• PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu inspects a guard of honour mounted for him as he arrived in Gaborone, Botswana, yesterday for the 35th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government Summit which starts today. Picture by EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATE HOUSE

By MAYA NTANDA in Gaborone, Botswana –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has arrived here to attend the 35th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government Summit which starts today.
A tight schedule awaits President Lungu, who is expected to deliver his maiden speech at the summit, whose theme is ‘Accelerating industrialisation of SADC economies through transformation of natural endowment and improved human capital’.
Mr Lungu arrived aboard the presidential jet at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport at 15:50 hours and proceeded to the Grand Palm Hotel.
He was received by Botswana’s Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture Thapelo Alopeng and Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba.
The Head of State was accorded a guard of honour by the Botswana Defence Force and performances from a traditional dance troupe, Shoshoruka from Ikoga in the north-west of Botswana.
Mr Lungu is accompanied by Defence Minister Richwell Siamunene and his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda.
Others that arrived yesterday are leaders of South Africa, Angola and Namibia while Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who is the out-going SADC chairperson, arrived on Saturday.
Ahead of departure at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, President Lungu told journalists that the SADC Summit was important as he was attending it for the time as Head of State.
“You know the agenda, it is well-known. I have never attended a SADC Summit before. This is the first time I am attending the SADC Summit at that level. I have attended bilateral talks before but not summits, so I will let you know once there,” Mr Lungu said.