The Israeli Foreign Ministry has failed to confirm whether Zambia will host the Africa-Israel summit.
President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi, told the Zambian state-owned television station, “For whatever reason, we have been given the mandate to host this summit which will bring its own benefits to Zambia.”
President Edgar Lungu, who met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week at the re-inauguration ceremonies for Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi, told ZNBC that “For whatever reason, we have been given the mandate to host this summit which will bring its own benefits to Zambia.”
President Lungu said Prime Minister Netanyahu had asked Zambia to host an Africa-Israel summit that was originally scheduled for Togo in September.
President Lungu said that one of the reasons he went to Kenyatta’s swearing-in ceremony was because Netanyahu wanted to meet him, and that “it was during his bilateral engagement with Prime Minister Netanyahu that the Israeli PM revealed his desire to see Zambia host the summit instead of Togo as it was earlier planned
The summit in Togo last September was expected to draw the leaders of between 20 to 25 African states to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu and was cancelled at the last minute because of domestic problems in that West African state.
But information emerging from Israel indicate that there were discussions in Jerusalem about holding a similar summit there instead.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry did not confirm on Sunday that a summit would be held in Zambia, with a spokesman saying only that the ministry was “looking into” President Lungu’s comments.
President Lungu visited the country in February, along with a large delegation of government ministers. After the trip, he told Zambian media that Zambia stands to reap substantial benefits from the visit.
“Israel is a pacesetter in survival instinct because it has a desert; but they have a thriving education, agriculture and information and
communication technology sectors and we can explore and learn from them. A lot of benefits are expected out of this trip,” he said.
Zambia is one of the few African countries with a military attaché in Israel. It opened an embassy there in 2015
Israel does not have an embassy in Zambia.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said, after meeting President Lungu, that Israel hopes to “deepen its cooperation with the country, which I think is important for both our countries and both our peoples. I know that you’re opening a Jewish history museum in Zambia and soon a synagogue in the capital city. I hope one day I have the opportunity to visit those institutions and to visit Zambia.”
At the Jewish community in Zambia’s peak, some 1,000 Jews lived in the country, though that number has dwindled to about 30 today.
There are three Jewish cemeteries in Zambia.
Mwaletubepa ba great Leader of this great nation nangu Shani? The prolonged reconciliation that is not taking place is working against you. It’s giving an impression to the outside world that there’s some instability in your country.
Meno meno has stolen too much money. What business strategy got him rich this quick?
what is the meaning of this, President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi, told the Zambian state-owned television station, “For whatever reason, we have been given the mandate to host this summit which will bring its own benefits to Zambia.”?
A Jew is a Jew. They are still shopping around!
Load of rubbish you are, Kenyatta said that, Lungu said that. Who the fuuucking said what??
This nothing to worry about. How are the Airports progressing? I want an air conditioned departure lounge when I visit new week.
Our President has protruding teeth! With the money he has miraculously acquired he would consider cosmetic surgery otherwise like Grace Mugabe, Ester will leave him when he leaves state House.
The UPND level of debate is becoming more nauseating.
“For whatever reason we have been given the mandate….” is this really coming from the President? If the president does not know the reason then who knows?
That is how an intoxicated president sounds like.
Brainwashed forever trying to appease foreigners!!
Lunacy in state house in Lusaka
This one will go down as the worst of all men that have led this country. Under his watch the country has become the most indebted in the sub – region and continues to borrow! (one of the reasons IMF will not loan he country any more due to lack of fiscal discipline and mismanagement of resources). As if rank corruption which is endemic in government was not enough, he continues with reckless spending and mortgaging the country to the Chinamen. By the time he leaves office he will have delivered the nation into the hands of Beijing on a silver platter and pocketed a chunk of the proceeds and shared what is left with members of cabinet mention in the FIC report!
That’s when Zambians will know what it means to choose a drunkard as president.
My friend these are the wasted years…nothing can come out these chaps but debt and getting the short end of the stick.
“For whatever reasons “…that should have told you that Lungu was just blowing useless hot air. It was a good excuse for his foreign travels.
Three Jewish cemeteries in Zambia! What does this mean?
Fart Farm
I could only believe it if it came from the Jewish State’s foreign ministry itself and not from this globetrotting corrupt dictator.
No one wants to visit this corrupt country except the equally corrupt Chinese.
According to Monday Chanda, corruption now has a new name/terms called ‘Social Mobility’. What is that even supposed to mean? How come this ‘social mobility’ only seems to apply to a select few connected to those in government? He’s trying to say he deserves to steal because he’s got a college degree, more so than those without a degree. What a crooked way of thinking.
Politics is supposed to be a sacrifice, a public calling where is no much monetary reward. Where I live those that hefty salaries and riches join the private sector and not politics. In…
…In Zambia it is the opposite. Who told you Mr Chanda that being accused of being corrupt is a badge of honour and evidence of democracy? ‘Social mobility’ my @$s!
Hazafa na Hajelousy!
I told you, the IMF does not refuse loans to friends of isreal……..if the IMF had given Zambia the loan I would have weighed more to this summit in Zambia.. as it is we owe to much and the Israelis are not dumm, . ..they know the Chinese and Indians have got Zambia in the bag for the next 25 years ….
Nonsense! Nothing to write home about.
You are building a “Jewish Museum” but don’t have one of your own? Stupid people..Always appeasing others..How dumb!!!