Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary (PS) Ronald Simwinga has reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to up hold the tenets of peace and stability as the country assume the Chairmanship of the SADC Organ on Politics Defence and Security Cooperation in August this year.
Dr. Simwinga said Zambia will continue promoting peace in the region as the country is founded on the legacy of stability, unity, security and good governance.
The PS said this when he officiated at the two days’ workshop on conflict mediation and mitigation training at Lusaka’s Pamodzi Hotel.
ZANIS reports that Dr. Simwinga said the training has come at an opportune time when government is in a process of enhancing the capacity of government officers on how to address conflicts, negotiation, mediation and arbitration.
He expressed optimism that the skills and knowledge to be acquired by
the participants will go a long way in supplementing government’s efforts in fostering peace in war torn countries.
Dr. Simwinga assured the participants that through them, government will
endeavor to effectively execute the mandate of the Organ Torika in
addressing conflicts in DRC and Madagascar.
Meanwhile, Dr. Siwinga said conflicts are a major obstacle to economic
and social development.
He said conflicts have the potential to scare away potential investors thereby, depriving the country of the much needed revenue also noted that vulnerable citizens end up suffering more as they are forced to seek refuge in other peaceful countries.
Dr. Siwinga lamented that conflicts negatively impact the country’s economy as evidenced from the trail of destruction left on infrastructure.
And Speaking earlier at the same function, American Ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote said Zambia’s peaceful transitions of power since the introduction of multi-party elections stands out among African countries.
Ambassador Foote state that Zambia is an important player in the region because of its peaceful track record.
He said Zambia is known internationally as among the most stable and peaceful countries.
I think the ambassador’s words have been twisted; Zambia was peaceful in the past but not under Lungu; release Siwale;
Twisted by who?
SADC is a nursery for dictators and wannabe dictators ……..
SADC leaders have an unwritten rule that says …..
“…dont condemn me if I want to stay longer then my mandated term in office , you might one day want to do the same.”
…upnd is a hive of a dictator and a tribalist…
yes; cry freedom for Siwale;cry freedom for PF cadres who impounded mukula logs and for many others;
Even Uganda and Nigeria are peaceful countries too (wink wink your peaceful countries criteria is pathetic)
The American people have spoken!!!
Well appreciated, Ambassador Foote. What gets my goat with all this peace is the absence of prosperity, denied to us by our leaders as they educate their children and grandchildren abroad, drive expensive cars and dine in the top restaurants worldwide.
I read this quote and would like to share with all zambians,
A country that is not at peace with itself, that fails to acknowledge and protect the dignity of all it’s people, is not a free country
I dont mean it in a bad way but but Zambia is a convengence of cowards who ran away from wars in the neighbouring countries Zimbabwe, DRC, Tanzania, Angola, all the from South African Mfecane from Shaka Zulu. Our common theme is we don’t like fighting because we are cowards its kind of a virtue but also makes us vulnerable. People take advantage of us because we are ‘peaceful’ (cowards in a good way). There is no original Zambia but the Tonga people arrived earliest running from war in Zim… Nina nama? I think Michael Jackson was from Zambia by his song Beat It…
Would you also say the Americans are descendants of cowards of fled the monarchies and catholics of Europe??? Because they surely can whoop anybody’s a.s.s today!!! I think it has more to do with occupying available land and expansion of territories. Yours is a dumb theory. The tongas, they had no army and use roll on the ground when they saw muzungus…kikikikiki
….sorry, who fled….
I beg to disagree the notion that when you run away from war then you are a coward. It might be that you just enjoy peace. “Mwikala pa talala mwine apatalalika “. Zambians have shown that they are not cowards when they said no to one party state and Chiluba’s third term bid. Please also listen to Kenny Rogers’ “Coward of the county.” Some people want Zambians to rise against the PF government for their personal benefits but I can assure them that won’t happen until the Zambians are convinced with real reasons to do so.
And who are Americans to talk after invading about 50 countries since independence (Zambia 0)