECOGNISABLE THE WAY IT WILL DEVELOP. THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS BEING LED TO FOSTER THE ENVISAGED DEVELOPMENT. LET’S BE PROUD OF OURSELVES FOR THE PEACE AND POLITICAL STABILITY OF OUR COUNTRY. WE ARE A…

    • …LET’S BE PROUD OF OURSELVES FOR THE PEACE AND POLITICAL STABILITY OF OUR COUNTRY. WE ARE A PEACE-LOVING NATION AND THAT CAN NEVER BE OVER-EMPHASISED.

  2. I don’t wanna hear about Zambia’s regional peace , lets talk of the 70% of Zambians living in substandard housing and filthy neighborhoods.

  3. Why would the secretary of state issue a statement after the PRESIDENT of the USA congratulated ZAMBIA.

    PROTOCAL does not see that happen….its all about the obsession of ECL with recognition
    Amos Chanda press release

    • Your negative comments all originate from the fact that you expected doom for the country and people would revolt against their government-something you religiously believed when you were told by the 1d.i.otic opposition leaders because you don’t support the PF. The Americans have a complex and effective intelligence system that adequately informs their leaders, do you think they are not aware of the tribalism brewing in Africa?? Do you think they are not aware of the regime change agenda at play?? They know fully about the disgruntled and tribalistic opposition that tried to seize power and their sponsors’ role in the whole fiasco, and how they have turned to fake media to discredit the government. Remember, Trump is also a victim of fake news attacks!!

  4. Rex Tillerson is one of the most brilliant international politicians in the world today. The man is a true diplomat that all diplomats should try to emulate. Well accomplished, well travelled, well read with a CV second to non. The former CEO of One of the largest oil firms in the world. For Zambia to get a congratulatory message from such an esteemed US Secretary of State is an honour beyond words.

    • but is this article true ? No-one can find his congratulatory message anywhere on the web – surely if he did congratulate us it would be in the news elsewhere in the world and not just of this website ?????????????

  5. Any normal functioning adult who has been following events in Zambia in recent couple of years will NOT take this ‘message’ from Rex Tillerson at face value.
    I am a Tax payer in a Country that gives mother Zambia loans. Lungu corruptly ACQUIRED over K21 million (rebased kwacha) in 12 months of his Presidency, and he paid ZERO tax from that. His silence is loud and clear. Is that commendable???
    PF Govt knowingly paid US$ 1 million for each Fire Truck worth only a third of that. The change has since disappeared. Is that commendable???.
    Meanwhile, mothers are giving birth ON THE FLOOR like animals in our hospitals. Is that commendable??? …..We now have outbreaks of cholera and some of your brothers and sisters, cousins, friends etc.. are already dying just as rain season starts. Is…

    • The difference is you base your picture of what is happening in the country on your source of information: watchdog, upnd media, and all those fake media outlets. Rex bases his on professional intel from a renowned intelligence system that has existed for close to 3 centuries now and has proved itself repeatedly on a global scale. Look at your comments: Mothers are giving birth on the floor…where??? Lusaka which has the highest population now has 5 fully functional modern level one hospitals which has seen referrals to UTH drop by over 78% and increasing. Cholera?? 1 contaminated borehole sis this, the situation has been contained and controlled by the Health Ministry…WHICH COUNTRY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT????

    • Zambian Citizen – There is a clique of Zambians who have just grown to become prophets of doom. They want to usurp power by any means possible – and good developmental news for the country is something that they do not like even a bit. Forward thinking Zambians who love their country need to stand firm against these evil forces.

    • @Zambian Citizen, @abilima,
      I cannot believe you are trying to defend the indefensible. Shocking!
      You ask WHICH COUNTRY AM I TALKING ABOUT???
      Please google:- “ Mothers giving birth on the floor in Zambia” and take your pick.

      “One contaminated borehole”? Are you serious?
      Google: – “Cholera in Zambia 2017” and take your pick.

      Are you now going to say Google is pro UPND or something as barmy as that since you seem so asphyxiated with partisan politics and you cannot see beyond that?

      And are you seriously trying to say Rex Tillerson’s ‘professional intel’ can justify Lungu’s corruptly acquired K21 million in 12 months of his Presidency Tax-free? Or perhaps you are trying to say he can justify why Zambian Govt knowingly paid THREE times the cost of each Fire Truck, and the…

    • Cont’d …. , and the balance has disappeared?

      I pay Tax, and when I ask what is happening to my money you have the audacity to call me an ’evil force trying to seize power’? What sort of a sick moron are you?

  6. Does Rex Tillerson even know what is obtaining on the ground in Zambia? Peace in a country full of lazy, juju prone and uneducated majority laced with abject poverty perpetuated by moral deficiency and corruption is still instability of people’s mind and soul. Peace without hope is death. It was important for him to balance the commendation by mentioning what needs to be improved on as well to avoid sounding like pure flattery. Instead of dying of bullets and bombs, we are dying of BP due to depression from lack of employment and meaningless lives, dying because of lack of medicine in our white elephants of hospitals, dying of cholera, dying of political violence like Mapenzi Chibulo, high mortality rate, dying from TB due to the uncontrolled quality of JUNTA which has been turned into a…

    • He knows Zambia from an old map of Africa, last revised in 1966. Sadly, there is little today for which Zambia may be applauded.

    • So what is the USA ambassador doing, if The Secretary of State doesn’t know what’s obtaining in Zambia. The amount of ignorance exhibited by our educated cadre is amazing. Oh yes unless HH was president then this was going to be true.

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