. Chanda

By CHRISTETER MACHA-CHIZHYUKA in Pretoria, South Africa –
THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) has endorsed and formally approved its Electoral Observer mission’s decree that Zambia’s 2016 elections were free and fair.
The Summit has also praised the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) as being above board and conducted the elections credibly.
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda told Journalists in Pretoria yesterday that the Summit also congratulated President Lungu and the Patriotic Front-PF for emerging victorious in last year’s elections.
Meanwhile, Mr Chanda revealed that the 37th SADC Summit formally elected Zambia and appointed President Lungu as Deputy Chairperson of the Troika organ.
The Troika is a SADC organ on Politics, Defence and Security.
Mr Chanda further explained that the President presented an acceptance speech during a closed session and that President Lungu told the session that Zambia would increase impetus to champion peace not only in the region but the continent as a whole.
Mr Chanda said President Lungu further assured fellow Heads of State and the Government that Zambia will continue attaching great importance to the task because peace and security are indispensable to development and prosperity.
“President Lungu further said Zambia has enjoyed the distinct privilege to serve the region in championing peace and security dating back to the liberation era,” said Mr Chanda.
Zambia is also a member of the African Union (AU) security wing.
And Mr Chanda explained that when President Lungu arrived in Pretoria for the 37th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government he was informed about a plan by South Africa opposition political parties Economic Freedom Fighters-EFF and the Democratic Alliance-DA’s to picket at the hotel.
Mr Chanda explained that President Lungu suggested that it would benefit the two opposition political party’s leadership to meet him and have a one on one talk.
He explained that as preparations for the meeting were being done by the Zambian Mission and the South Africa Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Lungu was informed that the two leaders were no longer interested.
Mr Chanda revealed that the President’s idea of meeting the two South African opposition leaders would have benefited the two saying the President will only meet the two aggrieved leaders if they make themselves available.
President Lungu is in Pretoria, South Africa to attend the 37th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government, which opened yesterday under the theme, “Partnering with the private sector in developing industry and regional value-chains”.
During the Summit South Africa assumed the role of Chair of the SADC taking over from the Kingdom of Swaziland.
The Presidential entourage includes Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe, Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo and Minister of Development Planning Lucky Mulusa.
Others are Deputy Secretary to Cabinet in charge of Finance and Economic Development Christopher Mvunga, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Kayula Siame, Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Chalwe Lombe.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba and his Botswana counterpart Brigadier General Patrick Tembo, among other senior government officials are also part of the delegation. – ZANIS