Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called upon the delegation of African leaders to raise the issue of political prisoners with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their upcoming visit to Russia on Saturday. Zelenskyy emphasized that the release of these prisoners would be a significant and impactful step towards peace. The group of African leaders, hailing from Comoros, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, Egypt, the Republic of Congo, and Uganda, arrived in Ukraine as part of a peace mission aimed at bringing an end to the nearly 16-month-long conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
During a closed-door meeting, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, along with the four other African heads of state and government, joined President Zelenskyy at a news conference to discuss the purpose of their visit. President Ramaphosa acknowledged the negative impact of the ongoing conflict on Africa, highlighting the potential disruptions to food and fertilizer deliveries from Russia and Ukraine, which are crucial to many African nations.
Expressing empathy towards the Ukrainian people, President Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of resilience and the pursuit of peace. While recognizing Ukraine’s perspective on the war, he reiterated the need to bring the conflict to an end at the earliest possible opportunity.
President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the African leaders’ recognition and respect for the Ukrainian viewpoint and their commitment to helping resolve the conflict. He acknowledged the challenging road to peace but remained determined to continue fighting for a resolution that would bring stability to the region.
President Hakainde Hichilema expressed gratitude to President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine for their graciousness in hosting the delegation under challenging circumstances. President Hichilema emphasized that the peace mission embarked upon by the African leaders is not meant to compete with any other organization or group. Instead, it aims to encourage open dialogue and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, drawing upon Africa’s successful track record of conflict resolution through dialogue and peace-building.
The visit of the African delegation carries significant weight, as their influence and diplomatic efforts are seen as crucial in promoting dialogue and negotiation between Russia and Ukraine.
As the African leaders prepare to embark on their visit to Russia, the international community closely watches their diplomatic endeavors. The hope is that their discussions with President Putin will yield meaningful results and pave the way for a peaceful resolution to the conflict that has caused immense suffering and disrupted vital global food supplies.
Some people are c00ns. You go all the way to a country well known for hating Africans to help them in a war that doesn’t concern you. Hh is now a chola boy and messenger for a comedian hahahaha. He is also the messenger for gay agenda. It won’t surprise me if hh legalised h0m0swxuality. He is sick and twisted.
You clown. You think Russia or China like Africa? If you weren’t so retarded you would just keep your ignorance offline.
3000 Africans have been killed in the Sudan war caused by the same America your f00Iish president is representing, yet there he is umungulu in Ukraine defending rubblsh! Fuseke
Bizak has spoken one million truths ,thank you.
This is what they traveled for just to take pictures….in their respective countries they can’t even manage to collect garbage and keep their cities clean….the rain season is coming and Zambians will start dying of cholera and in South Africa chorela is finishing them
Can you imagine power cuts and cholera is now common in RSA unbelieveiable and its President has gone to promote peace on another continent thousand miles away in Easter Europe…I wonder what Thabo Mbeki thinks of this.
These African leaders of today are truly lost and a disgrace…they have zero understanding of geo-politics zero understand of colonial history. I am not surprised Paul Kagame who knows all too well about civil and military war would never join these clowns of a fruitless mission he has pressing issues at home to prioritise..its no surprise Rwanda is what it is today a success.
Tarino –
What is your advice to Ramaphosa, should he arrest PUTIN in August when he attends the BRICS summit in South Africa OR not?
If you have an answer to this Ramaphosa dilemma, then you have the right to bash these politicians the way you are saying it.
This trip is all about this…..Ramaphosa is looking for a solution to avoid SA getting into sh!t with the ICC
General.. – Putin attended years ago and Cyril gave you his answer.
Tarino,
The BRIC summit is in August in South Africa, and Ramaphosa doesn’t know how to handle it. He has requested PUTIN not to attend, but PUTIN refused. Alternatively, BRICS could be held in China.
This is the reason, Ramaphosa has engaged other Presidents like HH, to support him, and to talk to the warring countries, so that he can have a diplomatic justification for his next step around hosting this summit.
But who says Putin will attend this BRICS thing? Why?
The Ukrainian President its probably the first time he heard about a country called Zambia….just wasted tax payers money for nothing instead of buying medication for the Hospitals
President HH really needs to learn how to be wise on the international scene. Always trying to be visible and loud on the international scene is rarely a good thing for a leader. Especially of he come fron a small poor country. Just focus on your own troubles! Who is interested in your opinion on the international scene? What influence do you have to go on a peace mission?
A rat that forces himself into an elephant fight is very likely to be trampled! Leave the big league to the big boys!
Yoir concerns should be to ensure your people have food, health care and education. I don’t see how this farce of a peace mission is helping africa.
In the meantime we expect that China, a close ally of Russia, will sign the debt restructuring deal? SMH.
More often than not, it’s better to keep quiet, remain unnoticed, mind your own business.
The wise man wrote, 3000yrs ago, “even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent”. In Russia, the only thing Putin will see about Zambia is a stooge of his hated enemy, the US. A country that voted against Russia at the UN. Bushe who is advising the president mwebantu? This is basic stuff! You betray a country that supported your liberation struggle by voting against them, and then you show up at their doorstep to advise them on war and peace??? I mean, seriously. Shouldn’t your concern be to mend that relationship?
In the meantime we expect that China, a close ally of Russia, will sign the debt restructuring deal?
More often than not, it’s better to keep quiet, remain unnoticed, mind your own business.
The wise man wrote, 3000yrs ago, “even a f00l is considered wise if he keeps silent”. In Russia, the only thing Putin will see about Zambia is a stooge of his hated enemy, the US. A country that voted against Russia at the UN. Bushe who is advising the president mwebantu? This is basic stuff! You betray a country that supported your liberation struggle by voting against them, and then you show up at their doorstep to advise them on war and peace??? I mean, seriously. Shouldn’t your concern be to mend that relationship?
In the meantime we expect that China, a close ally of Russia, will sign the debt restructuring deal?
More often than not, it’s better to keep quiet, remain unnoticed, mind your own business.
The wise man wrote, 3000yrs ago, “even a f00l is considered wise if he keeps silent”. In Russia, the only thing Putin will see about Zambia is a st00ge of his hated enemy, the US. A country that voted against Russia at the UN. Bushe who is advising the president mwebantu? This is basic stuff! You betray a country that supported your liberation struggle by voting against them, and then you show up at their doorstep to advise them on war and peace??? I mean, seriously?
They keep saying leaders from Egypt but dont mention who I doubt Sisi the Egyptian dictator would leave Cairo to foooolishly go to a war zone. Just look at former TV comedian Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s body language he knows these foooools in suits are wasting his time. Can you imagine if Africa sent a delegation like this to see the two Generals in Sudan.
Zambians we voted for a President who will be flying to Eastern Europe and Russia to promote peace whilst in Zambia the cost of living keeps rising.
But my friend Spaka who is know states that Hakiande has gone to Europe to do business.
“……..highlighting the potential disruptions to food and fertilizer deliveries from Russia and Ukraine, which are crucial to many African nations…..”
Spaka – Africa can produce it own wheat and manufacture fertiliser…day in the day that area between Avondale, NRDC and Ibex Hill there used to be farm called Agrofloral that used to grow wheat and flowers. All you need is political will not spineless leaders who only think of the white man as their saviour.
Tarino – Why do you need the political will to produce wheat? If the business environment is conducive, the question is where are the Zambians to invest in farming?
TO
Setting up those projects will take more than 1 year……..
If supplies from the former USSR are cut now……..we have starvation.
War is a money-making machine. Britain paid its last instalment to the USA in December 2006 for the money it borrowed to fund World War II in 1945. President Ramaphosa is having it both ways. The USA through its Ambassador to South Africa just accused the South African government to have sold Military Arms to Russia to help Putin’s war. Ramaphosa failed to deny or admit the arms deal. He said they will be an inquiry which is B*S. In the meantime, this same Ramaphosa is on the delegation talking about peace, when the arms he sold to Putin are killing Ukrainians. The West did send President Macron of France to Russia, to address the war, but Putin ended up treating Macron like a child, so was Chancellor Olaf Shotz of German. So, who is HH, Ramaphosa and the rest, to Putin?
You arent so independent Mr Observer. First of all think. What arms can Nuclear power Russia get from South Africa? South Africa’s Arms manufacturer is near liquidation and doesnt produce anything. If its bullets the Russians dont need to send a ship to collect these
I wish to commend the entourage who took this vital visit to the Ukraine. Of Course most of this would have been unnecessary if Africa had her proper seat at the UN Security Council. However, as I saw footage of the ‘visit’ read about the debacle in Poland and I couldn’t help but ask how well briefed or indeed prepared were these leaders. I racked my brain to recall if any of them had ever engaged in peace negotiations? Let alone if they had a good brief they would have given a response to the ‘demands’ on political prisoners and/or the ‘occupied’ Ukrainian territory. I also feel Kagame should have been part of this team. All in all lets wait and see.
Didn’t I tell you that HH will go down as best president in Africa?
HH should rush back to meet Mmembe and PF thugs before ZP kill them. HH is now the top peace maker. He should fire Jack Mwiimbu and Haimbe. Hoops, they are Tonga.
Interesting!
Criminal Ramaphosa and the ANC have destroyed South Africa…i lived in South Africa in the 90s zero load shedding…no water shortages and crime wasn’t as bad as it is now….i remember we used to hang out in Hillbrow Claim street Czenthemba…Yeoville Rocky street till 4am with nothing to worry about…now Johannesburg is decaying….failing to fight poverty and unemployment in their own backyards and they are worried about their slave masters fighting themselves….i wish Gaddafi…Mugabe…Sankara…Nkruma..Lumumba was still alive
All you lusakatimes bloggers critics to HH are motherf**ckers. What has HH done to you? Tongas are here to rule Zambia. ……………….
That’s an impotent troll suffering from election problems……..
Wanting to imitate Spaka……..
Gay Zulu…
@@ Spaka
You posted insults and now you are feeling ashamed attempting to retract. Do you think anyone is going to believe you. Your history has proved that you are capable of posting such sickening comments. In other words its you doing this. What really troubles you every single day.
It is now accusing me of its tribalism. Sick boy. Spaka go eff yourself you mad cow. Your hh has failed you and you now taking it out on us. Just stay out of zambian politics. You are no longer Zambians and lost your nationality when you adopted those diasporan nationalities.
Gay zulu
It’s only you on LT who is so insufficient as a man that you unashamedly imitate other men……
Mooga
I only insult people who start attacking me……..open fire, expect return fire.
Crying peace when where they come from there is no peace or justice.Laughing matter.
At the same time, they have now become emissaries to help free political prisoners which, as it were, is a prerequisite for European peace. All this is laughable.
You can be sure they know they have zero chance of influencing anything………
You can garantee there are important closed door meetings going on to secure important supplies to africa………..
Look at this chap making guarantees as if he is a Govt offical..are you not ashamed wanting a country to supply you food that is at war instead of the other way round? What rotten thinking indeed.
TO
How long do you think those fertiliser and weat growing projects will get on line if supplies from the former USSR are cut tomorrow ???
Don’t just start jumping and beating the self sufficiency drums while there is no even sutstems set up……..
Get to listen to the presidents side when he returns and see how you will look…………
Farmers are being murdered every single day in South Africa…Criminals have taken over South Africa and Criminal Ramaphosa is the Criminal in chief
But these two…Hakainde Harmacopolo and his friend Ceril Ramadagama will go down as the greatest explorers out of Africa.
The main reason behind this visit is connected to South Africa hosting the so-called BRICS. South Africa is in an awkward situation, Vladimir Putin is set to attend the BRICS Summit in South Africa this August. But remember the Internation Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Putin? South Africa is a signatory to the ICC.
Ramaphosa is trying to find a political leeway, for him to avoid arresting PUTIN. HH is assisting Ramaphosa, find a solution, by being part of this delegation.
All of you criticizing this trip, what advice do you have for Ramaphosa, to solve this dilemma?
Wait for the arms shipment to be revealed !!
Poland has already confirmed munitions
Is it all about food and fertiliser???
Our leaders should know that we cannot be perpetual beggars, we are well able as Africans to grow our own food and produce fertiliser. I commend my mother for instilling in me the capability to be food secure.
National food security starts with good policies and a vibrant political will.
Russia has said it will not be renewing the grain and fertizer deal negotiated by the UN in the comming months.
This deal allows shipment of grain and fertiliser from the former USSR.
However almost 40% of those exports go to the west while developt countries get less than 10%…..which represents almost 90% of third word grain and fertizer.
If the deal is not renewed, expect prices to double around the word……
On the flip side, Russia is literally giving away oil and other opportunities to get any trading block on its side………
This is a trip or effort well worth it.
Statesman Hakainde Hichilema making peace in Europe .His country is at peace and Africa needs to secure Ukrainian grains to feed its people.