By DELPHINE ZULU from CAIRO, EGYPT –
ZAMBIA’s Golden Jubilee celebration is a milestone in the history of Africa because the nation has not experienced any turmoil since it obtained her independence, Zambia’s ambassador to Egypt, Ali Simwinga has said.
He said the peace Zambia was preserving had greatly assisted most Southern African Development Community (SADC) to attain independence hence the reason for most countries to join the country
in celebrating her 50 years of harmony.
“ Zambia has done a lot in preaching peace and harmony in the SADC region, her peaceful atmosphere has contributed so much to the attainment of independence by many other countries in the region, for us this is what is cardinal,” Mr Simwinga said.
He was speaking on Friday at his office in Egypt when he and his other officials at the embassy met Zambian Journalists attending the 39th Media Training in that country for eight weeks.
Mr Simwinga said Zambia’s peace had been demonstrated in the democratic and smooth manner the country had changed presidents without experiencing any form of confusion or going to war.
He said the smooth transition or handling of power for all the five presidents was a greater reason for the nation to celebrate this special day which he said should also help Zambians to reflect on how best to change people’s mindset on certain things.
Coating Leviticus 25v10 which calls for fiftieth year celebrations as an indication for proclaiming liberty, Mr Simwinga said this was the year for the nation to reflect its Christian values and begin to uphold them.
And Mr Simwinga has called on Zambians to start embracing new technology by accepting  positive change learnt from the diaspora which could help to further development in the country.
He said his few months stay in Egypt had made him realise that Zambia  had potential to grow in agriculture, construction and other industries if only people started to change their mindset.
“ My stay here these few months, although I have not travelled much yet I can say that what I have seen so far is that Zambia can tap from Egypt’s way of farming which is being done at a large scale and yet most of this land is a desert but they are never short of food, they utilise what they have this we shall learn and help to revamp out country,” he said.
Mr Simwinga implored journalists to shift their reporting and focus on issues that would assist Zambia to further its development and bring change in the country as it celebrated her fifty years of existence.
He said it was vital for Zambians to embrace change if the country was to move in tandem with the number of years that have passed since gaining liberty from colonial rule.