President Hakainde Hichilema has held talks with South Africa’s former President Kgalema Motlanthe who today paid a courtesy call on him at State House.
Mr. Motlanthe said his visit to President Hichilema was aimed at engaging the Head of State on revamping the North -South Corridor which seeks to unlock the economic potential of landlocked countries in Southern and Eastern Africa by enhancing transportation through improvements of roads, rail and ports as well as trade facilitation among others.
“I have come not as a political activist but as a director for Ivanhoe mines Limited. The Mining Company has developed a number of mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and I thought to come here to discuss how we can revamp the North-South corridor to connect Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa,” he said.
The former South African Leader noted that the DRC, Zambia and Angola are richly endowed with minerals which have a huge potential for economic growth.
He said the DRC and Angola have a corridor for trade and Angola has already revamped the rail on its side though the DRC is yet to.
Mr. Motlanthe is now Director of the Ivanhoe Mines Limited which is advancing its projects in Southern Africa and has developed a number of mines in the (DRC).
And President Hichilema used the opportunity to highlight and emphasize his administration’s drive to rapidly rebuild Zambia’s economy by leveraging regional, continental and global opportunities for trade and investment.
The President said this will be used as a sustainable platform for job creation, poverty reduction and combating the growing problem of unintended economic migration.
The Head of State further discussed at length with the former President, matters relating to the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Strategic Framework (2021 — 2026), which is aimed at enhancing bilateral and intra — Africa trade and investment, through improved industrialization and infrastructure development along the North — South corridor.
The two leaders also discussed challenges pertaining to trade and investment between Zambia and South Africa, as well as opportunities in the bulk movement of mineral commodities from pit to port by investing heavily in railway infrastructure.
The former South African President was accompanied to State House by South African High Commissioner to Zambia, George Twala.
This is according to a press statement availed to the media by State House Special Assistant to the President and Presidential Spokesperson, Anthony Bwalya.
Instead of meeting the current president, it is meeting the former instead. Very backwards under 5. Too much monze in him
Economic Hit Men, Jacob Zuma has a list of the names of those that sold out, he’s been given parole before he spills the beans
Lets be serious a President who served less that one year in office…
Strategic intent is very clear. Railway infrastruvture upgrade that we got a $750m Eurobond with the late Sata and wasted all of it.
Not this time because HEHH is focused and he knows the buttons to press. This guy is coming as a businessman not politician with an investment proposal on transport infrastructure.
ZAMBIA RAILWAYS – Chililabombwe to Kazungula through Bostwana to Durban. Here we come sweethearts. I LOVE THIS!!!!
@Kaizer
We, the 2.8 Million Zambias that voted for him want him to first meet the former president.
Alipampando- musyeni ateke.
Under 5 or over 5 Ndiye ali Pampando coincidentally for the next 5 years.
Under 5
Over 5
Next 5 years Pampando
Interesting meeting…a very important meeting to learn bulk movement of railways cargo from Angola,DRC, Zambia and South Africa. We need a viable railway network to remove the unsafe lorries from the roads!
Come on people… . Kgalema Motlanthe is here as director of Ivanhoe Mines Limited. He just happens to be ex-president. If talking to key figures in key businesses is not a way to unlock economic value for Zambia, I don’t know what is. These are the same people that damage our roads transporting goods to Durban and the like… why not discuss how these arrangements can be mutually beneficial.
There are no small jobs to be done or people too small to meet for business… just a whole lot of small men who think they are too important to meet certain people. Clearly, the president is not placing himself above meeting business heads. That’s important. Truth be told, economically, we don’t punch at the same level as South Africa to make presidential meeting routine at this early hour…
Some people are choking with envy. I only hope chikonko doesn’t kill the likes of kaiser zulu and 2026 is too far -59 months away. Awe sure someone will faint.
When was this man president of SA?
Such businessmen should not be brought to State House ..if he has not come as a Politician please send him to ZDA .Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal projects in Southern Africa: the development of new mines at the Kamoa-Kakula copper discoveries in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Platreef palladium-platinum-nickel-copper-rhodium-gold discovery in South Africa; and the extensive redevelopment and upgrading of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC.
This man is just an employee…do you really think Guy Scott would be welcomed at the President’s office in RSA as former President if he was representing a company he works for…Anthony Bwalya dont expose such chaps to the Head of State.
#7 Son_of_the_18Million
Well said……….
Some of these dullards don’t understand business investment potentials…….
Even USA presidents meet the likes of CEOs of cisco, telsa…….
Thabo Mbeki’s rulership, after he resigned, was cut short and Motlanthe from September 2008 to May 2009, was president of SA for 8 months.
Because these gentlemen didn’t finish their terms, I think they are not former presidents.
Term of office and holding of office paradox. So absurd.
It takes people from outside the country to point out that Zambia is richly endowed with minerals and yet we prioritise begging as a way out of poverty and debt. The auctioning is on and soon we shall see unfamiliar faces chasing us away from our own land.
Chiw
These Mwanks lost elections even women are denying them their conjugal rights.
There is nothing wrong HH meeting potential investors and mind you it’s an opportunity for Zambia to be part and parcel North-South corridor.
We have had Aliko Dangote frequenting state house in Lungu’s time, did we say anything?
Zambia Forward chikubabe season!
Priority is the economy (especially the mining sector) that was messed up by the previous regime and so meeting business people first is good to understand stuff and then meet the current president next with data. Not first start with wine and dine then business. Awe business first wine later! Let’s go forward bane in the spirit of one Zambia one nation one people.
Never head of such a president in Africa. This UPND financier can’t be called former President of South Africa. Which party was he, not ANC for fact.
Nostradamus
Please don’t expose your ignorance. Research before hitting your keyboard.
“I have come not as a political activist but as a director for Ivanhoe mines Limited.
As usual blind loyalty of UPND supporters does not see any wrong in this. Such meetings should be held with the responsible Ministries and ‘NOT’! State house. It undermines Ministries and investors end up thinking they have the Presidents ear and blessing so why bother with lower offices and flout the law. This is how states are captured and corruption embedded at the highest level. This approach cost RB his Presidency. As usual the biased CSOs and activist lawyers are quiet.
If it’s business that was discussed and not State relations the Nation has a right to know what was discussed. We don’t want our president to be captured or compromised by imperial frontmen. Look what happened to President Jacob Zuma
September 2008 up to May 2009, after Mbeki’s resignation. The came not as a politician but representing the company he works for. The business interest is very clear. Presidents do not only meet other presidents but also potential business partners thus this meeting was very cardinal. But as usual low minds will criticise for no concrete reason!
#17 Nostradamus… This man was Veep to Mbeki and replaced him when Mbeki was hounded out of office by the combination of Zuma and Malema.
@ the observer, this man clearly states that he has come on private business in a private capacity. They are Ministries charged with having such meetings as official minuted interactions. They can pay a courtesy call on the President but not to discuss business. Especially not in private where no official minutes will be disclosed. Such blind loyalty will end up having leaders act as if they are not accountable. Be objective, 5 years is not so long.
Kaizer Zulu, you had your time to contribute positively to this country through your proximity to State House, but instead you elected to abuse the people you were supposed to serve, you beat them up, you burnt their houses, etc.
For now, give others who have a different and a more noble agenda for the country an opportunity to provide leadership that was missing during your reign of corruption and terror.
Former President Motlanthe sought that meeting with HH, not to discuss cadre politics as the only thing you know. But, he came to discuss business opportunities that would in turn boost our coffers. After which the New Dawn Administration will then start offering better services like affordable education to our citizens.
I have no doubt that Zambia Railways is gone
THE TR000LL KZ IS STILL CRYING AND HURTING AND DESEVERDLY SO
AS HE AND THE SO CALLED COHORTS TRASHED PF GOOD AND PROPER
ZAMBIA RAILWAYS LOOK AT MANAGEMENT AND FOR THAT MATTER THE BOARD
NEED I SAY MORE
These are the high profile discussions we expect our President HE HH to engage in not those selling the Gulf stream Presidential Jet, its costs are sunken which can’t be recovered.. We need to give HE HH space to develop this country to where PF left it. The former South African President is a serious business person whose visit should not be taken lightly.
How can Zambia Railways be gone? What’s gone are the chaps who were not able to exploit its potential.
When people used to attacked RB and later ECL for state house engaging with businessmen instead of sending them to the rightful ministry, I really appreciated their argument and reasoning, which I agreed with. Today because its HH in state house the same things which were wrong during RB and ECL they are being defended leaves me wondring. Someone has to explain to me if not just for sheer hatred against ECL what was it? The argument was its these state house business meetings that breed kick backs and I certainly agreed. To think HH is immune to corruption is self deception. The insider dealings he did during privatisation (according to Nawakwi) is enough evidence that he can equally fall. Lastly, is it true that HH refused to declare his assets?