Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane is leading the Zambian delegation to attend the high-level meeting on the Lobito Corridor project in Rome, Italy, scheduled to take place on June 20th, 2025.
According to a statement issued by the Zambian Embassy in Rome, Italy, Dr Musokotwane who arrived in Rome today, will represent President Hakainde Hichilema at a high-level meeting on the Mattei Plan and European Union (EU) Global Gateway, a common effort with the African continent.
The statement read in part that, Dr Musokotwane and delegation are expected to meet Italy’s Prime Minister, Ms Giorgia and European Commission President Ms Ursula Von Der Leyen to discuss the Lobito Corridor project.
The statement indicated that the Lobito Corridor represents one of the major projects in which the Italian Government and EU through the Mattei Plan and EU Global Gateway, respectively collaborate on one of the largest regional projects in the context of the G-7 infrastructure initiatives, in support of Africa.
“The delegation was received by Zambia’s Ambassador to Italy, Patricia Chisanga who appreciated the government’s representation at the meeting,” the statement read in part.
The statement indicated that the high-level meeting has attracted government representation from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Tanzania which are parties to the Lobito Corridor project and organisations such as the African Union (AU), financial institutions, including the World Bank and the Africa Finance Corporation.
The High-level meeting is a culmination of a high-level ministerial technical meeting which was held in Rome on March 27th, 2025 and Zambia was represented by Minister of Transport and Logistics, Frank Tayali.
I am a big fun of the Lobito corridor my expectations from this high level meeting are very low. G7 includes lunatic delusional Trump, he hates Africa and Africa to him, is on the bottom of his waste things. I know the projects needs a lot of cash but there are other ways.
The project was spearheaded by America. Started by Biden, it was meant to cut through minerals that are currently enjoyed by China from Africa. The new American president is not moved by this Corridor benefits and this undertaking will drag on and on until 2030. This, our minister is broadcasting nothing but no-hoper.
I beg to differ and ask that you take a keen interest to read widely on issues of geopolitics. Trump’s own in law is the envoy that has brokered the Peace deal between DRC and Rwanda. Intergrating the M23 into the DRC army. This was reported today. Last week Kabila’s immunity was removed. Clipping his wings in the factional war in Goma. The bigger picture is that the same Trump is pushing for US investment in DRC but that is only plausible if there stablity. Hence his meeting with the President of the DRC to arrange a security deal and inturn get minerals earlier in the year.
I wonder how much the project is ‘in support of Africa’ and how much of the investment will be in support of those seeking to strip Zambia/DRC of its mineral wealth even quicker? Without better capture of equitable tax from commodity exports, the rail is a waste of time.
That is the 2million dollar question. The tea leaves state that one of the issues Rwanda has insisted on in the Peace deal is that the infrastructure that Rwanda has established be used to process the minerals in the Goma region. And this seems like a win win. Goma is in the east the railway line is in from the Katanga region going west and passing through Zambia. For us how do we get investment here in the form of value addition to some of the minerals that would head on this railway line that would add jobs to our Zambian youths? Would the American investors be willing that we get a slice of the cake? Or what you suggest would be the status quo? We have to seek out opportunities like Rwanda and not sit around and wait for hand out…innovation will be our survival
How I wish our president went for this Global meeting alongside his finance minister.
Oh, sorry he can’t go. He has a national mourning period and keen to receive the body of E. Even if he wasn’t mourning, he still wouldn’t have gone to Rome. From the time Talampu took control of the US presidency, HH has been avoiding trips abroad.
Sadly the noise makers thought he was Vasco Da Gamma. Or detractors should I say
Italy’s Prime Minister, Ms Giorgia or Ms. Giorgia Melon? Lazy LT editors!
The Lobito corridor is a western project aimed at creating a route through congo Zambia and Angola and is being funded by the us, the big question is to whose benefit?
You see we have a government that’s pro west, that is why they had been reluctant to arrest the sista sista foundation that had LGBbbTQ members attending their parade apo pa Manda hill, to date we don’t know what happened to the organizers, that issue died a natural death.
To be continued
None the less, the same way we haven’t seen the nation benefit from it’s minerals after the new dawn removed mineral royalty tax holidays, returned vendatta, have mopanis shares in unclear case is the same way we are being white washed over the Lobito corridor, nothing for us Zambians but everything for the muzungus. Don’t say I didn’t tell you so
I’m breaker I’m transcendent and I approve this message
You do talk trash sometimes
You are nothing without the lighter skin colour
is 60 years not enough for you ???
High level, Historic, ground breaking These words are becoming meaningless
Can only hope people take off there rose coloured spectacles
This ‘meeting’ could not be held virtually or wait to be held on the sidelines of the G20 slated for RSA… the ‘affected’ countries cannot raise part of the money and then use a blend financing instrument to raise the rest or ask the ADB to lead a syndicate to raise the cash ?
You not looking at the benifits to be gained by going across there for the deligation
Why would ZRA customs have the day off on their return ??