Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mulambo Haimbe, has attended the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) 20th Meeting for Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi, Kenya.
The meeting focused on reviewing the peace and security situation in the COMESA region and finding ways of promoting peace and democracy, as well as encouraging dialogue in conflict resolution.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS shortly after the meeting, Mr Haimbe said various issues were discussed in order to seek lasting solutions to conflicts that are ongoing in some parts of the region.
He added that the focus was also aimed at ensuring that the region resolves such matters collectively.
“This was an important undertaking where we discussed areas around peace and security within the COMESA region, and various issues were discussed, of course we are all aware that within the region we have certain conflicts that are ongoing in DRC for example and in Sudan.
“And our focus was to say there is need for these matters to be addressed by us collectively as COMESA because it feeds directly into our objective, ultimately of integration and of increased investment and trade amongst us,” he stated.
The Minister further said it is important that the security situation in the region is addressed, adding that for Zambia, the meeting spoke directly to the country’s foreign policy which anchors on peace and security, and on economic diplomacy.
“And so, it is critical that the security situation within the COMESA region is addressed and these are some of the interventions that have been put in place as a collective.
“For us as Zambia, it speaks directly to our foreign policy objectives which borders on peace and security and economic diplomacy,” Mr Haimbe stressed.
And Mr Haimbe said Zambia will continue to take part in platforms such as the COMESA meeting in order to add value and a voice to issues surrounding the region.
“We continue as Zambia to participate in these forums and add value, add our voice to the particular issues we have talked about in accordance with her policy position as espoused by President Hakainde Hichilema over and over again,” he noted.
Mr Haimbe further explained that the meeting also brought out issues of global financing architecture and the need for African countries and COMESA member states to actualise their potential of self sustainability.
“Another perspective that came out is the issue of global financing architecture and the need for us as African countries and of course as member states of COMESA to actualise what we have determined for ourselves, the Africa credit rating agency, and of course our efforts towards finding that finance which will support our development in our respective countries,” he said.
Mr Haimbe is tomorrow expected to represent President Hakainde Hichilema at the 24th COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government in Nairobi.
