Wednesday, August 21, 2019

[Zambia]: Lungu hands over SADC defence chairmanship to Zim

August 17, 2019

Lungu Hands Over Chairmanship of SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation to Zimbabwe’mnangagwa.


PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has handed over the chairmanship of the Southern Africa Community Development (SADC) Organ Troika on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation to Zimbabwe at the ongoing SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

And Lungu is today expected to give a key note speech at the 39th SADC Summit before returning back to Zambia this evening.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Malanji said this, Friday, when he briefed the media on the just ended closed door meeting of the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation chaired by His Excellency, President Chagwa Lungu.

“The meeting was a Troika, where His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu handed over the chairmanship to incoming chair which is Zimbabwe, and Zambia now becomes the immediate past chair of the Organ. We have had support from Angola which was our immediate past chair before handing it over to Zimbabwe,” said Hon Malanji.

“Botswana will take over the chairmanship from Zimbabwe in 2020. There are quite a number of security concerns that have been discussed amongst the members of the Troika.”

The Foreign Affairs Minister indicated that during Zambia’s tenure as chair of the Organ, the region has had a good number of elections won successfully such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and others.

“There are three other elections coming with Mozambique having the polls on October 15th, 2019, Namibia and Botswana will also be having elections. So that now becomes the responsibility of Zimbabwe as a chair of the Organ,” he said.

Hon Malanji also disclosed that President Lungu also had bilateral engagements with prospecting investors in Zambia, saying among the investors met include those to help boost the cashew nut in Western Province.

He indicated that this is because Tanzania has had good experience in cashew nut industry.

The minister further disclosed that President Lungu is today expected to have two bilateral engagements with neighboring countries of Zimbabwe and DRC saying these are key neighbors for Zambia.

Reporters
Source: Zambia Watchdog

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