World leaders gather at UN for the General Assembly

Global leaders are this week scheduled to gather in New York, United States of America for the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) which officially opened on Tuesday last week to discuss issues of global significance.

The 73rd UN General Assembly will be the most highly attended summit as it will see all the 193 Member States and three Observer States present at the global annual summit of leaders.

The summit will be preceded by a high level plenary meeting called the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit on Monday at which, Heads of State and Government are expected to address the General Assembly on the need for global peace.

His Excellency, Mr Edgar Lungu, the President of the Republic of Zambia is on Sunday expected in New York to join other world leaders and will lead the Zambian delegation to the United Nations.

His Excellency, President Lungu will be among 95 Heads of State, 42 Heads of Government and many other high level delegates attending the General Assembly at which global issues of governance, peace and security, health and development will be discussed.

The 73rd General Assembly has since elected Her Excellency Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, from Ecuador as its President, becoming the fourth female to have ever occupied the seat in the last 73 years.

Her Excellency Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés took over from His Excellency, Mr Miroslav Laj?ák whose term came to an end on Tuesday last week.
The theme of the 73rd General Assembly is: “Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies.”

Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Lazarous Kapambwe has announced here that His Excellency President Lungu will participate in the Mandela Peace Summit because of Zambia’s active participation in dismantling Apartheid in South Africa.

Amb Kapambwe explained that Zambia played a key role in the fight against Apartheid and that Lusaka was host to the headquarters of the African National Congress (ANC) during the white minority rule in that country.

“The 73rd United Nations General Assembly will be the most highly attended ever as we are going to have about 196 statements that are going to be made. All the 193 Member States and three Observer States will attend the summit. His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia is expected in here on Sunday and will be among the 95 Heads of State, 42 Heads of Government, Vice-Presidents and Ministers who will be at the UN for the 73rd General Assembly. This is the occasion when Heads of State and Member States come together to discuss issues of global significance,” Amb Kapambwe said.

He said during the General Debate, President Lungu, in delivering Zambia’s statement will be speaking to both global and national issues such as health, development and governance.

Amb Kapambwe said the African Union (AU) has bestowed on President Lungu the responsibility of being a champion on Ending Early Child marriage will therefore organize a high level event to discuss the scourge.

His Excellency President Lungu during his busy schedule will also chair a high level meeting on the Fight Against Tuberculosis (TB) and another on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Disease (NDCs).

The President is also expected to have bilateral meetings with leaders from Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa.

His Excellency President Lungu’s delegation will include Foreign Affairs Minister, Joe Malanji, Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya, Minister of National Development and Planning Alexander Chiteme and Gender Minister Elizabeth Phiri.

This Statement was released to the media by Mr Wallen Simwaka, the First Secretary (Press) Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations