KASESE-BOTA

By CHATULA KAMPO-
ZAMBIA has taken up the chairmanship of the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), a grouping of 32 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, for a two-year term.
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic handed over the chairmanship to Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Mwaba Kasese-Bota on Monday at the UN headquarters in New York.
Ambassadors of Uganda, Swaziland, and Kazakhstan, and representatives of Ethiopia, Niger, Nepal, Rwanda, Paraguay, Afghanistan, Malawi, and Zimbabwe congratulated Dr Kasese-Bota for taking up the chair on behalf of her country.
This is according to a statement released by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian Mission in New York, Chibaula Silwamba.
Uganda’s permanent representative to the UN Richard Nduhuura said it was good that a woman had taken up the position of LLDCs chairperson.
“It is most appropriate that we support Zambia whose mission is led by a lady who is very distinguished to lead this group,” he said.
Swaziland’s permanent representative Zwelethu Mnisi expressed confidence in the Zambian envoy’s abilities to lead the group.
“Zambia is very capable of leading from the front, so my Government has mandated me to put forward the name of Zambia to be the head of the group,” said Ambassador Mnisi, as he praised Zambia’s good relations with Swaziland and other countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Rwanda urged Dr Kasese-Bota to help landlocked countries with promotion of trade.
Dr Kasese-Bota assured the member States that Zambia would serve with efficiency and diligence in befitting the group’s aspirations.
“We are in a very vital period of redefining our development priorities and routes to the global transition towards the post-2015 Development Agenda,” she said
Earlier, South Sudan was admitted as the 32nd member of the LLDCs Group.
Of the 32 member countries, 16 are in Africa, 12 in Asia, two in Latin America and two in Central and Eastern Europe.