Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States Palan Mulonda has briefed the US government on the general state of affairs in Zambia.
Ambassador Mulonda briefed Deputy Assistant Secretary of State at the Bureau of African Affairs at the United States Department of State, Mr. Todd Haskell.
In his brief Ambassador Mulonda informed Mr. Haskell that Zambia had been undergoing a protracted Constitutional review process and that the recent amendment signed by His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu had addressed several of the concerns raised by various stakeholders.
He stated that these included increased involvement of stakeholders in decision making.
Ambassador Mulonda said other provisions in the amendment are the introduction of the running mate, who would have a concurrent tenure with the President and inclusion of the 50% +1 threshold for Presidential elections, which is a change from the first-past-post system employed earlier.
And regarding the recent challenges that Zambia had faced, Ambassador Mulonda stated that these included water, energy and food security, which were all key for the stability of any country. He expressed appreciation to the U.S Government for interventions through the Feed the Future Initiative towards improving food security and Power Africa aimed at enhancing energy security.
Ambassador Mulonda stated that Zambia was appreciative of U.S support towards helping the Zambian Department of Energy to work on standardizing power purchase agreements.
The Zambian Envoy noted that the Government had put in place strategies to help move the grain belt to the north of the country through the supply of inputs and encouraging more irrigation. He stated that while there was a period when the grain silos were full and Zambia was able to assist its neighbors that were already in distress, the recent low rain levels had negatively impacted the country.
“In this regard, areas that were hard hit were receiving supplements, as well as airlifts in low-lying areas adding that efforts towards crop diversification were also intensifying with crops such as cassava being promoted as an alternative to maize.” Ambassador Mulonda said.
And Mr. Haskell stated that the President’s actions in ensuring the Constitutional amendments were actualized was highly admirable, observing that it would be desirable for other countries to lake a leaf from Zambia, especially regarding the enhancement of transparency.
Mr. Haskell observed that Zambia was one of the most sought after destinations for many U.S Foreign Service Officers due to the fact that it is a peaceful and stable country. He stated that the U.S had been following the political developments in Zambia with keen interest, particularly, those related to the Constitutional reform process.
Mr. Haskell stated that regarding military cooperation between the U.S and Zambia, a number of exercises had been undertaken, including the Africa Endeavour in 2013. He also asked how Zambia viewed military cooperation with other countries such as China and Russia.
Ambassador Mulonda stated that Zambia remained open minded to working with like-minded partners. He also expressed appreciation for the assistance rendered by the U.S to the Zambian military, noting that exercises such as Endeavour and others had gone a long way.
In the health sector, Mr. Haskell observed that the Presidential Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief, (PEPFAR) had been one of the success stories in Zambia with around 700,000 people now on life saving drugs, compared to 3,500 in 2004.
In response Ambassador Mulonda stated that having an AIDS-free generation was a possibility with interventions such as prevention of mother-to-child transmission having contributed to the significant reduction in babies being born with HIV. He recalled that Zambia had seen a period where the productive sectors and the military had been severely impacted by HIV and thanked the U.S for the timely intervention through PEPFAR to reverse this trend.
Ambassador Mulonda was accompanied by First Secretary (Trade), Mrs. Inonge Mwenya and First Secretary (Press and Public Relations), Ms. Patricia Littiya.
This Zambian PF ambassador is not even ashamed to lie to the US envoy about the state of the nation when those are informed of what lungu is doing to the opposition on the ground.
Bwana the man was saying to himself, OMG, what wrong this guy? He thinks we dont know what his PF government is doing to its people?
PF cadres mulekwatako insoni mwe.
Excellent work Ambassador Mulonda! Articulated and delivered with high-level precision for the common good. Bravo!
Total PF lies as usual. Why didn’t Mulonda talk about the persecution of the opposition using the POA and Police Force?
Fact is the US State Department know much more about Zambia that this Palan. His was just an academic tick box activity
THIS WAS TRULY WELL ARTICULATED Mr MULONDA. ALL THE ISSUES/QUESTIONS RAISED BY Mr HASKELL WERE WELL ANSWERED WITHOUT ANY SLIPPAGE IN ANSWERING THEM. “Mr. Haskell observed that Zambia was one of the most sought after destinations for many U.S Foreign Service Officers due to the fact that it is a peaceful and stable country”. IT IS ALSO GREAT TO NOTE THAT OUR COUNTRY IS ONE OF THOSE SORT AFTER BY US DIPLOMATS ALL FOR GOOD REASONS. KEEP IT UP ZAMBIANS.
Just a few days ago Sampa resigned from the party and was tortured by PF emissaries to stay in air for 3 years. Is that state of the nation the US be interested in? Really?
Miles Sampa is suffering because of the draconian regime created by own uncle. I have always warned PF cadres to think carefully what they do to others because they will soon find themselves in the same situation when leave PF or PF dumps them.
I hope others are learning a lesson.
PF are jokers!
BA WANZELU, SOME OF THESE WORDS YOU USE WITHOUT KNOWING THEIR DEEP MEANING MAY PUT YOU IN TROUBLE IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL- “TORTURE”? DO YOU KNOW WHAT TORTURE MEANS? DO YOU THINK IF SAMPA WERE TORTURED AS PER YOUR INFO HE WOULDN’T HAVE MADE STATEMENTS IN ALL MEDIA? BY THE WAY WHERE DID YOU GET SUCH INFO YOURSELF?
They Cant Learn Sori
Who will they believe? Our ambassador in the US or their ambassador in Zambia?
It’s good to see civilised relations are still possible . Our gov’t is still recognised internationally. No thanks to Zambian opposition!
Wanzelu, Miles Sampa removed Rupiah Banda’s immunity what is he complaining about. Miles Sampa was part of the government when opposition was denied permits and it was ok then, what is he complaining about? Debate objectively and stop being hypocrites.