United States President Joe Biden’s special delegation to Zambia to attend the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Hakainde Hichilema today has arrived in the country.
The delegation is being led by the Acting Director of the United States Trade and Development Agency Enoh Ebong. Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Africa Dana Banks is also a notable figure in the delegation.
The delegation arrived aboard an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft at about 15:00 hours at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) in Lusaka yesterday.
US Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires David Young, who is also part of the delegation, was on hand to welcome the delegates.
And the US government has called on Zambians to continue to hold their governments accountable. In an interview with journalists shortly after arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka yesterday afternoon, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Africa, Dana Banks, said Zambians should not relent in holding even the incoming government accountable.
Ms. Banks said citizens should maintain their momentum of seeking answers from the government for the things they promised the citizenry in the run-up to the election.
And Ms. Banks has hailed Zambia’s democratic maturity exhibited during the recently held polls.
“Zambia has a strong tradition of successful elections since 1991 and switching between parties. I think that in itself is a good example for other African countries. Once a winner has been declared, for people to accept that and for people to move on and contribute to and enjoy stability and prosperity for all. That’s why we believe strongly in democratic ideals,” she said.
Ms. Banks is part of US President Joe Biden’s delegation which is in Zambia to attend President-elect Hakainde Hichilema’s inauguration in Lusaka today.
Aboard the same flight was Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, and United Kingdom Minister for Africa James Duddridge. British High Commissioner to Zambia, Nicholas Woolley welcomed the duo at KKIA.
The UK’s Minister for Africa, James Duddridge MP, is in the country for a three-day visit to Zambia in order to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Hakainde Hichilema.
During the course of his visit, Minister Duddridge will have a meeting with President Hichilema where they will discuss how the UK and Zambia can continue to develop a mutually beneficial relationship.
Minister Duddridge will also meet with Zambian business leaders in order to understand better how the UK and Zambia can increase trade and economic cooperation.
The Minister is also scheduled to meet Zambian pro-democracy activists and civil society organisations in recognition of their efforts in standing up for democracy in Zambia and the wider region.
During his visit, Minister Duddridge will be accompanied by Dolika Banda, CDC Group Non-Executive Board member. CDC Group is the UK’s Development Finance Institution and has a long history of investing for development in Zambia.
The British government top official will also be accompanied by the UK’s High Commissioner to Zambia, His Excellency Mr Nicholas Woolley and Steve Beel, UK Development Director.
Wow! Since when did Zambia had such a dignified delegation for the president’s inaugural. Kudos to ourselves Zambia. We are the envy of the world. Proud to be alive & Zambian.
And they actually acted like normal people: they flew in on a regular scheduled flight, rather than expensive private planes!
“….The delegation arrived aboard an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft at about 15:00 hours at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) in Lusaka yesterday….
Aboard the same flight was Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, and United Kingdom Minister for Africa James Duddridge. British High Commissioner to Zambia, ……..”
They are showing zambia how things are supposedly done , with that corrupt thieving moron lungu , every one and every trip was by private jet costing the country millions…..
The good will from the rest of the world is definitely there. Great things can start from this. There are definitely people willing to answer phone calls from Zambian leaders in foreign capitals.
What has Kaizer the thugs has to say about today? Im sure he must be chocking with jealousy.
Lazy Lungu wasted years of mediocrity and inept leadership are no more!!
L azy Lungu wast ed years of mediocrity and inept leadership are no more!!
My comment is awaiting moderation
Can you vultures and chancers see how developing Zambia has gotten when you landed? And Biden, don’t worry your pretty head, we will put this guy hh to task. You see, we will prevent the occurence of the 90s where capitalists in the IMF and World bank swindled us out of our assets. We got Gold now, remember.
No amount of picture posing will make us dose.
Thanks.
Let’s hope it’s not a renewed effort to force or coerce Zambia into adopting gay rights as Human rights. We don’t want that curse upon our land. They landed at the new airport and drove on new roads and fly over bridges. Let them tell us what more they’ll do for Zambia compared to how the Chinese have developed our infrastructure.
The capitalist imperialists are here again in the hope of holding Zambia by the balls so they can rip off the country. They know they have their lap dog in state house. So it is time for the capitalist imperialist predators to suck Zambia of her wealth.
I am proud to be one of the beneficiaries of the Zambian education systems under the then able leadership of the late Dr.David Kenneth Kaunda , the patriarch.RIP. I am a successful Social work-graduate, from the the University of Zambia ( UNZA ) Ridgeway Campus,1983.Now a doyen of youth,social development work in Africa,Botswana. National of Botswana,staying at Mosu village. I say KUDOS to the president elect for ascent to the highest office after years of preparations.Do what your office is deserving of Zambians,Africa. Omondi Francis Paul.
The corrupt thieving lungu and his minions need to be investigated as they have become billionaires
HH should also look into the Yusuf Brothers aka the Murshads. Also Mr Natha who goes with the name nyimba supermarket and has many dummy corporations set up.
Look at their mansions in makeni and the vast portfolio of properties being built
The 90s happenings could be replaying for the youths to dance theirs.Rememeber how hopeful it was in 1991.
Bally should focus to fix it. Leave investigations to the appropriate authorities. This far your speeches are inspiring. Do not listen to your cadres some of them are who are on this platform. BUT beware of the Vultures from America, China and Japan. They will grap little resources we have and go. IMF has not solved problem of poverty anywhere in the third world. So take their advice and money with care. Ask those who worked with Chiluba or Ghana. The structural adjustment programme of the 1990s left Zambia and Ghana poorer. The little we had was to be streamlined or sold to more efficient managers but they went under. The poor remain poorer. Nice to hear you have set up an economic team to look into the debt but expand to look at the economic way forward! Thanks Americans we shall keep…
@State House Has Fallen #9.
Sometimes we get hypnotised. Then someone tricks us in broad day light. He even accuses us of being daffy: that he was young, only 30, when we asked me to privatise our assets. Don’t tell me you were sleeping back then?
Instead of blaming foreign powers, have we ever taken a good look at ourselves if we are morally right? Zambia can only be developed by selfless Zambians. But we keep shifting the blame to foreign vultures. In stead, let’s keep checking everyone.
@State House Has Fallen #9.
Sometimes we get hypnotised and while someone tricks us in broad day light., he even accuses us of being duffed was young, only 30, when you asked HIM to privatise. You tell me you were sleeping?
Instead of blaming foreign powers, have have ever taken a good look at ourselves if we are morally right? Zambia can only be developed by selfless Zambians.
Also no country has developed on its own within its borders. So Bally the ball is in your court now.
The imperialist have come to reclaim their fore fathers’ assets in terms of mines. They fear the Chinese will extend the sphere of influence into Africa and assume possession of the minerals.HH has the penchant of whites as a symbol of civilization and to the exclusion of other races such as Chinese and fellow blacks. Cry mother Zambia
WIth such imperialist support, it will very difficult to remove this Bally the Balls from power even after loosing next elections. He wont accept the results