The 38th Ordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State and Government has officially opened here in Windhoek, Namibia with regional leaders calling for enhanced peace, security and cooperation.
President Lungu was among ten SADC Heads of State and government who attended the official opening of the historical summit.
African Union-AU Chairperson Paul Kagame who is also Republic of Rwanda President also addressed the delegates.
Others in attendance were former Presidents of Mozambique Joaquim Chisano and Namibia’s Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba.
Welcoming the delegates, President of Namibia Hage Geingob called on the SADC region to evoke the spirit unity in purpose which guided the founding fathers on the path towards liberalization.
Dr. Geingob who is the in-coming Chairperson of the SADC Chairman pointed out that the region needs to further evoke the spirit which led to the establishment of the SADC in 1992 to serve as a vehicle for development and integration of the region.
He noted that through adherence to strong governance principles the region will improve the standards of living and quality of life for its people.
The theme of the summit which is being held at the Safari Conference Centre is “Promoting Infrastructure Development and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development.’’
And Dr. Geingob said it is within the interest of member countries to ensure that youths in the region are equipped with necessary tools required to govern industrialized nations.
Meanwhile, AU Chairman Paul Kagame warned that security issues on the continent tend to go beyond national sovereignty by affecting other nations.
The Republic of Rwanda President hence called for collective action to resolve crises of security with cross-border implications saying such have been settled by other countries or regional groupings.
He explained that SADC has accomplished this task in the past in handling political and security issues in Lesotho and Madagascar, and recently in the Comoros and that the regional body would be called upon to do the same in Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC) like it did in Zimbabwe in the recent past.
Mr. Kagame said he is pleased that SADC and the AU accompanied the political process in Zimbabwe saying matters are in the right direction of the final stages of being resolved before the courts of law.
And the outgoing Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Joao Lourenco applauded President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo for his decision not to contest the December 23 elections in that country.
Mr. Lourenco who is the President of the Republic of Angola said the action by President Kabila is a true reflection of the respect for that country’s constitution.
He is hopeful that the government which will be ushered in after the elections will continue fostering peace and stability.
Mr. Lourenco said the will of the people in Zimbabwe prevailed but regretted the loss of life after the elections.
Namibian President Hage Geingob assumed the leadership of the regional organisation from his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa during Summit.
And Zambia will assume chairmanship of the troika for the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense and Security from Angola during the summit.
During the summit President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana, Joao Lourenco of Angola, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe gave their maiden speeches.
Always talking but very little action or none at all. There are no revolutionaries among you. No Nkhrumas, no Lumumbas and no Bikos who dared to resist Africa’s real enemies and paid with their lives.
iwe how can a visionless drunkard come up with revolutionary ideas? its like trying to get milk out of a rock.
And yourself?
Busy dancing instead of informing the country on how he will pay back nkongole. When its time to pay attention in meetings beve nikugona.
What did we do sure to deserve this president?
Any way one day judge Chuulu will have to explain his numbers
Is it a wonder why southern africa is so poor and yet rich? When you look at the makeup of all those leaders majority of them are a bunch of useless dictators or have supposedly won elections in very questionable manners. Poor records of rule of law and incompetence in one room. Indeed you can see that maybe HH is actually just too good to be a president in such a region. Sometimes in life one is too good for his community and surroundings. Meanwhile it is good to be back in lusaka after my wife and i went on a holiday visiting various european destinations. All those who can afford a drink under pf, please feel free to meet me at my usual spot the smugglers pub. Kunda aka kudos come back to zambia mune
Sit down, what are you doing? People are always quick to disparage others.
ka lungu amano mukwiba… he doesn’t have anyone who advises him on the size of a dressing etiquette
the sleeves of a shirt shouldn’t be that exposed. that’s a fashion faux pas
We need a regular Zambian summit for improving Kalingalinga,Chibolya and Kanyama where our leaders get stay in slums ,trade in shacks and relieve themselves in pit latrines.
These fancy summits make ECL & Co forget about the harsh on the ground realities of Zambian peoples.
This is what our dear Lazy Lungu loves about Presidency rubbing shoulders with other leaders and talking endlessly !!
Look at the person Lungu is standing next to? Kabila of all the people.
Lazy Jay j, aah so it’s about rubbing shoulders with important people or other presidents? So whom will trib.al h.h rub shoulders with?
Can someone tell ECL’s tailor that the shirt sleeve should be no more than half an inch longer than the suit sleeve.
Hey ECL, please check Angola President, H.E. Lorenco, next to you for ease of reference.
He is a Komboni man..just wearing a suit on foreign soil is more important to him
90 % of them are corrupt tin pot wannbe dictators…….some like lungu and kabila live not more then 8 miles from cholera epicentres where people drink water from contaminated pit latrine wells…..