All is set for the 29th ordinary session of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) summit which officially opens tomorrow (Monday) in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
President Rupiah Banda is to arrive in Kinshasa, the capital city of the DRC, on Monday morning ot be among 15 heads of state and governments that will attend the SADC summit.
The Kinshasa summit will discuss among others the prospects of regional integration of SADC countries, the economic crisis and the security situation in the region with a special focus on Madagascar.
The SADC summit will discuss who takes over the chairmanship of the African Union (AU) between Malawi and Lesotho who are bidding.
The chairmanship of the AU, which rotates annually will now be taken over by a SAC member state.
The SADC Leaders are also expected to exchange views on the issues of finances, investment and infrastructure development.
The SADC conference has been preceded by the Council of Ministers meeting which started on September 5 and ended on Sept 6, which discussed several issues including annual subscriptions for member countries and the political situations in the region.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande, was among other foreign ministers who attended the closed door meeting which also received and adopted a report from experts to be presented to the SADC heads of state and governments during the meeting.
The heads of state and government are also expected to receive reports from former presidents of Mozambique and Botswana, Joachim Chisano and Ketumire Masire on political situations in Madgascar and Lesotho respectively.
During the meeting, the foreign affairs ministers discussed a number of issues ranging from the effects of the global economic crunch through investments to matters of infrastructure and health.
The council of ministers meeting also looked at Zambezi Water Course commission, where SADC member states suggest that all Zambezi water resources should be controlled by SADC, although Zambia is one of the countries that have not yet signed and ratified the proposal.
Other countries that are yet to sign and conceit to the idea include Zimbabwe, Malawi and Tanzania, after which the Zambezi Water Course commission will be operational by the regional body.
The Zambezi Water Course Commission seeks to promote the equitable and reasonable utilization of the water resources of the Zambezi Water Course and the efficient management and sustainable development.
Other issues discussed were the two positions of SADC deputy secretary for administration and finance, and deputy executive secretary integration that have been created, of which Zambia is among the panel of interviewers.
However, the position of deputy executive secretary integration will have to be re-advertised as there is no qualified applicant yet, while three candidates have been short-listed for interviews for the post of deputy executive secretary, administration and finance.
Mr. Pande expressed happiness that Zambia is not in subscription arrears to SADC, although he said there was a little balance which he said would be cleared soon, adding that most of the member countries have cleared the annual subscription fees.
At the end of the summit, Congolese President Joseph Kabila will take over the chairmanship of the 15 member bloc from South Africa President Jacob Zuma who is the current chair of SADC.
It is the first time that the war torn vast central African country to host a SADC summit since joining the bloc in September.
ZANIS
The tourist is going out again? His friends turn down some of these trips
What is this nonsense that our river must be controlled by SADC?! Are people being serious? The Zambezi is the greatest resource that Zambia has, if we were to utilise it properly it would be our route out of poverty. Now people are proposing that we give it away? This proposal should have bee thrown out as soon as some lunatic thought it up.
We have given away all the mineral resources, now we want to give away water. What next, export all Zambian to China? They would just fit in one township of Beijing.
Sorry but you travel too much,slow down and do something for mother Zambia.
Why not allow the vice president travell ?it all shows how selfish this man can be he wants to a mass all the allowances to himself who doesnt know him
Kamwendo munjila
Does this man want to die in a plane crush. The challenger jet will be scrap by the time Banda leaves power
Filamba Fya Nkalamu @ 7, that ‘s not a bad idea atll!! Uuum! Two state funerals at once is very tempting! Just a thought. Tower, Tower, Challenger down, Challenger down!!
iyo kwna bwezani is useless he is in Congo instead of mouring teta!!
Gone to sign the Zambezi River water Treat (ZRT). The price you pay for voting dozzy people! Bakamishitisha imwe!
Gone to sign the Zambezi River water Treat (ZRT). The price you pay for voting dozzy people! Bakami-shitisha imwe!
Can’t you sit you azz down and mourn your chief bootlicker? Ge is the one who organised the calls for your presidency in 2008 as well as the sole candidacy in 2011. Show him some respect. We are not obliged to since we didn’t like him whereas in your case, he was your minister! And that nonsense of SADC control over the Zambezi, please ignore it. Enough with other nations developing at our expense. Remember mu feduro?
So this guy just travels every week? What a shame. Please let’s find another presido. This is all crap …!!!!
Why don’t we recommend our former president KK for some of these factfinding, peace missions?? Chisano was a freedom fighter when KK was negotiating Mozambique’s independence with whites from Portugal & South Africa. In my opinion, KK has more credentials to conduct sumch peace missions than these guys put together!! Remember KK’s partner in negotiating nambia’s independence was Maarti Artisari – the Fin who got the Noble Peace Prize last year. Why not KK??
By the way, should RB attend this summit in light of Teta passing away?
IF this Man attends this summit in Kinshansa.. My conclussion will be validated and that is ONE of the screws in his head is for real VERY LOOSE.
How can we let this so-called SADC control our water? Water is life, and the Zambezi is vital to Zambia. When are we going to wake up and realize that our country is being sold from all angles. Such a discussion should NEVER take place, and Zambia should have the cajones to say no to SADC. When are we going to wake up as Zambians? Unfortunately, we have a government which does not have our best interests, but selfish interests.
Nyama soya is on peristant travel..this is the problem of having OLD men in Statehouse..they want to moaximise on their remaining years…Please let us get ride of Kanitundila in 2011
if this man attends this summit then my conclusion will be validated and that is,one of the bolts in his head is VERY LOOSE.One can not be traveling like that unless they´re on steroids.
I pray that my fellow Zambians will realize the negative implication of our beloved Zambezi River to be under SADC control. Where is our pride? Where is our sovereignty? I hope that this government will not entertain such a disastrous decision, but based on what RB and his cohorts have done so far, there is little hope. What will SADC demand from Zambia next?
SOME 1 PLIZZZZZZZZZ TO UPDATE US IF THERE IS ANYMORE LINKS TO ZAMBIA GAME……APART FROM myp2p.eu.
So to RB Teta’s death is not important. Why cant he just deligate a junior minister to go and attend this summit, so that he can show last respect to his minister TETA with the rest of zambian.
Does RB ever complete a month in Zambia attending to national issue? All I read about hime is either him Globe Trotting or defending his rotten MMD government. I am yet to hear of policies aimed at addressing national issues. Yangu!
ayenda nafuti, what time does this man work? kwangala uku, how do they control our water in our own country,
Bushe kanshi chinshi kanshi tatwapokelafye ichalo kuli uyu mukukulu. He travels too much and he carries himself a huge entourage with him when travelling. I saw them in Swaziland. Bane twachula pafula. Tukafwila muli ififine beba at Zambia is a peaceful nation. Tatwakalye peacefull nation awee!!
Done with one task, two more remaining! im sure we will be done before 2011!
Here he goes again, Swaziland, Libya and now DRC, the flying president! A friend recently visiting Zambia told me that no one cares whether we have a president or not, because the current one is never there! Who is running the country, is it Kunda? the man looks dogy to me!
Let me remind u people. Bwezani Nyamasoya is in state house 2 enjoy himself and not to work. Those who work have little time 4 unncessary, costly tours we re seein for almost evry one in Govt including their spouses and family members at the expense of taxpayers money. As löng as we still have Mad, Mediocre type of Demons(MMD) + RB in power = zero development.